Lysania prolixus, Malamel, Jobi J., Sankaran, Pradeep M., Joseph, Mathew M. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2015

Malamel, Jobi J., Sankaran, Pradeep M., Joseph, Mathew M. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2015, First record of the wolf spider genus Lysania Thorell, 1890 from India with the description of a new species (Araneae: Lycosidae: Zoicinae), Zootaxa 3904 (2), pp. 293-297 : 294-296

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3904.2.8
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FD269219-5572-44FB-8D42-6AE7A4CF3606
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6096892
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DF87CF-B639-FF8E-8CBF-FF258A7D76E7
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Lysania prolixus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Lysania prolixus sp. nov.

( Figs 1A–L View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2A–H View FIGURE 2 A – H )

Type material. Holotype: Male ( ADSH 510162): India, Kerala, Ernakulam, Cherukadu (10o08'22''N, 76o40'02''E) in Bhoothathankettu Forest Reserve, 37 m. alt., 6 November 2013, Pradeep M. S. leg. by hand; Paratypes: 2 females ( ADSH 510262), same data as holotype; 1 female ( ADSH 510362): India, Kerala, Ernakulam, Illithodu (10o11'56''N, 76o33'01''E) in Malayatoor, 25 m alt., 25 February 2014, Pradeep M. S. leg. by hand.

Diagnosis. The male of L. prolixus sp. nov. can be separated from all other described congeners (except L. sabahensis , which is unknown) by the presence of an elongated embolus ( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ), (which is very short in L. deangia ( Li et al. 2013, fig 1A) and in L. pygmaea , it is long ( Li et al. 2013, fig 3A), but shorter than that of L. prolixus sp. nov.) and a stout spine-like terminal apophysis situated below the distal half of the embolus ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2D View FIGURE 2 A – H ) (which is not reported in both L. deangia and L. pygmaea ). Females can be recognised by very long, coiled copulatory ducts ( Fig 2F View FIGURE 2 A – H ) (in L. deangia and L. pygmaea , the copulatory ducts are straight ( Li et al. 2013, figs 1D, 3D)) and the widely elongated median plate ( Fig 2E View FIGURE 2 A – H ) (in both L. deangia and L. pygmaea , it is W-shaped ( Li et al. 2013, figs 1C, 3C) and in L. sabahensis , it is squarish (Lehtinen & Hippa 1979, fig 55)).

Description. Male (holotype, figs 1A–C): Prosoma uniformly yellowish-brown, except for a light posterior stripe behind fovea. Fovea longitudinal (0.23), reddish-brown. Eye field black; AER slightly recurved; PER strongly recurved ( Fig 2H View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Opisthosoma yellowish-green, hirsute; dorsally and laterally provided with numerous small chalk-white spots, mid-dorsally with 7 short straw-coloured transverse bands bordered on each side by longitudinal chalk-white bands and large spots; venter yellowish. Clypeus and chelicerae yellowish-brown. Cheliceral pro- and retromargins with three teeth each; 2nd promarginal tooth largest. Sternum, maxillae and labium yellowish; maxillae and labium without scopulae. Spinnerets yellowish. Legs yellowish with inconspicuous light annulations; all leg and pedipalp patellae disto-dorsally with a long spine.

Body length 3.52. Prosoma length 1.79, width 1.27, thickness 0.69. Opisthosoma length 1.73, width 0.99, thickness 0.92. Eyes diameter: AME 0.08. ALE 0.05. PME 0.13. PLE 0.10. Eye interdistance: AME–AME 0.02. PME–PME 0.06. AME–ALE 0.03. PME–PLE 0.06. AME–PME 0.05. PLE–PLE 0.21. Clypeus height at AME 0.08, at ALE 0.09. Chelicera length 0.75. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 2.32 [0.77, 0.35, 0.45, 0.75], I 7.44 [1.97, 0.73, 1.83, 1.76, 1.15], II 6.70 [1.81, 0.67, 1.54, 1.63, 1.05], III 5.73 [1.66, 0.43, 1.14, 1.53, 0.97], IV 8.98 [2.29, 0.63, 2.19, 2.69, 1.18]. Leg formula: 4123. Spination. Palp: femur 1300, patella 0 200, tibia 0 120, tarsus 0002; legs: femur I 1310 (right 0310), II–IV 1310; patellae I–IV 0200; tibia I 0 204 (right 0104), II 0 212, III 1313 (right 1213), IV 2214; metatarsus I 0 0 0 6, II 1005, III 4033 (right 4043), IV 5033 (right 5043); tarsi I–IV 0 0 0 0.

Copulatory organ ( Figs 1D–G View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2A–D View FIGURE 2 A – H ): Palpal segments stout, yellowish-brown; cymbium disto-ventrally with a pair of spines ( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Subtegulum small ( Figs 1E–F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2B–C View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Embolus long ( Fig 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ), originating distally from the bulb ( Figs 1E View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2B–C View FIGURE 2 A – H ); median part lies behind the anterior margin of tegulum ( Fig 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ); tip of embolus thin, directed at 11 o’clock position ( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Conductor wide and membranous ( Fig 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Lateral apophysis originates prolateromedially from the tegulum ( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ), with a broad base, while its tip narrow, hook-like ( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Terminal apophysis short, stout spine-like situated behind the distal half of the embolus ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2D View FIGURE 2 A – H ), with a pointed tip directed at 1 o’clock position ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2D View FIGURE 2 A – H ).

Female (Paratype, Figs 1H–J View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2H View FIGURE 2 A – H ): Prosoma uniformly yellowish-brown, except for three light stripes, two anterolaterally to and one behind the fovea. Fovea longitudinal (0.25), reddish-brown. Eye field black; AER slightly recurved; PER strongly recurved ( Fig 2H View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Opisthosoma yellowish-green, hirsute; dorsally and laterally provided with numerous small chalk-white spots, mid-dorsally with 7 short straw-coloured transverse bands bordered on each side by longitudinal chalk-white bands and large spots; venter yellowish. Clypeus, chelicerae, sternum, maxillae and labium yellowishbrown. Cheliceral pro- and retromargins with three teeth each; 2nd promarginal tooth largest. Maxillae and labium without scopulae. Spinnerets, palpal segments yellowish. Legs yellowish with conspicuous light greenish-black annulations; all leg and pedipalp patellae disto-dorsally with a long spine.

Body length 3.58. Prosoma length 1.62, width 1.08, thickness 0.72. Opisthosoma length 1.96, width 1.32, thickness 1.37. Eyes diameter: AME 0.07. ALE 0.03. PME 0.14. PLE 0.11. Eye interdistance: AME–AME 0.01. PME–PME 0.08. AME–ALE 0.03. PME–PLE 0.07. AME–PME 0.05. PLE–PLE 0.29. Clypeus height at AME 0.07, at ALE 0.06. Chelicera length 0.64. Measurements of pedipalp and legs: Palp 1.86 [0.65, 0.29, 0.41, 0.51], I 5.50 [1.53, 0.57, 1.36, 1.22, 0.82], II 4.70 [1.33, 0.48, 1.10, 1.04, 0.75], III 4.49 [1.28, 0.43, 1.01, 1.12, 0.65], IV 6.89 [1.80, 0.50, 1.68, 1.93, 0.98]. Leg formula: 4123. Spination. Palp: femur 1300, patella 0 200, tibia 2100, tarsus 1012; legs: femora I–II 1300, III 1310, IV 1310 (right 2310); patellae I–IV 0200; tibia I 0 204, II 2202, III 2123 (right 2124), IV 2124; metatarsus I 0 0 0 6, II 2013, III 4033, IV 4043; tarsi I–IV 0 0 0 0.

Copulatory organ ( Figs 1K–L View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2E–F, 2G View FIGURE 2 A – H ): Median plate broad, hirsute with slightly convex posterior border ( Figs 1K View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2E View FIGURE 2 A – H ). Copulatory openings lie postero-laterally to the median plate ( Figs 1K View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2E View FIGURE 2 A – H ).Copulatory ducts long, coiled with small, ovate spermathecal heads ( Figs 1L View FIGURE 1 A – L , 2F View FIGURE 2 A – H ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective and is derived from the elongated embolus: Latin prolixus = long. Gender feminine.

Distribution. At present known only from Kerala, India and representing the first records of the genus Lysania from the Indian subcontinent.

Natural history. Both male and females of L. prolixus sp. nov. were collected from small sheet-webs constructed near the ground.

Notes. Li et al. (2013) suggested the presence of metallic luster on the dorsal opisthosoma of male Lysania species as a diagnostic feature for the genus. However, the male of L. prolixus sp. nov. has no such feature on its dorsal opisthosoma. Instead, it is simply covered with black hairs.

We considered both Lysania and Zoica Simon, 1898 as genera for this new species, however, it best fits the generic characters of the genus Lysania proposed by Lehtinen & Hippa (1979) and Li et al. (2013): opisthosoma dorsally and laterally with a pattern of yellowish-white spots and bands (see figs 1A, 1C, 1H, 1J); legs with annulations (see figs 1A, 1H); beak-like lateral apophysis (see figs 1F, 2C) (in Zoica , this kind of modification is absent); wider conductor (see fig 2C); spine-like embolus having distal origin (see figs 1F, 2C); long copulatory ducts (here it is coiled) (see fig 2F). In Zoica , the copulatory ducts are reduced in length (see Li et al. 2013); moreover, the specimens (both male and females) were collected from small sheet webs, which are apparently absent in members of a vagrant genus like Zoica .