Paratus Simon, 1898

Marusik, Yuri M., Zheng, Guo & Li, Shuqiang, 2008, A review of the genus Paratus Simon (Araneae, Dionycha), Zootaxa 1965, pp. 50-60 : 51-52

Paratus Simon, 1898

Paratus Simon, 1898: 209 .

Paratus: Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 401 .

Type species: Paratus reticulatus Simon, 1898 from Sri Lanka.

Diagnosis (after Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001): Squat spiders with high, almost round carapace which strongly narrows in front. Leg length uniform, anterior tibiae and metatarsi with several pairs of strong ventral spines and some lateral spines. Abdomen almost globular. Paratus is distinguished from European liocranid genera by the absence of the retrocoxal window on coxae I.

The following characters may also help diagnose the genus: Chelicera with an enlarged seta bent at a right angle (Bh, Fig. 4 ) originating near the base of fang. Male palp without distinct subtegulum, cymbium subequal in length to palpal femur, base of embolus continuous with tegulum, arising from the center of the tegulum, epigynal plate simple (without fovea, openings, grooves or outgrowths), epigyne with deep pocket, receptacula round. Abdomen with white guanine spots, carapace higher in thoracic part and very strong and long tibial and metatarsal spines.

Description. Medium sized spiders (2.60–4.60) with two claws, distinct pattern on carapace and abdomen, low clypeus, raised thoracic part of carapace, strong spines on legs I and II, white guanine spots on abdomen. Carapace width subequal to its length, light colored, with two pairs of dark bands (submedian and submarginal), lateral light band broken ( Figs. 1, 5–6 ). Eyes subequal in size, clypeus low, about ½ of AME in height ( Fig. 4 ). Thoracic part of carapace higher than cephalic area ( Fig. 2 ). Chelicera with small teeth on both margins, with strong, characteristically bent near base of fang ( Fig. 4 ). Maxillae relatively long ( Fig. 3 ). Legs long, with distinct annulations ( Figs. 1, 5 ), tibia I and II with 5 to 8 pairs of strong ventral spines ( Figs. 2–3 ), metatarsi I and II with 3 pairs of long and strong spines. Abdomen with light cardiac spot and dark pattern on sides and venter, with irregular white guanine spots ( Figs. 1–2, 5–6 ). Male palp with only one tibial (retrolateral) apophysis, long cymbium (about same length as femur), bulbus globular, without distinct subtegulum, without tegular (median) apophysis attached flexibly to tegulum. Conductor present in one species ( P. indicus sp. n.) and absent in another ( P. sinensis sp. n.). Embolus with long or very short stylus (St, extension of tip over embolic opening, Eo), seminal duct long, characteristically twisted near the base of embolus ( Figs. 11, 13–14 ). Epigyne simple, represented by an undivided plate without any fovea or furrows. Receptacula round, insemination ducts short ( Figs. 23–26, 28–29 ). P. sinensis sp.n. with pair of goffered diverticula. Diverticula became visible (expanded) after exposition of epigyne to lactic acid.

Composition. Three species, P. reticulatus Simon, 1898 (Sri Lanka), P. sinensis sp. n. (Yunnan, China), and P. indicus sp. n. (Uttar Pradesh, India).

Distribution. Paratus is known from three localities in South Asia: Sri Lanka, foothills of Indian Himalaya, and South China ( Fig. 30 ). Its occurrence in Vietnam, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh is very likely.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Distribution of Paratus spp.: diamond— P. reticulatus, square— P. indicus sp. n., circle— P. sinensis sp. n.

FIGURES 1 – 7. Somatic morphology of Paratus sinensis sp. n. (1 – 4) and P. indicus sp. n. (5 – 7). 1, 5 — female, dorsal; 2 — male, lateral, 3 — male, frontal; 4 — female, cephalic part and chelicera; 6 — male, dorsal; 7 — female spinnerets.

FIGURES 8 – 14. Male palp of Paratus indicus sp. n. (8 – 11) and P. sinensis sp. n. (12 – 14). 8 — palp, ventral; 9 — palp, prolateral; 10, 12 — tibia, retrolateral; 11, 13 – 14 — tegulum, ventral. Scale = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 22 – 29. Epigyne of Paratus sinensis sp. n. (22 – 26) and P. indicus sp. n. (27 – 29). 22, 27 — not detached epigyne, ventral; 23, 28 — after maceration, ventral; 24 – 25 — ditto, ventro-caudal; 26 — ditto, caudal; 29 — ditto, dorsal.