Thelcticopis unciformis Zhu & Zhong, 2020

Zhu, Yang, Lin, Ye-Jie & Zhong, Yang, 2020, Two new and one newly recorded species of Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, ZooKeys 940, pp. 105-115 : 105

Thelcticopis unciformis Zhu & Zhong sp. nov. Figures 4 , 5

Type materials.

Holotype. ♂ (CBEE), China, Taiwan Island, Taipei City, Mt. Yangming, 25.17N, 121.53E, 5.VII.2013, J. Liu leg. Paratypes (CBEE): ♂, same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from Latin adjective unciformis , - is, - e, meaning hooked and referring to the embolus being curved.

Diagnosis.

The male of T. unciformis resembles that of T. dahanensis (Fig. 1A-D ) by the embolus arising from the tegulum at the 8:30 to 9- o’clock position, embolus tip slender; tibia with retrolateral setae, RTA arising distally from the tibia. However, it can be distinguished by the embolus tip extending beyond the conductor (not so in T. dahanensis ); dRTA tip pointed in retrolateral view (blunt in T. dahanensis ) (Fig. 4A-D ).

Description.

Male. PL 7.5, PW 6.0, AW 3.3, OL 7.1, OW 4.0. Eyes: AME 0.39, ALE 0.30, PME 0.21, PLE 0.27, AME-AME 0.21, AME-ALE 0.35, PME-PME 0.58, PME-PLE 0.77, AME-PME 0.33, ALE-PLE 0.32, CHAME 0.15, CHALE 0.12. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 0002; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 000; Ti: I-II 212(10), III 2026, IV 2226; Mt: I-II 1012, III 1014, IV 3034. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 7.3 (2.0, 0.8, 1.2, -, 3.3), I 22.9 (6.2, 3.1, 6.3, 5.8, 1.5), II 21.3 (6.1, 2.9, 5.7, 5.2, 1.4), III 17.6 (5.4, 2.6, 4.2, 4.1, 1.3), IV 22.4 (6.8, 2.4, 5.6, 6.1, 1.5). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and six posterior teeth, without denticles (Fig. 5C ). Dorsal prosoma deep reddish brown, posterior margins dark, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellowish to reddish brown, with margin reddish brown. Gnathocoxae deep yellowish brown, with white distal lips. Labium deep reddish brown. Legs deep yellowish brown, covered by short spines. Dorsal opisthosoma with irregular patches and distinct median chevrons in posterior half. Ventral opisthosoma yellowish brown, with larger and black hairs (Fig. 4F, G ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Cymbium about three times longer than tibia in ventral view. Conductor arising from tegulum in an 11- o’clock-position. Median apophysis spoon-shaped and bifid in ventral view. Sperm duct slightly curved in ventral view. vRTA and dRTA with pointed tips in retrolateral view. Palpal tibia retrolaterally directed with distinct bunch of six setae (Fig. 4A-D ).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 5 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Thelcticopis dahanensis Zhu & Zhong, sp. nov., holotype male A-C palp, left D left male palpal tibia E tegular apophysis F cheliceral dentition G, H male habitus (A prolateral view; B, E, F, H ventral view; C, D retrolateral view; G dorsal view). Abbreviations: C-conductor, dRTA-dorsal branch of RTA, E-embolus, TA-tegular apophysis, SP-spermophore, vRTA-ventral branch of RTA. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-F); 5 mm (G, H).

Figure 4. Thelcticopis unciformis Zhu & Zhong, sp. nov., holotype male A-C palp, left D left male palpal tibia E cheliceral dentition F, G male habitus (A prolateral view; B, E, G ventral view; C, D retrolateral view; F dorsal view). Abbreviations: C-conductor, dRTA-dorsal branch of RTA, E-embolus, TA-tegular apophysis, SP-spermophor, vRTA-ventral branch of RTA. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-E); 5 mm (F, G).

Figure 5. Collection localities of three Thelcticopis species from China.