Patu shiluensis, Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009

Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009, First described Patu spiders (Araneae, Symphytognathidae) from Asia, Zootaxa 2154, pp. 47-68 : 59-60

Patu shiluensis spec. nov.

Figs. 11–13 ; 18

Type material. Holotype male ( IZCAS), 4 males and 9 females paratypes from leaves litter in rainforest (19°12´N, 109°04´E), Shilu Town, Changjiang Lizu Autonomous County, Hainan Province, China, 22 March 2005, Y. F. Tong, Y. J. Song and X. Han leg. ( IZCAS).

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the name of type locality.

Diagnosis. Patu shiluensis seems similar to Patu silho Saaristo, 1996 from Seychelles, but it can be distinguished by the long embolus, the presence of fingerlike cymbial process, the coiled copulatory ducts and the smaller body size.

Description. Holotype male. Total length 0.54. Carapace 0.20 long, 0.21 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Sternum 0.17 long, 0.16 wide. Abdomen 0.36 long, 0.29 wide. Carapace nearly round, smooth, black on bilateral and anterior margin, pale yellow on middle. Cephalic pars elevated. Six eyes in three diads, PME larger than PLE and ALE, lateral eyes in contact, ocular base black, PRE slightly recurved. Chelicerae fused at middle, covered long setae on anterior surface, with two sharply adnate teeth, cheliceral fang with tiny denticles. Sternum yellow, plump, fused to labium, surface smooth. Legs pale yellow proximally, darkish distally, each patella with a long distally dorsal spine; each tibia with two long dorsal spines and three trichobothria, a ventral spur on tibia II; metatarsus without trichobothria. Leg measurements: I 0.65 (0.20, 0.09, 0.14, 0.11, 0.11); II 0.54 (0.16, 0.08, 0.11, 0.07, 0.13); III 0.46 (0.13, 0.07, 0.08, 0.07, 0.11); IV 0.53 (0.17, 0.07, 0.11, 0.07, 0.12). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. Abdomen egg-shaped, with three pale spots, darkish on dorsum, pale yellow on venter, posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Spinnerets region without annular sclerotized plate, spinnerets small; colulus absent.

Palp large. Femur, patella and tibia subequal in length, without setae and hairs. Cymbium membranous, three spines on apex, with a prolaterally-mesal process, a spine at distal end of process. Bulb complex. Tegulum smooth; conductor fingerlike; embolus long, strongly sclerotized, coiled to two rings. Mostly ejaculatory duct embedded in the radix haematodocha. Terminal apophysis absent, embolic base located at underside of tegulum ( Fig. 12 A, B).

Female. Total length 0.62. Carapace 0.26 long, 0.22 wide. Clypeus 0.07 high. Sternum 0.11 long, 0.10 wide. Abdomen 0.39 long, 0.35 wide. Somatic coloration and modified patterns same as in male. Palp absent. Clypeus lower than in male. Leg measurements: I 0.64 (0.19, 0.08, 0.14, 0.11, 0.12); II 0.57 (0.17, 0.07, 0.13, 0.08, 0.12); III 0.47 (0.13, 0.08, 0.08, 0.08, 0.10); IV 0.56 (0.18, 0.08, 0.11, 0.09, 0.10). Leg formula: I-II-IV- III. Abdomen ovoid, wide anteriorly and narrow posteriorly, darkish dorsally and yellow ventrally, without sclerotized plate. Posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Spiracles and colulus absent.

Epigynal surface smooth, two pair of long setae at posterior margin, posteriorly median margin slightly projecting. Vulva structure complex. Paired spermathecae globose, strongly sclerotized; copulatory ducts long, sclerotized, deriving from anterolateral corner of spermathecae, twist a knot before coiled into three rings; copulatory opening fused at translucent atrium; compared with copulatory ducts, fertilization ducts shorter and thinner, starting at posterolateral corner of spermathecae ( Fig. 13 A, B).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Hainan) ( Fig. 18).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Patu shiluensis spec. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Female, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10.

FIGURE 12. Patu shiluensis spec. nov. A. Left palp, prolateral view; B. Ditto, retrolateral view. Scale bar: 0.05.

FIGURE 13. Patu shiluensis spec. nov. A. Epigynum, ventral view; B. Ditto, dorsal view; C. Male chelicerae, anterior view; D. Male leg II, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.05 for A – C; 0.10 for D.