Protopalpus, Tanasevitch, 2021

Tanasevitch, A. V., 2021, New taxa and faunistic data on linyphiid spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from Southeast Asia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 69, pp. 212-218 : 212-214

Protopalpus , new genus

Type species. Protopalpus kurku , new species.

Etymology. The generic name emphasises a simple and primitive structure of the embolic division in the male palp. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. Protopalpus , new genus, is diagnosed by the following combination of somatic and genitalic characters:

1) small-sized Erigoninae , with a total length of ca 1.4;

2) carapace unmodified, sulci absent ( Fig. 1A–C );

3) eyes enlarged ( Fig. 1A );

4) no distinct dorsal abdominal pattern ( Fig. 1B, C );

5) leg chaetotaxy formula: 1.1.1.1, metatarsi IV without trichobothrium, TmI ca 0.4;

6) palpal tibia modified ( Fig. 2A, D );

7) paracymbium flat and wide, of a peculiar shape ( Fig. 2A );

8) embolic division large, extremely simple: radix continuous with embolus ( Fig. 2B, C ).

Species included. Protopalpus kurku , new species.

Taxonomic remarks. By its small size, the chaetotaxy formula, and the extremely simple palp structure, the new genus resembles the Holarctic genus Tapinocyba Simon, 1884 . However, Protopalpus , new genus, clearly differs by the absence of sulci on the carapace, the enlarged eyes, this being characteristic of numerous Oriental erigonines, as well as by the peculiar shape of the paracymbium. By the simple structure of the embolic division, Protopalpus , new genus, is also reminiscent of the Afrotropical-Oriental genus Pseudomicrocentria Miller, 1970 , but is clearly distinguished by the formula of leg chaetotaxy (2.2.2.1 vs. 1.1.1.1.), by the absence of sulci on the male carapace, the enlarged eyes, as well as by the structure of the paracymbium.

Distribution. Known only from Thailand.

Figures

Fig. 1. Photographs of Protopalpus kurku, new species, male holotype (A–C); Cyphonetria flagellata, new species, male holotype (D, F, I) and female paratype (E, G, H, J). B–E, H, body; C–E, dorsal view; B, lateral view; H, ventral view; A, F, I, prosoma; A, G, I, frontal view; F, posterolateral view; J, epigyne, ventral view. Scale = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 2. Details of male palp structure of Protopalpus kurku, new species, male holotype. A–C, right palp, retrolateral, prolateral, and ventro-prolateral view, respectively; D, palpal tibia, dorsal view. Em = embolus; P = paracymbium; R = radix. Scale = 0.1 mm.