Zodarion ovatum, Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2019

Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2019, Three new species of the genus Zodarion (Araneae, Zodariidae) from China, ZooKeys 813, pp. 67-87 : 72-73

Zodarion ovatum sp. n. Figures 6, 7, 8

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (Z-Yunnan-200505-18), Yuanmou County (25°51'N, 101°45'E), Yunnan Province, China, 26 May 2005, collector unknown. Paratypes: 71 ♂ (Z-Yunnan-200505-19 - Z- Yunnan-200505-89) and 33 ♀ (Z- Yunnan-200505-90 - Yunnan-200505-122), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

The males of Z. ovatum sp. n. are similar to those of Zodarion nitidum (Audouin, 1826), Z. christae Bosmans, 2009, Z. deltshevi Bosmans, 2009, and Z. samos Bosmans, 2009 because of the flagelliform embolus rising at the basal part of the tegulum, the small tegular apophysis and the retrolateral tibial apophysis terminally pointed in ventral view, though it can be distinguished from the others by the small oval base of the embolus (triangular in the other three species), and the lack of a gland in the base of the cymbium (present in the other three species). The females of Z. ovatum sp. n. are similar to female Z. soror (Simon, 1873) in having swollen copulatory ducts, and also to Z. ludibundum Simon, 1914 and Z. nigriceps (Simon, 1873) by the oblique lateral margines of epigyne, but the copulatory ducts of Z. ovatum sp. n. are longitudinally arranged (Figs 7 A–E, 8 A–E) rather than oblique in the three other species.

Etymology.

The specific name is from the Latin ovatum , in reference to the oval shape of the swollen copulatory ducts; adjective.

Description.

Male (holotype): total length 1.85; carapace 0.99 long, 0.68 wide; opisthosoma 0.88 long, 0.64 wide. Carapace (Fig. 6A) longer than wide, yellow-brown, median part with faint black patch in front of black fovea, thorax flat, tegument smooth and shiny. Clypeus 0.09 high, yellow-brown. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Ocular area black. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.03, PME 0.04, PLE 0.04, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.33, AME–PME 0.07, PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.03, PLE–PLE 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.01. MOQ 0.21 long, anterior width 0.24, posterior width 0.25. Mouthparts (Fig. 6B): chelicerae yellow-brown, with two anterior and one posterior teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part with row of black scopulae, fangs short; endites yellow, apices paler and provided with dense black scopula; labium triangular, 0.11 long, 0.18 wide, yellow-brown, median part with semi-orbicular brown band. Sternum (Fig. 6B) 0.52 long, 0.55 wide, white, lateral margin dark, provided with sparse black setae, its lateral margin with inter- and intra-coxal triangles. Legs (Fig. 6A, B) brown. Leg measurements: leg I 2.83 (0.75 + 0.26 + 0.59 + 0.78 + 0.45), II 2.54 (0.62 + 0.24 + 0.45 + 0.79 + 0.44), III 2.62 (0.71 + 0.20 + 0.46 + 0.80 + 0.45), IV 3.56 (0.79 + 0.31 + 0.80 + 1.01 + 0.65). Opisthosoma (Fig. 6A, B) oval, covered with black short setae. Dorsum of opisthosoma gray, covered by many dark patches; venter white. Spinnerets (Fig. 6B) pale yellow.

Palp (Figs 7 A–C, 8 A–C). Palps yellow brown; length to width ratio of femur 2.5, length to width ratio of patella 1.3; retrolateral tibial apophysis as long as tibia, thin and slightly curved in ventral view, but wide in retrolateral view, without dorsolateral process; tegular apophysis large and complex, tip turning gradually tapering, hook of tegular apophysis pointed posteriorly in prolateral view; membranous conductor short; base of embolus small and oval, connected to tegulum via white membrane.

Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-25) measured: total length 2.65; carapace 1.20 long, 0.84 wide; opisthosoma 1.48 long, 1.05 wide. Carapace yellow-brown. Clypeal height 0.09. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.09, PME 0.05, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.41, AME–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.02, PLE–PLE 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOQ 0.60 long, front width 0.70, back width 0.26. Mouthparts (Figure 1D): labium 0.17 long, 0.21 wide. Sternum 0.83 long, 0.97 wide. Leg measurements: I 2.66 (0.71 + 0.22 + 0.59 + 0.50 + 0.64), II 2.37 (0.81 + 0.17 + 0.47 + 0.64 + 0.28), III 2.54 (0.72 + 0.23+ 0.34 + 0.79+ 0.46), IV 3.79 (1.07 + 0.27 + 0.63 + 1.18 + 0.64). Dorsum of opisthosoma black; venter gray-brown. Other coloration as in male (Fig. 6C, D).

Epigyne with two oblique chitinous sutures, copulatory openings situated almost in the central part of epigyne; anterior part of copulatory ducts swollen, visible through integument; spermathecae small, situated posteriorly and well separated (Figs 7D, E, 8D, E).

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Remarks.

The males of species Z. ovatum sp. n. belong to the lutipes group with their long embolus rising at the posterior part of the tegulum; tibial apophysis short, robust and without lateral process. The females of Z. ovatum sp. n. resemble the species of the italicum group ( Bosmans 1997) with their parallel or converging chitinous sutures on the epigyne and swollen copulatory ducts.