Clubiona vukomi, Jäger, Peter & Dankittipakul, Pakawin, 2010

Jäger, Peter & Dankittipakul, Pakawin, 2010, Clubionidae from Laos and Thailand (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 2730, pp. 23-43 : 27-28

Clubiona vukomi spec. nov.

Figs 13-21, 71

Type material: Holotype: male, LAOS: Luang Nam Tha Province: 2-3 km N of Luang Nam Tha , 597 m altitude, N 21°01.201', E 101°24.632', slope, trees, under stones, by hand, at night, 2 March 2008, P. Jäger leg. ( SMF, L42) .

Paratypes: THAILAND: Chiang Mai Province and district: 1 male, Chiang Mai city , 330 m altitude, in flower, P.J. Schwendinger leg. ( MHNG) . Chai Ya Phum Province: 1 male, Pa Hin Ngam Nationa Park , dipterocarp forest, 450 m altitude, 15 October 2009, P. Dankittipakul leg. ( MHNG) .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Ndebele term "vimbani ukuzalisana okungela mikhawulo", meaning "stop overpopulation" and referring to the human overpopulation threatening natural habitats of spiders. Ndebele is a language from South Africa, belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages. It is used here to emphasize the global relevance of overpopulation; term in apposition.

Diagnosis. Small sized Clubioninae with a body length of 6.0 mm (Figs 19-20), belonging to the japonica species-group ( Deeleman-Reinhold 2001; Mikhailov 1995). Males can be recognised by the dorsally situated RTA, the strong sclerotised tegular apophysis and the shape of the filiform embolus with a semicircular tip in a plain transversal to the basal part of the embolus (Figs 13-16).

Note. Although there are superficial similarities especially in the opisthosomal pattern between this new species and the female of C. melanothele from Lak Sao, both are considered different species due to slight but clear differences in the colouration: C. vukomi spec. nov. exhibits pale chelicerae with an indistinct pattern (Fig. 21; dark reddish-brown in C. melanothele, Fig. 34), the dorsal shield has a marbled pattern extending to fovea with a median line between eyes reaching almost to fovea (Fig. 19; extending to half distance between eyes and fovea and without median line in C. melanothele, Fig. 34).

Description. Male (holotype): PL 2.7, PW 2.0, AW 1.1, OL 3.3, OW 1.7. Eye diametres (Fig. 17): AME 0.15, ALE 0.16, PME 0.13, PLE 0.14. Eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.09, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.23, PME-PLE 0.16, AME-PME 0.15, ALE-PLE 0.09, clypeus AME 0.06, clypeus ALE 0.06. Leg and pedipalp measurements: pedipalp 2.16 (0.76, 0.30, 0.38, -, 0.72); leg I 7.0 (2.0, 0.95, 1.95, 1.35, 0.75); leg II 7.5 (2.1, 1.05, 2.1, 1.5, 0.75); leg III 6.1 (1.8, 0.85, 1.35, 1.5, 0.6); leg IV 9.35 (2.6, 1.05, 2.4, 2.6, 0.7). Leg formula. 4213. Spination: Pedipalp femur: 030, patella 010, tibia 2300, tarsus 1002; Femur I p001, d111, r01(0)0, II p001, d111, III p001, d111, r001, IV p001, d111, r001; Patella IV r010; Tibia I v221, II p001, v221, III p011, r011, v111, IV p011, r011, v111; Metatarsus I-II v200, III p111, d010, r101, v203, IV p111, d010, r111, v213.

Chelicerae without frontal bulge (Fig. 21), cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior (median largest) and 2 posterior teeth (Fig. 18). Tarsi and metatarsi I-II with scopulae, distal tibiae I-II with two rows of single scopula hairs ventrally. Spinnerets and anal tubercle elongated.

Palp as in diagnosis. Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia, blunt and with dorsal depression distally. RTA short, massive, hook-like bent, connected to a retrolateral sclerotised distal ridge. Tegulum extending beyond cymbium retrolaterally in ventral view. Sperm duct running a double U-turn in the centre of tegulum. Embolus arising from prolateral side of tegulum, basal part sickle-shaped. Membranous conductor arising prolaterally, covering the distal coil of embolus. Tegular apophysis pointed, reaching cymbial margin in ventral view (Figs 13-16).

Colour in ethanol (Figs 19-21). Pale yellow with distinct colour pattern. Dorsal prosoma with head region marbled and eyes region darker. Chelicerae with longitudinal bands and inner parts dark. Opisthosoma grey, dorsally with distinct pattern consisting of broad stripes and blotches. Spinnerets and anal tubercle dark.

Female: unknown.

Distribution. Known from Laos, Luang Nam Tha (type locality) and Thailand, Chiang Mai and Chai Ya Phum Provinces (Fig. 71: 1, 11-12).