Dactylopisthes separatus, Zhao, Qingyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2014

Zhao, Qingyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2014, A survey of linyphiid spiders from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Linyphiidae), ZooKeys 460, pp. 1-181 : 14-15

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Linyphiidae

Dactylopisthes separatus sp. n. Figs 30, 31

Types.

Holotype ♀: CHINA, Yunnan: Menglun Town: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, 21°55.551'N, 101°16.923'E, elevation ca 561 m, 16.-28.02.2007, rubber-tea plantation, trunk traps. Paratypes 1♀, 21°54.213'N, 101°16.927'E, elevation ca 590 m, 24.11.2006, G 213 road, arbor plantation, fogging; 1♀, 21°55.551'N, 101°16.923'E, elevation ca 585 m, 19.-25.01.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting; 1♀, 21°54.463'N, 101°15.978'E, elevation ca 569 m, 1.-15.02.2007, rubber-tea plantation, trunk traps; 1♀, 21°54.646'N, 101°16.257'E, elevation ca 572 m, 1.-15.02.2007, rubber-tea plantation, trunk traps; 1♀, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 16.-28.02.2007, rubber tree plantation, trunk traps; 1♀, 21°54.498'N, 101°16.326'E, elevation ca 586 m, 4.-11.05.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting; 1♀, 21°54.710'N, 101°16.941'E, elevation ca 652 m, 15.11.2009, Lvshilin, tropical seasonal rain forest; 1♀, 21°56.206'N, 101°16.204'E, elevation ca 558 m, 1.12.2009, tropical evergreen rain forest.

Etymology.

The name for this species is derived from the Latin word ‘separatus’, which means ‘unconnected’, referring to the separated ventral fig of the epigyne; adjective.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Dactylopisthes locketi (Tanasevitch, 1983) in the general shape of epigyne ( Tanasevitch 1989: fig. 127), but different in the detailed structure: the spermathecae in Dactylopisthes separatus sp. n. are more separated than those in Dactylopisthes locketi (Fig. 30B), and situated closer to the posterior rim of the epigyne; the two pieces of separated ventral fig are narrower and more pointed (Fig. 30A).

Description.

Female (holotype). Total length: 1.60. Carapace 0.69 long, 0.55 wide, yellow, with dark margin. Sternum 0.36 long, 0.41 wide. Clypeus 0.14 high. Chelicerae promargin with 4 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06, AME-AME/AME 0.20, PME-PME/PME 0.67, AME-ALE/ALE 0.13, PME-PLE/PLE 0.17, coxae IV separated by 1.92 times their width. Length of legs: I 2.11 (0.61, 0.20, 0.50, 0.45, 0.35), II 2.22 (0.62, 0.19, 0.55, 0.53, 0.33), III 1.76 (0.48, 0.18, 0.40, 0.42, 0.28), IV 2.24 (0.63, 0.19, 0.50, 0.55, 0.37). Leg formula: IV-II-I-III. TmI 0.69, TmIV 0.65. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-1-1. Abdomen pale, with a greenish grey horseshoe band on dorsum, and a small dark patch at the posterior end. Epigyne: ventral fig subdivided, with two rounded ends (Figs 30A, 31A); dorsal fig tongue-shaped (Fig. 30B); copulatory openings near the posterior margin of ventral fig (Fig. 30C); copulatory ducts short and straight; spermathecae somewhat elliptical, separated by two diameters (Fig. 30C).

Male. Unknown.

Remarks.

The diagnosis of this species is solely based on the female specimens and the genera within or related to the Savignia group share very similar epigynal structure, which makes it rather difficult to place species in correct genus by comparing epigynes only. The value of TmI of this species and the pattern on its abdomen’s dorsum seem to be different from other existing congeners in Dactylopisthes , but it could be tentatively placed in this genus because of its resemblance to Dactylopisthes locketi . A more reasonable diagnosis will be made when the male specimens are collected and studied.