Draposa nicobarica, Kronestedt, Torbjörn, 2010

Kronestedt, Torbjörn, 2010, Draposa, a new wolf spider genus from South and Southeast Asia (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zootaxa 2637, pp. 31-54 : 44-45

Draposa nicobarica (Thorell, 1891) comb. nov.

Figs 26, 51, 52

Lycosa nicobarica Thorell , 1891: 5, 68 (♂♀).

Pardosa nicobarica : Roewer 1955: 183.

Type material. Lectotype (here designated) of Lycosa nicobarica Thorell , 1891: ♂, India, Nicobar Islands, Kar Nikobar (9°10'N 92°46'E) ( ZMUC), examined. Paralectotypes of Lycosa nicobarica Thorell , 1891: 1♂, India, Nicobar Islands, Pulo Milu (7°24'N 93°41'20''E) ( ZMUC) ; 1♀, India, Nicobar Islands, Teressa (8°15'N 93°06'E)( ZMUC) ; 1♀, India, Nicobar Islands, Nancowry [Nanchovry] (7°58'N 93°33'E)(Collectio Thorell No. 245/1538 , NHRS), all examined .

The syntype material was collected by the Danish expedition travelling aboard the corvette 'Galathea' (circumnavigation 1845-1847). The Nicobar Islands were held by Denmark in periods between 1756 and 1868, and the 'Galathea' expedition visited the islands in the beginning of 1846.

Diagnosis. Male distinguished by palp being comparatively wide and by configuration of palp, notably length and shape of tegular apophysis, with one conspicuous tooth-like projection at about half its length (also so in D. tenasserimensis but latter species with comparatively shorter tegular apophysis); female by shape of epigyne, with septum comparatively long and wide at base and opening to cavity widening posteriad.

Description. Male (from Pulo Milu, Nicobar Is., India): Total length 6.8. Carapace 3.90 long, 2.90 wide.

Prosoma. Both examined males discoloured by poor preservation.

Eyes. Width of row I 62, row II 88, row III 114, row II-III 85. Diameter of AME 14, ALE 12, PME 35, PLE 29. Distance between AME 6, between AME and ALE 2.

Opisthosoma. Both original males more or less discoloured by poor preservation.

Legs (Table 1). Unicolorous yellow (discoloured). Two retrolateral spines on TiI.

Palp (Fig. 51). Pt 0.70, Ti 0.60, Cy 1.80. Dorsal hairs on cymbium running lengthwise, as is usual in lycosids (not obliquely as in D. lyrivulva and D. tenasserimensis ). Palp comparatively broad, tegular apophysis long, with conspicuous tooth-like projection at about half its length. Embolus narrow, evenly tapering to tip.

Female (from Teressa, Nicobar Is.): Total length 7.2. Carapace 3.90 long, 3.00 wide.

Prosoma. Discoloured but pattern discernible: wide yellowish median band, brownish thoracic sides and wide yellowish lateral bands extending to carapace edge.

Eyes. Width of row I 63, row II 92, row III 120, row II-III 90. Diameter of AME 14, ALE 12, PME 36, PLE 30. Distance between AME 8, between AME and ALE 3.

Opisthosoma. Discoloured, dorsum with discernible lanceolate stripe.

Legs (Table 1). As male.

Epigyne (Figs 26, 52). Conspicuous median cavity deep, opening widening backwards, more so in female from Nancowry (Fig. 26). Median septum wide, long, extending backwards to about 2/3 of the cavity length. In female from Nancowry (Fig. 26), median septum widening more anteriad than in epigyne of female from Teressa (Fig. 52). Spermathecae elongated, visible through cuticle of lateral elevations.

Size variation. Carapace length of lectotype male 4.20, of female from Nanchovry 4.00.

Remarks. The spider fauna of the Nicobar Islands has been documented by Thorell (1891) and Tikader (1977). The lycosid species recorded by Thorell (1891) were Pardosa (sub Lycosa ) nicobarica and P (sub L.) thalassia (Thorell, 1891), both so far known as endemic to these islands [none of them were recorded by Tikader (1977). Pardosa thalassia (syntypes: 1♂ 1♀ in NHRS, 3♂ 3♀ in ZMUC, examined) belongs to a separate species group including, among others, Pardosa annandalei (Gravely, 1924) and Pardosa pseudoannulata ( Bösenberg & Strand, 1906).

Distribution. India: Nicobar Islands.