Asiagone signifera, Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2014

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2014, New species and records of linyphiid spiders from Laos (Araneae, Linyphiidae), Zootaxa 3841 (1), pp. 67-89 : 69-70

Asiagone signifera new species

Figs 1–6

Types. Holotype. ♂, LAOS, Champasak Prov., Muang Bachieng , Ban Lak 35, That Itou , 15°11'37,7''N 106°06'06,3''E, 810 m a.s.l., secondary forest, close to river, leaf litter, at day, sieving, 26.XI.2009, leg. P. Jäger & S. Bayer . Paratypes. 1♂, same data, together with holotype . 1♂, Champasak Prov., Muang Bachieng , Pak Song , 15°10'36,0''N 106°14'15,2''E, 1280 m a.s.l., plateau, pine forest, at day, by hand, sweepnet, 27.XI.2009, leg. P. Jäger.

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning “bearing a sign or flag,” referring to the peculiar shape of the “flag” in the distal part of the embolus.

Diagnosis. A. signifera n. sp. is very similar to A. perforata n. sp. and is distinguished by the presence of a distal conical outgrowth on the tegulum and by the peculiar conformation of the embolus, distally bearing a semilunar, “flag-shaped,” chitinous tunic outgrowth (see also below).

Description. Male holotype. Total length 2.05. Carapace 1.03 long, 0.65 wide, unmodified ( Fig. 1 ), sulci absent, yellow to pale brown, with a broad, grey, friable margin. Chelicerae unmodified, 0.48 long, stridulatory furrows fine. Legs pale brown. Leg I, 4.21 long (1.08+0.25+1.10+1.03+0.75), IV, 3.87 long (1.05+0.23+1.03+0.98+0.58). Chaetotaxy 2.2.1.1, length of spines about 1.5–2 diameter of segment. All metatarsi with a trichobothrium. TmI, 0.43. Palp ( Figs 2–6 ): Tibia unmodified, slightly elongated, rounded distally, retrolateral apical edge with a small projection. Paracymbium L-shaped. Tegulum with a small conical outgrowth distally, slightly ventrad. Distal suprategular apophysis flat, abruptly truncate apically. Radical part of embolic division very small, surrounded by membranous tissue around which connects the convector to the radix. Convector crescent-shaped, with its outer margin folded forming a gutter sheathing for the distal part of the embolus; distal part of convector claw-shaped (DC in figs). Embolus long and thick, forming a loop, distal half embedded in convector. Distal part of embolus with a semilunar, “flag-shaped”, chitinous tunic outgrowth. Opisthosoma 1.13 long, 0.78 wide, dorsally pale, almost white, with a longitudinal row of four pairs of large grey spots; posterior pair of spots almost connected.

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Third and fourth pairs of dorsal abdominal spots can be fused.

Distribution. Known from two localities in Champasak Province, Laos.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Asiagone signifera n. sp. male paratype (from Tad Itou, Laos). 1, Carapace, lateral. 2, Right palp, retrolateral. 3, Palpal tibia, dorsal. 4, Distal suprategular apophysis, lateral. 5, Embolic division and part of distal suprategular apophysis, lateral. 6, Embolus, lateral.