Theoa hamata, 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 : 88

Theoa hamata new species

Figs 75–80

Types. Holotype. ♂, LAOS, Vientiane Prov., W of Vang Vieng , Tham Pou Kham , 260 m a.s.l., 18°55.549'N 102°23.734'E, in front of limestone cave, leaf litter, sieving, 13.III.2007, leg. P. Jäger & F. Steinmetz. Paratypes. 1♂ ( MHNG), THAILAND, Chiang Mai Prov. and Distr., Doi Suthep, below Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple , 960 m a.s.l., pitfall traps, 1.–30.I.1987, leg. P. Schwendinger . 1♂ ( MHNG), same site, pitfall traps, 5.III.–4.IV.1987, leg. P. Schwendinger.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin word “hamatus, -a, -um”, meaning “hook-shaped” and refers to the peculiar shape of the cymbium; adjective.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to T. tricaudata , but differs well by the hook-shaped posterior cymbial outgrowth (versus nipper-shaped in T. tricaudata ), as well as by the shape of the more compact terminal apophysis.

Description. Male holotype. Total length 1.40. Carapace unmodified, 0.63 long, 0.51 wide, pale brown. Eyes normal. Chelicerae 0.23 long. Legs yellow, with longitudinal dark stripes. FeI, 0.78, Leg IV, 2.45 long (0.68+0.18+0.58+0.63+0.38). Chaetotaxy unknown (usually, all tibia with two dorsal spines), spines mostly lost, in type species all tibiae with 1 dorsal spine, no femoral or metatarsal spines. Metatarsi I–III with a trichobothrium each. TmI, 0.16. Palp ( Figs 75–80 ): Tibia without special spine. Cymbium with a large, proximal hook-shaped outgrowth. Paracymbium relatively small, toothless. Lamella characteristica totally reduced. Terminal apophysis large, well-sclerotized, looks like lamella characteristica. Embolus with Fickert’s gland inside, thumb present. Opisthosoma 0.75 long, 0.48 wide, dark grey with vague, irregular, white, small spots.

Female. Unknown.

Taxonomic remarks. The monotypic genus Theoa was erected by Saaristo (1995) for Theonina tricaudata Locket, 1982 , which had originally been described from West Malaysia ( Locket 1982) and later found in the Seychelles ( Saaristo 1995). The palp structure, i.e., modified cymbium, totally reduced lamella characteristica and the position of Fickert’s gland inside the embolus, clearly supports the generic inclusion of the new species in genus Theoa .

Figures

FIGURES 75 – 80. Theoa hamata n. sp. male holotype (from Tham Pou Kham, Laos). 75, Right palp, retrolateral; 76, Cymbium, dorsal. 77, 78, Terminal apophysis, different aspects. 79, 80, Embolus, different aspects.