Ctenus theodorianum, Jager, 2012

Jäger, Peter, 2012, Asian species of the genera Anahita Karsch 1879, Ctenus Walckenaer 1805 and Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray 2001 (Arachnida: Araneae: Ctenidae), Zootaxa 3429 (1), pp. 1-63 : 26-29

Ctenus theodorianum spec. nov.

Figs 39 , 92–115

Type material. Holotype male ( SMF), Laos, Oudomxai Province, Phou Hiphi provincial protected area, ca. 4 km S of Oudomxai, N 20°39'9.7'', E 102°0'10.59'', 850 m altitude, ground, vegetation, tree bark, by hand, by night, L. Nophaseud leg. 18.IV.2011 . Paratypes: 1 female ( SMF) with same data as for holotype . 1 female ( SMF), with same data as for holotype except for: 4 km S of Oudomxai, N 20°40'4.32'', E 102°2'25.32'', 830 m altitude .

Etymology. This species is named in honour of my secondary school “Gymnasium Theodorianum” in Paderborn, Germany, on the occasion of its 400th anniversary for providing an excellent education and training, therefore a good start into my life; name in apposition.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Ctenidae (total length male 10.8, female 12.3–13.8). Distinguished from other Ctenus spp. , but not C. robustus , by the modified leg III in males with ventral hump on proximal femur covered by small stout spines ( Fig. 111 ) and two ventral cone-shaped humps each with one spine on proximal metatarsus ( Figs 112–115 ). For differential diagnosis see C. robustus . Females show typical characters of other Asian Ctenus spp. : broad median epigynal plate with two lateral teeth, internal duct system consisting of spherical spermathecae, short

Description. Male (holotype). PL 6.2, PW 4.8, AW 2.5, OL 4.6, OW 2.9. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.21, PME 0.40, PLE 0.39, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.33, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.31, AME–PME 0.08, ALE–PLE 0.12, clypeus AME 0.14, clypeus ALE 0.61. Palp and leg measurements: palp 6.55 (2.4, 1.1, 1.25, -, 1.5), I 22.2 (5.8, 2.5, 6.0, 5.7, 2.2), II 19.4 (5.3, 2.3, 5.0, 5.0, 1.8), III 16.1 (4.6, 2.0, 3.4, 4.5, 1.6), IV 23.8 (6.2, 2.2, 5.7, 7.6, 2.1). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 141, 100, 1010; femora I p121,

Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 4 retromarginal teeth, and with elongated patch of many tiny denticles along entire cheliceral furrow. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with several short and thin bristles. Sparse scopula restricted almost entirely to tarsi, only metatarsi I–II with sparse scopula hairs. Right leg claw I with 5 secondary teeth ( Fig. 95 ). Position of tarsal organ: I 0.90, II 0.90, III 0.80, IV 0.85.

Palp as in diagnosis (see also C. robustus ) ( Figs 92–94 ). Palpal tibia with strong RTA, with broad base and blunt tip. Cymbium tip slightly conical, retro-proximally with distinct pointed extension. Embolus arising at 7.30- o’clock-position, short, its tip situated almost centrally. Conductor arising at 12-o’clock-position subdistally, partly fused with tegulum. Tegular apophysis arising at 6- to 6.30-o’clock-position from tegulum, in ventral view divided into two parts, distinctly excavated on dorsal side.

Colour ( Figs 105–107 ). Brown partly with dark-brown pattern. Dorsal prosoma with broad lateral bands marginally and dark bands around distinctly marked fovea. Sternum, ventral coxae III + IV, labium and gnathocoxae dark, partly with lighter patches, coxae I + II yellowish-brown without pattern. Chelicerae as dorsal prosoma with longitudinal lines in proximal half and with dark distal half. Leg femora dark with irregular darker patches, patellae to tarsi yellowish-brown. Dorsal opisthosoma greyish-brown, mottled with small dark spots, anterior half with lighter patches. Lateral opisthosoma with spots in longitudinal rows. Ventral opisthosoma black with two pairs of white patches consisting of white hairs; epiandrium and muscle sigilla light. Anterior lateral spinnerets dark, posterior lateral and median spinnerets and anal tubercle light.

Female (paratype together with holotype). PL 6.9, PW 5.6, AW 3.6, OL 7.0, OW 4.6. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.37, ALE 0.28, PME 0.47, PLE 0.39, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.40, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.41, AME–PME 0.11, ALE–PLE 0.15, clypeus AME 0.22, clypeus ALE 0.70. Palp and leg measurements: palp 7.0 (2.4, 1.3, 1.5, -, 1.8), I 18.15 (5.2, 2.9, 4.7, 3.9, 1.45), II 17.0 (4.9, 2.7, 4.2, 3.7, 1.5), III 14.9 (4.3, 2.2, 3.3, 3.6, 1.5), IV 20.8 (5.6, 2.5, 4.9, 6.0, 1.8). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 131, 100, 1211, 1013; femora I p021, d111, r111, II–III p112, d111, r 111, IV p111, d111, r011; patellae I–II 000, III–IV 101; tibiae I–II v22222, III–IV p11, d111, r11, v222; metatarsi I v22(1)2, II v222, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p112, d010, r112, v2122. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 4 retromarginal teeth, and with elongated patch of many tiny denticles along entire cheliceral furrow. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 13 thin bristles. Ventral tarsi and entire metatarsi with sparse scopula. Claw tufts with concave distal surface. Palpal claw with 5 secondary teeth. Right leg claw I with 3 secondary teeth ( Fig. 100 ). Position of tarsal organ: I 0.90, II 0.85, III 0.76, IV 0.83.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis (see also C. robustus ) ( Figs 96–104 ). Epigynal field with two separate anterio-lateral patches, close to these patches two slit sense organs. Median plate narrow anteriorly, widening medially and narrowing posteriorly again, posteriorly with subparallel margins, lateral teeth situated at widest part. Posterior epigyne with distinct lateral furrows. Internal duct system with two large lateral folds running diagonally from medially to laterally. Spherical spermathecae separated by their diameter or more than that from each other, with a small round chamber between spermathecae and fertilisation ducts, the latter pointing medially.

Colour ( Figs 108–110 ). As in male, but generally darker. Dorsal prosoma with two posteriorly diverging lines starting at PLE. Distal leg segments with indistinct patches, especially in legs III–IV. Dorsal opisthosoma with pairs of indistinct small light patches. Ventral opisthosoma with ca. 8 pairs of white patches, partly fused.

Variation. Second female paratype: PL 6.3, OL 6.3. Epigyne smaller and relatively slightly longer, with posterior parallel margins indistinct. Lateral teeth not as pointed as in syntopic paratype. In the internal duct system glandular pores could be recognised and are added in the schematic course.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 39 : 8).

Figures

FIGURE 39. Records of Ctenus spp. in South and Southeast Asia. 1 Between Chitre and Chandrung, Nepal. 2–5 Burma (2

FIGURES 92–95. Ctenus theodorianum spec. nov., holotype male from Laos (Phou Hiphi, Oudomxai). 92–94 Left male palp (92 prolateral, 93 ventral, 94 retrolateral). 95 Right leg claw I, prolateral.

FIGURES 96–104. Ctenus theodorianum spec. nov., paratype females from Laos (Phou Hiphi, Oudomxai). 96, 101 Epigyne, ventral; 97, 102 Epigyne, posterior; 98, 103 Vulva, dorsal; 99, 104 Schematic course of duct system, dorsal. 100 Right leg claw I, retrolateral.

FIGURES 105–115. Ctenus theodorianum spec. nov. from Laos (Phou Hiphi, Oudomxai) (105–107, 111–115 holotype male, 108–110 paratype female). 105–110 Habitus (105, 108 dorsal; 106, 109 ventral; 107, 110 lateral). 111 Hump on femur III, ventral. 112–115 Humps on tibia and metatarsus III, different views.