Theoa vesica, 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 : 42-43

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Linyphiidae

Theoa vesica sp. n. Figs 100, 101, 102, 103

Types.

Holotype: ♂: CHINA, Yunnan: Menglun Town: Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, 21°57.010'N, 101°12.058'E, elevation ca 814 m, 18.08.2011, valley rain forest, fogging. Paratypes 1♀, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, 21°55.035'N, 101°16.500'E, elevation ca 558 m, 1.-15.07.2007, primary tropical seasonal rain forest, trunk traps; 1♀, 21°54.813'N, 101°12.634'E, elevation ca 876 m, 4.-11.04.2007, secondary tropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest, trunk traps.

Etymology.

The name is derived from the Latin word ‘vesica’, which means 'bladder, purse’, referring to the pouch-shaped structure in the vulva; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The male is recognized by the huge cymbial outgrowth (Fig. 100B), and the cresent-shaped embolus with large Fickert’s gland about half way along (Fig. 100C). The female has unusually small spermathecae situated laterally (Fig. 102C). It also differs from other congeners by having TmIV.

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length: 1.78. Carapace 0.90 long, 0.73 wide, unmodified, brownish red. Sternum 0.45 long, 0.50 wide. Clypeus 0.22 high. Chelicerae promargin with 2 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06, AME-AME/AME 0.01, PME-PME/PME 0.83, AME-ALE/ALE 0.76, PME-PLE/PLE 1.33, coxae IV separated by their width. Length of legs: I 3.90 (0.94, 0.25, 1.06, 0.98, 0.67), II 3.76 (1.00, 0.22, 1.00, 0.94, 0.60), III 2.98 (0.84, 0.23, 0.72, 0.72, 0.47), IV 3.49 (1.00, 0.24, 0.94, 0.93, 0.38). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. TmI 0.26, TmIV 0.18. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen dark green. Palp: tibia slightly elongated; paracymbium ‘C’ -shaped, with a prominent distal end (Figs 100B, 101B); cymbium with a prominent process, extending proximally then turning dorsally (Fig. 100A); embolus sickle-shaped, with a small, pointed embolus proper (Fig. 100C); thumb of embolus with indented fringe (Fig. 100D); Fickert’s gland very large (Fig. 100C).

Female (one of paratypes). Total length: 1.88. Carapace 0.85 long, 0.68 wide, brownish yellow. Sternum 0.47 long, 0.48 wide. Clypeus 0.16 high. Chelicerae promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 5 teeth. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME-AME/AME 0.17, PME-PME/PME 0.83, AME-ALE/ALE 0.67, PME-PLE/PLE 0.86, coxae IV separated by their width. Length of legs: I 4.24 (1.09, 0.25, 1.16, 1.10, 0.64), II 3.80 (1.00, 0.25, 1.00, 0.94, 0.61), III 3.12 (0.80, 0.23, 0.81, 0.78, 0.50), IV 3.84 (1.09, 0.22, 0.98, 1.00, 0.55). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. TmI 0.24, TmIV 0.14. Spine formula like in male. Abdomen pale. Epigyne: ventral fig bulgy (Figs 102A, 103A); scape short and broad (Fig. 102B); copulatory ducts long, following a complicated route (Fig. 102C); spermathecae small, held by a shield-like structure at each side of the epigyne (Figs 102C, 103B).

Distribution.

Known only from type localities.