Sphingius paltaensis, Biswas, B. & Biswas, K, 1992

Biswas, B. & Biswas, K, 1992, Fauna of West Bengal- Araneae: Spiders- Subfamily Corinnidae, Fauna of West Bengal Part 3 (Arachnida and acari), Calcutta, India: Zoological Survey of India, pp. 422-428 : 426-427

103. Sphingius paltaensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 36-38 )

General: Cephalothorax greenish brown, legs uniformly light coloured, abdomen somewhat darker than carapace. Total length 7.90 mm. Carapace 3.30 mm. long. 2.50 mm. wde; abdomen 4.20 mm. long, 2.50 mm. wide.

Cephalothorax: Longer than wide, narrow anteriorly and broad posteriorly covered with fine pubescence. Cephalic-shcild prominent without central fovea at the middle. Eyes in two parallel series anterior and posterior, more or less same size. Ocular quadrate approximately squire. Chelicerae strong and stout, longer than broad, inner and outer margin provided with two teeth. Maxillae and libium more longer than wide. Sternum heart-shaped covered with fine pubescence. Legs long partly black and partly compressed. The tibiae and metatarsi of all legs provided with a number of long spine-like hair.

Abdomen: Longer than wide, more or less oval in shape; abdominal sheild prominent with golden pile. Two pair of sigillae present on the dorsum. Abdomen without white patches. Epigyne with elongated plate, provided with copulatory opening.

Holotype: Female in spirit, deposited at Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, Regd. No. 5046/18 .

Type locality: Palta, Santinagar, Dist. North 24-Parganas , West Bengal, India, 8.xii. 1986, coll. Bijan Biswas.

This species resembles to Sphingius caniceps Simon but differs from that due to the following particulars: i) The anterior and posterior rows of eyes more or less in parallel series where as in S. caniceps anterior and posteior rows are not in parallel series, ii) The dorsum not provided with white patches where as in S. caniceps provided with while patches, iii) Epigyne and internal genitalia arc also structurally different

Figures

Figs. 36-38: Sphingius paltaensis sp. nov. 36. Dorsal view of female, legs omitted. 37. Epigyne. 38. Internal genitalia.