Amauropelma hoffmanni, 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 : 51-53

Amauropelma hoffmanni spec. nov.

Figs 179 , 210–226

Type material. Holotype male ( SMF), Laos, Luang Nam Tha Province, E Luang Nam Tha, Ban Tavan (3), N 20°58'57.6'', E 101°29'29.38'', 586 m altitude, valley with stream, leaf litter, sieving, at day, P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 18.XI.2009 . Paratypes: 1 male ( SMF), Laos, Luang Nam Tha Province, N Luang Nam Tha, Nam Ha protected area (5), N 21°9'7.2'', E 101°19'47.9'', 848 m altitude, secondary forest, close to stream, leaf litter, sieving, P. Jäger leg. 7.III.2008 . 1 female ( SMF), Laos, Luang Nam Tha Province, Nam Ha protected area, road between Luang Nam Tha and Muang Sing , N 21°9'7.2'', E 101°19'47.9'', 848 m altitude, underpass of stream, vegetation, by hand, P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 19.XI.2009 .

Additional material examined. 1 subadult female ( SMF), with same data as for holotype (epigyne developed under cuticle) .

Etymology. This species is named in honour of my diploma supervisor, Dr Jürgen Hoffmann (Cologne, Germany), for introducing me to taxonomy and systematics, scientific illustration and scientific collections; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Small Ctenidae (total length male 4.8–5.4, female 6.5). Males and females similar to those of A. jagelkii spec. nov. and A. annegretae spec. nov. Males can be distinguished from other Amauropelma spp. by their large tegular apophysis with a big dorsal excavation, which as a serrated distal margin ( Figs 211–212 , 222 ). Females may be distinguished by their very wide epigynal plate (width / length: 8.5 / 4) ( Figs 213 , 226 ).

Description. Male (holotype). PL 2.9, PW 2.2, AW 1.1, OL 2.5, OW 1.6. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.11, PME 0.20, PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.18, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.09, clypeus AME 0.07, clypeus ALE 0.21. Palp and leg measurements: palp 3.45 (1.2, 0.55, 0.65, -, 1.05), I 8.45 (2.35, 1.15, 2.15, 1.7, 1.1), II 7.25 (2.0, 1.0, 1.8, 1.5, 0.95), III 6.95 (1.9, 0.9, 1.6, 1.65, 0.9), IV 9.65 (2.6, 1.1, 2.25, 2.5, 1.2). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 130, 000, 1110; femora I–II p002, d111, III p012, d111, r012, IV p012, d111, r002; patellae I–II 000, III–IV 001; tibiae I v22222, II p010, v22222, III p11, d111, r11, v222, IV p11, d111, r111, v222; metatarsi I–II p010, v222, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p112, d010, r112, v322. Chelicerae with 3 + 1 promarginal, 4 + 1(2) minute retromarginal teeth, without denticles. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1 bristle. Tarsi and metatarsi without scopula. Claw tufts arising separately, but intermingle distally. Leg claws I with 5, II–III with 4, and IV with 5 secondary teeth.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 210–212 , 222 ). Embolus arising in a 7.30-o’clock-position from tegulum, forming a semi-circle. Conductor arising in a 12-o’clock-position from tegulum, bending retrolaterally. Tegular apophysis situated medially on tegulum, exhibiting dorsal appendage. RTA with two short apices, both dorso-distad. Patellar apophysis indistinct.

Colour ( Figs 218–221 ). Light yellowish-brown. Dorsal prosoma with eyes marked with black rings, faint longitudinal bands including radial markings, and dark margin; fovea distinct, reddish-brown. Chelicerae same colour as dorsal prosoma. Sternum, labium, gnathocoxae, ventral coxae pale yellowish-brown without pattern. Legs yellowish brown, metatarsus III–IV distinctly darker (reddish-brown) esp. in III–IV. Dorsal opisthosoma with black patches, most fused into two parallel rows. Lateral opisthosoma spotted. Ventral opisthosoma pale yellowish without pattern except for laterally and around spinnerets.

Female (paratype). PL 2.8, PW 2.15, AW 1.4, OL 3.5, OW 2.2. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.15, PME 0.22, PLE 0.21, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.21, AME– PME 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.10, clypeus AME 0.07, clypeus ALE 0.16. Palp and leg measurements: palp 3.15 (1.0, 0.55, 0.7, -, 0.9), I 7.65 (2.1, 1.05, 2.0, 1.6, 0.9), II 7.2 (2.0, 1.0, 1.8, 1.5, 0.9), III 6.75 (1.8, 0.9, 2.6, 1.5, 0.95), IV 9.15 (2.3, 1.1, 2.2, 2.45, 1.1). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 130, 100, 1201, 2113; femora I p002, d111, II p002(1), d111, III p011, d111, r012, IV p012(1), d111,a r001; patellae I–II 000, III–IV 001; tibiae I– II v22222, III p11, d110, r11, v222, IV p11, d111, r111, v222; metatarsi I–II v222, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p112, d010, r112, v322. Chelicerae with 3 + 1 promarginal, 4 + 1 retromarginal teeth, without denticles. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1 bristle. Tarsi and metatarsi without scopula. Claw tufts arising

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 213–217 , 226 ). Epigynal plate width/length: 8.5/4; anterior width/ posterior width: 8.5/4.1; posterior part with indistinct lateral margins. Proximal part of lateral teeth posteriolaterad, their tips medio-posteriorad. Internal duct system with round spermathecae fully visible, separated from each other by half their diameter; fertilisation ducts elongately laminar, anterior-mediad.

Colour ( Figs 223–225 ). As in male, except for: darker, slightly reddish-brown. Dorsal opisthosoma with transverse “bridges” between longitudinal rows of patches. Lateral and ventral opisthosoma with pattern less distinct.

Variation. Male: PL 2.65, OL 2.0.

Distribution. Known from three localities in Luang Nam Tha Province, Northern Laos ( Fig. 179 : 4).

Figures

FIGURE 179. Records of Amauropelma spp. in South and Southeast Asia. 1–3 India (1 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; 2 Dhanolti, Uttar Pradesh, 3 Rongdanggai, Meghalaya). 4–6 Laos (4 Ban Tavan/Nam Ha protected area, Luang Nam Tha; 5 Nong Khiao, Luang Prabang; 6 Nam Khan, Luang Prabang). 7 Pulau Penang, Malaysia.

FIGURES 210–217. Amauropelma hoffmanni spec. nov. from Luang Nam Tha, Laos. 210–212 Holotype male from Ban Tavan, left male palp (210 prolateral; 211 ventral; 212 retrolateral). 196–198 Paratype female from Nam Ha protected area (213

FIGURES 218–226. Amauropelma hoffmanni spec. nov. from Luang Nam Tha, Laos. 218–222 Holotype male from Ban Tavan, habitus (218–221) and left male palp (222) (218 dorsal; 219 ventral; 220 lateral; 221 frontal; 222 retrolateral). 223–226 Paratype female from Nam Ha protected area, habitus (223–225) and epigyne (226) (223 dorsal; 224 ventral; 225 frontal; 226 ventral).