Dolichognatha chimminiensis, Anju & Asha & Sudhikumar, 2024

Anju, Kuriakkattil Baby, Asha, Theresa Joy & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, 2024, A new six-eyed species of Dolichognatha O. Pickard Cambridge, 1869 from India (Araneae, Tetragnathidae), Zootaxa 5523 (1), pp. 146-150 : 146-149

Dolichognatha chimminiensis new species

Figures 1A–Q , 2A–E , 3

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( ZSI/WGRC/I. R.-INV. 27150 ) and paratypes ♂ & ♀ ( ZSI/WGRC/I. R.-INV. 27151 ) from INDIA: Kerala: Thrissur, Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary , 10°26’52”N 76°27’38”E, 133 m a.s.l., 30 January 2024, leg. Anju K. Baby.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary, from where the species was collected. The name is considered a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles D. longiceps (Thorell, 1895) ( Dimitrov et al. 2010: 15, figs 4A–F, 5A–D, 6A–D, 7), D. junlitjri ( Barrion-Dupo & Barrion, 2014) ( Barrion-Dupo & Barrion 2014: figs 1A–N) and D. bannaensis Wang, Zhang & Peng, 2020 ( Wang et al. 2020: figs 2A–E, 3A–I) in having six eyes (PME absent), embolus with a protruding apex, extremely broad cymbial ectobasal process, and nearly oval atrium. Males of the new species can be separated by having an extended cymbial ectobasal process with a projection at the slope (whereas short and uneven edge in D. longiceps , three apical protrusions in D. junlitjri , and extended but without any projections in D. bannaensis ; figs 1H–J, 2B, C), the extremely elongated paracymbium (vs. small in D. longiceps , indistinct in D. junlitjri , and oval in D. bannaensis ; figs 1H–J, 2B, C), and the distal end of the conductor broad and transparent (vs. narrowing end in D. longiceps , slender in D. junlitjri , and truncated in D. bannaensis ; figs 1G–I, 2A–C). Females can be differentiated by copulatory openings near to posterior margin of the epigynum (vs. laterally placed in D. longiceps and D. bannaensis and completely enfolding spermathecae in D. junlitjri ; figs 1P–Q, 2D–E) with long fertilization ducts initially close to each other (vs. short and laterally placed in D. longiceps , located nearby but extremely short in D. junlitjri and D. bannaensis ) ( Figs 1F–J, O–Q , 2A–E ).

Description. Male (holotype; Figs 1A–J , 2A–C ). Total length: 7.41. Carapace 3.61 long, 2.33 wide. Abdomen: 3.80 long, 2.24 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.28, ALE 0.25, PLE 0.26. Clypeus height 0.08. Chelicerae 2.51 long, 1.20 wide. Palp and leg measurements: palp 1.21 [0.16, 0.36, 0.16, 0.53], leg I 15.94 [4.34, 1.48, 4.92, 3.12, 2.08], II 15.60 [4.51, 1.39, 4.14, 4.19, 1.37], III 6.87 [1.70, 0.73, 1.70, 1.91, 0.83], IV 9.82 [3.13, 0.88, 2.41, 2.66, 0.74]. Leg formula: 1243.

Coloration in ethanol (male, female, Fig. 1A–E, K–N ). Carapace pale yellow with black contour; dark patches arise near PLEs and pass to fovea. Fovea distinct. Clypeus brownish yellow. Labium and endites brownish. Sternum yellowish with dark spots and sparse hairs. Legs yellowish with random dark patches. Chelicerae yellowish brown with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Abdomen oval; dorsum grayish with numerous guanine spots and black markings.

Palp ( Figs 1G–J , 2A–C ). Cymbial ecto-basal process distally curved towards dorsal side with a small flap-like projection at the slope. Cymbial tarsal organ large and roundish. Paracymbium elongated with undulating apex. Conductor large with blunt apex. Embolus filiform and upright. Metaine embolic apophysis broad distally and directed upward, with a distinct process at midway.

Female (paratype; Figs 1K–Q , 2D, E ): Total length: 10.15. Carapace 4.56 long, 2.58 wide. Abdomen: 5.59 long, 3.67 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.28, ALE 0.27, PLE 0.27. Clypeus height 0.10. Chelicerae 2.25 long, 0.99 wide. Palp and leg measurements: palp 3.15 [1.15, 0.66, 0.38, 0.96], leg I 17.01 [4.79, 1.72, 5.19, 3.75, 1.56], II 13.16 [3.52, 1.33, 3.72, 3.21, 1.38], III 7.23 [2.06, 0.81, 1.60, 1.89, 0.87], IV 11.71 [3.70, 1.03, 2.71, 3.14, 1.13]. Leg formula: 1243.

Epigynum ( Figs. 1O–Q , 2D, E ). Atrium nearly oval. Spermathecae chambered. Copulatory openings lie close to each other and passing through the lateral sides of spermathecae. Fertilization duct transparent and initially close to copulatory openings.

Distribution. India: Kerala ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1A–Q. Dolichognatha chimminiensis sp. nov., holotype male (A–J) and paratype female (K–Q). A, male habitus, dorsal view, B, cephalothorax, frontal view. C–E, left chelicerae; C, prolateral view. D, ventral view. E, retrolateral view. F, male eyes, dorsal view. G–J, left palp; G, prolateral view. H, ventral view. I, retrolateral view. J, dorsal view. K, female habitus, dorsal view. L–N, left chelicerae; L, prolateral view. M, ventral view. N, retrolateral view. O–Q, epigynum. O, ventral view. P, cleared, ventral view. Q, vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, B, F, K, O: 0.5 mm. C–E, G–J, L–N: 0.2 mm. P, Q: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2A–E. Dolichognatha chimminiensis sp. nov., holotype male (A–C) and paratype female (D, E). A–C, male left palp, A, prolateral view. B, ventral view. C, retrolateral view. D, E, epigynum, cleared. D, ventral view. E, vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C, 0.2 mm. D–E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Dolichognatha in India.