Sphingius octomaculatus, Deeleman-Reinhold, Christa, 2001

Deeleman-Reinhold, Christa, 2001, Forest Spiders of South East Asia With a revision of the sac and ground spiders (Araneae: Clubionidae, Corinnidae, Liocranidae, Gnaphosidae, Prodidomidae and Trochanteriidae)., Forest Spiders of South East Asia With a revision of the sac and ground spiders- Family Liocranidae, Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Leiden; Boston; Köln, pp. 400-505 : 500-502

Sphingius octomaculatus sp. n. ( figs 857-861 , map 41 )

Type locality. — W Thailand, Prov. Kanchanaburi, Erawan Waterfalls National Park.

Type material.— Holotype O’ from the type locality, thin leaf litter near river, 16.xi. 1987, P.R. and C.L. Deeleman; paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♂♀, same data, in thick litter in evergreen forest near water, 15.xi. 1987 , died in moulting 9.i. 1988, 1 palp deformed; 2 ♀, same data , killed 9.i.1988.

Other material. — W Thailand, Kanchanaburi Prov., Piloke Mine west of Thong Pha Phum , 1 ♂, 350 m, 25.i. 1991, P. Schwendinger ( MHNG) .

Diagnosis.— A species with somewhat deviant genital organs and small AME (diameter 1/4 that of ALE). Carapace smooth. Shares with S. hilineatus Simon from India the presence of pairs or rows of white spots on the abdomen; the middle eyes of the posterior row in bilineatus are larger than the laterals (according tot the original description) and the epigynes in the two species are quite distinct. S. octomaculatus can be distinguished from all other species by 8 white spots in two rows on the dark abdomen. The male palp has a long tibial apophysis, the tegulum is round and much flattened, encircled by a long embolus. The epigyne has four round sacs, viz. two spermathecae and two bursae arranged in a central trapezium, with round openings on the side; the depression is reduced, there are two lateral pockets in which are the openings; a pair of large loops is seen in front of trapezium.

Description. — MALE. Total length 2.80 mm. Carapace length 1.30 mm, width 1.00 mm, height 0.40 mm, head width 0.55 mm, eye group width 0.30 mm; abdomen 1.50 mm long, 0.95 mm wide. Leg lengths: leg 1 3.55 mm (1.05-1.25-0.70-0.55), leg II 3.00 mm (0.90- 1.00-0.60-0.50), leg III 2.40 mm (0.70-0.65-0.60-0.45), leg IV 4.90 mm (1.25-1.65-1.30- 0.70), palp 0.40-0.20-0.15-apophysis 0.30-0.55 mm. Carapace, mouthparts and sternum chestnut brown or ochre; coxae pale orange, femora and patellae dark brown; first pair of tibiae pale yellow or white, contrasting with dark femur and patella, tibia I very pale, rest of legs chestnut to ochre (not in the male from Piloke Mine). Abdomen dark grey with 8 pairs of white round or oval spots, underside almost white. Carapace ( fig. 857 ) faintly granulate. AE very unequal, d AME [A d ALE, AME separated by 1-2 d; PER recurved, medians distinctly smaller than laterals and lacking black rings, separated from each other by their diameter, less from PLE. Clypeus ( fig. 857 ) with a pair of setae; each chelicerae with a strong erect seta on the front surface. Chilum a rounded lobe. Leg spination: femora I-IV with 1-0d, femur I 0-1 pl, tibia III with 2-0v, 1pl, tibia IV with 2-2v+2ap, 0-1pl and 1- 0rl or 1-1rl; metatarsus III with 2-0v, 1pv, metatarsus IV with 2-0v and 1-0rl. Tarsal claws of all legs with very few teeth. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally covered with scuta. Palp figs 858-859 , and diagnosis; tibial apophysis long, inclined towards dorsal surface (not in male from Piloke Mine), cymbium strongly flattened, area opposite tibial apophysis devoid of hairs.

FEMALE (1180 m, 14.ii. 1987). Total length 3.50 mm. Carapace length 1.50 mm, width 1.20 mm, head width 0.75 mm, eye group width 0.40 mm; abdomen 2.00 mm long, 1.30 mm wide, epigyne 0.35 mm wide, 0.40 mm long. Leg lengths: leg I 4.05 mm (1.20-1.50- 0.75-0.60), leg II 3.50 mm (1.00-1.25-0.70-0.55), leg III 3.00 mm (0.80-1.05-0.65-0.50), leg IV 4.85 mm (1.25-1.60-1.30-0.70), palp 0.45-0.25-0.30- 0.50 mm. Colour as in the male. Carapace surface almost smooth. Leg spination: femora as in the male, tibia III 1-2v or l- 1v+2ap, 0-1pl, 0-1 lor 0-0rl, tibia IV 2-2v+2ap, 0-1pl, 1-1rl, metatarsus III 2 -0v, metatarsus IV 1-1 v, 1-1pv, 0-1rl or less. Vulva fig. 860 , anterior depression very narrow ( fig. 861 ), large loops of insemination ducts visible in front; openings lateral, spermathecae and bursae of equal size, in central quadrangle. Ducts connecting bursae with spermathecae attach with insemination ducts at the point where the latter, near the openings, elbow upwards towards the long anterior loop.

Variability.— The male from Piloke mine has a shorter tibial apophysis and the segments of leg I are more or less uniformly coloured, as are the other legs. The spination of the legs agrees remarkably well.

Distribution.— C and W Thailand.

Habitat and behaviour.— Sphingius octomaculatus are rapid runners. All specimens were found in november and january only, no specimens were taken during our visits to the site in march. They were only found in moist evergreen leaf litter on the banks of a river.

Etymology.— octomaculatus (Lat.) = with eight spots (on the abdomen).

Figures

Map 41: (g) Sphingius gracilis (t) S. thecatus (b) S. barkudensis (p) S. paltaensis (n) S. nilgiriensis © S. caniceps ⁎ S. scrobiculatus ● S. vivax ■ S. gothicus ▲ S. penicillus ▼ S. octomaculatus ★ S. songi ◙ S. punctatus Ө Unidentified specimen 1 - 6

Figs 857 - 861. Sphingius octomaculatus sp. n. 857. Male, habitus. 858. Palp, retrolateral. 859. Ventral. 860. Epigyne. 861. Vulva, in clove oil, dorsal.