Epidius longimanus, Benjamin, 2017

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2017, Distributional and taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Epidius with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Thomisidae), Journal of Natural History 51 (9 - 10), pp. 469-485 : 478-481

Epidius longimanus sp. nov.

( Figures 5 (a–d), 6(a–c), and 8(c))

Type material

Holotype, Male (MNHN 9783), India, Tamil Nadu State, Kodaikanal (10.23°N, 77.48°E), no more data, E. Simon collection.

Etymology

Latin, ‘longimanus’ refers to the relatively longer male palp.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from known congeners by the distinctive shape of E (thick, stout tip), C (tapering, screw-like tip; Figures 5 (d), 6(a), and 8(c)) and absence of RTA ( Figures 5 (d) and 6(a)). Females are distinguished by the globular S, and except for E. floreni sp. nov. by the deeply indented anterior margin of the epigynum ( Figure 6 (b, c)).

Description

Male. Total length: 4.0; prosoma length: 2.1, width: 1.6. Leg I: femur 3.6, patella 0.9, tibia 3.4, metatarsus 3.3. tarsus 1.7. Prosoma yellow, without prominent markings or conspicuous setae. Opisthosoma light yellow, dorsally with inconspicuous brown spots. ALE = PLE> PME> AME. AER, PER recurved, eyes on brown-coloured protuberances. Chelicerae with 3 and 2 teeth on pro- and retromargin of fang furrow, respectively. Leg formula 1243. Palps as in Figures 5 (d), 6(a), and 8(c), femur and tibia characteristically elongated, femur as long as tibia, furnished with 2 thick long spines and MTr, RTA absent. Bulbus ovoid, conductor with a screw-like tip, MA absent. Embolus stout, tapering.

Female. Total length: 6.0; prosoma length: 2.4, width: 2.1. Leg I: femur 3.6, patella 0.9, tibia 3.2, metatarsus 2.4, tarsus 1.2. In general similar to male. Epigynum without hood, anterior margin deeply indented, dual-chambered S connected by a C-shaped, thickwalled CD ( Figure 6 (b, c)).

Distribution

Known only from Kodaikanal and Trichanophilai in India. This species and the next, Epidius mahavira sp. nov., appear to occur in the same two localities. This might be due to mislabeling.

Other material examined

1 male, 1 female, same data as the holotype (MNHN 9783) . 2 males, India, Tamil Nadu State, Trichanophilai (also known as Tiruchirappalli [10°48 ʹ 18 ″ N, 78°41 ʹ 08 ″ E]), no more data, E . Simon collection (MNHN 16498).

Figures

Figure 5. Epidius longimanus sp. nov. MNHN 9783 (a–d) and Epidius mahavira sp. nov. MNHN 14,996 (e). (a, e) Male dorsal view. (b) Female, dorsal view. (c) Male palp, proloateral/ventral view. (d) Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: c, d = 0.2 mm; a, e = 1.0 mm; b = 2.0 mm.

Figure 6. Epidius longimanus sp. nov. MNHN 9783. (a) Male palp, ventral view. (b) Epigynum, ventral view. (d) vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.