Speocera bicornea, Tong & Li, 2007

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2007, First Records Of The Family Ochyroceratidae (Arachnida: Araneae) From China, With Descriptions Of A New Genus And Eight New Species, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (1), pp. 63-76 : 72

Speocera bicornea , new species

( Figs. 7A–H , 10 )

Material examined. – Holotype: male ( IZCAS), Mihou Cave (18 ° 56'N 109 ° 04'E), Datian National Natural Reserve, Dongfang City, Hainan Island, China, coll. Y. Song, X. Han, Y. Tong and G. Deng, 28 Mar.2005.

Paratypes: 6 males and 13 females ( IZCAS), same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. – The new species is closely related to S. pongo Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995 , but can be distinguished by the different patterns of carapace, the cone-shaped modification on chelicerae, the different shapes of bulb, the small distal appendage on bulb, and the different details of vulva.

Description. – Males:. Total length 1.07–1.16. Carapace 0.53–0.56 long, 0.44–0.46 wide; abdomen 0.55–0.60 long, 0.39–0.44 wide. Pattern of carapace as the female, but paler (nearly absent on one specimen). Sternum without radiating streaks, pale violet in color. Abdomen pale violet, with faintly violet streaks on posterior and lateral area, but nearly invisible in some specimens. Chelicerae laterally excavated, with a pair of cone-shaped prominences. Legs pale yellow. Chaetotaxy: tibia III with 1 prolateral and 3 retrolateral spines, metatarsus III with 1 prolatral and 1 retrolateral spines, tiba IV with 1 strong prolateral and 3 retrolateral spines, metatarsus IV with 2 prolateral spines. Leg measurements: I 2.24 (0.67, 0.18, 0.66, 0.44, 0.29); II 2.03 (0.60, 0.17, 0.57, 0.41, 0.28); III 1.74 (0.50, 0.16, 0.42, 0.38, 0.28); IV 2.33 (0.67, 0.17, 0.67, 0.50, 0.32). Leg formula: 4 1 2 3. Palp measurements: 0.77 (0.29, 0.09, 0.17, 0.22), bulb 0.13 long, 0.16 wide. Palpal tibia slightly incrassate, tarsus longer than tibia, tip acute.

Females: Total length 1.00–1.06. Carapace 0.43–0.44 long, 0.53–0.55 wide; abdomen 0.53–0.56 long, 0.33–0.36 wide. Abdomen violet brown, provided with more distinct streaks than in the male. Chelicerae not modified. Leg measurements: I 1.88 (0.56, 0.16, 0.55, 0.35, 0.26); II 1.70 (0.52, 0.15, 0.45, 0.33, 0.25); III 1.46 (0.43, 0.14, 0.36, 0.31, 0.22); IV 1.99 (0.58, 0.14, 0.56, 0.43, 0.28). Leg formula: 4 1 2 3. Palp measurements: 0.45 (0.11, 0.10, 0.09, 0.15). Vulva with short straight chitinous ducts.

Etymology. – The specific name is from the Greece, “ corne = horny”, combined with prefix bi, in reference to the modifications of chelicerae in male.

Figures

Fig. 7. Speocera bicornea, new species: A, carapace of female, dorsal view; B, abdomen of female, ventral view; C, abdomen of female, lateral view; D, vulva, dorsal view; E, chelicerae of male, anterior view; F, bulb, ventral view; G, left palp, prolateral view; H, left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A–C = 0.2 mm, D–H = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 10. Collection localities of Chinese Ochyroceratidae.