Theoa bidentata, Zhao, Qingyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2014

Zhao, Qingyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2014, A survey of linyphiid spiders from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Linyphiidae), ZooKeys 460, pp. 1-181 : 40-42

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Linyphiidae

Theoa bidentata sp. n. Figs 96, 97, 98, 99

Types.

Holotype ♂: CHINA, Yunnan: Menglun Town: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, 21°54.463'N, 101°15.978'E, elevation ca 569 m, 4.-11.05.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting. Paratypes 5♂, same data as holotype; 1♀, 21°55.551'N, 101°16.923'E, elevation ca 561 m, 1-9.09.2006, rubber-tea plantation, pitfall traps; 4♂, 21°54.463'N, 101°15.978'E, elevation ca 569 m, 1.01.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting; 4♂1♀, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 16.-31.01.2007, rubber tree plantation, pitfall traps; 2♂, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 4.-11.04.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting; 4♂, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 1-15.05.2007, rubber tree plantation, pitfall traps; 3♂, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 4.-11.V.2007, rubber tree plantation, hand-collecting; 3♂, 21°54.684'N, 101°16.319'E, elevation ca 585 m, 16-31.05.2007, rubber tree plantation, pitfall traps; 3♂, 21°54.772'N, 101°16.043'E, elevation ca 556 m, 19.-26.05.2007, Paramichelia baillonii plantation, hand-collecting; 1♀, 21°54.772'N, 101°16.034'E, elevation ca 556 m, 1.-15.06.2007, Paramechelia baillonii plantation, trunk traps; 1♂, 21°57.445'N, 101°12.997'E, elevation ca 774 m, 10.-20.06.2007, primary tropical seasonal rain forest, hand-collecting.

Etymology.

This name is combined by ‘bi’, and ‘dentatus’, meaning 'with two teeth’, which refers to the two projections on the lateral margin of the prolateral cymbial outgrowth; adjective.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished as a member of Theoa by the extension at the dorso-mesal side of cymbium, and the sickle-shaped embolus with Fickert’s gland about half way along ( Locket 1982: fig. 87). The large spermathecae on each side of the epigyne also resembles those in Theoa tricaudata ( Locket 1982: fig. 89). It differs from the type species in the following aspects: the apex of cymbial outgrowth in Theoa bidentata sp. n. is bifid (Fig. 96A), not trifid as in Theoa tricaudata ( Locket 1982: fig. 86); the pit hook in Theoa bidentata is not a discrete structure and is pointed, which differs from the bifid one in Theoa tricaudata ; the terminal apophyses in the two species are of different shapes ( Locket 1982: fig. 84; Fig. 96B); the spermathecae are more distantly spaced in Theoa bidentata (Fig. 98A). The two species also differ in spination: 1-0-0-0 or 1-1-1-0 in the generotype and 2-2-2-2 in the new taxon.

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length: 1.10. Carapace 0.60 long, 0.50 wide, unmodified, dark orange. Sternum 0.35 long, 0.34 wide. Clypeus 0.16 high. Chelicerae promargin with 5 teeth, retromargin with 4 teeth. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.06, PME 0.07, PLE 0.06, AME-AME/AME 0.01, PME-PME/PME 0.40, AME-ALE/ALE 0.67, PME-PLE/PLE 0.43, coxae IV separated by 1.33 times their width. Length of legs: I 2.51 (0.66, 0.16, 0.70, 0.55, 0.44), II 2.32 (0.63, 0.16, 0.61, 0.53, 0.39), III 1.78 (0.48, 0.16, 0.42, 0.39, 0.33), IV 2.33 (0.64, 0.16, 0.63, 0.52, 0.38). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. TmI 0.45. Tibial spine formula 2-2-2-2. Palp: tibia small, with one retrolateral trichobothrium; paracymbium ‘F’ -shaped, two branches, both tapered at tip (Figs 96B, 99B); cymbium with a dorsal knob (Figs 96A, 99B); prolateral side of cymbium well-developed, almost fully covering the tegulum and suprategulum (Fig. 96A); cymbial outgrowth with two teeth-like processes at the lateral margin (Fig. 96A); pit hook bifid at tip (Fig. 96B); terminal apophysis in ill-defined shape, broad at ventral view (Fig. 96B); median membrane with a blunt apex, slightly bending forward; embolus sickle-shaped, inwardly curved, with a small, pointed embolus proper (Figs 96C, 99A); thumb of embolus small, located below embolus proper (Fig. 96C); Fickert’s gland present in radix (Figs 96C, 99A).

Female (one of paratypes). Total length: 1.24. Carapace 0.55 long, 0.43 wide, brownish orange. Sternum 0.30 long, 0.34 wide. Clypeus 0.11 high. Chelicerae promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 4 teeth. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06, AME-AME/AME 0.33, PME-PME/PME 0.50, AME-ALE/ALE 0.33, PME-PLE/PLE 0.50, coxae IV separated by their width. Length of legs: I 2.37 (0.61, 017, 0.65, 0.50, 0.44), II 2.33 (0.59, 0.19, 0.58, 0.46, 0.41), III 1.76 (0.48, 0.15, 0.41, 0.38, 0.34), IV 2.24 (0.60, 0.16, 0.60, 0.48, 0.40). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. TmI 0.24. Spine formula as in male. Abdomen greenish grey on dorsum, dark grey on venter. Epigyne: a wide and short ventral fig; scape long, ribbon-like, with copulatory openings at its broad end, (Fig. 98 B–D); spermathecae small, separated by about four times their diameter (Fig. 98B).

Distribution.

Known only from type localities.