Distributional and taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Epidius with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Thomisidae)
Author
Benjamin, Suresh P.
text
Journal of Natural History
2017
2017-03-24
51
9 - 10
469
485
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1302016
journal article
10.1080/00222933.2017.1302016
1464-5262
5184385
15B56D3E-69FB-46CD-8AFE-34919B844D14
Epidius elongatus
sp. nov.
(
Figures 2
(c) and 4(b))
Type material
Holotype
.
Male
from
Thailand
,
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
,
Khao Yai National Park
[
14° 26
ʹ
29N
,
101°22
ʹ
11E
],
800 m
,
26 December 1988
, leg.
C. L. and P. R. Deeleman
(RMNH. ARA.15906).
Figure 3.
Epidius coloratus
sp. nov.
RMNH 15921. (a) Male palp, ventral view. (b) Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.
Etymology
Refers to the rather elongated body and legs of the
holotype
.
Diagnosis
Distinguished from other known congeners by distinctive shape of E (large, stout, hooklike, tapered fine tip;
Figure 4
(b)), C (triangular, blunt tip;
Figure 4
(b)), lack of a MA and the leaf-shaped RTA (
Figure 4
(b)).
Description
Male.
Total length: 4.5; prosoma length: 2.1, width: 1.5. Leg I: femur 3.9, patella 0.9, tibia 3.9, metatarsus 2.8. tarsus 1.2, Prosoma light brown/yellow, eye regions darker, without prominent markings or conspicuous setae. Opisthosoma with white spots, dorsally with a dark brown folium and spots. ALE> PLE> PME> AME. AER, PER recurved, eyes on brown-coloured mounds, but not touching. Leg formula 1243. Palps as in
Figure 4
(b), femur and tibia characteristically elongated, femur as long as tibia, furnished with 3 thick spines and MTr. RTA present, leaf-shaped. Bulbus ovoid. C triangular, stout tip without serration. MA absent. Embolus large, stout, C-shaped, tapered tip (
Figure 4
(b)). SDT with an inward turn just below the embolic base (
Figure 4
(b)).
Figure 4.
Epidius floreni
sp. nov.
RMNH 15,913 (a), same RMNH 15,916 (c, d) and
Epidius elongatus
sp. nov.
RMNH 15,906 (b). (a, b) Male palp, ventral view. (c) Epigynum, ventral view. (d) Vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.
Female.
Unknown.
Natural History
Extracted from label: ‘in dead Pending leaf in dense extended cocoon’.
Distribution
Known only from the
type
locality.