Evarcha bicuspidata Peng & Li 2003, new species

Evarcha bicuspidata, new species

(Fig. 1)

Material examined. – Holotype - male (IZCAS), Viet Lann Village, Ha Jiang Province, 10 Dec.2000.

Paratype Ð 1 male (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. – The new species can be easily recognized by the following combination of characters: Embolus short, claw-shaped, originating at the distal edge of bulb; tegulum almost circular, with a posterior lobe; tibial apophysis with two prongs, the dorsal one thinner and longer; body with distinct transverse marks. The new species is closely related to Evarcha hunanensis Peng, Xie & Kim, 1993, but differs in: 1) embolus of the new species much thinner and lacking membranous structure found in that of E. hunanensis; 2) tibial apophysis with two prongs in the new species, but with bifurcated tip in E. hunanensis; 3) carapace of E. hunanensis lacking distinct marking found in that of the new species.

Measurements. – Total length 3.60. Carapace length 1.80, width 1.40; abdomen length 1.60, width 1.00; anterior eye row width 1.30, posterior eye row width 1.25, anterior median eye (diameter) 0.40, anterior lateral eye 0.23, posterior lateral eye 0.20, length of ocular area 1.25, height of clypeus 0.15. Leg I total length 3.10 (femur 1.00, patella + tibia 1.20, metatarsus 0.50, tarsus 0.40); leg II 2.70 (0.90, 1.00, 0.40, 0.40); leg III 3.65 (1.20, 1.25, 0.70, 0.50); leg IV 3.55 (1.10, 1.25, 0.70, 0.50); leg formula III, IV, I, II.

Description of male. – Carapace (Fig. 1A) dark brown, ocular area darker; covered with dark brown and white hairs, black setae sparse; there are two pairs of yellowish brown transverse bands on thoracic area; fovea short and black; cervical and radial grooves indistinct. Sternum elongated oval, convex, yellowish brown with black margin, clothed by short brown hairs and long white ones. Clypeus dark brown, very narrow, densely clothed by long white hairs. Chelicerae short and strong, dark brown, anterior side with black lines; two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal, clothed by long brown hairs. Endites and labium dark brown, distal areas yellowish brown with long dark brown hairs. Legs dark brown, with distinct yellowish brown annuli; clothed by black and white hairs; spines long and strong, tibia I with 2 pairs of ventral spines, ventral side of tibia II with 2 promarginal spines and 3 retromarginal; metatarsi I and II with 2 pairs of ventral spines each.

Abdomen oval. Dorsum (Fig. 1A) clothed by short brown hairs and long white ones; yellowish brown with distinct marks; cardiac mark looks like an elongated longitudinal band; lateral sides with 4 pairs of dark brown transverse bands; posterior end with a black mark. Ventral side light yellow, 3 grayish black longitudinal bands on median and lateral areas. Spinnerets grayish black, clothed by grayish black hairs.

Palp (Figs. 1 B-D): Cymbium short and wide; sperm duct clearly visible, its prolateral part thinner and longer; bulb lobe stout and slightly conical; two prongs of tibial apophysis horn-shaped, dorsal prong longer and slightly thinner.

Etymology. – The specific name is derived from the shape of tibial apophysis. bi- (Latin prefix) means two, cuspidata means sharp end; bicuspidata refers to the two-pronged tibial apophysis.