Ovia macritchie Lu & Koh & Zhang & Li 2018, sp. nov.

Ovia macritchie sp. nov.

Figures 2, 5, 8, 11, 13 A–B

Type material. Holotype male, Singapore, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, 1 o 21'13" N, 103 o 48'29" E, elev. 46 m, 27 August 2015, S.Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (LKCNHM). Paratypes. 3 males and 18 females, with same data as holotype (LKCNHM).

Additional material examined. Singapore, 1 male and 1 female, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Jungle Fall Stream, 1 o 21'25" N, 103 o 46'25" E, elev. 118 m, 18 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 1 male, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Catchment Path, 1 o 21'12" N, 103 o 46'50" E, elev. 107 m, 20 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 1 male and 1 female, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, 1 o 21'37" N, 103 o 46'30" E, elev. 86 m, 24 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 5 females, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, 1 o 21'17" N,

103 o 47'50" E, elev. 39 m, 25 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 1 male and 4 females, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, 1 o 21'21" N, 103 o 48'3" E, elev. 60 m, 26 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 1 male and 4 females, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Treetop Walk, 1 o 21'13" N, 103 o 48'29" E, elev. 46 m, 28 August 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS); 5 females, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, near Mandai Agrotechnology Park, 1 o 24'53" N, 103 o 47'56" E, elev. 46 m, 1 September 2015, S. Q. Li & Y.F. Tong leg. (IZCAS).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality, which is commonly known as the “MacRitchie Forest” within the species-rich Central Catchment Nature Reserve in Singapore. The name of this forest is becoming a catch-phrase epitomizing an evolving habit towards constructive engagement, in the spirt of mutual respect, among government agencies, the scientific community and civil society seeking to finetune a balance between safeguarding the shared natural heritage of all Singaporeans and meeting the infrastructure needs in land-scarce Singapore.

Diagnosis. The most diagnostic characteristic of the male Ovia macritchie sp. nov. is seen in the cymbium, with two irregular rows of bristles dorsally and without an apical claw (Fig. 2C). Palea with a conspicuous projection beyond the bulb. Terminal apophysis twisted basally and dagger-like distally. Tegular lobe triangular, with the tip of the bent, needle-like embolus resting on it (Fig. 8 A–D). Females of Ovia macritchie sp. nov. can be distinguished from O. procurva (Figs 6 E–F, 9E–F, 12C–D) by the sharply tapering epigynal hoods, smaller vulval chambers located over copulatory ducts and spermathecae far away from the anterior ends of the epigynal hoods (Fig. 8E, F). Femora I of mature males and females are black, while two longitudinal lateral bands run through the legs from the tibiae to metatarsi (Fig. 2 D–G). The carapace and to a lesser extent the dorsum of opisthosoma of live specimens are covered with setae that reflect a characteristic bluish, metallic sheen (Fig. 13 A–B).

Description. Male. Total length 3.27–3.33. Holotype (Fig. 2A, D–F) total length 3.33. Carapace 2.01 long, 1.36 wide; opisthosoma 1.36 long, 1.00 wide. Carapace dark brown. Eye region black. Flanks of the head region vertical in frontal view. Cervical groove and radial furrows deeply black. Anterior eye row strongly procured. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.05, PME 0.29, PLE 0.21; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.06, PME– PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.33. Clypeus height 0.12. Chelicerae dark brown, with three promarginal and retromarginal teeth. Labium grey, as long as wide. Endites yellowish grey, longer than wide. Sternum yellowish dark, with sparse black setae. Femur I black, and other segments of leg I pale yellow. Other legs yellow from femora to metatarsi with two dorsal, longitudinal dark bands. Leg measurements: I 5.67 (1.59, 1.87, 1.25, 0.96); II 5.00 (1.42, 1.59, 1.16, 0.83); III 5.12 (1.41, 1.53, 1.45, 0.73); IV 7.66 (2.12, 2.34, 2.18, 1.02). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma long, oval. Dorsum dark brown, with lanceolate cardiac mark and a clump of white setae near the pedicel. Venter of opisthosoma yellow, with small grey spinnerets posteriorly.

Male pedipalp (Figs 2C, 5 A–D, 8A–D, 11A–B): cymbium dorsally with two rows of bristles and blue metallic colour. Apical claw absent. Palea with an anterior projection beyond the pedipalpal bulb. The dagger-shaped terminal apophysis slightly bent basally with a long ridge in the middle. The needle-like embolus originating prolaterally, extending ventro-retrolaterally. The membranous tegular lobe triangular and the tegular depression holding the tip of embolus. The median apophysis transverse, with a ventrally curved spur and a distinct notch distally.

Female. Total length 3.60–4.77. One of female paratypes (Figs 2B, G) total length 3.72. Carapace 2.02 long, 1.45 wide; opisthosoma 1.84 long, 1.2 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.06, PME 0.32, PLE 0.27; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.26, PME–PLE 0.31. Clypeus height 0.174. Leg measurements: I 5.42 (1.57, 1.85, 1.26, 0.74); II 5.13 (1.45, 1.72, 1.19, 0.77); III 5.18 (1.44, 1.62, 1.38, 0.74); IV 7.71 (2.03, 2.48, 2.19, 1.01). Leg formula: 4132. The colouration and pattern are similar to those of males.

Epigyne (Figs 5 E–G, 8E–F, 11C–D) with a pair of adjacent and sharply tapering apical hoods. The needle-like median septum extending between hoods but not reaching the posterior transverse part. Spermathecae subglobular with twisted copulatory ducts. Spherical vulval chambers on the copulatory ducts dorsally. Fertilization ducts short.

Variation. In some males and females, all femora are black. Leg I from tibiae to metatarsi of certain males are covered entirely with white setae, while similar segments in other males are brownish with paired longitudinal lines.

Distribution. Among leaf litter in various primary and mature secondary forests in many parts of Singapore (Fig. 13C).