Sphingius rama Dankittipakul, Tavano & Singtripop, 2011, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Dankittipakul, Pakawin
name: Tavano, Maria
name: Singtripop, Tippawan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Liocranidae
Sphingius
Sphingius rama

description: Sphingius rama sp. nov.
Figures 12–16
Type material. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND: Chantaburi Province: Laem Sing District, Nam Tok Pliu NP, Pliu Waterfall, 50–100 m, semi-evergreen rainforest, 12–13 November 1998, leg. P.J. Schwendinger (MHNG, 3-Sph). Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 1♀ (MHNG, 3-Sph); from type locality, 150–300 m, 23–24 November 1985, leg. D. Burckhard & I. Löbl, 1♂ (MHNG, 8-Sph). Chantaburi Province: Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Soi Dao, 300 m, 9 October 1987, leg. P.J. Schwendinger, 1♂, 1♀ (TNHM). Trat Province: Ko Chang, near Sai Khao beach, secondary forest and semi-evergreen rainforest, 20–50 m, 6–8 November 1993, leg. P.J. Schwendinger, 1♀ (MHNG, 6-Sph).
Diagnosis. Sphingius rama sp. nov. can be recognized by the peculiar shape of the median apophysis (Figs 12– 14) and by the greatly elongate conductor on the male palp (Figs 12–13), in combination with the enlarged epigynal atrium (Fig. 15) and the strongly convoluted insemination ducts of female internal genitalia (Fig. 16).
Etymology. The specific epithet is an eponymous patronym (nominative form of a noun), to commemorate the anniversary of a royal visit of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, King Rama V to Nam Tok Pliu Waterfall in 1876.
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 3.64. Prosoma 1.68 long, 1.38 wide. Opisthosoma 1.96 long, 1.36 wide. Spination: femora I–III 1 d, IV 1-1 d; tibia I–III 1 -0v, 1p, IV 2- 2v, 1-1r; metatarsi III–IV 1 pv, 2v. Eye size and interdistances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 2/3 d of PLE; AME-AME their d apart; AME-ALE 1/5 d of AME; PME- PME 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/2 d of AME; ALE-PLE 4/5 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.
Prosoma orange-brown; lateral margin serrated, provided with numerous triangular denticles, posterior margin slightly excavated, rebordered; carapace integument punctated. Fovea obsoleted. Sternum orange-brown, distinctly convex, surface smooth and shiny. Chelicerae, labium and gnathocoxae orange-brown. Legs bicolored: coxae ornage-brown, other segments yellowish.
Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid. Dorsal scutum occupying entire length of opisthosoma, orange-brown, distinctly paler posteriorly, covered with black pubescence. Epigastric scutum extending anteriorly, represented by groove collar in dorsal view. Ventral scutum smaller than dorsal one, tightly fused with epigastric scutum, its surface with 2 parallel longitudinal grooves.
Palp (Figs 12–14): RTA triangular, broad at base, gradually narrowing towards its apex, reaching half length of cymbium. Embolus filiform, elongated; embolic base digitiform, originating posterior medially. Conductor subulated, very long, extending posteriorly. Median apophysis excavated mesoprolaterally, provided with thin, sharply pointed retrolateral process directed mesad and broader, digitiform posterior process directed anteriad.
Female (paratype, MHNG, 3-Sph): Total length 3.74. Prosoma 1.72 long, 1.40 wide. Opisthosoma 2.02 long, 1.46 wide. Spination: femora I–III 1 d, IV 1 -0-1d; tibia I–III 1 -0- 1 v, IV 1-1 -2v, 1-1r; metatarsi III–IV 1 pv, 1-0- 1 v. Eye size and interdistances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 2/3 d of PLE; AME-AME their 1/2 d apart; AME-ALE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PME 1/2 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/2 d of AME; ALE-PLE 3/4 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.
General appearance as in male except prosoma slightly wider posteriorly; carapace and sternum smooth; dorsal and ventral scuta on opisthosoma absent; opisthosoma creamy white, sparsely covered with black pubescence.
Genitalia (Figs 15–16): Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized, occupying almost entire width of opisthosoma. Atrium broad, deep, situated medially, posterior margin indistinct. Copulatory orifices situated on posterior lateral border of epigynal atrium. Insemination ducts greatly elongated, strongly convoluted. Bursae small, spherical, with few pores of ductules, originating on middle portion of insemination ducts. Spermathecae spherical, situated posteriorly. Fertilization ducts falcated.
Natural history. Types of S. rama sp. nov. were collected from humid habitats in lowland semi-evergreen forests.
Distribution. Eastern Thailand (Fig. 40).
description: Published as part of Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, Neotype designation for Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890, synonymies, new records and descriptions of six new species from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Liocranidae), pp. 1-20 in Zootaxa 3066 on pages 6-8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.201922