Epidelaxia falciformis, Asima & Caleb & Prasad & Joseph, 2025

Epidelaxia falciformis sp. nov.

Figs 1–7 View FIGURES 1–7

Type materal. Holotype: ♂ ( KUDZ 2024.III.25 ), INDIA: Kerala: Kulathupuzha, Kallar ( 8.9130° N, 77.1028° E), 152 m a.s.l., 25 April 2023, leg. A. Asima. GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective referring to the sickle-shaped embolus tip. Latin ‘ falx ’ = sickle.

Diagnosis. The male of Epidelaxia falciformis sp. nov. is most similar to E. bharathi Satkunanathan & Benjamin, 2024 , in having a similar point of origin of the embolus, but can be distinguished by the lamellar embolus with sickle-shaped terminal portion (vs. embolus thin and whip-like); RTA slightly bent medially in ventral view (vs. straight) (cf. Figs 3–6 View FIGURES 1–7 with figs 13e–f & 14a–b in Satkunanathan & Benjamin 2024). The new species is also similar to E. somasundaram Satkunanathan & Benjamin, 2024 in having a similar RTA, but can be distinguished by the origin of the embolus at ~ 7 o’clock position (vs. ~ 6 o’clock) (cf. Figs 3–6 View FIGURES 1–7 with figs 15e–f & 16a–b in Satkunanathan & Benjamin 2024).

Description. Male ( Figs 1–7 View FIGURES 1–7 ): Body length 4.39. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.89 wide. Abdomen 2.29 long, 1.53 wide. Carapace brown with yellow-brown strip along mid posterior cephalic region and thorax ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–7 ). Anterior eyes covered with yellow orbital setae. Clypeus black. Fovea short, longitudinal ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–7 ). Eye sizes and interdistances. AME 0.58, ALE 0.32, PME 0.10, PLE 0.33; AER 1.81, EFL 1.22, PER 1.72. Sternum oval, yellow. Labium and endites brown with lighter distal areas ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–7 ). Chelicerae reddish-brown with bicuspid tooth on retromargin and two teeth on promargin ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 1–7 ). Legs dark brown with dark brown annulations. Measurement of palp and legs: palp 2.16 (0.72, 0.26, 0.34, 0.84), leg I 4.72 (1.50, 0.64, 1.00, 0.98, 0.60), II 4.10 (1.20, 0.52, 1.08, 0.70, 0.60), III 4.90 (1.42, 0.76, 1.02, 1.00, 0.70), IV 4.80 (1.50, 0.60, 1.03, 1.00, 0.67). Leg formula 3412. Abdomen oval, creamy white with brown patches laterally and posteriorly; venter creamy white with few brown patches. Anterior spinnerets greyish black, distal areas lightly colored; posterior spinnerets black ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–7 ). Palp brown; RTA about 1/3 tibial width, slightly curved, with broad base and blunt tip; cymbium moderately long, about 2 times longer than wide; tegulum oval, with single folded membranous outgrowth near embolic base; sperm duct clearly visible; embolus thick, long, mainly curved along prolateral tegular submargin, originating at about 7 o’clock position and terminal portion sickle-shaped ( Figs 3–6 View FIGURES 1–7 ).

Female: unknown.

Distribution. India ( Kerala).