Phintella castor, Dhiya’Ulhaq , 2025

Phintella castor Dhiya’ulhaq sp. nov.

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Figs 29–32 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of Phintella castor Dhiya’ulhaq sp. nov. resembles those of Phintella australis (Simon, 1902) and Phintella rajbharathi Caleb, Sudhin & Sen, 2024 by a wide, lobed base of RTA but can be distinguished from the latter two species by an extremely short, needle-shaped embolus ( Fig. 30B, D View Fig vs claw-shaped in P. australis [ Wesołowska 2012: fig. 25] and P. rajbharathi [ Sudhin et al. 2024b: figs 6c–d, 8f–g]); additionally from those of P. australis by distinct, triangular, retrolateral lobe (vs retrolateral lobe indistinct anterior to sperm duct) and from those of P. rajbharathi by an oblique, tapering ventral lobe of RTA, much longer than dorsal lobe (vs ventral lobe barely longer than dorsal lobe). Females can be distinguished from those of all congeners by having copulatory openings positioned medially in between spermathecae ( Fig. 32A–D View Fig ), whereas in all other species with known females they are located either anterior or posterior to spermathecae.

Etymology

The specific epithet is taken from the celestial object which is the second-brightest component of the Gemini constellation. Castor is made up of six individual stars, which alludes to the six white spots on the opisthosoma of male Phintella castor sp. nov. Noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

INDONESIA – Jambi Province • ♂; Sarolangun, Air Hitam, Lubuk Kepayang ; 2°04′15.2″ S, 102°47′30.8″ E; elev. 54 m; 25 Jun. 2013; J. Drescher leg.; canopy fogging in oil palm plantation; GOET 2013_BO3.1_AraSalt053N_001 (deposited at SMF). GoogleMaps

Paratypes

INDONESIA – Jambi Province • 1 ♂, 6 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; GOET 2013_BO3.1_ AraSalt053N_002 to GOET 2013_BO3.1_AraSalt053N_006, 2013_BO3.2_AraSalt053N_001 (to be transferred to MZB) GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sarolangun, Air Hitam, Desa Baru ; 2°03′01.4″ S, 102°45′12.1″ E; elev. 48 m; 11 Jul. 2013; J. Drescher leg.; canopy fogging in oil palm plantation; GOET 2013_BO4.1_ AraSalt053N_001 (to be transferred to ZHM) GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sarolangun, Pauh ; 2°06′49.6″ S, 102°47′43.5″ E; elev. 57 m; 19 Jun. 2013; J. Drescher leg.; canopy fogging in oil palm plantation; ZMH ZMH-A0031827 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sarolangun, Air Hitam, Lubuk Kepayang ; 2°04′36.0″ S, 102°46′22.4″ E; elev. 54 m; 27 Jun. 2013; J. Drescher leg.; canopy fogging in rubber plantation; ZMH ZMH-A0031828 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Batang Hari, Bajubang, Sungkai ; 1°51′28.4″ S, 103°18′27.5″ E; elev. 53 m; 3 Jun. 2013; J. Drescher leg.; canopy fogging in oil palm plantation; ZMH ZMH-A0031829 GoogleMaps .

Description

Male ( Figs 29–30 View Fig View Fig )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.27. Carapace length 1.96; width 2.13. Opisthosoma length 2.31; width 1.24. Diameter of eyes: AME 0.52; ALE 0.29; PLE 0.27. Interdistances between eyes: ALE–ALE 1.18; ALE–PLE 0.75; PLE–PLE 1.18. Clypeus height 0.06. Leg measurements: leg I 6.74 (1.92, 0.75, 1.90, 1.49, 0.68); leg II 4.69 (1.26, 0.54, 1.19, 1.17, 0.53); leg III 5.52 (1.62, 0.66, 1.18, 1.48, 0.58); leg IV 6.01 (1.80, 0.45, 1.46, 1.67, 0.63).

HABITUS AND COLORATION. Carapace posteriorly rounded; dark-brown anteriorly, as well as around margins; posteriorly with large butterfly-shaped black marking surrounded by pale lines; ALE and PME surrounded by black patches; anterior half of carapace covered dorsally in iridescent scales; margin of clypeus with fringe of white setae. Chelicerae dark brown; dentition: two promarginal, one retomarginal. Opisthosoma yellow, covered in six white spots arranged in two rows (2–4), each spot followed by black spot; posterior end of opisthosoma with additional black spot. Leg I slightly more robust than other legs, predominantly dark brown; rest of legs mostly pale. Spinnerets light brown, tip pale.

PALP ( Fig. 30 View Fig ). Tibia length-to-width ratio 1.35. RTA bilobed with very wide base; dorsal lobe humpshaped curved into rounded corner; ventral lobe oblique, ventrally leaning, tapering into small, claw-shaped apex. Cymbium longer than wide. Tegulum with large triangular posterior lobe and smaller, triangular retrolateral lobe; lamellar process light curve, about three times as long as wide; tegular bump small and rounded. Sperm duct inverted J-shaped retrolaterally; long and slightly curved prolaterally. Embolus very short, barely distinct, needle-shaped with rounded tip.

Female ( Figs 31–32 View Fig View Fig )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.09. Carapace length 1.69; width 1.41. Opisthosoma length 1.40; width 1.23. Diameter of eyes: AME 0.40; ALE 0.20; PLE 0.23. Interdistances between eyes: ALE–ALE 0.97; ALE–PLE 0.62; PLE–PLE 0.95. Clypeus height 0.08. Leg measurements: leg I 2.91 (0.95, 0.37, 0.72, 0.55, 0.32); leg II 2.94 (0.94, 0.36, 0.68, 0.58, 0.38); leg III 3.61 (1.22, 0.31, 0.78, 0.88, 0.42); leg IV 4.04 (1.39, 0.41, 0.94, 0.86, 0.44).

HABITUS AND COLORATION. Carapace posteriorly rounded, slightly longer than wide; pale-colored with black spots around ALE and PME as well as large butterfly-shaped black marking posteriorly. Chelicerae white; dentition: two promarginal, one retomarginal. Opisthosoma yellow, with 4 white rectangular patches, each followed by black patch; posterior end of opisthosoma with additional black spot. Legs pale. Spinnerets pale.

EPIGYNUM ( Fig. 32 View Fig ). Epigynal plate oval, much wider than long. Copulatory openings small, medially positioned in between spermathecae. Copulatory ducts as long as spermatheca, bending at right angle. Spermatheca large, egg-shaped, diagonally oriented. Fertilization ducts as long as spermatheca, arising from anterior end of spermatheca, bending at right angle towards laterally.

Distribution

Sumatra: Jambi Province.

Natural history

All specimens were collected by canopy fogging in oil palm and rubber monoculture plantations and are considered arboreal.