Acutipetala Gen. Nov., a New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders from Northern Thailand (Araneae, Agelenidae)

Acutipetala gen. nov., a New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders from Northern Thailand (Araneae, Agelenidae)

Pakawin Dankittipakul1* and Zhi-Sheng Zhang2

1Insect Endocrinology Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand 2College of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China

A new funnel-web spider genus, Acutipetala gen. nov., is erected to accommodate two new agelenid species known to occur in evergreen forests of northern Thailand: Acutipetala octoginta sp. nov. (type species,♂♀) and A. donglini sp. nov. (♂). The genus is established on the basis of the distinctive appearance of the genital structures, in which the median apophysis of the male palp is petal-shaped, sharply pointed, and strongly sclerotized, and the truncate embolus is short, originates subapically, and is provided with a hook-shaped apical portion.

Key words: taxonomy, zoogeography, Southeast Asia, new species, evergreen tropical forests

temperature is less than 20°C (Dankittipakul, 2002). INTRODUCTION Tegenaria domestica (Clerck, 1757), which is considered The spider family Agelenidae C. L. Koch, 1837 is repre- cosmopolitan (Platnick, 2007), was also reported from sented by approximately 40 genera and about 500 nominal Southeast Asia (Murphy and Murphy, 2000), but it has not species (Platnick, 2007). Its center of distribution lies in tem- been collected in Thailand. The occurrence of Acutipetala perate regions of the northern hemisphere, with a consider- gen. nov. in tropical forests of Thailand is of interest and able number of the described genera and species occurring adds another genus to the family, which currently encom- in the southern hemisphere (Platnick, 2007). Although the passes approximately 41 valid genera distributed almost currently valid New Zealand cribellate Agelenidae may be exclusively in the Holarctic (Platnick, 2007). misplaced, there is no appropriate alternative at present (Jocqué and Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2006). MATERIALS AND METHODS Spiders of the family Agelenidae have a distinctive pref- Morphological characters were examined, measured, and erence for the cooler regions of the world, including moun- drawn with Olympus SZX-9 and Olympus CX-31 microscopes tainous areas in tropical Southeast Asia. The majority of equipped with a drawing tube. Photographs were taken and trans- nominal species reported from Asia are known from the tem- ferred to Adobe Photoshop CS2 for adjustment. All measurements perate zone of China, India, Korea, and Japan (Barman, are in millimeters. Measurements of leg articles were taken from the 1979; Reddy and Patel, 1992; Song et al., 1999; Tanikawa, dorsal side. The epigyne was drawn in the natural and cleared (after 2005; Tikader, 1969, 1970; Uyemura, 1936; Zhang et al., immersion in 90% lactic acid for 30–60 minutes) states. The material examined is deposited in the spider collection of 2005, 2006; Xu and Li, 2007). Surprisingly, the agelenid the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de la Ville de Genève (MHNG), species previously described from Southeast Asia include Switzerland, and the Natural History Museum (TNHM), National representatives of only three genera: Tegenaria Latreille, Science Museum, Technopolis, Klong 5, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 1804; Agelena Walckenaer, 1805; and Allagelena Zhang, Province, Thailand. Zhu & Song, 2006. Except for Agelena limbata Thorell, Abbreviations used in the text and figures are as follows: AER, 1897, which is known from China, Korea, Myanmar, and anterior eye row; ALE, anterior lateral eyes; AME, anterior median Japan, the following species have not been reported since eyes; BS, basal swelling of cymbium; C, conductor; DC, dorsal their original descriptions: Tegenaria chebana Thorell, 1897, apophysis of conductor; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; GO, from Myanmar; Agelena doris Hogg, 1922, and A. tenuis genital orifice; ID, insemination duct; LTA, lateral tibial apophysis; Hogg, 1922, from Vietnam; and Allagelena monticola Chami- MA, median apophysis; MOQ, median ocular quadrangle; MS, median plate of epigyne; PER, posterior eye row; PLE, posterior Kranon, Likhitrakarn & Dankittipakul, 2007, from Thailand. lateral eyes; PME, posterior median eyes; RTA, retrolateral tibial The Agelenidae previously known from Thailand belong apophysis; SP, spermathecae. to the genera Tegenaria and Allagelena (Chami-Kranon et In text ‘Fig.’ and ‘Figs.’ refer to figures herein, while ‘fig.’ and al., 2007; Dankittipakul, 2002). Tegenaria cf. aculeata ‘figs.’ refer to figures published elsewhere. Wang, 1992, was recorded from evergreen hill forests of Doi Inthanon National Park, where the mean minimum annual TAXONOMY

* Corresponding author. Phone: +66-53-943346 ext 1435; Agelenidae C. L. Koch, 1837 Fax : +66-53-892959; Acutipetala gen. nov. E-mail : [email protected] Type species. Acutipetala octoginta sp. nov. doi:10.2108/zsj.25.546 Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders 547

Latin acutus (sharpened; past participle of acuere, to Legs long and slender; coxa and femur covered with sharpen) and the Greek petalon, leaf. The gender is feminine. long ventral hairs, occupying half femoral length; metatarsus Diagnosis. Representatives of Acutipetala gen. nov. and tarsus clothed with numerous setae; leg formula 4=123; can be recognized by the following combination of charac- leg I, IV almost subequal, length III shortest; trochanter ters: medium-sized spiders (total length 6.7–8.8); both eye weekly notched; tarsi and metatarsi with a row of short tri- rows strongly procurved (Figs. 7, 11); chilum membranous, chobothria, gradually increasing distally in length. Spination divided; chelicerae with three promarginal and three or four varies among species and individuals. Tarsi with three claws retromarginal teeth (Figs. 4, 9); male palp lacking patellar (Fig. 12); paired tarsal claws with 11 teeth; unpaired tarsal apophysis; palpal tibia with two apophyses, a retrolateral claw with five proximal teeth, basal tooth triangular, small tibial apophysis comprising a broad, flat, strongly sclerotized and short. Scopula absent. plate extending far beyond tibia (Figs. 14, 16, 20–23), and a Opisthosoma elongate oval, covered with short, black lateral tibial apophysis that is modified, large and protruding and white setae. Dorsum of opisthosoma with pattern con- (Figs. 14, 16, 21, 23); retromargin of cymbium swollen sisting of a dark reddish brown folium on reddish back- basally (Figs. 14, 21); embolus robust, originating subapi- ground together with a series of paired pale spots (Figs. 1, cally, with terminal portion sharply pointed (Figs. 14, 17) or 2). Venter pale, provided with dark brown patches forming twisted (Fig. 21); conductor membranous, provided with U-shaped pattern (Fig. 5). sclerotized dorsal apophysis (Figs. 14–16, 21, 22); median Spinnerets (Figs. 3, 6, 13): cololus reduced into two apophysis strongly sclerotized, petal shaped, sharply groups of long and curved bristles. Anterior lateral spin- pointed (Figs. 14–16, 20–22). Female epigyne represented nerets (ALS) conical, widely separated, clearly biarticulated, by a large sclerotized plate with a pair of anterior epigynal apical segment short, provided with one major ampullate teeth and a broad median sclerite (Fig. 18); atrium indistinct; gland spigot at mesal margin, surrounded by 30–40 piriform spermathecae rounded, heavily sclerotized (Fig. 19). gland spigots. Posterior median spinnerets (PMS) entirely Members of Acutipetala gen. nov. are very similar in general membranous, faintly biarticulate, with three minor ampullate appearance, and no separation of species is possible on this gland spigots and eight to ten aciniform gland spigots. Pos- basis. The male palpal organ contains the only reliable char- terior lateral spinnerets (PLS) distinctly longer than total acters for species determination. length of ALS, with thin, acuminate apical segment tapering Description. Ecribellate spider. Medium sized, total towards tip, twice as long as basal segment, basally with a length 6.7–7.1 (male) and 7.5–8.8 (female). Prosoma (Figs. group of 3–6 cylindrical gland spigots, 6–8 pairs aciniform 1, 2) elongate, widest between coxae II–III, attenuated in gland spigots situated along lateral margins interspersed front, long and narrow in ocular region; in profile highest in with pulmate hairs. Median spiracle situated ahead of spin- thoracic part (Fig. 8), gradually sloping toward cephalic part. nerets. Longitudinal fovea moderately depressed, occupying about Male genitalia: palpal femur long, with two strong spines half of carapace length (Figs. 1, 2). Cervical groove indis- mid-dorsally. Patella short, apically with two strong, elon- tinct. gate, dorsal spines, without apophysis. Tibia short, about Eyes arranged in two rows (4:4): from front, AER and the same length as patella, with four to five conspicuous PER strongly procurved (Figs. 7, 11); median eyes rounded, long spines and two apophyses: retrolateral tibial apophysis lateral eyes more or less oval. Eye sizes and interdistances: a broad, flat, strongly sclerotized plate running along tibial AME smaller than ALE, ALE largest, ALE subequal to PLE, length, distal portion extending far beyond tibia; large pro- PME smallest; PER slightly longer than AER; AME sepa- truding lateral tibial apophysis arising retrolaterally on ven- rated by less than their diameter; AME–AME slightly shorter tral side of RTA. Cymbium long, extending anteriorly beyond than AME–ALE; PME separated by their diameter; PME– alveolus; cymbial furrow absent; long, conspicuous spines PLE separated less than PME diameter. Median ocular on lateral sides; retromargin with basal swelling. Tegulum quadrangle longer than wide, wider behind than in front. simple and rounded, with heavily sclerotized prolateral area. Clypeus height 1–2 times AME diameter, lined with long, Embolus robust, strongly sclerotized, arising subapically on strong setae. Chilum divided, almost indistinct, hairless. the bulb, gradually tapering toward tip, the tip occasionally Chelicerae elongate and slender (Fig. 7); cheliceral fang twisted in some species, freely movable on conductor. Con- grooves provided with three promarginal teeth, the middle ductor membranous, its base placed in the center of one largest, and four or five retromarginal teeth different in tegulum, retrolaterally with broad sclerotized dorsal apo- size (Figs. 4, 9); condyle large; dorsal chelicerae covered physis. Median apophysis petal shaped, strongly sclero- with long setae (Fig. 7); ventrally with setae arranged in an tized, with sharply pointed distal portion. oblique line; anterior surface of chelicerae covered with Female genitalia: epigyne a heavily sclerotized plate dense, long, strong setae (Fig. 4). Fangs moderately long. with or without median ridge. Median sclerite longer than Endites (Figs. 4, 10) rectangular, longer than wide, parallel wide, extending deep into genital orifice. Epigynal teeth sided, with anterior scopula and linear serrula. Labium (Fig. short and stout, situated on anterior half. Vulva with large 10) rectangular, usually longer than wide, basolaterally con- posterior spermathecae. Copulatory ducts originated from stricted, slightly notched distally, lined with long, dark setae. lateral slits of the median sclerite. Fertilization ducts thin, sit- Sternum (Figs. 3, 10) shield shaped, anterior margin more uated posteriorly. or less straight, separated from labium by shallow furrow, Species included. Acutipetala donglini sp. nov. and lateral margins strongly invaginated, posteriorly protruded; Acutipetala octoginta sp. nov. sparsely covered with long, dark setae, which are absent Natural history. Acutipetala species were collected by from the middle portion. sweeping vegetation in evergreen hill forests of northern 548 P. Dankittipakul and Z.-S. Zhang

Thailand. Distribution. Northern Thailand.

Acutipetala octoginta sp. nov. Figs. 1–19 Type material. HOLOTYPE:♂, northern Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Chomthong District, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Inthanon, Pha Mon Village, 1000–1100 m, 26.xi.2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul [MHNG TH/PDC Ag- 061]. PARATYPES: 1♂, same data as for holotype [TNHM PDC-063]; 1♂, Mae Hong Son Province, Tham Lod, 650 m, 20.xii.1996, leg. P. J. Schwendinger [MHNG TH/PDC Ag- 062]; 1♀, Chiang Mai Province and District, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Ban Meo Chang Kein near the summit of Doi Pui (18°50’38.9”N, 98°53’37.1”E), no date, no collector noted, lodged in arthropod collection of Chiang Mai Univer- sity [THNM, PDC Ag-060]; 1♂, Monthatharn Waterfalls, 630 m, mixed deciduous dipterocarp forest, 26.xi.1996, leg. P. J. Schwendinger [MHNG]; 2♀, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Dao District, Tham Kreb (19°34’33.7”N, 99°03’40.1”E), 570 m, 23–24.xii.2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul and P. J. Schwendinger [MHNG, TH/PDC Ag-055]. Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin numeral meaning eighty. This new species is named in honor of His

Figs. 3–6. Acutipetala octoginta gen. et sp. nov. (3) Male holotype, habitus, ventral view. (4) Chelicerae, endites and labium (in part). (5) Opisthosoma, ventral view showing pattern on venter. (6) Groups of hairs in front of the spinnerets.

Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand, who has served his country with indefatigable dedication. His Majesty is the longest-ruling monarch in Thailand’s history and the longest-reigning ruler in the world. This new species is described to commemorate the celebrations on the most auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary on December 5, 2007. Diagnosis. The male of A. octoginta sp. nov. can be recognized by the stylus-like embolus truncate basally, gradually tapering toward the tip (Figs. 14, 17); distinguished from males of A. donglini sp. nov. by the difference in shape of embolus and tibial apophyses on the male palp and by the number of denticles (four) on retromargin of the cheliceral fang groove. Female can be identified by a pair of epigynal teeth situated on the median ridge and by the trapezoidal median sclerite, with rebordered basolateral rims. Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.7; carapace 3.2 long, 2.50 wide; opisthosoma 3.50 long, 1.80 wide. Carapace pale yellow, provided with a pair of wide greenish bands extending from near the base to the back of lateral eyes; radiating striae dark greenish. Chelicerae orange brown. Labium dusky orange, basally brown, apically pale yellow. Endites yellow, with lateral margins distinctly darker. Sternum yellow, with center faintly shaded. Pro- Figs. 1, 2. Acutipetala octoginta gen. et sp. nov. (1) Male holo- margin and retromargin of cheliceral fang groove with three type, habitus, dorsal view. (2) Female paratype, habitus, dorsal and four teeth, respectively. view. Both eye rows strongly procurved; AER slightly shorter New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders 549

Figs. 7–12. Acutipetala octoginta gen. et sp. nov. (7) Prosoma, frontal view. (8) Ditto, lateral view. (9) Left chelicera, ventral view. (10) Prosoma, ventral view showing sternum, endites and labium. (11) Eyes, dorsal view. (12) Tip of tarsus IV showing paired and unpaired tarsal claws.

than PER; eyes subequal; MOQ longer than wide, wider behind than in front. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.15, PME 0.13, PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.07; MOQ 0.40 long, front width 0.31, back width 0.36. Clypeus height 1.98. Leg formula: 4123. Legs yellow, with faint dusky annuli: proximal part of femur ventrally black; metatarsus and tarsus darker than other segments. Spination: femur I, 1-1-2d 1pl; patella I, 1-2d; tibia I, 1-1pl 1-1v; metatarsus I, 1-1pl 2v; femur II, 1-1-2d; patella II, 1-2d; tibia II, 1-1pl 1-1v; metatarsus II, 1-1pl 1-1-1v; femur III, 1-1-2d; patella III, 1-1d; tibia III, 1d 1-1pl; metatarsus III, 1-1d 1-1pl; femur IV, 1-1-2d; patella IV, 1-1d; tibia IV, 1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-2v; metatarsus IV, 1-1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-2v. Leg measurements: I II III IV Femur 4.4 3.9 3.7 4.8 Patella 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.2 Tibia 4.1 3.2 3.0 4.1 Metatarsus 5.0 4.0 3.9 5.6 Tarsus 3.2 2.5 2.1 2.6 Total 18.0 14.8 13.7 18.3 Opisthosoma elongate oval, covered with white hairs and interspersed with short, erect, dark-brown hairs. Dorsum of opisthosoma with yellowish gray background; cardiac area provided with lanceolate reddish median band; a pair of narrowed dark bands running longitudinally, Fig. 13. Acutipetala octoginta gen. et sp. nov. Anterior lateral, extending the full opisthosoma length, anterior portion posterior median and posterior lateral spinnerets on right side show- almost parallel, posterior portion stridulated, enclosing four ing spigots. pairs of pale oval patches on posterior inner margins. Venter 550 P. Dankittipakul and Z.-S. Zhang

Figs. 14–19. Acutipetala octoginta gen. et sp. nov. Holotype, male (14–16); paratype male (17) and female (18, 19). (14) Male palp, ventral view. (15) Male palp, prolateral view. (16) Male palp, retrolateral view. (17) Median apophysis, ventral view. (18) Epigyne, ventral view. (19) Vulva, dorsal view. See Materials and Methods for abbreviations. Scale lines=0.5 mm (14), 0.2 mm (18), 0.1 mm (19). pale yellow, with pattern consisting of broken U-shaped to form sharply pointed apex. Membranous conductor origi- bands, dark reddish-brown. nating from center of the bulb, with slightly sclerotized dorsal Male palp (Figs. 14–16). Palpal femur and patella apophysis of conductor. Median apophysis petal shaped, unmodified. Palpal tibia relatively short, with two apophyses: strongly sclerotized, situated on membranous base. retrolateral tibial apophysis a large sclerotized plate with Female (paratype). Total length 8.80; carapace 3.70 distal portion extending far beyond tibia, dorsally convex; long, 2.70 wide; opisthosoma 5.10 long, 2.65 wide. lateral tibial apophysis large and protruded, situated Coloration and pattern (Fig. 2): generally as in males but relatively retroventrally, projecting outward in lateral view. larger in size; carapace yellow, with dark greenish median Embolus strongly sclerotized, stylus-like, gradually tapering bands running from behind posterior eye row, broken, dis- New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders 551 tinctly darker in thoracic area; dorsum of opisthosoma with a pair of dark brown bands running longitudinally, encircling four pairs of lanceolate pale patches, intermediate area in between provided with much red pigmentation; basal segments of PLS slightly widening in apical portion (Fig. 2); leg yellow, usually with greenish annuli; femur with three dark greenish annuli; proximal part of patella dark brown; tibia yellow, distally brown, metatarsus and tarsus brown. Pro- margin and retromargin of cheliceral fang groove with three and four denticles, respectively. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.15, PME 0.12, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.06; MOQ 0.34 long, front width 0.30, back width 0.37. Clypeus height 1.22. Leg formula: 4123. Spination: femur I, 1-1-2d 1pl; patella I, 1-2d; tibia I, 1d 1-1pl 1-1v; metatarsus I, 1-1pl 2v; femur II, 1-1-2d; patella II, 1-2d; tibia II, 1d 1-1pl 1-1v; metatarsus II, 1-1pl 1-1-1v; femur III, 1-1-2d; patella III, 1-1d; tibia III, 1d 1-1pl; metatarsus III, 1-1d 1-1pl; femur IV, 1-1-2d; patella IV, 1-1d; tibia IV, 1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-2v; metatarsus IV, 1-1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-1-2v. Leg measurements: I II III IV Femur 4.2 4.0 3.6 4.8 Patella 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 Tibia 3.9 3.0 2.8 4.0 Metatarsus 4.3 3.5 3.7 5.5 Tarsus 2.8 2.1 1.8 2.3 Total 16.5 13.9 13.1 17.9 Epigyne (Fig. 18) a large, heavily sclerotized plate occupying almost entire epigastric area; trapezoidal, posterior margin broader than anterior margin; with a transverse median ridge. Two small epigynal teeth situated medially. A large rectangular median sclerite with rebordered basolateral ridges. Atrium indistinct. Copulatory ducts broad at base, ascending then narrowing downward, connected to thick-walled spermathecae (Fig. 19). Fertilization ducts thin, situated posteriorly. Natural history. Acutipetala octoginta sp. nov. is well represented in forests of northern Thailand. The male holotype and paratype were collected in a mixed deciduous forest dominated by pine trees at about 1000 m altitude on Doi [Mt.] Inthanon. Their retreats were situated between roots of large trees in the upper portion of soil banks or ver- tical road cuts. Another male was obtained by sweeping in the gallery of an evergreen forest at lower elevation (630 m above sea level) on Doi Suthep. A female paratype examined was also collected from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, but near the summit of Doi Pui (1680 m). Other female paratypes examined were obtained by sweeping lower vegetation in front of a cave entrance at altitudes of 330–650 m. Distribution. Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Provinces). Figs. 20–24. Acutipetala donglini gen. et sp. nov. Holotype (20– 22) and paratype (23, 24). (20) Male palp, prolateral view. (21) Ditto, Acutipetala donglini sp. nov. ventral view. (22) Ditto, retrolateral view. (23) Retrolateral tibial apo- Figs. 20–24 physis, ventral view. (24) Palpal tibia, retrolateral view. LTA, lateral tibial apophysis. Scale lines=0.5 mm (20–22). Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♂, Thailand, Nan Prov- ince, Than Wang Pha District, Nantaburi National Park, Doi Wao, 1300–1500 m, 11.-12.xii.2005, leg. P. Dankittipakul & Ag-071/072]. P. J. Schwendinger [MHNG, TH/PDC Ag-053]. Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Donglin Li PARATYPE: 2♂, same data as for the holotype [TNHM, (The University of Auckland, New Zealand) for his generous 552 P. Dankittipakul and Z.-S. Zhang support. The specific epithet is a patronym and is in mascu- be recognized by the presence of anterior epigynal teeth line genitive singular. and the large median sclerite. The latter character is shared Diagnosis. Similar in general appearance to A. octoginta between the females of Acutipetala gen. nov. and several sp. nov., the median apophysis petal shaped, with sharply Holoarctic agelenid genera, including Tegenaria. The new pointed apex. Distinguished from A. octoginta sp. nov. by genus is distinguishable from Agelena by the absence of a the robust embolus, with the apical portion twisted; differ- large epigynal atrium and spermathecal apophyses (see ence shapes of RTA and LTA; and the retromargin of the also Zhang et al., 2005). Accordingly, the female genital cheliceral fang groove with five denticles instead of four. structure contradicts a close relationship between Agelena Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.60; cara- and Acutipetala gen. nov. pace 3.00 long, 2.30 wide; opisthosoma 3.60 long, 1.80 Acutipetala gen. nov. shows a close relationship to the wide. genus Tegenaria. However, the characteristic petal-shaped AER slightly shorter than PER; eyes subequal; MOQ median apophysis is significantly different from that of wider than long, wider behind than in front. Eye diameters Tegenaria. The median apophysis is heavily sclerotized in and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.16, PME 0.15, PLE all males of the new genus, but it is represented by a thin 0.15; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.13, membranous structure in Tegenaria species. Males of PME–PLE 0.09; MOQ 0.34 long, front width 0.36, back Acutipetala gen. nov. also possess a robust embolus origi- width 0.42. Clypeus height 2.22. nating at about 10 o’clock and a reduced prolateral arm of Leg formula: 1423. Spination: femur I, 1-1-2d 1-1pl; the conductor on the male palpal organ. Acutipetala is patella I, 1-2d; tibia I, 1-1pl 1-1v; metatarsus I, 1-1pl 2v; similar in male pedipal morphology to Tegenaria sensu femur II, 1-1-2d 1pl; patella II, 1-2d; tibia II, 1-1pl 1-1v; meta- stricto in the categorization by Levy (1996), which Guseinov tarsus II, 1-1pl 1-1-1v; femur III, 1-1-2d; patella III, 1-1d; tibia et al. (2005) subsequently followed. Guseinov et al. (2005) III, 1d 1-1pl; metatarsus III, 1-1d 1-1pl; femur IV, 1-1-2d; recognized that Tegenaria is likely to be polyphyletic because patella IV, 1-1d; tibia IV, 1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-1-2v; metatarsus IV, of the highly heterogeneous genital structures, and these 1-1d 1-1-1pl 1-1-1-2v. authors also redefined the genus on the basis of male palpal Leg measurements: structures by including only those species resembling the I II III IV type species, T. domestica (Clerck, 1757), in which the Femur 4.5 4.0 3.7 4.7 thick, short embolus originates from the subapical part of the Patella 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.2 bulb. Tibia 4.1 3.5 3.0 4.2 Lehtinen (1967) placed Tegenaria in the tribe Tegena- Metatarsus 5.4 4.2 4.0 5.7 riini, which can be easily distinguished by the more or less Tarsus 3.5 2.7 2.1 2.7 straight eye rows (strongly procurved in the Agelenini) and Total 18.7 15.5 13.9 18.5 the curved, sulciform conductor. Acutipetala gen. nov. has Male palp (Figs. 20–24). Papal femur and patella in common with Agelena species both eye rows strongly unmodified. Palpal tibia with two apophyses: RTA strongly procurved (Levy, 1996: 86; fig. 2). However, the clypeus sclerotized, distal portion extending far beyond tibia, with appears relatively higher in Agelena species (often three to distinctive dorsolateral ridge (Figs. 21, 23); LTA large and over four times the diameter of AME) but distinctly shorter protruded, situated relatively retroventrally of RTA. Embolus (only one to two times the diameter of AME) than in robust, with large, swollen base, apical portion twisted. Con- Acutipetala gen. nov. (Figs. 7, 8). ductor with strongly sclerotized distal apophysis. Median Besides the characters mentioned above, the lack of an apophysis strongly sclerotized, petal shaped, with sharply apophysis on the palpal patella of the male, together with pointed tip curved inward. the large, protruding LTA and the relatively broad RTA Female: unknown. extending far beyond the tibia (similar to coelotine spiders of Natural history. The types of A. donglini sp. nov. were the family Amaurobiidae), make it easy to discern Acutipetala collected by sweeping lower vegetation in an evergreen hill gen. nov. from other agelenids. forest (1300–1500 m) near the summit of Doi Wao. The forest is constantly moist year around, with the mean annual Phylogeny temperature measured at the national park headquarters The phylogeny of Acutipetala gen. nov. is based on a (1100–1200 m above sea level) around 22°C. limited number of genital characters. Acutipetala gen. nov. Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Nan is sufficiently distinguishable from the closely related genus Province, northern Thailand). Tegenaria. The putative monophyly of the genus is here supported by the presence of a sclerotized, petal-shaped DISCUSSION median apophysis, which is considered synapomorphic. Morphology This structure is different from the membranous, more or Acutipetala gen. nov. consists of two new closely related less sickle-shaped median apophysis in Tegenaria spp., species found in northern Thailand. Species of Acutipetala which appears to represent the ancestral state within the gen. nov. are united by the following synapomorphy: the Agelenidae. In Agelena, the median apophysis is weakly petal-shaped median apophysis of the male palp is sharply sclerotized. With respect to the male palps, however, pointed and heavily sclerotized. The unique median apo- Acutipetala gen. nov. is considered apomorphic compared physis represents the most striking morphological character to Tegenaria and Agelena, for the following reason: the teg- of the new genus. The modification of this structure sug- ular apophysis was developed for attachment of the male gests a role in mating. Females of Acutipetala gen. nov. can palp to the vulva; thus, its simplest function is achieved in New Genus of Funnel-Web Spiders 553 the form of a membranous structure. Accordingly, the mem- Jocqué R, Dippenaar-Schoeman AS (2006) Spider Families of the branous apophysis found in Tegenaria and Agelena can be World. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren regarded as plesiomorphic. Koch CL (1837) Üebersicht des Arachnidensystesms, Vol 1. C. H. Although Acutipetala gen. nov. shows an apomorphic Zehsche, Nürnberg state in the peculiar shape of the median apophysis, it lacks Latreille PA (1804) Histoire Naturelle Generale et Particuliere des Crustaces et des Insectes 7: 144–305 the patellar apophysis, and in that character appears even Lehtinen PT (1967) Classification of the cribellate spiders and some more primitive than Agelena. Acutipetala gen. nov., allied families, with notes on the evolution of the suborder Ara- Tegenaria, and Agelena are certainly related; however, their neomorpha. Ann Zool Fenn 4: 199–468 relationship is still obscure. Furthermore, since only one Levy G (1996) The agelenid funnel-weaver family and the spider female is known, any reliable decisions regarding the phylo- genus Cedicus in Israel (Araneae, Agelenidae and Cybaeidae). genetic relations are difficult. However, recent concepts of Zool Scr 25: 85–122 phylogeny in Agelenidae and other related families have Murphy F, Murphy J (2000) An Introduction to the Spiders of South- inevitably changed dramatically, and additional information east Asia. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur should be forthcoming in the near future. Platnick NI (2007) The World Wpider Catalog, Bersion 8.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York (http://research.amnh.org/ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html; accessed August, 2007) Reddy TS, Patel BH (1992) A rare new Tegenaria Latreille spider Dr Peter J. Schwendinger (MHNG) kindly provided material (Araneae: Agelenidae) from coastal Andhra Pradesh, India. from his private collection. We would like to express our sincere Entomon 17: 125–127 gratitude to Dr Xin-Ping Wang (The University of Florida) for his Song DX, Zhu MS, Chen J (1999) The Spiders of China. Hebei Sci- continuous support and contributions to the study of Thai Amauro- ence and Technology Publishing House, Shijiazhuang biidae and Agelenidae. We thank Angelo Bolzern (Switzerland) and Tanikawa A (2005) Japanese spiders of the genus Agelena (Ara- two anonymous referees for valuable comments and suggestions neae: Agelenidae). Acta Arach Tokyo 54: 23–30 on an earlier version of the manuscript. The first author is grateful Thorell T (1897) Viaggio di Leonardo Fea in Birmania e regioni to Professor Dr Tippawan Singtripop (Chiang Mai University), Dr vicine. LXXIII. Secondo saggio sui ragni birmani. I. Parallelo- Angoon Lewvanich (The Royal Academy of Thailand), Donglin Li dontes. Tubitelariae. Ann Mus Civ Stor Nat Genova (2) 17 and Dr Jim XU (both The University of Auckland) for their generous [=37]: 161–267 support. Tikader BK (1969) Studies on spider fauna of Khasi and Jaintia The Graduate School of Chiang Mai University supported P. Hills, Assam, India. Part III. 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