Belisana gowindahela Huber 2019, sp. n.

Belisana gowindahela sp. n.

Figures 6–7, 31–33, 38–39

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from most congeners by long retrolateral process (‘flap’) of procursus pointing in proximal-ventral direction and curved at tip (Figs 32–33); from very similar B. ratnapura Huber, 2005 by more slender procursus with different shape of prolateral distal sclerite (compare Figs 32–35), by wider distance between distal male cheliceral apophyses (~80 µm versus 15 µm in B. ratnapura; compare Fig. 31 with fig. 604 in Huber 2005), and by epigynum without posterior extension and with pockets wider apart (~60 µm versus 10–15 µm in B. ratnapura; compare Figs 38–41).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality (noun in apposition).

Type material. SRI LANKA: ♂ holotype, ZFMK (Ar 20006), Uva Province, near Gowindahela (7.041°N, 81.538°E), 130–180 m a.s.l., 12.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber).

Other material examined. SRI LANKA: 7♂ 7♀ 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 20007), and 1♂ 1♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL135), same data as holotype. 3♂ 5♀ 4 juvs, ZFMK (Ar 20008), and 1♂ 1♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL131), Uva Province, Inginiyagala (7.225°N, 81.535°E), 110 m a.s.l., 12.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber). 1♀, ZFMK (Ar 20009), and 1♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL127), North Central Province, Dimbulagala (7.860°N, 81.118°E), 140 m a.s.l., 11.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber). 3♂ 5♀, ZFMK (Ar 20010), and 1♀ 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL121), Central Province, Kandalama Forest (7.859°N, 80.711°E), 220 m a.s.l., 10.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber). 1♂ 4♀, ZFMK (Ar 20011), and 2♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL115), North Western Province, Kurunegala, at base of Ethagala (Athugala) Mtn (7.490°N, 80.369°E), 170 m a.s.l., 9.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber). 1♂ 1♀, NMSL, 8♂ 11♀, ZFMK (Ar 20012–13), and 2♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL110), Central Province, Kandy, Dunumadallawa Forest (7.282°N, 80.643°E), 600–680 m a.s.l., 8.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber). 1♂ 1♀ 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 5397), Central Province, Kandy, Udawattakele Sanctuary [7.300°N, 80.642°E], 17.iii.1998 (S.P. Benjamin); 2♀ 2 juvs, ZFMK (Ar 5197), same data but 18.vii.2003. 9♂ 10♀, ZFMK (Ar 20014), and 2♀ 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL152), Sabaragamuwa Province, above Dematagala (6.451°N, 80.751°E), 160 m a.s.l., 16.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber).

Description. Male (holotype). MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 1.9, carapace width 0.6. Distance PME- PME 160 µm, diameter PME 60 µm, distance PME-ALE 15 µm; AME absent. Sternum width/length: 0.40/0.38. Leg 1: 15.7 (3.9 + 0.3 + 4.0 + 6.0 + 1.5), tibia 2: 2.5, tibia 3: 1.5, tibia 4: 2.3; tibia 1 L/d: 67.

COLOR (in ethanol). Entire spider whitish to pale ochre-yellow, legs without dark rings.

BODY. Habitus as in Fig. 6; ocular area not raised; carapace without median furrow; clypeus and sternum unmodified.

CHELICERAE. As in Fig. 31, with pair of small apophyses proximally laterally, pair of short frontal apophyses distally, and pair of indistinct frontal apophyses proximally; distance between tips of distal apophyses 0.08.

PALPS. Proximal segments very similar to B. ratnapura (cf. Huber 2005: figs 602–603); coxa unmodified; trochanter with distinctive retrolateral apophysis; procursus as in Figs 32–33, with long retrolateral flap and distinctive prolateral distal sclerite; bulb apparently indistinguishable from B. ratnapura.

LEGS. Without spines and curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 9%; prolateral trichobothrium apparently absent on tibia 1; tarsus 1 with ~25 pseudosegments, distally distinct.

Male (variation). Tibia 1 in 32 other males: 3.2–4.3 (mean 3.7).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 44 females: 2.8–3.4 (mean 3.1). Epigynum externally very simple, barely distinguishable from surrounding cuticle, with pair of pockets ~58–60 µm apart, not on posterior extension. Internal genitalia as in Figs 38–39, with pair of small pore plates far apart.

Natural history. This leaf-dwelling species was very abundant at some sites (e.g. Kandy). Its web was attached to the underside of a leaf and was highly regular, consisting of long parallel vertical lines connected by short horizontal lines (i.e. without the zig-zag lines present in the webs of many other Belisana species).

Distribution. Widely distributed in central and eastern Sri Lanka, apparently excluding high elevation areas (Fig. 221).