Charippus minotaurus Yu, Maddison & Zhang 2022, sp. nov.

Charippus minotaurus Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov.

Figs 145–169

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (UBCZ; KYU-SAL396), MALAYSIA: Sarawak: Lambir N. P., headquarters area. 4.197– 4.198°N, 114.0400– 114.0402°E, 50 m elev., 30 March–6 April 2012, leg. W.P. Maddison, E.K. Piascik & A. Ang, WPM#12-104. Paratype: 1♀ (UBCZ; KYU-SAL397), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from “Minotaurus”, a monster with a human body and a bull’s head in Ancient Greek mythology, living in labyrinth, and refers to the strong carapace and the labyrinth-like copulatory ducts of the new species; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Differs from all congeners by the absence of CPSB on the cephalon (Figs 145–146, 150–151), the embolus coiled for more than four circles, the absence of LED (Figs 159, 162), the relatively wide and thick carapace, and the copulatory ducts swerving for more than 15 times (Figs 165–166, 168–169).

Description. Male. Habitus as shown in Fig. 150. Carapace length 2.73; abdomen length 1.80. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.54, ALE 0.30, PME 0.10, PLE 0.28. Measurements of legs: I 4.95 (1.58, 0.84, 1.19, 0.77, 0.57), II 3.73 (1.26, 0.61, 0.79, 0.65, 0.42), III 3.86 (1.37, 0.58, 0.67, 0.72, 0.52), IV 3.99 (1.28, 0.50, 0.88, 0.83, 0.50). Chelicerae with small triangular projection distally (Fig. 153); promargin with two stout teeth, retromargin with one bicuspid tooth. Palp (Figs 158–163): yellowish brown; embolus slender and long, coiled for more than four circles; embolic disc large, slightly sclerotized, without LED; tegulum slightly sclerotized, tegular lobe present; salticid radix slightly sclerotized; both retrolateral and prolateral sperm duct loops present; retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively narrow and long, intermediately curved. Sternum with setal tuft sub-centrally. Color in alcohol (Fig. 150): carapace reddish brown to dark, without CPSB; dorsal abdomen pale yellowish with brown markings, slightly sclerotized; legs yellowish brown, with annuli and pale yellowish setae.

Female. Habitus as shown in Fig. 151. Carapace length 2.78; abdomen length 2.66. Chelicerae (Fig. 155) as in male but without small apophysis. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.60, ALE 0.30, PME 0.08, PLE 0.24. Measurements of legs: I 4.28 (1.38, 0.74, 0.99, 0.64, 0.53), II 3.56 (1.27, 0.57, 0.72, 0.55, 0.45), III 3.67 (1.33, 0.65, 0.59, 0.63, 0.47), IV 4.23 (1.36, 0.64, 0.84, 0.78, 0.61). Color in alcohol (Fig. 151): carapace as in male; abdomen pale yellow with brown markings. Setal tuft on sternum as in male. Epigynum (Figs 164, 167): window relatively small, rims not obviously sclerotized, median septum wide, extending to area near genital furrow; lateral depressions deep. Vulva (Figs 165–166, 168): CD extremely long and coiled, swerving for more than 15 times, slightly widened at origin; AG small and oval; spermathecae prominent, bulging, kidney shaped.

Natural history. The holotype was collected in dry sticks.

Distribution. Malaysia (Sarawak).