Heliophanoides ultramarine spec. nov. (佛AEÑĤƦ)

Figs 1, 31–46

Type material. CHINA: Yunnan Province: Holotype: ♂ (MHBU-YZZ-0141), Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Dali City, Cang Mountain, 25.6073°N, 100.1874°E, 2000 m a.s.l., 8 June 2008, Z. Yang leg. Paratypes: 1 ♀ (MHBU-YZZ-0646), with same data as for holotype, 25.6063°N, 100.1794°E, 24 May 2007, Z. Yang & Z. Li leg.; 1 ♂ 5 ♀ (MHBU-YZZ-0312), with same data as for preceding specimen, 2500 m a.s.l., 12 November 2011, J. Hou leg.; 1 ♀ (MHBU-YZZ-0314), with same data as for preceding specimens, 11 August 2011, J. Wang leg.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an English noun in apposition, referring to the stunning color of Erhai Lake near the type locality. On sunny days, the blue sky is mirrored in Erhai Lake, evoking this enchanting dark blue color.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to H. tengchongensis (Lei & Peng, 2013) in the short copulatory ducts, oval spermathecae and slender vRTA, but can be distinguished by the absence of transverse light-colored bands on the dorsal opisthosoma (Figs 31–32; vs. present in H. tengchongensis, see Lei & Peng 2013: 106, figs 7a–b); the longer embolus (Figs 38, 43; vs. shorter and beak-like in H. tengchongensis, see Lei & Peng, 2013: 107, fig. 8a); PL rounded (Figs 38, 43; vs. almost triangular in H. tengchongensis, see Lei & Peng 2013: 107, fig. 8a); the absence of the concave epigynal structure in the epigyne (Figs 41, 45; vs. obvious in H. tengchongensis, see Lei & Peng 2013: 107, fig. 8d); CO in the vicinity of genital groove (Figs 41–42, 45–46; vs. far away from genital groove in H. tengchongensis, see Lei & Peng 2013: 107, fig. 8d).

Description. Male. Habitus as in Figs 31, 36. Measurements of holotype (MHBU-YZZ-0141): carapace 1.79 long, 1.32 wide; opisthosoma 2.56 long, 1.24 wide; eyes: AME 0.37, ALE 0.18, PME 0.05, PLE 0.15; legs: Ⅰ 3.82 (1.16, 0.58, 0.97, 0.63, 0.48), II 2.93 (0.98, 0.44, 0.62, 0.43, 0.46), III 3.16 (0.96, 0.37, 0.65, 0.66, 0.52), IV 3.60 (1.16, 0.40, 0.91, 0.80, 0.33); leg formula 1432. Carapace covered with iridescent scales (Fig. 31). Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth (Fig. 35). Opisthosoma brown, with white lateral margins (Fig. 31). Leg Ⅰ stronger and darker than others (Figs 31, 33).

Palp (37–40, 43–44): embolus short and bent; proximal lobe of tegulum rounded; vRTA slender; dorsal branch of retrolateral tibial apophysis flaky.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 32, 34. Measurements of paratype (MHBU-YZZ-0314): carapace 1.57 long, 1.21 wide, opisthosoma 2.54 long, 1.58 wide; measurements of eyes: AME 0.32, ALE 0.19, PME 0.05, PLE 0.17; measurements of legs: Ⅰ 2.55 (0.82, 0.41, 0.56, 0.37, 0.39), II 2.36 (0.81, 0.43, 0.44, 0.31, 0.37), III 2.74 (0.94, 0.41, 0.54, 0.51, 0.34), IV 3.38 (1.04, 0.43, 0.76, 0.69, 0.46); leg formula 4312. Carapace and opisthosoma brown, with iridescent scales (Fig. 32). Chelicerae brown. Legs yellow, and delicate (Figs 32, 34).

Epigyne (Figs 41–42, 45–46): copulatory openings close to genital groove. Vulva (Figs 42, 46): copulatory ducts short, spermathecae oval; fertilization ducts anterior to copulatory openings.

Natural history. Bush and grass dwellers.

Distribution. China (Yunnan) (Fig. 1).