Althepus huoyan Liu & Li & Wongprom & Zheng & Li 2017, sp. nov.

Althepus huoyan Li et Li sp. nov.

Figs 4–5, 21–22

Type material. Holotype: Male (IZCAS), Thailand, Phatthalung Province, Khao Chaison District, Phrong Ta Khe Cave, 07°27.040'N, 100°07.870'E, altitude 11m, 26 October 2015. Paratypes: 2 females and 1 male, same data as holotype (IZCAS).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Chinese pinyin 'huǒ yàn', which means 'flame', referring to flame-shaped distal part of the conductor of the male; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The males can be easily recognized from all the other species by the flame-shaped distal part of the conductor (Figs 4A–D).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 4.14; carapace 1.22 length, 1.60 width; abdomen 2.50 length, 1.60 width. Carapace rounded (Fig. 5G), yellowish, with a short yellow line in the middle. Anterior margin of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Clypeus brown. Cheliceral promargin with two teeth, followed by a lamina, retromargin with two small teeth (Fig. 21C). Labium brown, with two light rounded areas basally. Sternum brown. Abdomen elongate, brown, with yellow X-type patterns dorsally and complex patterns ventrally. Legs brown. Leg measurements: I 49.75 (13.14, 0.59, 14.80, 16.99, 4.23), II 30.66 (7.82, 0.59, 7.95, 11.99, 2.31), III missing, IV 26.87 (7.56, 0.59, 7.63, 9.23, 1.86). Male palp (Figs 4A–D): tarsus with three slightly curved, serrated bristles at the top of cymbial protrusion (Fig. 4A, one of serrated bristles was missing), one spine slightly bent with tip ventrally arising from a slender lateral protrusion (Fig. 4A) and one strong spine arising from a tubercle; bulb bright yellow, ovate; embolus arising retrolatero-distally from bulb, slightly curved distally; conductor arising distally from bulb, complex-shaped structures on the distal part; embolus and conductor widely separated (the distance is almost equal to diameter of bulb).

Female (paratype). Similar to male in coloration and general features (Figs 5H–I), but with a smaller body size. Internal genitalia with a pair of swollen transparent spermathecae (Fig. 5E). Measurements: total length 3.85; carapace 1.26 length, 1.39 width; abdomen 1.76 length, 1.62 width. Legs I 37.94 (9.36, 0.51, 9.74, 16.92, 1.41), legs II 21.22 (5.38, 0.51, 5.45, 7.76, 2.12), III 14.87 (4.23, 0.51, 3.59, 4.55, 1.99), IV 18.33 (5.51, 0.51, 5.26, 5.45, 1.60).

Variation. Carapace 1.22–1.36 length, 1.58–1.60 width, tibia I 13.46–16.99 in males. Carapace 1.22–1.26 length, 1.33–1.39 width in females.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 22).