Sarax bispinosus

Natural history Specimens were collected under stones in primary forest.

Description CARAPACE. Six anterior setae (Fig. 137 A); frontal process triangular, not visible in dorsal view (Fig. 137 C). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle well developed; pair of setae on median ocular tubercle; lateral eyes well developed, pale, with seta lateral to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad situated near carapace margin; curved carina between ocular triads and carapace margin. STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae (Fig. 137 B); other sternal platelets narrow and projected, with 6 – 8 setae anteriorly on plaque and 6 – 8 setae posteriorly; pentasternum with two or three setae medially on plaque. OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sac cover well developed. GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with short setae posteromedially; median region with pair of white bulges and slender setae apically (Fig. 138 A – C); gonopod finger-like with small invagination apically (Fig. 138 A – B, E); base of gonopods unsclerotized; slit sensilla on lateral margin of genital operculum (Fig. 138 E). Male genitalia with LoL 1 wrinkled (Fig. 139 A, E); LoL 2 fimbriate (Fig. 139 D); LoD not projected or surpassing LaM (Fig. 139 A, C); wth small spiny projections on border of LaM (Fig. 139 A – B); spiny projections inside fistula (Fig. 139 G); short PI (Fig. 139 D); border of fistula and base of LoL 2 sclerotized. CHELICERAE. Retrolateral surface of basal segment with short, acute projection opposite to bifid tooth on basal segment; retrolateral surface of claw with row of setae basally to medially; claw with four teeth; two transverse rows of several setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp. PEDIPALPS. Coxae without seta encircled by round carina, two setae on margin with sockets near each other. Femur with four or five dorsal spines and four or five ventral spines (Figs 3 E – F, 137 E – F); two or three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; short setiferous tubercle between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with five dorsal spines in primary series (Figs 4 E – F, 137 E – F); two prominent setiferous tubercles distal to spine I; three ventral spines decreasing in length from distal to proximal; two small setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with two dorsal spines, distal spine similar in length to tibia, proximal spine one-third length of distal spine; ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, distal spine long (Fig. 137 D), about half length of tarsus, proximal spine short, emerging from base of longer spine; cleaning organ with 30 – 32 setae in ventral row. LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 39 articles; first tarsal article same length as second article; tarsal organ close to base of tarsal claw (Fig. 140 A – B, D); rod sensilla in deep groove (Fig. 140 C). Leg IV basitibia with three pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate margin at apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated in proximal third of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to bf than to s bf, sc and sf series each with five trichobothria. Measurements See Table 9.

Figs 3 E – F, 4 E – F, 135, 137 – 140; Table 9

Diagnosis This species may be separated from other species of Sarax in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia by the following combination of characters: median eyes present; median ocular tubercle shallow (Fig. 137 A); chelicera with short, acute tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth; cheliceral claw with four teeth; pedipalps sexually dimorphic, male pedipalps with longer segments than female pedipalps; tibia of leg I with 23 articles, tarsus I with 39 articles; leg IV basitibia with three pseudo-articles; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated medially and closer to bf than to sbf; sc and sf series each with five trichobothria. This species differs from its congeners in the number of articles on the tarsus of leg I.

Remarks The distinctive morphology of S. bispinosus justifies its elevation to the rank of species.

Distribution Known from India and Sri Lanka.

Etymology Adjective referring to two spines on the pedipalp tarsus (Nair 1934).

Type material Syntypes INDIA • 2 ex.; Kallar, 30 miles E of Trivandrum, Tamil Nadu; [08 ° 42 ′ 35.41 ″ N, 77 ° 07 ′ 44.77 ″ E]; 2000 ft a. s. l.; Mar. 1933; K. B. Nair leg.; [repository unspecified] [not examined] • many specimens; Mookunni Hill, near Trivandrum; [08 ° 32 ′ 51.76 ″ N, 76 ° 59 ′ 28.26 ″ E]; 842 ft a. s. l.; K. B. Nair leg.; damp places adhering to undersurface of stones and fallen timber; [repository unspecified] [not examined]. Additional material (examined) SRI LANKA • 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Kodigala Mountain; 08 ° 06 ′ 34 ″ N, 80 ° 39 ′ 24 ″ E; new record; 6 Feb. 2014; L. Prendini and P. Horsley leg.; under stones on summit and rocky upper slopes, many large granitic outcrops, moderate to thick leaf litter layer, dense canopy cover with sparse understorey below summit; forest shorter and drier at summit; AMNH Ambly 90 • 1 ♂ juv.; same collection data as for preceding; AMCC [LP 12298].