Rhitymna merianae spec. nov.

Figs 36–37, 53–54, 61

Type material. Holotype male (PJ 3674): Indonesia: Bali: above Negara [ca. S 8°18'57.07", E 114°36'17.65'', 73 m elevation], disturbed rainforest, leaf litter, leg. C.L. & P.R. Deeleman 22 November 1997, Coll. Deeleman (RMNH).

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Maria Sibylla Merian (1647, Frankfurt–1717, Amsterdam), natural scientist, artist, famous for her picture of a tarantula feeding on a humming-bird, and pioneer of equal rights, especially for women as scientists; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Relatively small Sparassidae (body length of males: 7.2) similar to those of R. ambae Jäger, 2003 in having a similar size and a generally similar configuration of the male palp especially with the prolateral embolic indentation (Figs 36–37), but can be distinguished from this species by: 1. Cymbium strongly elongate, almost 3 times longer than wide (of normal shape, approximately 2 times longer than wide in R. ambae), 2. Distal embolic coil small, extending prolaterally not beyond prolateral, wide part of embolus (distal coil wide, extending prolaterally distinctly in prolateral, wide part of embolus in R. ambae). 3. Embolus without apophysis (with apophysis in R. ambae).

Description. Male (holotype): PL 3.5, PW 3.4, AW 1.9, OL 3.7, OW 2.5. Eyes: AME 0.22, ALE 0.21, PME 0.20, PLE 0.21, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.31, PME–PLE 0.35, AME–PME 0.27, ALE– PLE 0.20, clypeus height at AME 0.13, clypeus height at ALE 0.13. Cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth, without denticles. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 3 bristles. Spination: Palp: 131, 002(1), 2121; legs (II absent): femur I, III 323, IV 322; patella I 101, III 0 0 1, IV 000; tibia I 2226, III–IV 2126; metatarsus I 2024, III 2025, IV 3 0 27. Leg formula: 143. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.8 (1.9, 0.7, 1.5, -, 1.7), I 25.8 (6.7, 2.0, 8.2, 7.0, 1.9), II absent, III 15.6 (4.3, 1.5, 4.4, 3.9, 1.5), IV 20.8 (5.8, 1.5, 6.0, 5.8, 1.7). Metatarsi III–IV with ventro-distal spine within sparse scopula (III) or field of stiff setae (IV).

Palp as in diagnosis (Figs 36–37). RTA arising distally from tibia, straight and pointed. Embolus tip situated in a 12-o’clock-position, distad.

Colouration (Figs 53–54). Yellowish-brown. Prosoma dorsally with faint dark patches anterio-laterally of fovea. Chelicerae with proximal longitudinal dark patch. Sternum, labium, gnathocoxae and ventral coxae pale yellowish-brown, without pattern. Legs dotted and metatarsi I proximally with dark annulation. Opisthosoma yellowish-brown, dorsally with distinct dark dots especially in posterior half, medially with row of fused dark patches; ventrally without pattern.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 61).