Leptonetela latapicalis, He & Liu & Xu & Yin & Peng, 2019

He, Ailan, Liu, Jinxin, Xu, Xiang, Yin, Haiqiang & Peng, Xianjin, 2019, Description of three new species of spider genus Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 from caves of Hunan Province, China (Araneae, Leptonetidae), Zootaxa 4554 (2), pp. 584-600 : 590-595

Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov.

Figures 5–8 , 12

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 9D53BD4D-BCDF-4DA2-9369-6AADA3C89151

Type material. Holotype: male (HNU) China, Hunan Province, Shaoyang County, Hebo Town, Chengbei Village , Jigong Cave , 111°17.460'E, 26°45.438'N, 576 m, 23 November, 2011, Xiang Xu, Jinlong Wan, Yi Zhao, Shihong Peng leg. Paratypes: 14 females, 15 males, same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is an adjective in apposition and derived from the Latin words “lata” (broad) and “apicalis” (apical), in reference to the presence of broad and peak-shaped median apophysis.

Diagnosis. Males resemble those of Leptonetela hexacantha Lin & Li, 2010 , L. jinsha Lin & Li, 2010 , L. reticulopecta Lin & Li, 2010 , L. kanellisi (Deeleman-Reinhold, 1971) , and L. tianxingensis Wang & Li, 2011 by having depressed and strongly contracted structure in the middle of the pedipalpal tarsus ( Figs 5C, D , 7A, B in the present paper; figs 24A, B, 26A, B, 45A, B in Lin & Li 2010; figs 18A, B, 63A, B in Wang & Li 2011); short distance between apical tarsus and pedipalpal bulb ( Figs 5C, D , 7A, B in the present paper; figs 24A, B, 26A, B, 45A, B in Lin & Li 2010; figs 18A, B, 63A, B in Wang & Li 2011), the new species is distinguished from these species by presence of three prolateral, nine retrolateral tibial spines on male pedipalpus; broad and peak-shaped median apophysis; short, wide, translucent conductor on male bulb ( Figs 5C, D , 7A, B ). The new species resembles L. quinquespinata (Chen & Zhu, 2008) in being eyeless, having membranous embolus, slightly twisted prolaterally ( Figs 5A, B , 8B in this present paper; figs 44A, B, 47D in Wang & Li 2011); it can be distinguished by nine strong spines located in retrolateral side of pedipalpal tibia ( Figs 5D , 7A in this present paper; figs 44B, 46C in Wang & Li 2011); nine small retromarginal teeth on the chelicerae in the new species ( Fig. 8D in this present paper; fig. 47C in Wang & Li 2011), while six strong spines retrolaterally-directed on the pedipalpal tibia; five small retromarginal teeth on the chelicerae in L. quinquespinata ( Figs 5D , 7A in this present paper; figs 44D, 46B in Wang & Li 2011). Females resemble those of L. quinquespinata in being eyeless; having highly twisted sperm, but can be distinguished by the distal ends of sperm ducts closer placed to each other in the new species ( Figs 6C , 8B ), slightly further away from each other in L. quinquespinata (figs 45C, 47B in Wang & Li 2011).

Description. Male. Total length 2.69 ( Fig. 5A ). Carapace 1.26 long, 1.12 wide. Opisthosoma 1.37 long, 1.03 wide. Prosoma reddish brown, with several setae near the anterior margin of carapace. Ocular area with a pair of setae, eyes absolutely absent. Median groove short, cervical grooves and radial furrows light brown. Clypeus 0.24 high. Chelicerae brown, with nine promarginal and eight small retromarginal teeth, promarginal row of teeth gradually becoming smaller and denser from the base to distal end of fang furrow ( Fig. 8D ). Endites brown. Labium brown and plump, fused with sternum. Sternum and legs yellowish. Leg measurements: I 12.72 (3.53, 0.45, 3.98, 2.97, 1.79); II 10.03 (2.91, 0.41, 3.09, 2.12, 1.50); III 8.66 (2.52, 0.42, 2.41, 2.10, 1.21); IV 10.34 (3.12, 0.36, 2.98, 2.53, 1.35). Leg formula: I–IV–II–III. Opisthosoma pale brown, ovoid, lacking distinctive patterns. Male pedipalpus ( Figs5 B–D, 7A, B, 8C): femur covered with long and thin hairs; tibia with three trichobothria dorsally; three slender spines prolaterally and nine strong spines retrolaterally (six spines along the tibia form a longitudinal row and the other three spines along distal margin of the tibia form a transversal row) exist on the pedipalpal tibia ( Figs 7A, B ). Tarsus rugose and contracted mesially, attaching to an earlobe-shaped process retrolaterally, with long spines distally ( Figs 5C, D , 7A, B ). Pedipalpal bulb nearly round; embolus membranous, slightly twisted towards the prolateral side; conductor translucent, broad, flat; median apophysis broad, peakshaped ( Figs 5B , 8C ). Prolateral lobe cuspate ( Fig. 7B ).

Female. Similar to male in coloration of opisthosoma and general features, but larger body size, shorter legs, and prosoma yellowish. Total length 3.06 ( Figs 6A, B ). Carapace 1.23 long, 1.15 wide. Opisthosoma 1.70 long, 1.24 wide. Clypeus 0.24 high. Leg measurements: I 10.94 (3.06, 0.40, 3.33, 2.42, 1.73); II 9.46 (2.62, 0.41, 2.88, 2.13, 1.42); III 7.93 (2.38, 0.33, 2.21, 1.86, 1.15); IV 10.26 (2.95, 0.36, 2.95, 2.48, 1.52). Leg formula: I–IV–II–III. Genital area densely covered with long hairs ( Figs 6B , 8A ). Internal genitalia with a pair of spermathecae and sperm ducts: spermathecae dark brown, sclerotized and highly twisted, with the distal ends very close to each other; sperm ducts pale brown, less sclerotized ( Figs 6C , 8B ). The atrium broad, nearly triangular, slightly procurved at anterior median margin ( Fig. 8B ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 12 ).

Figures

FIGURES 5A–D. Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov. A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Male left pidipalpal bulb, ventral view; C. Male left pedipalpus, prolateral view; D. As previous, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A, 0.5mm B–D, 0.2mm.

FIGURES 6A–C. Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov. A. Female habitus, dorsal view; B. As previous, ventral view; C. Female genitalia, dorsal view; Scale bars: A–B, 0.5mm; C, 0.1mm.

FIGURES 7A–B. Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov. A. Male left pedipalpus, retrolateral view; B. As previous, prolateral view. Abbreviations: Co, conductor; Em, embolus; MA, median apophysis; PL, prolateral lobe; TR, tarsal rugae; TS, tibial spur. Scale bars: A–B, 0.2mm.

FIGURES 8A–D. Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov. A. Female genital area, dorsal view; B. Female genitalia, dorsal view; C. Male left pedipalpal bulb, ventral view; D. Male left chelicera, posterior view. Abbreviations: At, atrium; Co, conductor; Em, embolus; MA, median apophysis; SD, sperm duct; Sp, spermathecae. Scale bars: A–C, 0.1mm; D, 0.2mm.

FIGURE 12. Locality records for Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov., L. biocellata sp. nov. and L. tangi sp. nov.