Himalaphantes aduncus, Irfan & Zhang & Peng, 2022

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, Megataxa 8 (1), pp. 1-292 : 111-119

Himalaphantes aduncus sp. nov. (NḦẲĦƦ)

Figures 129–131 , 146

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Lushui County, Yaojiaping, at Pianma Road 44.7 km, 25.97479°N, 98.71027°E, alt. 2516m, disturbed forest; dusting webs in understory, 19–20 May 2005, Charles Griswold leg. ( CGY111 ) . Paratypes: 2♂ 1♀, same data as holotype ( CGY111 ); 1♂ 1♀, Fugong County, Lumadeng Township , Yaping Village , Shibali , 27.16515°N, 98.77975°E, alt. 2527m, 01 May 2004, Guang-xu Peng leg. (20040501– 1); 2♂, Long yang County, Ba wan Township, Dong feng bridge, 24.98535ºN, 98.87383ºE, 670m, beach of Nu Jiang river, 29 May 2005, Heng-mei Yan and Ke-ji Guo leg. ( GKJ031 ) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ aduncus ”, meaning “hook”, referring to the hook-shaped dorsal tip of the distal suprategular apophysis in the male palp.

Diagnosis. The male of new species resembles that of Himalaphantes pseudoaduncus sp. nov. in having the similar distal suprategular apophysis; proximal cymbial apophysis and lamella characteristca sinuous, extending ventrally ( Fig. 129A–D ; Fig. 142A–D ), but can be distinguished by the proximal projection of distal arm of paracymbium finger-shaped in H. aduncu s sp. nov. ( Fig. 129B, D ), whereas beak-shaped in H. pseudoaduncus sp. nov. ( Fig. 142B, D ). The distal tip of radix round in H. aduncu s sp. nov. ( Fig. 129A ), whereas somewhat rectangular in H. pseudoaduncus sp. nov. ( Fig. 142A ). The thumb not completely covered by the embolus in H. aduncu s sp. nov. ( Fig. 129A ), whereas completely covered in H. pseudoaduncus sp. nov. ( Fig. 142A ). Female resembles that of H. fugongensis sp. nov. in having the similar stretcher and posterior median plate in epigyne ( Fig. 130A, C ; Fig. 138A, C ) but can be distinguished by the spermathecae bean-shaped in H. aduncus sp. nov. ( Fig. 130B, C ), whereas L-shaped in H. fugongensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 138B, C ). Scape with a deep depression at the centre, the lateral lobe absent in H. aduncus sp. nov. ( Fig. 130A, B ), whereas the central depression not very deep, the lateral lobe present on each side in H. fugongensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 138A, B ).

Description: Male (holotype, Fig. 131A, B ): Total length: 3.41; carapace 1.59 long, 1.23 wide, yellowish brown;cephalic region slightly elevated, with a longitudinal brown band, lateral sides brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.32 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown. Labium wider than long, brown. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae yellowish brown, much longer, with two promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eye region narrow, AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.06 PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.07, AME–PME, 0.11, ALE–ALE 0.53, PLE–PLE 0.55, ALE–PLE 0.02. Legs with annuli; length of legs: I 8.77 (2.31, 2.92, 2.23, 1.31), II 7.31 (1.98, 2.43, 1.89, 1.01), III 4.57 (1.23, 1.49, 1.22, 0.63), IV 6.38 (1.78, 1.91, 1.74, 0.95); leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.76 and Tm IV 0.55. Tibial dorsal spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.82 long, 0.98 wide, oval, gray-black, proximal end with a pair of oblique white bands followed by irregular white patches extending posteriorly: ventral side yellowish, with irregular greenish-grey and white patches.

Palp ( Fig. 129A–D ): Patella half as long as tibia, dorsally with a long thick spine; tibia longer than wide, with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria. Cymbium with a prolateral shallow notch, proximal cymbial apophysis present with blunt end. Paracymbium with fine spines proximally, distal part with a small finger-shaped projection, its distal arm wider than long with blunt end. Distal suprategular apophysis sclerotized, dorsal tip hook-shaped, ventral margin transparent. Radix longer than wide, distal tip round. Lamella characteristca sinuous extending forward with serrated tip. Median membrane broad, curved distally. Embolus small, with pointed tip attached to small thumb.

Female (one of paratypes, Fig. 131C, D ): Total length: 3.11; carapace 1.39 long, 1.09 wide, yellow; cephalic region slightly elevated, with a longitudinal brown band, lateral sides brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.33 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown. Labium wider than long, brown. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae yellowish brown,

with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eye region narrow, AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.06 PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.06, AME–PME, 0.13, ALE–ALE 0.49, PLE–PLE 0.53, ALE–PLE 0.03. Legs with annuli; length of legs: I 7.32 (2.03, 2.36, 1.82, 1.11), II 6.25 (1.81, 1.95, 1.54, 0.95), III 4.61 (1.43, 1.35, 1.14, 0.69), IV 5.85 (1.75, 1.83, 1.41, 0.86); leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.61 and Tm IV 0.48. Tibial dorsal spine formula: 2-2-2- 2. Abdomen 1.77 long, 1.19 wide, oval, yellow, proximal end with a longitudinal band followed by irregular brown patches extending posteriorly; ventral side yellow, with irregular brown and white patches.

Epigyne ( Fig. 130A–C ): Scape wider than long, with a deep depression posteriorly; stretcher longer than wide with round end. copulatory openings present in lateral pockets. Entrance grooves sinuous. Posterior median plate rectangular. Spermathecae relatively large, beanshaped.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 146 ).

Figures

FIGURE 129. Himalaphantes aduncus sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 130. Himalaphantes aduncus sp. nov., female paratype. A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 131. Himalaphantes aduncus sp. nov., male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 138. Himalaphantes fugongensis sp. nov., female holotype. A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 142. Himalaphantes pseudoaduncus sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C ventral view D dorsal view.

FIGURE 146. Distribution of Himalaphantes species.