Leptoneta tianxinensis, Tong & Li, 2008

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2008, Six new cave-dwelling species of Leptoneta (Arachnida, Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Beijing and adjacent regions, China, Zoosystema 30 (2), pp. 371-386 : 382

Leptoneta tianxinensis n. sp.

( Fig. 5 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: China, Henan Province, Neixiang County, Qiliping Town, Sandaohe Village , Tianxin Cave (33°21’N, 111°53’E), 24.VI.2005, leg. Q. Wang & Y. Tong, ♂ ( MNHN) . Paratypes: same data as holotype, 12 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀ ( IZCAS) ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is derived from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS. — The new species is similar to L. xui Chen, Gao & Zhu, 2000 , distributed in Guizhou Province, but can be distinguished by having the chelicera with seven promarginal teeth, instead of nine as in L. xui ; the eyes are normal-sized, but reduced in L. xui ; the ventral long spines of male palpal tibia is two, one strong and one relatively slender; and also by the different shape of lamina of male palpal bulb.

DESCRIPTION

Male (n = 15)

Body length 1.83-1.87 (average: 1.85). Carapace 0.85-0.90 (average: 0.87) long, 0.74-0.76 (average: 0.75) wide; abdomen 0.92-0.98 (average: 0.96) long, 0.71-0.75 (average: 0.73) wide. Carapace yellow, with pair of hairs at antero-lateral area of PME. Median groove dark brown, needle-shaped. Cervical grooves and radial furrows evident and light brown. Clypeus 0.09-0.12 (average: 0.11) high. Six eyes. Eye sizes: ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.10, PLE-PLE 0.08, PLE-PME 0.06. AER 0.11, PER 0.14. Major axes of PLE convergent behind. PME continuous, axes parallel. Chelicera ( Fig. 5C ) light brown, with seven teeth on promargin of fang furrow and four small teeth on retromargin. Endites and labium light brown. Sternum ( Fig. 5E ) and legs yellow. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 2.12 (0.82, 0.31, 0.39, –, 0.60); I 6.71 (1.85, 0.31, 1.96, 1.60, 0.99); II 5.52 (1.57, 0.30, 1.53, 1.29, 0.83); III 4.44 (1.29, 0.27, 1.16, 1.05, 0.67); IV 5.96 (1.72, 0.29, 1.67, 1.45, 0.83). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Legs with several long and thin spines. Femur I with some stout setae at basal 1/3 of anterior surface. Tibia I with rows of finely hairs ventrally ( Fig. 5F ). Metatarsus II and III ( Fig. 4H, I ) as L. setulifera n. sp., with a cluster of hairs on basal part of ventral surface, respectively.Abdomen haired, light gray, and oval in shape, no distinct pattern on the dorsum. Palpal femur without thick long spines ventrally. Palpal tibia with three long trichobothria on the dorsal surface and with two long spines ventrally, one is very thick and inserted a finely hair on apical part, the other one relatively slender ( Fig. 5A, B ). Cymbium distally branched.

Female (n = 8)

Similar to male in coloration and general features, but legs shorter. Body length 1.88. Carapace 0.70- 0.79 (average:0.76) long, 0.59-0.69 (average: 0.64) wide; abdomen 1.08 long, 0.98 wide. Clypeus 0.10-0.12 (average: 0.11) high. Eye sizes: ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.05. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.07, PLE-PME 0.03. AER 0.10, PER 0.13. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 1.17 (0.38, 0.14, 0.24, –, 0.41); I 4.91 (1.37, 0.26, 1.36, 1.11, 0.81); II 4.07 (1.16, 0.24, 1.06, 0.91, 0.70); III 3.47 (1.00, 0.23, 0.87, 0.79, 0.58); IV 4.64 (1.33, 0.23, 1.26, 1.09, 0.73). Leg I without special hairs as in male. Internal genitalia with a pair of spermatheca and sperm duct, atrium visible ( Fig. 5D, G ).

Figures

FIG. 5. — Leptoneta tianxinensis n. sp.: A, male left palp in prolateral view; B, male left palp in retrolateral view; C, male chelicera in ventral view; D, female genitalia in ventral view; E, female sternum in ventral view;F, male left leg I in anterior view; G, female genitalia in dorsal view. Scale bars: A-D, G, 0.1 mm; E, 0.2 mm; F, 0.4 mm.

FIG. 4. — Leptoneta setulifera n. sp.: A, male left palp in prolateral view; B, male left palp in retrolateral view;C, male left palpal bulb in retrolateral view; D, tibia I of male left leg in anterior view; E, male sternum in ventral view; F, male chelicera in ventral view; G, female genitalia in ventral view; H, proximally of metatarsus of male leg III, ventral view; I, proximally of metatarsus of male leg III, lateral view; J, female genitalia in dorsal view.Abbreviations:C, E, M, conductor,embolus and median apophysis of male palpal organ respectively. Scale bars: A, B, 0.2 mm; C, E-J, 0.1 mm; D, 0.3 mm.