Xilithus pugious, Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Further additions to the guardstone spider fauna from China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Zootaxa 5338 (1), pp. 1-104 : 93-95

Xilithus pugious sp. nov. (Ŀẇdzff)

Figs 79–81

Type material. Holotype ♁, CHINA: Zhejiang Province: Lishui City, Longquan County, Fengyang Mountain National Nature Reserve (27°52′49.46″N, 119°10′10.76″E, 1494 m a.s.l.), 29 Apr. 2016, leg. Yannan Mu.

Etymology. This specific name is derived from the Latin word “ pugio ”, referring to the dagger-shaped prolateral tegular apophysis; adjective.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles X. shijiao Liu & Li, 2022 in having a similar embolus shape, but can be recognized by: 1) the wider, shorter and dagger-shaped prolateral tegular apophysis (vs thin and long, cf. Fig. 80C and fig. 9G in Liu et al. [2022]), 2) claviform retroventral tibial apophysis with compressed tip (vs cylindrical tip, cf. Fig. 80E and fig. 9I in Liu et al. [2022]), 3) retrolateral tibial apophysis bifurcate, with the short branch nearly triangular (vs short branch almost rectangular, cf. Fig. 80D and fig. 9I in Liu et al. [2022]).

Description. Male (Holotype): total length 3.58, carapace 1.82 long, 1.57 wide; abdomen 1.76 long, 1.27 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.14, PME 0.10, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE– ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.08, PLE–PLE 0.44, ALE–PLE 0.07. EAW 0.59, CRW 0.83, EAW/CRW 0.71, CRW/CW 0.53. MOA 0.26 long, anterior width 0.26, posterior width 0.29. CH 0.19, CH /AME 1.73. Labium 0.24 long, 0.27 wide. Sternum 1.00 long, 0.94 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 6.36 (1.75, 0.60, 1.69, 1.46, 0.86), II 5.61 (1.47, 0.56, 1.40, 1.30, 0.88), III 4.95 (1.36, 0.54, 1.01, 1.25, 0.79), IV 7.06 (1.86, 0.63, 1.66, 1.94, 0.97). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femur Ⅰ pl 4, tibia Ⅰ pv 7 rv 7, tibia II pv 6 rv 6, metatarsus Ⅰ pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace nearly round, red-brown, with several markings resembling flowing water droplets beside fovea. Abdomen lighter in color than carapace, with large dorsal scutum covering almost entire abdomen, with indistinct light triangular marking anteriorly ( Fig. 79 ). Legs brown.

Palp as in Figs 80–81 . Femur apophysis large, well-developed, located near middle. Retroventral tibial apophysis extending towards retrolateral side, with wide base and compressed tip. Retrolateral tibial apophysis with wide base, tip bifurcated with two branches, long branch lamelliform, curved towards cymbium, short branch nearly triangular. Tegulum wider than cymbium, pyriform; tegular apophysis absent. Sperm duct distinct, tapering from retrolateral side of tegulum to embolus. Embolus long, needle-like, slanting upwards. Conductor absent.

Female: unknown.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang Province).

Figures

FIGURE 79. Habitus of Xilithus pugious sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view.

FIGURE 80. Male left palp of Xilithus pugious sp. nov.: A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view; C. Ventral view; D. Dorsal view; E. Retro-dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; PTA—prolateral tegular apophysis; RTA— retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA—retroventral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct.

FIGURE 81. Male left palp of Xilithus pugious sp. nov.: A. Ventral view; B. Retrolateral view; C. Dorsal view; D. Retro-dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.