Edelithus linchong Lin & Li, 2023

Lin, Yejie, Li, Shuqiang & Pham, Dinh-Sac, 2023, Taxonomic notes on some spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from China and Vietnam, Zoological Systematics 48 (1), pp. 1-99 : 24-27

Edelithus linchong Lin & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 19–20 , 45B , 46C–D )

Etymology. The species is named after Lin Chong, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese literature Outlaws of the Marsh; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species is similar to E. shenmiguo Liu & Li, 2022 (see Liu et al., 2022b) by the curved embolus and hooked dorsal tibial apophysis, but can be distinguished by the embolus lacking a spine-like tip (vs. present in E. shenmiguo ) and the retrolateral tibial apophysis has a spine-like tip (vs. absent in E. shenmiguo ). The female is similar to E. puer Liu & Li, 2022 by having the copulatory openings located in the middle and the bursa on the anterior of epigyne, but can be distinguished by the oval spermathecae (vs. C-shaped in E. puer ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 2.44; carapace 1.21 long, 0.99 wide, opisthosoma 1.23 long, 0.77 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.09, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.05. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 3.99 (1.01, 1.47, 0.99, 0.52), II 3.16 (0.84, 1.09, 0.76, 0.47), III 2.92 (0.76, 0.89, 0.75, 0.52), IV 4.11 (1.09, 1.30, 1.11, 0.61). Leg spination: I femur 3pv, tibia 9-9v, metatarsus 7pv, 5rv; II femur 1pv, tibia 7-7v, metatarsus 4-4v.

Coloration ( Fig. 46C ). Carapace yellow-brown, edge black. Chelicerae, endites and labium yellow. Sternum paler yellow. Legs yellow-brown with black setae. Opisthosoma oval. Spinnerets yellow-brown.

Palp ( Figs 19 , 45B ). Femoral apophysis weak, with shallow groove. Patella almost as long as wide. Retrolateral tibial apophysis large, thick, with a spine-like tip, longer than tibia. Dorsal tibial apophysis as long as retrolateral tibial apophysis, with broad base and small hook-shaped tip. Cymbium three times longer than wide. Bulb oval. Sperm duct V-shaped. Conductor lamellate, membranous, touching base of embolus, end hood-shaped. Embolus short, horn-like, strongly curved.

Female (IZCAS-Ar43876). Total length 2.37; carapace 1.01 long, 0.85 wide, opisthosoma 1.36 long, 0.96 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.16, PME 0.11, PLE 0.17, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.15, ALE–PLE 0.12. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 3.99 (1.01, 1.47, 0.99, 0.52), II 3.16 (0.84, 1.09, 0.76, 0.47), III 2.92 (0.76, 0.89, 0.75, 0.52), IV 4.11 (1.09, 1.30, 1.11, 0.61). Leg spination: I femur 3pv, tibia 6pv, 7rv, metatarsus 4-4v; II femur 1pv, tibia 6pv, 7rv, metatarsus 3-3v.

Coloration ( Fig. 46D ). Similar to that of male except paler and opisthosoma dark brown, covered with black setae, with numerous yellow-brown spots.

Epigyne ( Fig. 20 ). Epigynal plate rectangular. Copulatory openings obvious. Copulatory ducts short and thick, slightly longer than spermathecae. Bursae large, almost round, covering nearly half of epigynal plate. Glandular appendages short, transverse, directed laterally. Spermathecae nearly oval, separated. Fertilization ducts long, as long as spermathecal length, directed at clock 1:30 position from spermathecae.

Material examined. Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43861), Vietnam: Vinh Phuc, Tam Dao National Park, Shrub-land , Pitfall traps, 1–30 April 2007, Dinh-Sac Pham leg. Paratypes. 7♂ 8♀ (IZCAS-Ar43862–Ar43876), same data as holotype .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 19. Edelithus linchong Lin & Li, sp. nov., holotype male.A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view.Abbreviations: C—conductor; DTA—dorsal tibial apophysis; E—embolus; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct. Scale bars=0.1mm.

Figure 20. Edelithus linchong Lin & Li, sp. nov., paratype female. A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; S—spermatheca. Scale bars=0.05mm.

Figure 45. Dorsal tibial apophysis of Phrurolithidae species, dorsal view. A. Edelithus huyanzhuo Lin & Li, sp. nov.; B. E. linchong Lin & Li, sp. nov.; C. E. qinming Lin & Li, sp. nov.; D. Otacilia wusong Lin & Li, sp. nov.; Scale bars=0.3mm.

Figure 46. Habitus of Phrurolithidae species, male (A, C, E, G, K) and female (B, D, F, H, I, J, L) dorsal view. A–B. Edelithus huyanzhuo Lin & Li, sp. nov.; C–D. E. linchong Lin & Li, sp. nov.; E–F. E. qinming Lin & Li, sp. nov.; G–H. Grandilithus linglingae Lin & Li, sp. nov.; I. G. yangzhi Lin & Li, sp. nov.; J. Lingulatus chaijin Lin & Li, sp. nov.; K–L. L. dongping Lin & Li, sp. nov. Scale bars=0.5mm.