Mughiphantes martensi, Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2006

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2006, On some Linyphiidae of China, mainly from Taibai Shan, Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 277-311 : 287-288

Mughiphantes martensi sp. n.

Figs 29–34

Material. Holotype ♂ ( SMF), China, Quinghai Prov., Bei Shan National Park, 120 km NE Xining, 2300–2700 m, 23.V.–8. VI. 1996, leg. J. Martens. Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 Ψ ( SMF), together with holotype.

Diagnosis. The new species differs from other congeners by a combination of the following characters: a pronounced, posterodorsal, slightly curved outgrowth on cymbium, lamella characteristica of peculiar shape, posterior median plate saddle­shaped.

The palp of M. martensi sp. n. resembles that of Lepthyphantes huangyuanensis Zhu & Li 1983 , the latter species undoubtedly belonging to Tchatkalophantes Tanasevitch 2001 , but the new taxon can easily be distinguished by the shorter and more strongly curved posterodorsal outgrowth of the palpal cymbium, as well as by the shape of the lamella characteristica. The main difference lies in the absence of a spear­shaped radical apophysis in the embolic division, this apomorphy being one of the main traits of the genus Tchatkalophantes .

Etymology. The species honours Prof. Jochen Martens, the famous German zoologist who collected the type material of this species.

Description. Male. Total length––2.40. Carapace 1.10 long, 0.88 wide, brown. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Legs pale brown without median bands. Leg I, 4.42 long (1.13+0.33+1.13+1.08+0.75), IV––4.59 long (1.18+0.28+1.20+1.18+0.75). Chaetotaxy unclear: spines mostly abraded (it is only possible to state that the tibiae are with ventral spine(s), and each metatarsus has a dorsal spine). TmI––0.24. Palp ( Figs 29–32 ): Cymbium with a pronounced slightly curved posterodorsal outgrowth. Lamella characteristica complex, with three branches. Embolus with a long, wide and curved lateral extension (= thumb). Opisthosoma 1.25 long, 0.83 wide, dark grey, dorsal pattern absent.

Female. Total length––2.25. Carapace 0.98 long, 0.78 wide. Chelicerae 0.35 long. Leg I, 4.03 long (1.05+0.30+1.00+0.98+0.70), IV––4.01 long (1.13+0.30+0.98+0.95+0.65). TmI––0.22. Opisthosoma 1.40 long, 0.98 wide. Epigyne ( Figs 33–34 ): Pseudoscape welldeveloped and covers lateral lobes. Stretcher short. Body and leg colouration, chaetotaxy as in male.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 34. Mughiphantes martensi sp. n., paratypes. 29 right palp (retrolateral view), 30 lamella characteristica (ventrolateral view), 31, 32 embolus (31 dorsal view, 32 ventral view), 33, 34 epigyne (33 ventral view, 34 dorsal view). Abbreviations: EP embolus proper, PMP posterior median plate, PPS proximal part of scape, PS pseudoscape, Th thumb.