Latouchia zhangping sp. nov.

Figs 1 C, 2 E, K, 3 E, K, 9, 10

Type material.

Holotype • ♂ (HAL-2023-098), China, Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang City, Wuning County, Henglu Town, Zhangping Village, 6 Sep. 2023, 29.38°N, 115.14°E, elev. 244 m, X. Xu, Y. Zhang, Y. X. Li, J. Y. Yuan leg. Paratype • 6 ♀ (HAL-2023-097, 099–104), same data as for the holotype . • 1 ♀ (LH-2017-030), China, Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang City, Lushan Scenic Area, 22 May 2017, 29.55°N, 115.98°E, elev. 1134 m, H. Liu, F. X. Liu leg. • 2 ♀ (HAL-2019-111, 111 A), China, Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie City, Tianmenshan, 26 Sep. 2019, 29.05°N, 110.48°E, elev. 1416 m, X. Xu, D. Q. Li leg.

Diagnosis.

This species differs from L. jihe sp. nov., L. davidi, and L. stridulans by absence of stridulatory ridges on the chelicerae in both sexes. Male of L. zhangping sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. wufeng sp. nov. by embolus lacking serrulate embolic keel in retrolateral view, and by the lack of subterminal protuberance connected to a hook-shaped apex (Fig. 9 D, E vs Fig. 6 D – F). Females of L. zhangping sp. nov. differ from L. wufeng sp. nov. by inwardly knob-shaped spermathecae with distinct constriction between lobes and stalks (Fig. 10 A – G vs Fig. 6 G – J).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 1 C, 2 E, 3 E). Carapace dark brown. Cephalic region smoothly elevated. Eight eyes in two rows: anterior row procurved, posterior row straight. Chelicerae dark brown without stridulatory ridges (Fig. 1 C), promargin with five teeth, retromargin with three teeth. Fovea procurved and deep. Sternum yellow with glabrous sigilla. Labium and maxillae light brown, without cuspules (Fig. 3 E). Opisthosoma dark brown with regular light blotches.

Measurements: BL 9.41, CL 4.46 CW 4.15, OL 4.45, OW 3.19; Eye group, EL 0.48, AR 0.78, PR 0.83, AME - AME 0.09, AME 0.17, PME - PME 0.30, PME 0.08, ALE 0.25, PLE 0.19; MaxL 1.45, LL 0.61, LW 0.71; SL 2.35, SW 2.36; leg I 14.39 (4.47, 2.15, 3.32, 2.80, 1.65), leg II 12.51 (4.05, 1.93, 2.61, 2.50, 1.42), leg III 10.96 (2.82, 1.83, 1.82, 2.76, 1.73), leg IV 14.58 (4.07, 1.82, 3.23, 3.49, 1.97). Patellae and tibiae of legs I and II with short and stout spines, most spines on tibiae I and II bearing slightly hooked tips (Fig. 13 G, H).

Palp. Palpal bulb simple and elliptic in prolateral view; embolus thick, slightly curved at one-third of its length from apex, with a hook-shaped tip; both prolateral and retrolateral superior keels present (Fig. 9 A – E).

Female (HAL-2023-104, Figs 2 K, 3 K). Carapace yellowish brown. Cephalic region smoothly elevated. Eight eyes in two rows: anterior row procurved, posterior row straight. Chelicerae brown without stridulatory ridges, promargin with five teeth, retromargin with five teeth. Fovea procurved and deep. Sternum brown with distinct glabrous sigilla. Labium and maxillae brown, and two maxillae together bearing 48 cuspules along proximal edge (Fig. 3 K). Opisthosoma brown with regular light blotches.

Measurements: BL 14.84, CL 5.85 CW 5.33, OL 6.64, OW 5.14; Eye group, EL 0.63, AR 1.00, PR 1.05, AME - AME 0.13, AME 0.16, PME - PME 0.31, PME 0.14, ALE 0.31, PLE 0.27; MaxL 2.47, LL 1.21, LW 1.31; SL 3.41, SW 3.33; palp 10.19 (3.97, 1.98, 2.09, 2.15), leg I 11.83 (3.99, 2.42, 2.54, 1.73, 1.15), leg II 11.19 (3.66, 2.34, 2.35, 1.61, 1.23), leg III 10.93 (3.30, 2.32, 1.70, 1.91, 1.70), leg IV 14.37 (4.26, 2.67, 2.83, 2.74, 1.87).

Vulva. Spermathecae paired with knob-shaped apices, slightly inclined inward, with distinct constriction between lobes and stalks; spherical lobes densely covered with glandular pores extending over most of stalks (Fig. 10 A – G).

Variation.

Females vary in body size and number of cheliceral teeth. Measurements for females (N = 9) are as follows: BL 9.70–21.70, CL 4.25–7.36, CW 3.71–7.47, OL 4.55–10.08, OW 3.49–8.75. The number of cheliceral teeth on retromargin ranges from 3–8. Female genitalia with longer (Fig. 10 A, C, D, F, G) or shorter stalks (Fig. 10 B, E).

Genetic distance.

The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances are provided in Tables 1, 2.

Etymology.

The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Distribution.

Jiangxi Province (Jiujiang City), Hunan Province (Zhangjiajie City).