Mekonglema walayaku Zhao & Li sp. nov. Figures 16, 17, 33

Type material.

Holotype: ♂ (IZCAS), China, Yunnan Province, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Lushui County, Daxingdi Township, Walayaku Cave. 26.1215N, 98.8581E, elevation ca. 895 m, 24.VI.2016, Y. Li and J. Liu leg. Paratypes: 2♂ and 4♀ (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The species name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This species resembles M. kaorao sp. nov. but can be distinguished by the following characters: the bulb is ellipsoidal (Fig. 16C, D) (vs. nearly globular), the tip of the embolus is well sclerotized (arrow on Fig. 16B) (vs. unsclerotized); the neck of the receptacle is ca. three times thinner (vs. 1.50 times thinner) than the distal part of the receptacle (Fig. 17A).

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.06. Carapace 0.49 long, 0.43 wide. Abdomen 0.56 long, 0.55 wide. Carapace light brown (Fig. 16A). Eyes vestigial (Fig. 16A). Chelicerae, legs, labium, and endites light yellow. Sternum bright brown with sparse setae. Leg measurements: I 3.65 (1.03, 0.18, 1.13, 0.78, 0.53); II 3.20 (0.96, 0.17, 0.95, 0.65, 0.47); III 2.26 (0.67, 0.16, 0.61, 0.44, 0.38); IV 2.86 (0.85, 0.16, 0.83, 0.59, 0.43). Abdomen dark blue (Fig. 16A).

Palp: Tibia 1.88 times longer than patella, cymbium 1.34 times longer than tibia, cymbial apophysis length as wide as cymbial base (Fig. 16C); bulb ellipsoidal as in Fig. 16C, D; embolus 5/7 as long as cymbium, directed dorsally (Fig. 16C, D).

Female. Total length 1.15. Carapace 0.50 long, 0.47 wide. Abdomen 0.63 long, 0.58 wide. Coloration as in male (Fig. 17B, C). Leg measurements: I 3.36 (0.97, 0.19, 1.03, 0.69, 0.48); II 3.00 (0.89, 0.19, 0.88, 0.59, 0.45); III 2.15 (0.65, 0.17, 0.59, 0.40, 0.34); IV 2.80 (0.85, 0.18, 0.79, 0.56, 0.42). Abdomen blue. Receptacle membranous, neck much longer than tip, and tip three times wider than neck (Fig. 17A).

Distribution.

China (Yunnan, Nujiang, site 4 in Fig. 33), known only from the type locality.