Mekonglema bailang Zhao & Li sp. nov. Figures 12, 13, 33

Type material.

Holotype: ♂ (IZCAS), China, Yunnan Province, Baoshan Prefecture, Shidian County, Bailang Town, Xianren Cave, 24.6536N, 99.2645E, elevation ca. 1987 m, 29.VII.2010, C. Wang and Q. Zhao leg. Paratypes: 5♂ and 1♀ (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

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

Diagnosis.

This species resembles M. yan sp. nov. but can be distinguished by the following characters: abdominal scutae present in the male (vs. absent); the embolus is sclerotized (Fig. 12B-D) (vs. unsclerotized), the bulb length/width ratio is ca. 1.2 (Fig. 12C, D) (vs. ca. 1.7); the receptacle is short and almost straight (Fig. 13A) (vs. long and U-shaped). This species also resembles M. xinpingi comb. nov. but can be differentiated by the following: the absence of eyes (vs. presence), the nearly ellipsoid shape of the bulb (Fig. 12C, D) (vs. droplet shaped), the fin-like embolus (Fig. 12C) (vs. cone shaped), and the receptacle is short and not swollen distally (vs. receptacle long and swollen distally).

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.50. Carapace 0.65 long, 0.61 wide. Abdomen 0.85 long, 0.79 wide. Carapace brown (Fig. 12A). Four vestigial eyes (Fig. 12A). Chelicerae, legs, labium, and endites light brown. Sternum bright brown with sparse setae (Fig. 12A). Leg measurements: I 5.05 (1.45, 0.23, 1.60, 1.13, 0.64); II 4.54 (1.36, 0.23, 1.41, 0.95, 0.59); III 3.20 (0.98, 0.21, 0.92, 0.62, 0.47); IV 4.17 (1.30, 0.20, 1.24, 0.88, 0.55). Abdomen pale brown (Fig. 12A).

Palp. Tibia 2.12 times longer than patella, cymbium 1.74 times longer than tibia, cymbial apophysis length 2/3 as wide as cymbial base (Fig. 12C); bulb shaped as shown in Fig. 12C, D; bulbal apophysis sclerotized and semi-circular with claw-like tip, embolus sclerotized (Fig. 12B-D).

Female. Total length 1.48. Carapace 0.65 long, 0.63 wide. Abdomen 0.81 long, 0.80 wide. Coloration as in male (Fig. 13B, C). Leg measurements: I 4.78 (1.47, 0.24, 1.45, 1.00, 0.62); II 4.35 (1.34, 0.22, 1.33, 0.88, 0.58); III 3.04 (0.96, 0.22, 0.87, 0.54, 0.45); IV 4.05 (1.28, 0.19, 1.18, 0.85, 0.55). Abdomen pale grey. Insemination entrance membranous, two times thinner than receptacle (Fig. 13A); receptacle tube-like and straight (Fig. 13A).

Distribution.

China (Yunnan, Baoshan, site 2 in Fig. 33), known only from the type locality.