Plexippoides qiui sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 733188C8-1743-4B68-BACD-C39C680D8B6B

Figs 5–7

Diagnosis

The male of Plexippoides qiui sp. nov. closely resembles that of P. longapophysis Wang, Mi & Peng, 2020 in having a very similar palp, especially the very long RCA and RTA, but it can be distinguished by the following: 1) the RTA is strongly curved into a U-shape at the base in ventral view, and straight distally in retrolateral view (Fig. 5B–C) vs just slightly curved at the base and curved towards cymbium distally in P. longapophysis (Wang et al. 2020: fig. 2b–c); 2) the embolus originates in a position about 3 o’clock from the bulb (Fig. 5A) vs ca 4:30 o’clock from the bulb in P. longapophysis (Wang et al. 2020: fig. 2b). The female closely resembles that of P. subtristis Wang, Mi & Peng, 2020 in having a very similar epigyne and vulva structure, but it can be distinguished by the elliptical atrium, and the arc-shaped posterior epigynal margin, as well as the medially located spermathecae (Fig. 6A–D) (vs oval atrium, the straight posterior epigynal margin, and posteriorly located spermathecae in P. subtristis; Wang et al. 2020: fig. 3d–e).

Etymology

The specific name is a noun and patronym in honour of the collector, Hang Qiu.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Yunnan, Kunming, Guandu District, Shajin Village; 25°5.09′ N, 103°1.02′ E; 2340 m a.s.l.; 20 Nov. 2023; H. Qiu leg.; TRU-JS 0716.

Paratypes CHINA • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; TRU-JS 0717–0721 .

Description

Male (holotype, TRU-JS 0716)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.67. Carapace 2.33 long, 1.76 wide. Abdomen 2.35 long, 1.24 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.48, ALE 0.25, PLE 0.23, AERW 1.54, PERW 1.54, EFL 1.02. Legs: I 4.26 (1.28, 0.75, 1.00, 0.73, 0.50), II 3.91 (1.25, 0.70, 0.83, 0.63, 0.50), III 4.78 (1.55, 0.70, 1.05, 0.98, 0.50), IV 4.99 (1.50, 0.70, 1.13, 1.13, 0.53).

HABITUS. Carapace mainly yellow-brown, covered with dense dark and golden setae, with sub-triangular, central, pale yellow band extending from middle of eye field to terminus; fovea shallow, yellow, longitudinal (Fig. 6E, H). Chelicerae yellow to dark brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth (Fig. 6H–I). Endites pale, with small, hook-shaped, distal apophyses extended laterally (Fig. 6F). Labium darker than endites, bearing dark setae distally (Fig. 6F). Sternum pale, about 1.5 × as long as wide (Fig. 6F). Legs pale except femora mainly dark, spiny (Fig. 6E). Abdomen elongated, dorsum dark brown, with two pairs of median muscle depressions, and central, broad, longitudinal pale band extending from anterior margin to posterior 4 /5, and separated by narrow dark stripe; venter coloured as dorsum (Fig. 6E–F).

PALP. Tibia swollen, with long, strongly sclerotized RTA curved into U-shape at base and blunt apically; cymbium flat, and setose, with strongly sclerotized baso-retrolateral apophysis slightly curved medially and pointed at end in ventral view; bulb flat, with anterior-marginal flap extending towards retrolateral side; embolus flagelliform, originates in position about 3 o’clock from bulb, coiled less than one circle, with needle-shaped distal portion that reaches cymbial tip (Fig. 5A–C).

Female (paratypes, TRU-JS 0719, 0720)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.14. Carapace 2.33 long, 1.79 wide. Abdomen 2.98 long, 1.60 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.50, ALE 0.26, PLE 0.24, AERW 1.55, PERW 1.62, EFL 1.02. Legs: I 4.29 (1.38, 0.88, 0.95, 0.63, 0.45), II 4.16 (1.25, 0.75, 0.88, 0.83, 0.45), III 4.65 (1.50, 0.75, 0.95, 0.95, 0.50), IV 5.06 (1.63, 0.75, 1.10, 1.08, 0.50).

HABITUS. Similar to that of male, except pale in colour and with dark area on cephalon (Fig. 6G).

EPIGYNE AND VULVA. Wider than long, with anteriorly located, elliptical atrium; copulatory openings beneath lateral margins of atrium; copulatory ducts long, forming complicated paths; spermathecae elongate-oval; fertilization ducts lamellar, originating from anterior portions of spermathecae (Fig. 6A– D, J–K).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Yunnan, China (Fig. 7).

Remark

The unpublished molecular evidence has supported the pairing.