Luthela Xu & Li, 2022

Xu, Xin, Yu, Li, Liu, Fengxiang & Li, Daiqin, 2022, Delimitation of the segmented trapdoor spider genus Luthela gen. nov., with comments on the genus Sinothela from northern China (Araneae, Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 131-154 : 134-135

Genus Luthela Xu & Li , gen. nov.

Type species: Luthela yiyuan sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Males of Luthela can be distinguished from those of Songthela Ono, 2000 by the contrategular margin having regular larger teeth ( Figs 3D , 5D , 6D , 7D , 10H , 12D , 14D ); from those of the other genera of Heptathelinae by the conductor with a smooth surface, and with two long spines, upper and lower ones ( Figs 3D , 5D , 6D , 7D , 10H , 12D , 14D ). Luthela females differ from those of Songthela by the middle receptacular clusters having shorter stalks ( Figs 4 , 5H , 6H–J , 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14H–M ); from those of the other genera of Heptathelinae by the positions of two pairs of the receptacular clusters: middle ones situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix and lateral ones situated at dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix ( Figs 4 , 5H , 6H–J , 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14H–M ).

Description. Male body length, 12.5–18.6 (N = 18), female, 12.5–27.0 (N = 85); male palpal conductor with a smooth surface, and with two long spines, upper and lower ones ( Figs 3D , 5D , 6D , 7D , 10H , 12D , 14D ); contrategular margin with regular teeth ( Figs 3D , 5D , 6D , 7D , 10H , 12D , 14D ); tegulum with three distinct apophyses ( Figs 3C , 5F , 6E , 7F , 10F , 12F , 14F ); female genitalia with two paired receptacular clusters, middle ones situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix with tubular stalks, and lateral ones situated more dorsolaterally ( Figs 4 , 5H , 6H–J , 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14H–M ).

Etymology. The genus name is created by a combination of ‘Lu-’, referring to Shandong Province, China, and ‘thela’, referring to spinnerets as the Greek word thele means nipple-like protuberance ( Ono 2000). The gender is feminine.

Composition. L. yiyuan sp. nov. (type species), L. luotianensis ( Yin et al., 2002) , comb. nov., L. schensiensis ( Schenkel, 1953) , comb. nov., L. badong sp. nov., L. dengfeng sp. nov., L. handan sp. nov., L. taian sp. nov., L. yuncheng sp. nov.

Distribution. China (Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanxi Provinces).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male genital anatomy of Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A, D, H, palp prolateral view. B, E, I, palp ventral view. C, F, J, palp retrolateral view. G, K, palp distal view. A–G, XUX-2012-051 (holotype). H–K, XUX-2012-045. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Female genital anatomy of Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A–E, K–O, vulva dorsal view. F–J, P–T, vulva ventral view. A, F, XUX-2012-034. B, G, XUX-2012-035. C, H, XUX-2012-049. D, I, XUX-2016-101. E, J, XUX-2016-107. K, P, XUX-2012- 042. L, Q, XUX-2012-040. M, R, XUX-2012-046. N, S, XUX-2016-103. O, T, XUX-2016-108. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Male and female genital anatomy of Luthela badong sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. (H) vulva dorsal view. I, vulva ventral view. A–G, XUX-2012-140 (holotype). H, I, XUX-2012-141. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Male and female genital anatomy of Luthela dengfeng sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. H–J, vulva dorsal view. K–M, vulva ventral view. A–G, XUX-2012-031 (holotype). H, K, XUX-2012-023. I, L, XUX-2012-030. J, M, XUX-2016-111. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Male genital anatomy of Luthela handan sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. A–C, XUX-2011-214 (holotype). D–G, XUX-2011-209. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Female genital anatomy of Luthela handan sp. nov. A–C, G–I, vulva dorsal view. D–F, J–L, vulva ventral view. A, D, XUX-2011-203. B, E, XUX-2011-218. C, F, XUX-2011-206. G, J, XUX-2011-222. H, K, XUX-2011-224. I, L, XUX-2011- 227. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 9. Female genital anatomy of Luthela luotianensis (Yin et al., 2002) comb. nov. A, B, vulva dorsal view. C, D, vulva ventral view. A, C, XUX-2012-080. B, D, XUX-2012-082. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 10. Male genital anatomy of Luthela schensiensis (Schenkel, 1953) comb. nov. A, D, H, palp prolateral view. B, E, I, palp ventral view. C, F, J, palp retrolateral view. G, K, palp distal view.A–C, XUX-2011-241 (holotype). D–G, XUX-2011-263. H–K, XUX-2011-264. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 11. Female genital anatomy of Luthela schensiensis (Schenkel, 1953) comb. nov. A–D, I–L, vulva dorsal view. E–H, M–P, vulva ventral view. A, E, XUX-2011-243. B, F, XUX-2011-256. C, G, XUX-2011-253. D, H, XUX-2011-254A. I, M, XUX-2011-248. J, N, XUX-2011-249. K, O, XUX-2011-269. L, P, XUX-2011-270. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 12. Male genital anatomy of Luthela taian sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. A–C, XUX-2014-143A (holotype). D–G, XUX-2014-139. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 13. Female genital anatomy of Luthela taian sp. nov. A–C, G–I, vulva dorsal view. D–F, J–L, vulva ventral view. A, D, XUX-2014-133. B, E, XUX-2014-135. C, F, XUX-2014-143. G, J, XUX-2014-144. H, K, XUX-2014-151. I, L, XUX-2014- 154. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 14. Male and female genital anatomy of Luthela yuncheng sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. H–J, vulva dorsal view. K–M, vulva ventral view. A–G, XUX-2011-235 (holotype). H, K, XUX-2011-230. I, L, XUX-2011-234. J, M, XUX-2011-229. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.