Luthela taian, Xu & Yu & Liu & 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 : 149-150

Luthela taian sp. nov.

( Figs 12A–G , 13A–L )

Holotype. Male (XUX-2014-143A, matured on 6 September 2014 at CBEE), Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China, 36.155°N, 117.156°E, 131 m, collected on 17 July 2014, by F.X. Liu, C. Xu, and Z. T. Zhang, CBEE.

Paratypes. 13 females (XUX-2014-133/134/135/136/137/138/140/141/141A/143/144/144A/144B/144C) and 3 males (XUX-2014-139, matured on 20 September 2014, XUX-2014-142 matured on 26 June 2015, XUX-2014- 142A matured on 24 August 2014 at CBEE), same data as for holotype ; 2 females (XUX-2014-151/154) Confucius Cemetery , Qufu city, Shandong Province, China, 35.618°N, 116.991°E, 80 m, collected on 18 July 2014, by F.X. Liu, C. Xu, and Z. T. Zhang. All in CBEE .

Diagnosis. Males of L. taian sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of L. badong sp. nov. by the conductor having two longer and thicker spines ( Fig. 12A, 12G ); from those of L. dengfeng sp. nov. by the conductor with longer lower spines ( Fig. 12G ); from the other Luthela species by the conductor lacking the middle spine ( Fig. 12D– G ). Females of L. taian sp. nov. differ from those of L. badong sp. nov., L. luotianensis , and L. yuncheng sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters smaller than the lateral ones ( Fig. 13A–C, 13G–I ); from those of L. schensiensis and L. yiyuan sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters with slender and longer stalks ( Fig. 13A–C ); from those of L. handan sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters being separated from each other ( Fig. 13A ).

Description. Male (Holotype). Carapace brown; opisthosoma light brown, with dark brown tergites; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few long pointed hairs running over ocular mound in longitudinal row; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 8–9 denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, the second to fifth larger than others and the others small; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 12.50, CL 6.80, CW 7.30, OL 6.00, OW 5.60; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 18.00 (5.10 + 2.40 + 3.50 + 4.50 + 2.60), leg II 17.70 (4.60 + 2.25 + 3.25 + 4.60 + 3.00), leg III 19.00 (4.20 + 2.30 + 3.40 + 5.60 + 3.50), leg IV 25.90 (5.90 + 2.80 + 4.70 + 8.00 + 4.50).

Palp: Prolateral paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, numerous setae and spines at tip of paracymbium ( Fig. 12A–C ). Contrategulum with 7–10 teeth along margin, and distal tooth with 4 serrations ( Fig. 12A, 12D ). Marginal apophysis of tegulum with several serrations proximally and smooth distally, dorsal extension of terminal apophysis of tegulum with irregular serrations, and terminal apophysis smooth, triangle-shaped ( Fig. 12E–G ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with two long spines, upper one fits to furrow of embolus, lower one pointed to contrategulum ( Fig. 12G ). Embolus largely sclerotized, with a flat opening and several longitudinal ribs retrolaterally ( Fig. 12A, 12G ).

Female (XUX-2014-136). Carapace and opisthosoma of the female similar to the male except for lighter colouration than the male; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 10 strong denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, similar to male; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 15.00, CL 6.85, CW 5.70, OL 7.10, OW 4.90; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 11.35 (3.75 + 1.95 + 2.45 + 3.20), leg I 13.40 (4.30 + 2.30 + 2.60 + 2.70 + 1.50), leg II 12.70 (3.85 + 2.20 + 2.25 + 2.80 + 1.60), leg III 13.45 (3.65 + 2.30 + 2.35 + 3.20 + 1.95), leg IV 19.05 (4.25 + 2.70 + 3.60 + 5.60 + 2.90).

Genitalia: Posterior margin of genital sternite slightly incurved, two pairs of receptacular clusters, middle ones smaller than lateral ones with stalks, separated from each other basally, situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, lateral ones situated at slightly dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix with inconspicuous stalks ( Fig. 13 ).

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

Distribution. Shandong Province (Taishan, Qufu)

Remarks. Males and females vary in body size: males (N = 4): BL 12.50–16.60, CL 6.80–7.10, CW 6.50–7.30, OL 6.00–8.60, OW 5.60–6.00; females (N = 15): BL 12.50–20.50, CL 6.00–8.60, CW 4.50–7.20, OL 6.40–10.20, OW 4.80–8.35.

There was intraspecific variation in female genital morphology and molecular markers. For the female genitalia, the middle receptacular clusters were weakly sclerotized with long stalks ( Fig. 13A, 13B ), or well sclerotized ( Fig. 13C–I ).

Intraspecific genetic distance is between 0% and 0.6% based on the K2P substitution model and COI nucleotide sequences (N = 9). The GenBank accession code of the holotype (XUX-2014-143A) is MH172722 .

Figures

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.