Lathys fibulata Liu, 2018

Liu, Keke, Meng, Zeyuan, Xiao, Yonghong & Xu, Xiang, 2018, Five new Lathys species (Araneae: Dictynidae) from South China and the first description of the male of Lathys spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012, Zootaxa 4500 (2), pp. 151-178 : 159-164

Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov.

Figs 7–11 , 23

Type material. CHINA: Jiangxi Province: Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City. Holotype male: Huang’ao Town , Menxiandong Village , broad-leaf forest, 26.476°N, 114.244°E, 383 m elevation, 4 April 2014, Keke Liu, Zhiwu Chen, Zeyuan Meng, Yifan Zhao and Guangfeng Li leg. ( ASM-JGSU) . Paratypes: 1 female, same data as holotype ( ASM-JGSU) ; 1 female: Longshi Town, Yuankou Village , leaf litter, 26.712°N, 113.945°E, 272 m elevation, 3 May 2015, Keke Liu, Zhiwu Chen, Zeyuan Meng, Sha Wu, Shicong He and Yifan Zhao leg. ( ASM-JGSU) .

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning “shaped like a lock” and referring to a catch lock type of the combination between the HTA and the proximal part of TA on male palp ( Figs 7C–E , 8C–G , 11A–C ).

Diagnosis. Males of the new species resemble those of L. ankaraensis Özkütük, Marusik, Elverici & Kunt 2016 , L. borealis , L. heterophthalma Kulczyński 1891 , L. huangyangjieensis Liu spec. nov., L. humilis , L. subalberta , L. stigmatisata and L. subhumilis ( Lissner 2016; Marusik et al. 2009a; Marusik et al. 2009b; Özkütük et al. 2016; Song et al. 2001; Zhang et al. 2012) in having a long TA close to the tibial apophyses, but can be clearly distinguished by the presence of 6 promarginal and 6 retromarginal cheliceral teeth (less than 6 promarginal and 6 retromarginal teeth in L. borealis , L. huangyangjieensis , L. humilis , L. subalberta and L. subhumilis ) and the apex of TA locked by the ventrolateral FTA and HTA (without a lock between TA and tibial apophyses in L. ankaraensis , L. borealis , L. heterophthalma , L. huangyangjieensis , L. humilis , L. subalberta , L. stigmatisata and L. subhumilis ) ( Figs 7C–E , 8 , 11A–C ). The female copulatory organ of this new species most closely resemble that of L. borealis , L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov. and L. subhumilis ( Zhang et al. 2012) in having one loop of the copulatory duct but mainly differs from these species in having a slight sclerotized, umbelliform SEP (") (" shaped in L. borealis and L. subhumilis ; triangular in L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov.) and a matrass-shaped SP (rounded in L. borealis and L. subhumilis , oval in L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov.) ( Figs 9C–D , 11D–E ).

Description: Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 7A–B . Total length 1.75, carapace ( Fig. 7A ) length 0.89, width 0.79. Eight eyes ( Fig. 7A ), anterior eye row slightly recurved and posterior one procurved; diameters and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.12, ALE–AME 0.16, PME–PME 0.22, ALE–ALE 0.36, PLE–PME 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.43 ALE–PLE 0.16, AME–PME 0.17. Carapace anteriorly with a row of setae medially, cervical groove and radial furrows distinct, fovea longitudinal, indistinct ( Fig. 7A ). Chelicerae ( Figs 8A–B ) with 6 promarginal (fifth largest, sixth smallest) and 6 retromarginal (fifth largest, sixth near the apex of fang) teeth. Gnathocoxae longer than wide, with many setae all over the surface, anteriorly with a single row serrula, labium sub-semicircular, anteriorly with a row of setae in ventral view, sternum as long as wide ( Fig. 7B ), setae sparse, evenly with numerous tubercles on the surface. Opisthosoma ( Figs 7A–B ) oval in dorsal view, length 0.97, width 0.75. Legs with many setae; measurements: I 2.96 (0.88, 0.26, 0.80, 0.63, 0.69); II missing; III 1.97 (0.64, 0.21, 0.39, 0.45, 0.28); IV 2.35 (0.74, 0.26, 0.51, 054, 0.30). Metatarsus IV with distinct calamistrum, covering more than 1/2 of length of metatarsus, each seta apically bent.

Colouration. Carapace dark yellow-brown, anterior part dark yellow-brown with dark slender stripes on the surface, posterior part lighter with distinct dark radiant stripes around fovea. Chelicerae yellow. Gnathocoxae brown. Labium with anterior part yellow brown and medial to posterior part dark brown. Sternum yellow brown, margin dark brown. Palp pale yellow. Legs yellow, with distinct annulations. Opisthosoma white to yellowish, with distinct pattern including many white guanine crystals, irregular black stripes around medial part; in ventral view with a sub-triangular grey-brown mark, posteriorly with a dark ring around spinnerets. Cribellum yellowish. Spinnerets yellow.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 7C–E , 8C–G , 11A–C ). Bulb spherical, with large and long TA, base of the latter convoluted and extending from ventral to retrolateral edges of tibia. Subapical of TA with apophysis, furrow is immobilized by dorsal hook-shaped tibial apophyses. Embolus exceedingly convoluted around the bulb, its apex invisible, but probably embedded in the Gr of TA.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 9A–B . As in male except as noted. Total length 1.98, carapace ( Fig. 9A ) length 0.75, width 0.64. Eyes ( Fig. 9A ) diameters and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08, AME– AME 0.10, ALE–AME 0.14, PME–PME 0.20, ALE–ALE 0.28, PLE–PME 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.33 ALE–PLE 0.16, AME–PME 0.17. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal (third largest) and 6 retromarginal (fifth largest, the sixth near the apex of fang) teeth ( Figs 10 ). Sternum slightly longer than wide ( Fig. 9B ). Opisthosoma, length 1.20, width 1.10. Leg measurements: I 2.07 (0.61, 0.23, 0.51, 0.38, 0.34); II 1.72 (0.54, 0.20, 0.38, 0.36, 0.24) III 1.50 (0.48, 0.18, 0.30, 0.32, 0.22); IV 1.99 (0.63, 0.22, 0.43, 0.47, 0.24); formula: I, IV, II, III.

Colouration. Carapace, anterior part with a small white area in front of fovea. Opisthosoma, with distinct pattern consisting of a few white guanine crystals and many irregular yellow-brown spots. Other parts lighter than in male.

Epigyne as in diagnosis ( Figs 9C–D , 11D–E ), with moderately depressed oval CO. Margin of CO slightly sclerotized. Vulva with short CD, spiraled around the CO, forming only one oval open loop, posteriorly connected with lateral part of SP. SP posterior-medially with a short curved FD.

Distribution. Known from two nearby localities in Jiangxi Province ( Fig. 23 ).

Figures

FIGURES 7A–E. Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov., holotype male. A Habitus, dorsal. B Same, ventral. C Left palp, prolateral. D Same, ventral. E Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 8A–G. Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov., holotype male, SEMs. A Left chelicera, frontal, slightly prolateral. B Same, posterior, slightly retrolateral. C Left palp, ventral. D Same, retrolateral. E Same, showing the detail of TA and tibial apophyses, retrolateral. F Same, dorsal. G Same, showing the detail of TA and tibial apophyses, dorsal. Abbreviations: Em—embolus, FTA—finger-shaped tibial apophysis, Gr—groove, HTA—hook-shaped tibial apophysis, LTA—lamellar tibia apophysis, RTS—retro-dorsal tibial spine, TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: A, B, E 20 µm; C, D 0.1 mm; F 30 µm; G 10 µm.

FIGURES 9A–D. Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov., female paratype. A Habitus, dorsal. B Same, ventral. C Epigyne, ventral. D Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A, B 0.25 mm; C, D 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 10A–B. Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov., female paratype, left chelicera, SEMs (A frontal, B Posterior, slightly retrolateral). Scale bars: 20 µm.

FIGURES 11A–E. Lathys fibulata Liu spec. nov., holotype male and female paratype, copulatory organs. A Left palp, prolateral. B Same, ventral. C Same, retrolateral D Epigyne, ventral. E Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct, CO—copulatory opening, Em—embolus, FD—fertilization duct, FTA—finger-shaped tibial apophysis, HTA—hook-shaped tibial apophysis, SEP—septum, SP—spermathecae, TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 23. Collection localities for Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov., L. fibulata Liu spec. nov., L. huangyangjieensis Liu spec. nov. and L. zhanfengi Liu spec. nov. in Jinggangshan National Natural Reserve, Jiangxi Province and distribution of L. spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012 in China.