Prosoponoides longiprojectus, Irfan & Zhang & Peng, 2022

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, Megataxa 8 (1), pp. 1-292 : 221-228

Prosoponoides longiprojectus sp. nov. (KẌAEƦ) Figures 265–267 , 269

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Baoshan City, Bawan Village, 40 km of the road Bawan to Tengchong , 24.55459ºN, 98.45309ºE, 2320m, 16 October 2003, Guo Tang leg. (Tang031016) . Paratype: 1♀, Baoshan City , Bawan Village , 36 km of the road Bawan to Tengchong, 24.56181ºN, 98.48873ºE, 2074m, 11 October 2003, Guo Tang leg. (Tang031011) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ longe ” and “ projectus ”, meaning “long” and “projection” respectively, and refers to the lamella characteristca with a long lateral projection in the male palp.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species can be distinguished from that of all other congeners by the lateral projection of lamella characteristca about four times longer than wide, sword-shaped with blunt end, extending forward in ventral view ( Fig. 265B, D ). The female of the new species resembles that of P. corneus sp. nov. but can be distinguished by the spermathecae relatively round, pointing towards each other in P. longiprojectus sp. nov. ( Fig.266C ), whereas spermathecae finger-shaped pointing towards scape in P. corneus sp. nov. ( Fig. 259C ).

Description. Male (holotype Fig. 267A, B ): Total length: 2.78. Carapace 1.26 long, 0.97 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated, yellow; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.29 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown,, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scapulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, AME–ALE, 0.07, PME–PLE 0.08, AME–PME 0.11, ALE–ALE 0.44, PLE–PLE 0.49, ALE– PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 5.48 (1.51, 1.65, 1.47, 0.85), II 4.90 (1.37, 1.45, 1.32, 0.76), III 2.71 (0.79, 0.79, 0.67, 0.46), IV 3.89 (1.15, 1.13, 0.99, 0.62). Leg formula III-IV-III. Tm I 0.51 and Tm IV 0.37. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.59 long, 1.07 wide, cylindriform, grayish, densely covered by white patches followed by a longitudinal band and oblique lines, posterior end with three chevrons; ventral side brownish with irregular white patches.

Palp ( Fig. 265A–D ): Patella shorter than tibia, with a long dorsal spine; tibia with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; with long spines on all surfaces; paracymbium sclerotized, distal arm absent; tegulum sclerotized, excavated ventrally; distal suprategular apophysis longer than wide, conical with blunt end.Lamella characteristca with four well developed apophyses; lateral projection about four times longer than wide, swordshaped with blunt end extending forward in ventral view; the anterior projection somewhat triangular with blunt end in prolateral view; dorsal projection short, slightly curved, the posterior projection relatively wide with blunt end. Embolic membrane broad extending forward. Embolus sclerotized, short and curved, projecting upward.

Female (one of paratypes, Fig. 267C, D ): Total length: 2.93. Carapace 1.19 long, 0.86 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated, yellow; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.17 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown,, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.08, AME–PME 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.41, PLE–PLE 0.43, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.43 (1.19, 1.38, 1.17, 0.69), II 4.15 (1.11, 1.30, 1.11, 0.63), III 2.28 (0.74, 0.76, 0.44, 0.38), IV 3.82 (1.06, 1.14, 1.05, 0.57). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.37 and Tm IV 0.26. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 2.06 long, 1.59 wide, the other characteristics same as in male.

Epigyne( Fig.266A–C ):Posteriorly with two openings of entrance grooves separated by median septum, margins curved and sclerotized. Triangular parmula extending posteriorly from the dorsal plate, with a large pit ventrally. The entrance groove opening blocked with copulatory plug (seems distal suprategular apophysis of male palp broken into both openings in this female). Vulva as long as wide, entrance grooves started from ventral wall, with one and half coils, turning points and spermathecae present dorso-mesally on apices; spermathecae small, slightly overlapping each others; fertilization ducts long, present dorso-laterally, extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 269 ).

Figures

FIGURE 259. Prosoponoides corneus sp. nov., female (one of paratype). A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 265. Prosoponoides longiprojectus sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 266. Prosoponoides longiprojectus sp. nov., female paratype. A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 267. Prosoponoides longiprojectus sp. nov., male (holotype, A, B), female (paratype, C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 269. Distribution of Prosoponoides species.