Meta hongyuan, Wang & Irfan & Chen & Zhang, 2022

Wang, Lu-Yu, Irfan, Muhammad, Chen, Hui-Ming & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2022, Seven new species of Meta C. L. Koch, 1836 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from Southwest China, European Journal of Taxonomy 834, pp. 117-147 : 130-134

Meta hongyuan sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:58FF42FD-1DF9-4525-9325-403E3809F8B7

Figs 1F–G , 10–12 , 22

Differential diagnosis

The male of this new species resembles M. bowo sp. nov. ( Figs 2–4 ) in having the similar bifurcate metaine embolic apophysis and paracymbium of male palp, but can be distinguished by the following characters: cymbial ectobasal process U-shaped with a sharp pointed tip in ventral view and lacking a tooth-like process in M. hongyuan sp. nov. ( Figs 10B–C , 11B–D ), whereas oval with a tooth-like process and a depression on distal margin in M. bowo ( Figs 2B–C , 3B–D ); embolus long, arc-shaped and gradually narrowing towards tip in M. hongyuan sp. nov. ( Figs 10A , 11A ), whereas short and abruptly thin in M. bowo ( Figs 2A , 3A, E ). The female of M. hongyuan sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the epigynal plate posteriorly with a distinct sclerotized depression and spermathecae brain-shaped ( Figs 10D–E , 12A–B ).

Etymology

The epithet refers to the type locality.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Sichuan Province, Hongyuan County, Shuajingsi Town, Shuamalukou ; 31°57′41.23″ N, 102°38′12.03″ E; alt. 3189 m; 13 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, Y. Zhang, J.X. Zhao and J.S. Luo leg.; SWUC- T-TEg-05-01 .

Paratypes CHINA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-TEg-05-02 • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SWUC-T-TEg-05-03–04 .

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 1F )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.03. Prosoma 2.46 long, 1.93 wide, opisthosoma 2.82 long, 2.28 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.18, PME 0.17, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.10, AME– ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.45 long, front width 0.40, back width 0.45. Clypeus height 0.18.

CHELICERAE. Strong, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 12.18 (3.26, 4.22, 3.34, 1.36); II = 9.32 (2.56, 3.37, 2.36, 1.03); III = 5.31 (1.70, 1.61, 1.26, 0.74); IV = 6.97 (2.26, 2.20, 1.69, 0.82). Leg formula: 1243.

OPISTHOSOMA. Oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Both dorsum and venter white, with black markings.

PALP ( Figs 10A–C , 11A–D ). Cymbial ectobasal process simple, U-shaped with pointed end. Paracymbium finger-like, narrow towards tip, with sparse long hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis distal end broad, bifurcated, extending forward.

EMBOLUS. Long, arc-shaped, with curved tip. Conductor strong, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb and extending clockwise, longer than wide, with membranous end.

Female (paratype SWUC-T-TEg-05-03, Fig. 1G )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.17. Prosoma 2.39 long, 2.06 wide; opisthosoma 4.24 long, 3.85 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.17; AME–AME 0.13, AME– ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.46 long, front width 0.44, back width 0.48. Clypeus height 0.23.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 8.91 (2.46, 2.89, 2.40, 1.16); II = 7.43 (2.21, 2.53, 1.81, 0.88); III = 4.67 (1.50, 1.52, 1.00, 0.65); IV = 6.37 (2.04, 2.11, 1.52, 0.70). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male.

EPIGYNE ( Figs 10D–E , 12A–B ). Posterior margin of epigynal plate with distinct sclerotized depression.

VULVA. Spermathecae brain-shaped. Fertilization ducts thick, S-shaped.

Distribution

China, Sichuan (Hongyuan) ( Fig. 22 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. A. Meta bowo sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-02-01), habitus, dorsal view. B. Meta bowo sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-02-06), habitus, dorsal view. C. Meta cona sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-03-01), habitus, dorsal view. D. Meta cona sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-03-02), habitus, dorsal view. E. Meta gyirong sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-04-01), habitus, dorsal view. F. Meta hongyuan sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-01), habitus, dorsal view. G. Meta hongyuan sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-03), habitus, dorsal view. H. Meta tibet sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-06-01), habitus, dorsal view. I. Meta tibet sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-06-05), habitus, dorsal view. J. Meta wanglang sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-07-01), habitus, dorsal view. K. Meta wanglang sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-07-03), habitus, dorsal view. L. Meta weining sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-08-01), habitus, dorsal view. M. Meta weining sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-08-03), habitus, dorsal view.

Fig. 10. Meta hongyuan sp. nov. A–C. ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-01). D–E. ♀, paratype (SWUC-T- TEg-05-03). A. Left palp, prolateral view.B. Same, ventral view.C. Same, retrolateral view.D. Epigyne, ventral view. E. Vulva, dorsal view.

Fig. 11. Meta hongyuan sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-01). A. Left palp, prolateral view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Same, retrolateral view. D. Same, dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Meta hongyuan sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-03). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view.

Fig. 22. Distribution records of seven new species of the genus Meta C.L. Koch, 1836 in Southwest China.

Fig. 2. Meta bowo sp. nov. A–C. ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-02-01). D–E. ♀, paratype (SWUC-T- TEg-02-06). A. Left palp, prolateral view.B. Same, ventral view.C. Same, retrolateral view.D. Epigyne, ventral view. E. Vulva, dorsal view.

Fig. 3. Meta bowo sp. nov. A–D. ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-02-01). E. ♂, paratype (SWUC-T- TEg-02-02). A. Left palp, prolateral view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Same, retrolateral view. D. Same, dorsal view. E. Embolus and metaine embolic apophysis, dorsal view.

Fig. 4. Meta bowo sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-02-06). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view.