Qianleptoneta sublunata, Chen & Jia & Wang, 2010

Chen, Hui-Ming, Jia, Qiang & Wang, Shi-Jie, 2010, A revision of the genus Qianleptoneta (Araneae: Leptonetidae), Journal of Natural History 44 (47 - 48), pp. 2873-2915 : 2906-2909

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2010.512397

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B90520-FFC3-FF96-FE13-DF1C4272F421

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Qianleptoneta sublunata
status

sp. nov.

Qianleptoneta sublunata sp. nov.

( Figures 21 View Figure 21 , 22 View Figure 22 , 25H View Figure 25 )

Material

Holotype male. From Manwang Cave (28 ◦ 47 ′ N, 107 ◦ 54 ′ E, 734 m asl), Dishui village, Kuankuo town , Suiyang county , Guizhou Province, 12 August 2003. GoogleMaps

Paratype. One male and six females, same data as holotype GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis

The new species is distinguished from other species by male with an approximately semilunar apophysis on palpal bulb in retrolateral view ( Figure 21B View Figure 21 ); the median apophysis (M) subuliform, with 4 denticles on dorsal surface (Figure 125H); without tibia fine hairs.

Description

Male holotype. Total length 2.04. Carapace smooth, 0.97 long, 0.87 wide, height at fovea 0.71 times carapace width, yellowish; thoracic fovea brown, needle-shaped ( Figure 22B View Figure 22 ). Clypeus 0.19 high, yellowish. Chelicerae 0.46 long, yellowish, with seven teeth and one denticle on promargin and four denticles on retromargin; eight short setae on base ( Figure 21C View Figure 21 ). Eyeless only ALEMs, PLEMs and PMEMs remain on ocular area ( Figure 22B View Figure 22 ). Sternum 0.71 long, 0.62 wide, haired; labium 0.10 long, 0.10 wide, yellowish.

Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total): I: 2.30 + 0.31 + 2.45 + 1.84 + 1.17 = 8.06; II: 2.14 + lack + lack + lack + lack =?; III: 1.13 + 0.31 + 1.68 + 1.38 + 0.97 = 6.07; IV: 2.19 + 0.31 + 2.04 + 1.99 + 1.17 = 7.45. Leg yellowish, tibia without row of fine hairs on ventral surface; preening comb occurs ventroapically on the metatarsus of leg II and III.

Palpal coxae 0.39 long, 0.25 wide. Palpal measurements (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total): 0.65 + 0.22 + 0.30 + 0.44 = 1.60; the length of tibia 1.35 times that of patella. Palpal tibia with three dorsally trichobothria; TBS thick, bended at apical part ( Figure 21A,B View Figure 21 ). Tarsus dwindles distally, with relatively shallow AC in middle part, RA in adjacent apical part in retrolateral; both sides with row of short setae; a group of long setae at apical part ( Figure 21A,B View Figure 21 ). Bulb suboval, PL shuttle-shaped ( Figure 21A View Figure 21 ); M subuliform, with four denticles on dorsal surface ( Figure 25H View Figure 25 ); PF transparent, liguliform ( Figure 21A,B View Figure 21 ).

Abdomen creamy yellow, without markings, sparse hair, 1.17 long, 0.87 wide.

Female paratype. Total length 2.01. Carapace smooth, 0.77 long, 0.77 wide, height at fovea 0.67 times carapace width, yellowish; thoracic fovea brown, needle-shaped ( Figure 22D View Figure 22 ). Clypeus 0.14 high, yellowish. Chelicerae 0.45 long, yellowish, with seven teeth on promargin of fang furrow and four denticles on retromargin; 10 short setae on base ( Figure 21D View Figure 21 ). Six eyes; ocular area 0.25 long, 0.17 wide; anterior row strongly recurved, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PLE-PLE 0.09; PME 0.05, slightly smaller than anterior row eyes, contiguous; dark pigment between eyes. Sternum 0.57 long, 0.55 wide, haired; labium 0.06 long, 0.13 wide, yellowish.

Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total): I: 1.99 + 0.36 + 2.04 + 1.58 + 1.12 = 7.09; II: 1.53 + 0.31 + 1.58 + 1.22 + 0.87 = 5.51; III: 1.38 + 0.31 + lack + lack + lack =?; IV: 1.63 + 0.31 + 1.68 + 1.43 + 1.97 = 6.02. Leg yellowish, preening comb occurs ventroapically on the metatarsus of leg II and III.

Palpal coxae 0.36 long, 0.19 wide. Palpal measurements (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total): 0.54 + 0.18 + 0.40 + 0.58 = 1.70.

Abdomen pale yellow, with numerous purple-brown markings, exiguity hair, 1.33 long, 0.61 wide. Epigynal plate rugby-ball-shaped., simple ( Figure 21E View Figure 21 ); internal genitalia with a pair of spermathecae, coiled sperm duct, inverted triangular atrium ( Figure 21E View Figure 21 ).

Variation of eye degeneration and abdomen colour. One male and three females had six perfect eyes, with purple-brown markings, exiguity hair ( Figure 22C–E View Figure 22 ). Three female individuals lacked in some eyes, only ALEMs, PLEMs and PMEMs remained in the ocular area ( Figure 22F View Figure 22 ), and abdomen creamy yellow, without markings.

Distribution

The species is known only from the type locality ( Figure 2 View Figure 2 ).

Etymology

The specific name comes from Latin “ sublunata ” meaning “approximately semilunar”, referring to an approximately semilunar apophysis on palpal bulb in retrolateral view.

Level of cave adaptation

Some individuals have no functioning eyes and no pigmentation, troglobitic species, other individuals with six perfect eyes, troglophilous species.

Natural history

Cave is huge and deep, moist, with a small (permanent) stream flowing from its openings. Spiders were found near the twilight zone, occupying small sheet webs along cave walls or rocks. But they were also found in the dark zone.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Leptonetidae

Genus

Qianleptoneta

Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF