Leptoneta cornea, Tong & Li, 2008

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2008, Six new cave-dwelling species of Leptoneta (Arachnida, Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Beijing and adjacent regions, China, Zoosystema 30 (2), pp. 371-386 : 375-376

Leptoneta cornea n. sp.

( Fig. 1 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: China, Beijing City, Fangshan District, Shijiaying Town (39°52’N, 115°41’E), Shenxian Cave , 6.III.2005, leg. Q. Wang & Y. Bi, ♂ ( MNHN) . Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀ ( IZCAS) ; 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN). — Beijing City, Mentougou District (39°52’N, 116°04’E), Guanyin Cave (near Jietaishi Temple), 28.IV.2005, leg. H. Chen & X. Han, 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀ ( IZCAS). — Beijing City, Mentougou District (39°52’N, 116°04’E), Guanyin Cave (near Jietaishi Temple), 28.IV.2005, leg. H. Chen & X. Han, 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is from Greek, corn, horn-shaped, in reference to the horn-shaped projection presented on ventral surface of male palpal bulb.

DIAGNOSIS. — The new species can be distinguished from all the other congeners by the presence of a horn-shaped projection on ventral surface of male palpal bulb, the presence of two strong spines on apical part of male palpal tibia and the presence of many long spines on ventral surface of male palpal femur.

DESCRIPTION

Male (n = 3)

Body length 1.76-1.78 (average: 1.77). Carapace 0.79-0.81 (average: 0.80) long, 0.68-0.70 (average: 0.69) wide; abdomen 0.88-0.91 (average: 0.89) long, 0.69-0.71 (average: 0.70) wide. Carapace yellow, with a pair of setae at lateral area of PME. Median groove dark brown, needle-shaped. Cervical grooves and radial furrows evident and light brown. Clypeus 0.16 high, slightly sloped anteriorly. Six eyes. Eye sizes: ALE 0.06, PLE 0.05, PME 0.04. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.05, PLE-PME 0.04. AER 0.10, PER 0.14. Major axes of PLE convergent behind. PME continuous, axes parallel. Chelicera ( Fig. 1F ) light brown, with nine teeth on promargin of fang furrow and six small teeth on retromargin. Endites and labium light brown. Sternum ( Fig. 1D ) and legs yellow. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 2.08 (0.84, 0.44, 0.42, –, 0.38); I 6.80 (1.83, 0.29, 2.16, 1.63, 0.89); II 5.02 (1.44, 0.27, 1.48, 1.13, 0.70); III 4.05 (1.15, 0.24, 1.08, 1.00, 0.58); IV 5.79 (1.64, 0.26, 1.77, 1.40, 0.72). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Femur I with some relatively thicker setae on middle part of anterior surface. Tibia I with row of fine hairs ventrally ( Fig. 1C ). Metatarsus II and III ( Fig. 4H, I ) as L. setulifera n. sp., with a cluster of hairs on basal part of ventral surface, respectively. Abdomen haired, pale yellow, and oval in shape, no distinct pattern on the dorsum. Palpal femur with many spines ventrally. Palpal tibia with three long trichobothria on the dorsal surface and with two strong spines on disto-lateral and disto-dorsal surfaces ( Fig. 1A, B ). Cymbium distally branched.

Female (n = 14)

Similar to male in coloration and general features, but body size larger and legs shorter. Body length 1.77-2.16 (average: 1.98). Carapace 0.76-0.80 (average: 0.79) long, 0.64-0.67 (average: 0.65) wide; abdomen 1.05-1.18 (average: 1.12) long, 0.91-1.18 (average: 0.99) wide. Clypeus 0.15 high. Eye sizes: ALE 0.05, PLE 0.04, PME 0.04. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.06, PLE-PME 0.03. AER 0.09, PER 0.12. Measurements of palp and legs:palp 1.49 (0.50, 0.17, 0.36, –, 0.46); I 5.25 (1.40, 0.25, 1.61, 1.24, 0.75); II 4.10 (1.17, 0.24, 1.16, 0.92, 0.61); III 3.47 (0.98, 0.23, 0.89, 0.85, 0.52); IV 4.81 (1.36, 0.23, 1.46, 1.14, 0.62). Leg I without special hairs as in male. Internal genitalia with a pair of spermatheca and sperm duct, atrium visible ( Fig. 1E, G ).

C

F

Figures

FIG. 1. — Leptoneta cornea n. sp.: A, male left palp in prolateral view; B, male left palp in retrolateral view; C, male left leg I in anterior view; D, female sternum in ventral view; E, female genitalia in ventral view; F, male chelicera in ventral view; G, female genitalia in dorsal view. Abbreviations: C, E, M, conductor, embolus and median apophysis of male palpal organ respectively. Scale bars: A, B, D, E, 0.2 mm; C, 0.4 mm; F, G, 0.1 mm.

FIG. 4. — Leptoneta setulifera n. sp.: A, male left palp in prolateral view; B, male left palp in retrolateral view;C, male left palpal bulb in retrolateral view; D, tibia I of male left leg in anterior view; E, male sternum in ventral view; F, male chelicera in ventral view; G, female genitalia in ventral view; H, proximally of metatarsus of male leg III, ventral view; I, proximally of metatarsus of male leg III, lateral view; J, female genitalia in dorsal view.Abbreviations:C, E, M, conductor,embolus and median apophysis of male palpal organ respectively. Scale bars: A, B, 0.2 mm; C, E-J, 0.1 mm; D, 0.3 mm.