Xilithus wangi, Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Further additions to the guardstone spider fauna from China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Zootaxa 5338 (1), pp. 1-104 : 95-100

Xilithus wangi sp. nov. (ƗOiẇdzff)

Figs 82–84

Type material. Holotype ♁, CHINA: Sichuan Province, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture , Mao County, Mountain Ecosystem Positioning Station (31°41.539´N, 103°53.809´E, 1885 m a.s.l.), 26 May 2015, leg. Luyu Wang.

Paratypes: 2 ♁ 2 ♀, with same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is taken from the family name of Luyu Wang, the collector of this new species.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles X. pseudostella ( Fu, Jin & Zhang, 2014) in having a similarly shaped embolus and large epigynal atrium, but can be recognized by: 1) the wider and shorter prolateral tegular apophysis (vs thin and long, cf. Fig. 83B and fig. 4B in Fu et al. [2014]), 2) the absence of a retroventral tibial apophysis (vs presence, cf. Fig. 83B, C and fig. 4B, C in Fu et al. [2014]), and 3) the smaller and rectangular-shaped bursa (vs large and oval, cf. Fig. 83G and fig. 4E in Fu et al. [2014]).

Description. Male (Holotype): total length 3.26, carapace 1.62 long, 1.44 wide; abdomen 1.64 long, 1.23 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.10, ALE 0.09, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE– ALE 0.24, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.37, ALE–PLE 0.05. EAW 0.52, CRW 0.82, EAW/CRW 0.65, CRW/CW 0.56. MOA 0.27 long, anterior width 0.22, posterior width 0.25. CH 0.15, CH /AME 1.50. Labium 0.22 long, 0.27 wide. Sternum 0.93 long, 0.89 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 5.78 (1.59, 0.62, 1.53, 1.26, 0.78), II 4.83 (1.36, 0.54, 1.14, 1.08, 0.71), III 4.22 (1.16, 0.49, 0.84, 1.06, 0.67), IV 6.30 (1.73, 0.56, 1.40, 1.67, 0.94). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femur Ⅰ pl 3, femur II pl 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 7 rv 7, tibia II pv 7 rv 6, metatarsus Ⅰ–II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace red brown, with several shapes resembling flowing water droplets beside fovea. Abdomen lighter color than carapace, with large dorsal scutum covered nearly entire abdomen ( Fig. 82A, B ).

Palp as in Figs 83A–E , 84A–C . Retrolateral tibial apophysis base wide, narrower tip digit-shaped and curved towards cymbium; retroventral tibial apophysis absent. Tegulum wider than cymbium, pyriform-shaped; tegular apophysis absent. Sperm duct indistinct, tapering from retrolateral of tegulum to embolus. Embolus long, needle-like, transverse but curved upwards at end. Conductor absent.

Female (Paratype): total length 4.41, carapace 1.85 long, 1.68 wide; abdomen 2.56 long, 1.63 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.14, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.39, ALE–PLE 0.08. EAW 0.58, CRW 0.90, EAW/CRW 0.64, CRW/CW 0.54. MOA 0.29 long, anterior width 0.25, posterior width 0.29. CH 0.15, CH /AME 1.36. Labium 0.22 long, 0.31 wide. Sternum 1.14 long, 1.07 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 7.03 (1.91, 0.66, 1.95, 1.60, 0.91), II 5.91 (1.63, 0.62, 1.48, 1.29, 0.89), III 5.01 (1.34, 0.57, 0.99, 1.30, 0.81), IV 7.72 (2.10, 0.65, 1.79, 2.07, 1.11). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femora Ⅰ–II pl 3, tibia Ⅰ pv 7 rv 8, tibia II pv 7 rv 5, metatarsus Ⅰ pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3. Other characters as for male, except dorsal scutum absent, color darker and body larger ( Fig. 82C, D ).

Epigyne as in Figs 83F–G , 84D–E .Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized,with pair of shallow concavities.Copulatory openings small, located at anterior of atrium. Copulatory ducts slender, slightly curved. Bursa nearly rectangular. Glandular appendages mastoid-shaped. Connecting tubes short, wider than copulatory ducts. Spermathecae globular, widely separated. Fertilization ducts located at anterior margin of spermathecae.

Distribution. China (Sichuan Province).

Figures

FIGURE 82. Habitus of Xilithus wangi sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Female paratype, dorsal view; D. Same, ventral view.

FIGURE 83. Copulatory organs of Xilithus wangi sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Same, retro-dorsal view; F. Epigyne, ventral view; G. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; PTA—prolateral tegular apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct; B— bursa; CO—copulatory opening; CD—copulatory duct; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; S—spermathecae.

FIGURE 84. Copulatory organs of Xilithus wangi sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Same, retro-dorsal view; E. Epigyne, ventral view; F. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.