Platocoelotes xianwuensis Chen & Li

Chen, Lu, Li, Shuqiang & Zhao, Zhe, 2015, Five new Platocoelotes species (Araneae, Agelenidae) from caves in southern China, ZooKeys 512, pp. 1-18 : 8-10

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Agelenidae

Platocoelotes xianwuensis Chen & Li sp. n. Figs 9, 10, 11

Type material.

Holotype ♂: China: Hubei: Enshi Prefecture: Xuanen County: Zhushan Town, Park, Xiejiaba Village, Xianwu Cave, N29°57'06", E109°29'49", elevation 853 m., 14.XII.2014, Y.C. Li and Z.G. Chen. Paratypes: 16♀5♂, same data as holotype; 1♀, China: Hubei: Enshi Prefecture: Xuanen County: Zhushan Town, Park, Xiejiaba Village, Xianwu Cave, N29°57'06", E109°29'49", elevation 853 m., 18.I.2014, Y.C. Li and J.C. Liu.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis.

The male can be distinguished from all other Platocoelotes species, except Platocoelotes icohamatoides Peng & Wang, 1997, Platocoelotes impletus Peng & Wang, 1997, Platocoelotes lichuanensis Chen & Zhao, 1998 and Platocoelotes kailiensis Wang, 2003, by the presence of a branch in the anterior conductor apophysis and can be distinguished from these four species by the long anterior conductor branch, with a wide base that is spiky distally, and the hyaline part in the middle of the anterior conductor apophysis (Fig. 9 A–C). The female can be distinguished from all other Platocoelotes species, except Platocoelotes impletus and Platocoelotes icohamatoides , by the presence of a long, narrow epigynal septum and can be distinguished from Platocoelotes impletus by the rectangular epigynal atrium, and the longer, thinner copulatory ducts (Fig. 10 A–B; Wang 2003: fig. 75 A–B). It can be distinguished from Platocoelotes icohamatoides by having fewer loops in the copulatory ducts (with 2 loops) (Fig. 10B; Wang 2003: fig. 76B).

Description.

Male (holotype): Total length 7.50. Carapace 4.10 long, 3.05 wide. Abdomen 3.40 long, 2.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.19, ALE 0.25, PME 0.19, PLE 0.20; AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.11, PME-PLE 0.14. Leg measurements: I: 19.41 (5.19, 6.47, 4.93, 2.82); II: 16.85 (4.68, 5.38, 4.29, 2.50); III: 15.31 (4.29, 4.48, 4.36, 2.18); IV: 20.44 (5.45, 6.15, 6.28, 2.56). Chelicerae with three promarginal and two retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis long; ventral patellar apophysis short, about 1/5 length of patellar apophysis, with pointed tip; RTA with pointed tip, extending beyond the tibia; LTA short, about 1/5 length of RTA; cymbial furrow long, about 1/2 length of cymbium; anterior conductor apophysis long, with middle part hyaline, with pointed tip; posterior conductor apophysis long, subequal to the length of cymbial furrow; dorsal conductor apophysis absent; embolus filiform, elongate (Fig. 9 A–C).

Female (one of paratypes): Total length 7.80. Carapace 3.70 long, 2.25 wide. Abdomen 4.10 long, 2.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.20, PME 0.16, PLE 0.14; AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.10. Leg measurements: I: 10.89 (3.14, 3.50, 2.60, 1.65); II: 9.75 (2.95, 3.25, 2.00, 1.55); III: 8.65 (2.50, 2.80, 2.25, 1.10); IV: 11.90 (3.25, 3.75, 3.15, 1.75). Epigyne: atrium medium size, occupying 1/4 of epigynal plate, anterior part of atrium oblong, posterior part longitudinally elongate, about 4/5 length of epigyne; epigynal hoods situated posteriorly, near the lateral atrial margin; spermathecae simple, located in posterior of epigyne; spermathecal head absent; copulatory ducts long, broad and looped (Fig. 10 A–B).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 11).