Brommella digitata, Lu, Tian, Chen, Hui-Ming & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2015

Lu, Tian, Chen, Hui-Ming & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2015, Diversity of spiders in Fanjing Mountain Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, III: A new species of Brommella (Dictynidae), Zootaxa 4020 (1), pp. 183-190 : 184-185

Brommella digitata sp. nov.

Figs 1A–E , 2A–G , 5A , 6A

Type material. Holotype male, China, Guizhou, Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yinjiang County, Heshui Town, Tudong Village, Tu Cave, on the ground and at walls, more than ten meters away from the entrance, almost without daylight, 28°05.360′ N, 108°39.446′ E, elev. 723 m, 4 October 2013, L.Y. Wang, D. Wang & X.K. Jiang leg. ( SWUC). Paratypes (13 males and 23 females): 4 males and 4 females, with same data as holotype ( SWUC); 1 male and 4 females, the same cave as holotype, 11 October 2014, X.K. Jiang & H.M. Chen leg. ( SWUC); 8 males and 15 females, Yinjiang County, Luochang Town, Luochang Village, Huangnipu, Da Cave, 27°55.074′ N, 108°27.540′ E, elev. 819 m, 22 October 2014, X.K. Jiang & H.M. Chen leg. ( MHBU).

Etymology. The specific name comes from the Latin adjective, “ digitatus ”, meaning finger-like, and refers to the shape of tegular apophysis.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to B. punctosparsa (see Figs 3A–E , 4A–G , 5B–C , 6B for comparison) in having the same somatic appearance, long, sulciform, strongly anteriorly directed RTA, similarly shaped LTA, serrated embolus and strongly convoluted copulatory ducts. The new species can be distinguished by the presence of eight eyes, proximally directed distal end of conductor, long tegular apophysis ( Figs 1A–C , 2A–B, 2E–G ), anteriorly located copulatory openings and the short and less coiled spermathecae ( Figs 1D–E , 2C–D ).

Description. Male. Total length 3.58–4.24. Holotype ( Fig. 2A ): Total length 3.61. Prosoma 1.58 long, 1.22 wide; opisthosoma 2.00 long, 1.48 wide. AME smallest, ALE and PLE largest. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.20 long, anterior width 0.11, posterior width 0.26. Clypeus height 0.17. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 7.09 (2.00, 2.52, 1.54, 1.03); II 6.03 (1.73, 2.05, 1.35, 0.90); III 5.12 (1.47, 1.48, 1.31, 0.86); IV 6.39 (1.76, 2.16, 1.56, 0.91). Leg formula: 1423.

Male palp ( Figs 1A–C , 2E–G , 5A ) with two tibial apophyses. RTA originating distally, directed distal-ventrally and nearly contiguous with one branch of the conductor, with a deep ventral groove. LTA originating proximally, short, extending retrolaterally, with two branches. The proximal branch of LTA curved dorsally. Embolus originating posteriorly, filiform and serrulate, extending along margin of the bulb, completing almost one circle around tegulum. Conductor retrolaterally located, bifurcated and extending posteriorly. A tegular apophysis located medially on bulb, extending postero-prolaterally, with rounded apex.

Female. Total length 3.39–5.02. Paratype ( Fig. 2B , from Tu Cave, 4 October 2013): Total length 3.62. Prosoma 1.55 long, 1.22 wide; opisthosoma 2.07 long, 1.46 wide. AME smallest, ALE and PLE largest. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.10, PME 0.08, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.20 long, anterior width 0.11, posterior width 0.25. Clypeus height 0.16.

Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 6.77 (1.99, 2.37, 1.45, 0.96); II 5.78 (1.71, 1.94, 1.28, 0.85); III 5.23 (1.52, 1.65, 1.26, 0.80); IV 6.55 (1.95, 2.06, 1.60, 0.94). Leg formula: 1423.

Epigyne ( Figs 1D–E , 2C–D ). Copulatory openings small, anteriorly located, with distinct posterior margins connected with each other. A dark central longitudinal stripe connects the copulatory openings to the posterior margin of epigyne. Copulatory ducts and spermathecae tube-like, looping for more than two revolutions, without distinct border. Fertilization ducts located posteriorly.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, Guizhou, China.

Figures

FIGURES 1 A – E. Brommella digitata sp. nov., male holotype (A – C) and female paratype (D – E) from Mt. Fanjing. A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; LTA, lateral tibial apophysis; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae; TA, tegular apophysis.

FIGURES 2 A – G. Brommella digitata sp. nov.. male holotype (A, E – G) and female paratype (B – D) from Mt. Fanjing. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Female habitus, dorsal view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Male left palp, ventral view; F. Same, retrolateral view; G. Same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 5 A – C. Embolus of Brommella digitata sp. nov. (A) and B. punctosparsa (B – C) showing serrated margin.

FIGURES 6 A – B. Habitus of Brommella digitata sp. nov., male from Mt. Fanjing (A) and Brommella punctosparsa (Oi 1957), female from Mt. Jinyun (B).

FIGURES 3 A – E. Brommella punctosparsa (Oi 1957), male (A – C) and female (D – E) from Mt. Yuelu. A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; LTA, lateral tibial apophysis; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae; TA, tegular apophysis.

FIGURES 4 A – G. Brommella punctosparsa (Oi 1957), male (A, E – G) and female (B – D) from Mt. Yuelu. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Female habitus, dorsal view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Male left palp, ventral view; F. Same, retrolateral view; G. Same, dorsal view.