Tricholathys serrata sp. nov. (齿状毛隐蛛)

Wang, Lu-Yu, Peng, Xian-Jin & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2023, The first record of Tricholathys Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 (Araneae, Dictynidae) from China, with a new combination and descriptions of seven new species, ZooKeys 1185, pp. 255-267 : 255

Tricholathys serrata sp. nov. (齿状毛隐蛛)

Figs 12 , 13 , 16

Type materials.

Holotype male: China, Tibet, Gemucuo, 33°39′27″N, 85°49′19″E, September 1990 (SWUC-T-DI-12-01). Paratypes: 2 females (SWUC-T-DI-12-02~03), with same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific epithet comes from the Latin adjective serratus, meaning “serrated” and refers to the shape of the posterior arm of the conductor; the gender is feminine (serrata).

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from all congeners by the bifurcated tip of the posterior arm of the conductor (Figs 12A, B , 13C-E ), the very short tibia, the rounded tip of retrolateral tibial apophysis, the short, almost straight copulatory ducts which originate from the mesal part of the epigynal plate, and the spermathecae which is wider than long (Figs 12C, D , 13F, G ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 13A . Total length 4.04. Prosoma 2.05 long, 1.59 wide; opisthosoma 2.13 long, 1.40 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.10, PME 0.07, PLE, 0.07; AME-AME 0.09, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.09, ALE-PLE 0.05. MOA 0.22 long, anterior width 0.22, posterior width 0.25. Clypeus height 0.10. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 5.62 (1.60, 2.12, 1.16, 0.74); II 5.06 (1.41, 1.82, 1.12, 0.71); III 4.65 (1.29, 1.53, 1.13, 0.70); IV 5.83 (1.58, 2.01, 1.46, 0.78). Leg formula: 4123.

Palp (Figs 12A, B , 13C-E ). Tibia short, as long as wide. Retrolateral tibial apophysis wider than long, with rounded tip. Anterior arm of conductor terminating at about 11:00 o’clock position; tip of posterior arm of conductor bifurcated; ventral branch longer than dorsal; dorsal branch serrated (Figs 12B , 13C, E ). Embolus with large base; filamentous part originating at about 9:30 o’clock position.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Fig. 13B . Total length 5.45 (4.86 in other paratype female). Prosoma 2.03 long, 1.59 wide; opisthosoma 3.40 long, 2.24 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.10, PME 0.08, PLE, 0.09; AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.10, ALE-PLE 0.06. MOA 0.26 long, anterior width 0.24, posterior width 0.27. Clypeus height 0.11. Leg measurements: I 5.34 (1.57, 1.90, 1.13, 0.74); II 4.95 (1.41, 1.71, 1.07, 0.76); III 4.72 (1.33, 1.58, 1.03, 0.78); IV 5.69 (1.61, 1.86, 1.40, 0.82). Leg formula: 4123.

Epigyne (Figs 12C, D , 13F, G ). Copulatory openings about as large as the spermathecae, separated by a space wider than their diameter. Strongly sclerotized part of copulatory ducts twice as long as length of weakly sclerotized part and with a tapered accessorial caecus. Spermathecae globular, small, diameter slightly more than width of copulatory ducts.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, Tibet, China (Fig. 16 ).

Figures

Figure 12. Tricholathys serrata sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AA = anterior arm of conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; PA = posterior arm of conductor; RTA = retrolaterial tibial apophysis; Sp = spermatheca.

Figure 13. Tricholathys serrata sp. nov. A, C-E holotype male B, F, G paratype female A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same. retrolateral view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Figure 16. Distribution of Tricholathys in China.