Songthela wangerbao, Chen & Liu & Li & Xu, 2022

Chen, Zhaoyang, Liu, Fengxiang, Li, Daiqin & Xu, Xin, 2022, Four new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae) from Chongqing Municipality, China, Zootaxa 5091 (4), pp. 546-558 : 555-556

Songthela wangerbao sp. nov.

Figure 6

Holotype. Male (XUX-2012-271, matured on 22 March 2013), China, Chongqing Municipality, Wanzhou City , Lishu Town , Tanjiashan , Wang’erbao Natural Reserve , 30.66ºN, 108.72ºE, 1172 m a.s.l., 20 November 2012, D Li, FX Liu, X Xu.

Paratypes. 1 male (XUX-2012-263, matured on 13 June 2013) and 7 females (XUX-2012-259/260/261/262/2 65/267/268), same data as for holotype, 1149–1172 m a.s.l.

Diagnosis. Males of Songthela wangerbao sp. nov. can be distinguished from S. pyriformis and S. longbao sp. nov. by conductor with narrower base and straight and slender apical spine ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E ), by contrategulum with an apophysis proximally and dense dentations distally ( Fig. 6A, D ); from S. jinyun sp. nov. by apical spine of conductor slender ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E ), by embolus with a distinct shrink near the opening ventrally ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E ), by contrategulum with dense dentations distally ( Fig. 6A, D ); from S. serriformis sp. nov. by conductor smooth ( Fig. 6A–G ); from other Songthela species by smooth conductor with one apical spine pointed to one fourth of embolus opening distally ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E ). Females of Songthela wangerbao sp. nov. differ from S. ciliensis by lateral receptacular clusters with shorter stalks ( Fig. 6H–J ); from S. jinyun sp. nov. by distance between middle receptacular clusters smaller and lateral genital stalks shorter ( Fig. 6H–J ); from S. longbao sp. nov. by distance between middle receptacular clusters larger, by posterior part of genital area wider ( Fig. 6H–M ); from S. serriformis sp. nov. by middle receptacular cluster situated on anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, posterior margin of bursa copulatrix weakly sclerotised ( Fig. 6H–J ); from other Songthela species by middle receptacular clusters situated on anterior margin of bursa copulatrix with distinct genital stalks, similar-sized lateral ones with obscure genital stalks, situated slight dorsolaterally ( Fig. 6H–M ).

Description. Male holotype (XUX-2012-271). In alcohol, carapace reddish-brown with a few pointed hairs running over ocular area; opisthosoma brown, with 12 dark brown tergites, close to each other with two pointed hairs on tergites from second to fourth, second to sixth larger than others, fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 9 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs/spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 16.18, CL 6.89, CW 6.55, OL 8.13, OW 5.70; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 22.36 (5.35 + 2.78 + 4.40 + 5.38 + 2.45), leg II 21.91 (5.95 + 2.90 + 4.56 + 6.10 + 2.40), leg III 22.63 (5.91 + 2.60 + 4.75 + 6.67 + 2.70), leg IV 29.53 (7.82 + 2.90 + 6.16 + 9.00 + 3.65).

Palp: Paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized prolaterally, with numerous setae and spines on the tip ( Fig. 6A–C ). Contrategulum with a denticulate margin and with an apophysis proximally ( Fig. 6A, B, D ). Marginal apophysis of tegulum and dorsal extension of terminal apophysis of tegulum with helicoid edges, with a small lamella terminal apophysis of tegulum retrolaterally ( Fig. 6C, F ). Conductor smooth and fused with embolus basally, gradually narrow to an apical spine ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E ). Embolus with a transparent, wide and flat opening ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E, G ).

Female paratype (XUX-2012-262). In alcohol, carapace dark red-brown covered with a few hairs running over ocular area; opisthosoma slight brown with 12 dark brown and yellowish-brown tergites, close to each other with two pointed hairs on tergites from second to fourth, second to sixth larger than others, fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with hairs/spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 17.71, CL 7.70, CW 7.13, OL 8.73, OW 6.72; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 14.50 (4.99 + 2.64 + 2.92 + 3.95), leg I 16.78 (5.65 + 3.06 + 3.10 + 3.13 + 1.84), leg II 16.01 (4.95 + 2.87 + 2.96 + 3.29 +1.94), leg III 16.60 (4.82 + 3.08 + 2.97 + 3.68 + 2.05), leg IV 23.63 (7.05 + 3.56 + 4.36 + 5.81 + 2.85).

Female genitalia: Four receptacular clusters with tuber genital stalks separated from each other basally. The middle ones situated on anterior margin of bursa copulatrix. Lateral ones situated slight dorsolaterally, posterior margin of bursa copulatrix weakly sclerotised. Posterior margin of genital area wide trapezoid ( Fig. 6H–M ).

Variation. Males and females vary in body size. The range of measurements in males as follow (N = 2): BL 15.65–16.18, CL 6.89–6.92, CW 6.55–6.68, OL 7.67–8.13, OW 5.70–6.42; females (N = 7): BL 14.56–20.88, CL 6.95–12.72, CW 6.48–8.38, OL 6.78–10.40, OW 4.90–10.42. The number of promargin of cheliceral groove varies from 9 to 11 (N = 9). In addition, male palps show intraspecific variation: contrategulum with a distinct apophysis ( Fig. 6A ) or not proximally ( Fig. 6D ). Female genitalia also show intraspecific variation: oval receptacular clusters ( Fig. 6I ) or irregular ( Fig. 6H, J ), and slender and longer middle genital stalks ( Fig. 6H ) or thicker and shorter middle genital stalks ( Fig. 6I, J ).

Etymology. The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Distribution. Chongqing (Wanzhou), China.

GenBank accession number. Holotype: XUX-2012-271: OL982298 .

Remarks. The first Songthela species , S. bristowei , recorded from Wanzhou, Chongqing, was described based on one female specimen ( Gertsch 1967). According to the original descriptions and illustrations ( Gertsch 1967; Haupt 1983), S. bristowei has four receptacular clusters close to each other with short genital stalks, and lateral receptacular clusters larger than middle ones, all of which are different from those of the two new species, S. longbao sp. nov. and S. wangerbao sp. nov., described from Wanzhou in this study. The recorded male of S. bristowei was collected from Mt. Heng, Hengyang, Hunan Province, far away from the type locality of the species. Moreover, only two unclear illustrations were provided and lack of detailed descriptions of the male specimen ( Yin et al. 1983). Therefore, we doubt that the male described from Mt. Heng by Yin et al. (1983) was S. bristowei as the female collected from Wanzhou, Chongqing according to the high endemism of liphistiids.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela wangerbao sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view; B, E, palp ventral view; C, F, palp retrolateral view; G, palp distal view; H–J, vulva dorsal view; K–M, vulva ventral view; A–C, XUX-2012-271 (holotype); D–G, XUX-2012-263; H, K, XUX-2012-267; I, L, XUX-2012-261; J, M, XUX-2012-265. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.