Xizangiana benae Liu & Zhang, 2023

Liu, Bo, Wang, Luyu & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Revision of the genus Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022, with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 5346 (4), pp. 443-468 : 461-462

Xizangiana benae Liu & Zhang , sp. n.

(ṀOEqǥ)

Figs 1C–E , 2I–J , 3G , 18–19 , 20C–D

Type material. Holotype ♁ (MHBU-ARA-2022-44-1), CHINA: Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa City, Chengguan District , Niangre Village , Drepung Monastery , 29.669628°N, 91.054763°E, 3672 m elev., 4 July 2022, leg. Bo Liu. Paratype: 1♁ (MHBU-ARA-2022-44-2), 6♀ (MHBU-ARA-2022-44-3 to 8), same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is in memory of the first author’s grandmother Mrs. Yiru Ben, who passed away during his expedition in Xizang; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Male resembles X. linzhiensis in having a similar palp, but can be distinguished by the presence of a nail-shaped embolar base projection with saw-like edges, the presence of a widely triangular-shaped membranous projection of retrolateral tibial apophysis, the presence of a relatively straight embolus ( Fig. 5 ; vs. a arc-shaped embolar base projection, an arc-shaped membranous projection, a slightly curved embolus, Fig. 19 ). Female resembles X. shenxian sp. n. in having a similar epigyne, but can be distinguished by the strongly sclerotized anterior fold, anterior parts of the lateral folds not covered by scape, and the hook-shaped, curved copulatory duct ( Fig. 5 ; vs. anterior fold slightly sclerotized anteriorly and strongly sclerotized posteriorly, anterior parts of the lateral folds covered by the scape, and straight copulatory duct, Fig. 20A–B ).

Description. Male. Total length 3.09–3.30. Holotype (Fig. C–D; MHBU-ARA-2022-44-1): total length 3.04; carapace 1.65 long, 1.26 wide; abdomen 1.39 long, 1.03 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.10, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME‒AME 0.02, AME‒ALE 0.01, PME‒PME 0.04, PME‒PLE 0.03, ALE‒PLE 0.03. Leg measurements: I 3.94 (1.22, 0.52, 0.94, 0.65, 0.61), II 2.85 (0.84, 0.35, 0.67, 0.52, 0.47), III 3.25 (0.88, 0.40, 0.66, 0.70, 0.61), IV 3.75 (0.97, 0.38, 0.87, 0.85, 0.68). Leg formula: 1432. Cheliceral promargin with four teeth, retromargin with two ( Fig. 2J ). Color in alcohol ( Fig. 18C–D ): carapace dark brown; legs yellow-brown.

Palp ( Figs 3G , 19 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis broad, triangular with a short widely triangular membranous projection dorsally; embolar radix projection absent; embolar base projection nail-shaped, with saw-like edges; embolus relatively short and straight, with edge angle; median apophysis broad, pear-shaped in ventral view.

Female. Total length 4.11–4.89. One paratype (Fig. A–B; MHBU-ARA-2022-44-3): total length 4.09; carapace 1.58 long, 1.20 wide; abdomen 2.51 long, 1.54 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.09, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME‒AME 0.03, AME‒ALE 0.02, PME‒PME 0.05, PME‒PLE 0.05, ALE‒PLE 0.04. Leg measurements: I 3.27 (1.01, 0.48, 0.77, 0.52, 0.49), II 2.86 (0.83, 0.42, 0.62, 0.50, 0.49), III 2.57 (0.70, 0.39, 0.44, 0.58, 0.46), IV 4.16 (1.16, 0.54, 0.89, 0.94, 0.63). Leg formula: 4123. Chelicerae ( Fig. 2I ) as in male. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 18A–B ) as in male.

Epigyne ( Fig. 20C–D ). Atrium almost trapezoidal, with nine weakly sclerotized transversal folds; scape with a ratio of length to width more than 1.5; anterior fold sclerotized strongly; lateral folds triangular; copulatory duct curved twice; secondary spermathecae oval, small.

Distribution. China (Xizang) ( Fig. 23 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitats and living spiders of Xizangiana spp., with arrows pointing to where the specimens were collected. A. X. namcharbawa sp. n. in Pai Town, Mainling County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China; B. X. longlin sp. n. in Quyu Village, Dazi District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China; C–D. X. benae sp. n., junior (C) and female (D); E. X. benae sp. n. in Drepung Monastery, Niangre Village, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China.

FIGURE 2. Chelicerae, ventral view. A–B. X. linzhiensis, female (A) and male (B); C–D. X. namchabarwa sp. n., female (C) and male (D); E. X. rigaze, male. F–H. X. shenxian sp. n., female (F–G) and male (H); I–J. X. benae sp. n., female (I) and male (J); K–L. X. xiangbi sp. n., female (K) and male (L); M–O. X. longlin sp. n., male (M–N) and female (O); Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. RTA, retrolateral view. A. X. linzhiensis; B. X. xiangbi sp. n.; C. X. namchabarwa sp. n.; D. X. shenxian sp. n.; E. X. longlin sp. n.; F. X. rigaze; G. X. benae sp. n.. Scale bars = 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 5. Palp of Xizangiana linzhiensis, in prolateral (A), ventral (B) and retrolateral (C) view. D. RTA, retrolateral view; E–F. Expanded palp, in prolateral (E) and retrolateral (F) view.

FIGURE 18. Xizangiana benae sp. n., female (A–B) and male (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 19. Xizangiana benae sp. n.. A. Bulb, prolateral view; B. RTA, retrolateral view; C–D. Palp, in ventral (C) and retrolateral (D) view.

FIGURE 20. Female genitalia, in ventral (A, C) and dorsal (B, D) view. A–B. Xizangiana shenxian sp. n.; C–D. X. benae sp. n..

FIGURE 23. Records of Xizangiana species: 1 X. pawani comb. n.; 2 X. sedula comb. n.; 3 X. shenxian sp. n.; 4 X. rigaze; 5 X. benae sp. n.; 6 X. longlin sp. n.; 7 X. linzhiensis; 8 X. namchabarwa sp. n.. 9 X. xiangbi sp. n..