Shaanxinus shizhuziensis, Muhammad & Wang & Zhang, 2023

Muhammad, Irfan, Wang, Lu-Yu & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2023, One new genus and nine new species of Linyphiidae spiders from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, Chongqing of China, Zootaxa 5257 (1), pp. 82-114 : 102-105

Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. n. (ƂIJŦṞĦ)

Figure 17–20

Type material. Holotype male: CHINA: Chongqing, Wuxi County, YNR, Guanshan Forest Farm, Shizhuzi , 31°32′23.12″N, 109°41′50.75″E, elev. 2096 m, 24.VI.2022, Tan Bing leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-31-01) . Paratypes (1 male and 1 female): 1 female, same data as holotype male (SWUC-T-LIN-31-02) ; 1 male, Wuxi County, Lanying Township , Xi’an Village, 31°24'41.8752"N, 109°54'01.2996"E, elev. 1801 m, 21.VI.2022, Tan Bing leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-31-03) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. n. male resembles S. rufus Tanasevitch, 2006 in having the similar chaetotaxy (2222), leg II longer than other legs, having similar cephalic lobe ( Fig. 20A, B ; Lin et al. 2019, fig. 5AC), palp with similar paracymbium ( Fig. 17B, D ; Lin et al. 2009, fig. 7B), but can be distinguished by the anterior radical process present in S. shizhuziensis sp. n. ( Fig. 18C ), vs., absent in S. rufus ( Lin et al. 2019, fig. 7C); anterior radical scaly part with long sharp projection in S. shizhuziensis sp. n. ( Figs 17A , 18A), vs., strongly sclerotized scaly sclerite in S. rufus ( Lin et al. 2019, fig. 3C); distal suprategular apophysis disc-shaped in S. shizhuziensis sp. n. ( Figs 17B , 18B, C), vs., flat, membranous apical and partly covering the embolic division in S. rufus ( Tanasevitch 2006, figs 51, 53, 54). Epigyne of S. shizhuziensis sp. n. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the copulatory ducts 9-shaped, forming one broad round loop anteriorly before turning dorsally towards the spermathecae in ventral view ( Fig. 19A, C, D, E ).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 20A, B ): Total length: 3.36. Carapace 1.61 long, 1.13 wide, yellow, cephalic lobe 0.77 high with many microsetae, with eyes; sulcus present below the anterior eye row, sulcus seem blocked with some sort of secretions (white arrows, Fig. 20B ); fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.38 high. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER procurved, wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.08, PME–PME 0.08, AME–PME 0.11, AME–ALE, 0.11, PME–PLE 0.12, ALE–ALE 0.38, PLE–PLE 0.45, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 5.15 (1.52, 1.75, 1.29, 0.59), II 5.92 (1.78, 2.13, 1.41, 0.60), III 4.32 (1.27, 1.39, 1.15, 0.51), IV 5.12 (1.37, 1.69, 1.43, 0.63). Leg formula leg II longer than I. TmI 0.39. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.87 long, 1.13 wide, oval, pale, greenish-grey pattern followed by three transverse chevrons, ventral side pale.

Palp (holotype, Figs 17 A−D, 18A−C): Patella shorter than tibia, ventrally grooved; tibia with two reterolateral trichobothria and posterior margin with long thick spines, tibial apophysis absent; paracymbium C-shaped, distal arm almost parallel to the tibial margin, lower margin of distal arm wave-like in retrolateral view; tegulum extending retrolaterally, possess small membranous protegulum; distal suprategular apophysis disc-shaped. Radix with large anterior radical scaly part with 2 small sharp projections; anterior radical process ventrally grooved, wrapped around embolic base, invisible on undissected palp; lateral extension of radix slightly curved, apex blunt, ends in cymbium in retrolateral view, covering terminal part of embolus; tailpiece triangular with pointed end; median membrane present; embolus sclerotized, forming one complete circle, terminal part ends in anterior radical scaly part.

Female (paratype, Fig. 20C ): Total length: 3.60. Carapace 1.51 long, 1.16 wide, yellow, cephalic region elevated; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.44 high. Chelicerae with 4 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER straight slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.06, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.08, AME–PME 0.07, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.35, PLE–PLE 0.41, ALE–PLE 0.01. Length of legs: I 5.43 (1.59, 1.85, 1.32, 0.67), II 5.52 (1.60, 1.81, 1.46, 0.65), III 4.11 (1.26, 1.28, 1.04, 0.53), IV 4.88 (1.43, 1.50, 1.31, 0.64). TmI 0.31. Tibial spine formula same as in male. Abdomen 2.28 long, 1.37 wide, oval, other characters same as in male.

Epigyne ( Fig. 19 A−F): Dorsal plate partly visible in ventral view, posterior margin wave like, ventrally grooved in lateral view. Copulatory openings located mid–ventrally at the junction of the dorsal and ventral plates. Vulva: copulatory ducts 9-shaped, forming broad circular loop anteriorly before turning towards dorsal side. Spermathecae globular, located dorso-laterally, separated by 2 times distance of their diameter; fertilization ducts large, extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. nov., male holotype, left palp. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 18. Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. nov., male (one of paratype, left palp). A–C Embolic division.

FIGURE 19. Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. nov., female (one of paratypes,). A, C Epigyne, ventral view, B Epigyne, lateral view, D Vulva, dorsal view E Vulva, anterior view E Epigyne, posterior view.

FIGURE 20. Shaanxinus shizhuziensis sp. nov., male holotype (A, B) and female (one of paratype, C). A, C habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view. Arrow indicates the cephalic secretions dried out in the clypeal lobe of holotype male.