Songthela Ono, 2000

Chen, Zhaoyang, Li, Dengqing, Li, Daiqin & Xu, Xin, 2021, Three new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela (Araneae, Mesothelae) from Guizhou Province, China, ZooKeys 1037, pp. 57-71 : 57

Genus Songthela Ono, 2000

Type species.

Heptathela hangzhouensis Chen, Zhang & Zhu, 1981

Diagnosis.

Songthela males can be distinguished from those of all other Heptathelinae genera by the contrategulum with serrated edges (Figs 3A, D, G , 4B, D, G , 5C, D, G ); by the proximal portion of the conductor relatively narrow and smooth, the distal portion gradually narrowed into one long apical spine (Figs 4D, E , 5D, E ) or two apical spines (Fig. 3A, B, D, E ); and by the distal portion of the embolus slightly sclerotized with a wide and flat opening (Figs 3A, D , 4B, D , 5C, D ). Songthela females differ from those of all other Heptathelinae genera by four receptacular clusters separated from each other, the median pair situated along the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix or close to the dorsal wall of the bursa copulatrix with distinct tubular stalks, the lateral ones located dorsolaterally (Figs 3I-P , 4H-O , 5H-W ).

Composition.

Songthela bristowei (Gertsch, 1967), S. ciliensis (Yin, Tang & Xu, 2003), S. goulouensis (Yin, 2001), S. hangzhouensis (Chen, Zhang & Zhu, 1981), S. huangyang Li, Liu, Li & Xu, 2020, S. jianganensis (Chen, Gao, Zhu & Luo, 1988), S. mangshan (Bao, Yin & Xu, 2003), S. pluma Yu, Li & Zhang, 2018, S. pyriformis Li, Liu & Xu, 2019, S. sapana (Ono, 2010), S. shei (Xu & Yin, 2001), S. shuyuan Li, Liu & Xu, 2019, S. wosanensis (Wang & Jiao, 1995), S. xiangnan Li, Liu, Li & Xu, 2020, S. xianningensis (Yin, Tang, Zhao & Chen, 2002), S. yunnanensis (Song & Haupt, 1984).

Distribution.

Southern China (Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang Provinces) and northern Vietnam (Lao Cai Province).

Figures

Figure 3. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela liui sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, G palp retrolateral view H palp distal view I-L vulva dorsal view M-P vulva ventral view A-H XUX- 2018 - 375 A (holotype) I, M XUX- 2018 - 381 J, N XUX- 2018 - 383 A K, O XUX- 2018 - 387 D L, P XUX- 2018 - 387. Scale bars: 0.3 mm (A-E, G-P); 0.1 mm (F).

Figure 4. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela tianzhu sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, F palp retrolateral view G palp distal view H-K vulva dorsal view L-O vulva ventral view A-G XUX- 2018 - 340 A (holotype) H, L XUX- 2018 - 339 I, M XUX- 2018 - 338 J, N XUX- 2018 - 340 K, O XUX- 2018 - 341. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

Figure 5. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela yuping sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, F palp retrolateral view G palp distal view H-K vulva dorsal view L-O vulva ventral view A-G XUX- 2018 - 380 A (holotype) H, L XUX- 2018 - 380 I, M XUX- 2018 - 374 J, N XUX- 2018 - 377 K, O XUX- 2018 - 382 P, T XUX- 2018 - 382 A Q, U XUX- 2018 - 375 R, V XUX- 2018 - 379 S, W XUX- 2018 - 373. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.