Chthonopes jimudeng Yu & Lin, 2022

Yang, Weicheng, Yu, Hao & Lin, Yucheng, 2022, A review of the spider genus Chthonopes (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae), with descriptions of two new species from China, ZooKeys 1124, pp. 147-160 : 147

Chthonopes jimudeng Yu & Lin sp. nov.

Fig. 5 , 6

Type material.

Holotype: ♀, China: Yunnan Province: Gongshan County: Dulongjiang Town: Jimudeng village, 27.79°N, 98.33°E, elevation 1410 m, 15.VIII.2018, Y. Lin and Y. Li leg. Paratypes: 1♀ 2juv., same data as holotype.

Other material examined.

6juv., China: Yunnan Province: Gongshan County: Dulongjiang Town: Maku village , 27.68°N, 98.30°E, elevation 1939 m, 14.VIII.2018, Y. Lin and Y. Li leg.

Etymology.

This specific name is taken from type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to C. bifidum sp. nov. (Fig. 1E-G ) in the general appearance of the epigyne (also see above diagnosis for C. bifidum sp. nov.). From C. bifidum sp. nov., the female of C. jimudeng sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the shape of the scape and accessory spermathecae, as well as the arrangement of the various parts of the vulva: (1) scape digitiform, relatively sclerotized (Fig. 5C-E ) (vs. triangular, translucent; Fig. 1E-G ); and (2) accessory spermathecae located laterally to the main spermathecae, consisting of a tubular stalk and globular head (Fig. 5C-E ) (vs. located anterolaterally to the main spermathecae, nearly claviform or tubular; Fig. 1E-G ).

Description.

Female (holotype) (Fig. 5A, B ): Carapace nearly triangular, marginally dark, with a dark, wide V-shaped paramedian stripe starting from behind PLE, almost reaching the indistinct cervical groove. Anterior eye row recurved, posterior eye row almost straight in dorsal view. Sternum heart-shaped, centrally dark brown, marginally dark, with sparse setae. Mouthparts coloured as sternum. Legs dark brown, all legs with conspicuous dark annuli in the distal parts of femur, and patella. Abdomen spherical, covered with sparse long setae, setal base sclerotized; dorsum basically black, centrally with three longitudinal white bands, the medial band relatively long, about 1/2 of abdomen length, the bilateral bands short, about 1/2 length of medial band; venter black, without pattern. Measurements: total length 2.3. Carapace 1.0 long, 0.9 wide. Clypeus 0.1 high. Sternum 0.4 long, 0.5 wide. Abdomen 1.6 long, 1.2 wide. Length of legs: I 3.1 (1.0, 0.3, 0.9, 0.6, 0.3); II 2.7 (0.9, 0.3, 0.6, 0.6, 0.3); III 1.8 (0.6, 0.2, 0.4, 0.4, 0.2); IV 2.4 (0.7, 0.3, 0.6, 0.5, 0.3).

Epigyne (Fig. 5C-E ). Epigynal plate large, about 1.35 × wider than long, with long setae in midline, through which spermathecae and copulatory ducts are indistinctly apparent; scape (Sc) distinctly short, about 1/5 of epigyne length, digitiform, relatively sclerotized, originating from dorsal side of posterior margin of epigynal plate, its tip slightly overpasses the posterior margin, apex blunt. The distal part of copulatory ducts (CD) wide, forming two egg-shaped bursae, then connecting with posterolateral surface of main spermathecae; the two bursae widely separated by one width. Main spermathecae (Sp) small, oval, strongly sclerotized, separated by about 1/3 of their diameter; accessory spermathecae (Asp) located laterally to main spermathecae, consisting of tubular stalk and globular head, translucent, about 1/4 of epigyne length. Fertilization ducts (FD) short, ribbon-shaped or lamellar, heavily sclerotized, located on posterior surface of main spermathecae, curved tips separated by about 3.6 × FD width.

Male.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from Gongshan County, Yunnan, China (Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Chthonopes bifidum sp. nov., male holotype and female paratype, male habitus (A, B), female habitus (C, D) and epigyne (E-G) A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view D ventral view E intact, ventral view F cleared, ventral view G cleared, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Asp = accessory spermathecae; CD = copulatory duct; FD = fertilization duct; Sc = scape; SP = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 0.2 mm (E, F, G).

Figure 5. Holotype female of Chthonopes jimudeng sp. nov., habitus (A, B) and epigyne (C-E) A dorsal view B ventral view C intact, ventral view D cleared, ventral view E cleared, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Asp = accessory spermathecae; CD = copulatory duct; FD = fertilization duct; Sc = scape; SP = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, F, G).

Figure 6. Distribution records of five species of the genus Chthonopes: C. bifidum sp. nov. (scarlet circle: 1. China, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Shenmi cave; 2. China, Yunnan Province, Dehong, Luxi City, Mangliu village, Xianfo cave); C. jimudeng sp. nov. (yellow circle: 1. China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Town, Jimudeng village; 2. China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Town, Maku village); C. jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011 (carmine circle: 1, 2. Laos, Bolikhansay Province ,, Lak Sao, Tham Mang Kone; 3. Laos, Khammouan Province, Thakek area, Ban Phoungam-Mai; 4. Laos, Bolikhamxay Province: Khamkeut area); C. cavernicola Wunderlich, 2011 (light blue circle: Laos, Khammouan Province, Tham Boumlou, inside cave); C. thakekensis Lin, Li & Jaeger, 2014 (green circle: Laos, Khammouan Province, Thakek area, Ban Phoungam-Mai, Tham Phayat, limestone cave).