Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992

Liu, Ke-ke, Luo, Hui-pu, Xu, Xiang, Chen, Zhiwu & Xiao, Yong-hong, 2020, Description of two new species of Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 with an updated key to species (Araneae, Agelenidae), ZooKeys 944, pp. 31-46 : 31

Genus Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992

Tonsilla Wang and Yin 1992: 263.

Tonsilla : Wang 2003: 569.

Tonsilla : Yin et al. 2012: 1029.

Tonsilla : Zhu et al. 2017: 547.

Type species.

Tonsilla truculenta Wang & Yin, 1992.

Diagnosis.

Males of this genus can be easily distinguished from these of other genera of Coelotinae by the male palpal patella with a large strong apophysis, which is more than half of the patella length (Figs 5D, E , 7F ) (vs small, less than half length of palpal patella in other genera) and conductor with dorsal apophysis (Figs 5C-E , 7A-C, E ) (vs without dorsal apophysis). Females of Tonsilla are most similar to those of Pireneitega in having the large epigynal atrium and large copulatory ducts, and easily differentiated from them by the sub-spherical spermathecae (Figs 1D , 2B , 6D , 7I ) (vs strongly convoluted) and from other genera by epigynal teeth located on the anterior atrial margin close to each other (Figs 1C, D , 2A, B , 6C, D , 7H, I ) (vs widely separated epigynal teeth located bilaterally in other genera).

Description.

Body size 7.0-17.0 mm. The morphological appearance of this genus is similar to that of other coelotines. Carapace anteriorly narrowed to between 0.6 and 0.9 times its maximum width. PLE-PLE covered half width of anterior carapace. Chelicerae (Figs 1B , 6B ) robust, as wide as half of carapace, with long fang, usually with 3 promarginal and 2 or 3 retromarginal teeth. Endites (Figs 1B , 6B ): bean-shaped, longer than wide, with a relatively narrow base, ectal margins distinctly convex; ectal edge concave. Labium: longer than wide, posteriorly narrowed. Sternum (Figs 1B , 6B ): longer than wide, shield-shaped, almost straight anteriorly, with slightly convex sides, and pointed posteriorly.

Male palp (Figs 5C-E , 7A-G ): patella with large apophysis, more than half of the patella length, strongly sclerotized, extending to dorsal part of patella; tibia with 2 apophyses, ventroretrolateral and retrolateral, the former broad, arising basally, extending along the retrolateral margin, anteriorly with slightly protruding beyond the distal or subdistal part of tibia, with widely truncated tip, the later from small to large, arising latero-medially; cymbium length/width ratio varies 1.8-2.4 in dorsal view, cymbial furrow less than half of cymbial length, in T. defossa and T. subyanlingensis sp. nov. from half to more than half of cymbial length; conductor long, anterior part with a distinct furrow or without, with a bifurcated tip or not, with a fine dorsal apophysis of conductor arising from its base; embolus flat and thin, arising at 6 o’clock position, with broad basally, roundly bent and coiled; tegular apophysis spoon-like.

Epigyne: atrium from large to small, heart-shaped, posteromedially located, broad and anteriorly located in T. defossa , with an arch-shaped or triangular septum arising antero-medially in T. truculenta Wang & Yin, 1992; copulatory openings located postero-laterally in the atrium; epigynal teeth tube-shaped or horn-like, flattened in T. subyanlingensis sp. nov., located antero-medially, separated by its length or less, or slightly fused basally; copulatory ducts sac-shaped, mostly rounded, tube-shaped in T. jinggangensis sp. nov., T. subyanlingensis sp. nov., and T. yanlingensis ; spermathecae spherical or ovoid, duct-shaped in T. defossa , widely separated or close to each other; spermathecal heads arising anteriorly or posteriorly, from short or long; fertilization ducts arising from the posterior part of spermathecae.

Distribution and habitat.

The genus is known from subtropics in south China (Sichuan, Anhui, Guizhou, and Jiangxi provinces). Habitats of these spiders are not very diverse, usually found in woody debris, among tree roots on the ground, in humus, and under stones or tree bark.

Composition.

T. defossa Xu & Li, 2006 (♂♀; Sichuan), T. distalis Zhang, Zhu & Wang, 2017 (♀; Guizhou), T. eburniformis Wang & Yin, 1992 (♀; Hubei), T. jinggangensis K. Liu & X. Xu, sp. nov. (♀; Jiangxi), T. lyrata (Wang, Yin, Peng & Xie, 1990) (♀; Hunan), T. makros Wang, 2003 (♂; Guizhou), T. mopanensis Zhang, Zhu & Wang, 2017 (♂♀; Guizhou), T. rostrum Jiang, Chen & Zhang, 2018 (♂♀; Guizhou), T. subyanlingensis K. Liu & X. Xu, sp. nov. (♂♀; Jiangxi), T. tautispina (Wang, Yin, Peng & Xie, 1990) (♀; Jiangxi), T. truculenta Wang & Yin, 1992 (♂♀; Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan), T. variegata (Wang, Yin, Peng & Xie, 1990) (♂♀; Anhui), and T. yanlingensis (♀; Hunan).

Figures

Figure 1. Tonsilla jinggangensis sp. nov., female holotype A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B), 0.2 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: At - atrium, CD - copulatory duct, CO - copulatory opening, EH - epigynal hood, ET - epigynal teeth, FD - fertilization ducts, SH - spermathecal heads, Spe - spermathecae.

Figure 2. SEM images of Tonsilla jinggangensis sp. nov., female holotype A epigyne, dorsal view B vulva, ventral view.

Figure 5. Tonsilla subyanlingensis sp. nov., male holotype A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C-E). Abbreviations: BLC - basal lamella of conductor, CF - cymbial furrow, Con - conductor, DAC - dorsal apophysis of conductor, Em - embolus, ET - epigynal teeth, MA - median apophysis, RTA - retrolateral tibial apophysis, PA - patellar apophysis, VTA - ventrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figure 6. Tonsilla subyanlingensis sp. nov., female paratype A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B), 0.5 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: At - atrium, CD - copulatory duct, CO - copulatory opening, EH - epigynal hood, ET - epigynal teeth, FD - fertilization ducts, SH - spermathecal heads, Spe - spermathecae.

Figure 7. SEM images of Tonsilla subyanlingensis sp. nov., male holotype and female paratype A palp, prolateral view B same, ventral view C same, detail of conductors, ventral view D same, detail of embolus, ventral view E same, retrolateral view F same, detail of patellar apophysis, retrolateral tibial apophysis and lateral tibial apophysis, retrolateral view G same, detail of conductor dorsal apophysis, retrolateral view H epigyne, dorsal view I vulva, ventral view.