Meotipa lingulata, Liang & Yin & Xu, 2024

Liang, Yun, Yin, Haiqiang & Xu, Xiang, 2024, Three new species of the spider genus Meotipa Simon, 1895 from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (Araneae: Theridiidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 968, pp. 156-173 : 160-162

Meotipa lingulata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7A407F13-8D06-4DB6-BC6C-3C4C161BF86E

Figs 1–2 , 11 , Tables 1–3

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to M. multuma Murthappa et al. 2017 in having a curved CD and spherical S (compare Figs 1F , 2F with Murthappa et al. 2017: fig. 3f), but can be distinguished from the latter by an upwardly extended abdomen (triangular in lateral view), indistinct CO hidden by epigynal projection, a slender CD maintaining a consistent width, and V-shaped CT; this is in contrast to the not extended abdomen, clearly visible and large CO, extremely long CD with enlarged starting part but abruptly becoming slender, and the absence of CT in M. multuma (compare Figs 1 D−F, 2 with Murthappa et al. 2017: fig. 3a−f).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin word ‘ lingulata ’, meaning ‘tongue ’, referring to the shape of projection of epigyne, and is an adjective, feminine.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♀; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan Nature Reserve , Songpai Protection Station ; 21°59′ N, 108°53′ E; alt. 303 m; 4 May 2021; A. He, J. Liu, Y. Liang, R. Liao, Q. Li and Y. Liu leg.; HNU800 .

Paratype CHINA • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; HNU801 .

Description

Female (holotype HNU800)

Total length 3.1, carapace 1.07 long, 0.88 wide, 0.41 height, abdomen 2.03 long, 1.20 wide, 2.25 height. Carapace yellowish, with dark gray longitudinal band extending to clypeus, and heart-shaped patch in front of fovea. Fovea deep, radial furrow black ( Fig. 1A ). Eye area slightly elevated. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.07, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.05. Clypeus height 0.24. Clypeus bulged outwards. Chelicerae yellow-brown, with three promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Pedipalp yellowish, tibia and metatarsus with dark brown spots ventrally, patella with one and tibia with two black flattened spines. Endite yellowish, wider than long. Labium nearly rectangle. STL 0.61, STW 0.50. Sternum yellowish, shield-shaped, with brown patches laterally. Legs yellowish, slender, with scattered brown spots ventrally, patellae and tibiae with one or two black flattened spines. Leg measurements: I 9.93 (3.13, 0.47, 2.00, 2.80, 0.93); II 5.68 (1.95, 0.27, 1.21, 1.54, 0.71); III 3.55 (1.24, 0.24, 0.58, 0.95, 0.54); IV 6.32 (2.14, 0.48, 1.22, 1.79, 0.69). Leg formula I IV II III. Abdomen gray, with several snowy patches and black spots ( Fig. 1A ). Caudal region extending upwards beyond spinnerets. Caudal region and region above spinnerets with black flattened spines ( Fig. 1C ). Venter of abdomen yellowish, with brown spots ( Fig. 1B ).

EPIGYNE ( Figs 1 D−F, 2). Atrium deep, with tongue-shaped and double-layered projection. CO indistinct and hidden by depression of epigynal projection. CD slender, surrounding S in loop before connecting to S laterally. S spherical and connected by V-shaped CT. FD relatively long and thick, curved, arising from middle of S.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, China (Guangxi) ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Meotipa lingulata sp. nov., ♀, holotype (HNU800). A–C. Habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view. D–E. Epigyne, ventral view. F. Vulva, dorsal view (E–F, after digestion with pancreatin). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–C = 1 mm; D–F = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 2. Meotipa lingulata sp. nov., ♀, holotype (HNU800). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 11. Collection localities for three new species of Meotipa Simon, 1895 in China.