Tricholathys lhunzeensis sp. nov. (隆子毛隐蛛)

Wang, Lu-Yu, Peng, Xian-Jin & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2023, The first record of Tricholathys Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 (Araneae, Dictynidae) from China, with a new combination and descriptions of seven new species, ZooKeys 1185, pp. 255-267 : 255

Tricholathys lhunzeensis sp. nov. (隆子毛隐蛛)

Figs 8 , 9 , 16

Type materials.

Holotype male: China, Tibet, Lhunze county, Ritang Township, 28°37′16.02′′N, 92°13′4.59′′E, elev. 4988 m, 5 August 2020, L.Y. Wang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-DI-10-01). Paratypes (9 males and 28 females): 9 males and 21 females (SWUC-T-DI-10-02~31), with same data as holotype; 7 females (SWUC-T-DI-10-32~38), same locality with holotype, 28°37′16.05′′N, 92°13′4.99′′E, elev. 4996 m, 3 August 2020, L.Y. Wang, et al. leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the name of the county where the type locality is located.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to T. relictoides (Figs 10A-D , 11C-G ) in having the embolus originating at about 9:00 o’clock, the anterior arm of conductor gradually tapering and terminating at about the 11:00 o’clock position, the posterior arm of conductor spiral and longer than the anterior arm, and the weakly sclerotized part of the copulatory duct S-shaped; the new species differs from T. relictoides in having the posterior arm of conductor short (half of length of embolus) with its end sharp (vs as long as embolus and with hook-shaped tip), the tip of cymbium with 6 spines (vs 3), the base of the embolus differently shaped (Figs 8A, B , 9C-E ), and the copulatory openings small, narrow, and with a wide space between them (Figs 8C, D , 9F, G ; vs large, wide, and with the space between them narrower than their diameter), weakly sclerotized parts of the copulatory ducts comma-like (vs tube-like).

Description.

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 9A . Total length 4.42 (5.35-5.99 in male paratypes). Prosoma 2.91 long, 2.13 wide; opisthosoma 2.85 long, 1.79 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.09, PLE 0.12; AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.17, PME-PLE 0.16, ALE-PLE 0.06. MOA 0.31 long, anterior width 0.29, posterior width 0.35. Clypeus height 0.18. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 6.87 (1.91, 2.52, 1.46, 0.98); II 5.84 (1.73, 2.15, 1.25, 0.71); III 5.24 (1.54, 1.81, 1.10, 0.79); IV 6.98 (1.92, 2.32, 1.74, 1.00). Leg formula: 4123. Cribellum undivided. Dorsum of opisthosoma with black cardiac marking anteriorly.

Palp (Figs 8A, B , 9C-E ). Tip of cymbium with six spines. Anterior arm of conductor tapering gradually and terminating at about 11:00 o’clock; posterior arm terminating in spiral, with its distal part narrowed and arc-shaped, almost one-half length of embolus, pointed posteriorly. Embolus originating at about 9:00 o’clock position.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Fig. 9B ); total length 6.05 (4.35-6.08 in other paratype females). Prosoma 3.17 long, 2.36 wide; opisthosoma 3.38 long, 2.13 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.13, PME 0.11, PLE, 0.13; AME-AME 0.12, AME-ALE 0.09, PME-PME 0.19, PME-PLE 0.17, ALE-PLE 0.06. MOA 0.33 long, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.39. Clypeus height 0.21. Leg measurements: I 6.93 (1.99, 2.56, 1.47, 0.91); II 6.15 (1.71, 2.20, 1.33, 0.91); III 5.53 (1.64, 1.81, 1.28, 0.80); IV 7.24 (2.13, 2.49, 1.78, 0.84). Leg formula: 4123.

Epigyne (Figs 8C, D , 9F, G ). Copulatory openings oval, with distinct inner margins. Weakly sclerotized part of conductor large, comma-like; strongly sclerotized part S-shaped. Space between copulatory ducts narrower than space between spermathecae. Spermathecae small, nearly globular, widely separated by a space twice the diameter of spermathecae.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, Tibet, China (Fig. 16 ).

Figures

Figure 8. Tricholathys lhunzeensis sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AA = anterior arm of conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; PA = posterior arm of conductor; RTA = retrolaterial tibial apophysis; Sp = spermatheca.

Figure 9. Tricholathys lhunzeensis sp. nov. A, C-E holotype male B, F, G paratype female A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same, retrolateral view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Figure 10. Tricholathys relictoides sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AA = anterior arm of conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; PA = posterior arm of conductor; RTA = retrolaterial tibial apophysis; Sp = spermatheca.

Figure 11. Tricholathys relictoides sp. nov. A, C-E holotype male B, F, G paratype female A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same, retrolateral view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Figure 16. Distribution of Tricholathys in China.