Psechrus changminae, Feng, Ping, Zhao, Yu, Wu, Xiu-Mei, Ma, Yan-Yan, Yang, Ting-Bang, Li, Cheng-Gong & Yang, Zi-Zhong, 2016

Feng, Ping, Zhao, Yu, Wu, Xiu-Mei, Ma, Yan-Yan, Yang, Ting-Bang, Li, Cheng-Gong & Yang, Zi-Zhong, 2016, Four new species of Psechrus from Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Psechridae), Zootaxa 4088 (2), pp. 177-200 : 178-185

Psechrus changminae sp. nov.

Figs 2–5

Type material: Holotype ♂ (XP03), China, Yunnan Province: Mopan Shan, Xingping County, Yuxi, ca. 1630 m, 24°01′21.3′′N, 101°58′15.7′′E, 05-V-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg. Paratypes (6 ♂, 45 ♀): 17♀ (NJ01–17), Fenghuang Shan, Nanjian County, Dali Prefecture, ca. 2000 m, 24°55′44.0″N, 100°18′20.5″E, 20-V- 2008 (NJ01–02), 10-VI-2008 (NJ03–15), 15-VII-2008 (NJ16–17), G.H. Li leg.; 1♀ (CX16), Baodian Village, Xishelu Township, Chuxiong Prefecture, ca. 2370 m, 24°40′29.4″N, 100°58′31.4″E, 29-X-2012 (final moult on 20- II-2013) Z.Z. Yang & Y.J. Yang leg.; 1 ♀ (CX08), Xishelu Township, Chuxiong Prefecture, ca. 2150 m, 24°34′18.1″N, 101°03′44.3″E, 29-X-2012, Z.Z. Yang & Y.J. Yang leg.; 2 ♂ (SB01–02) 1 ♀ (SB03), Ejia Township, Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Prefecture, ca. 1280 m, 24°27′05.3″N, 101°14′50.1″E, 01-V-2007, Z.Z. Yang, R. Huang & S.Z. Huang leg; 2 ♂ (ZL01–02) 2 ♀ (ZL03–04), Zhelong Township, Xingping County, Yuxi, ca. 1460 m, 24°18′33.9′′N, 101°21′44.5′′E, 30-IV-2007, Z.Z. Yang, R. Huang & S.Z. Huang leg.; 2 ♂ (XP04–05), 23 ♀ (XP06– 0 8, XP10–29), data the same as for holotype.

Additional material (5 juveniles): 2 juvs (ZL05–06), Zhelong Township, Xingping County, Yuxi, ca. 1460 m, 24°18′33.9′′N, 101°21′44.5′′E, 30-IV-2007, Z.Z. Yang, R. Huang & S.Z. Huang leg.; 3 juvs (XP09, XP30–31), data the same as for holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of the famous arachnologist, Chang Min Yin, for her huge contribution to the spider research of China.

Diagnosis. Males distinguished from those of all other Psechrus species of the sinensis -group, except P. sinensis Berland & Berland 1914 (Wang & Yin 2001: 338, figs 24–26; Bayer 2012: 98, 151, figs 52a–d, 86a), by the conductor with a narrow tip pointing prolaterally, and the embolus with a broad and high base and a filiform distal section ( Figs 2a–c , 3a–c ). Distinguished from P. sinensi s by: (1) embolic base with elongated fold prolaterally ( Figs 2a , 3a ); (2) sharp tapered apophysis at most basal section of embolic base (well visible in lateral view) ( Figs 2a–c , 3a–c ). Females distinguished from those of all other Psechrus species of the sinensis -group, except P. sinensis Berland & Berland 1914 (Bayer 2012: 99, 154, 157 Figs 53a,b 89a, 92a), by the following characters:(1) epigyne generally bottle-like with broad posterior half or 2/3 and narrow anterior half or 1/3, (2) vulva without twisted sections like in P. tingpingensis , P. o bt e ct us, P. jinggangensis and P. f u s c a i, but with broad sections or bulbous expansions, (3) copulatory duct more or less continuously widening from initial to final section with initial section very narrow. Psechrus changminae is distinguished from P. si nensis by the distinguished from posterior (broad) part of epigynal septum being at most two times broader than anterior (narrow) part ( Figs 2f , 3d ) (in P. sinensis :> 3 times) and the postinitial section of copulatory duct exhibiting a bulbous expansion (sometimes nephroid) ( Figs 2g , 3e ).

Description. Measurements: Male (holotype first, those of paratype males given as ranges in parentheses), Total length 15.73 (10.73–19.40), Prosoma length 7.05 (4.54–7.86), Prosoma width 4.92 (3.38–7.42); opisthosoma length 8.68 (6.19–11.54), opisthosoma width 2.88 (2.45–5.28). Eyes diameter: AME 0.25 (0.23–0.32), ALE 0.39 (0.31–0.39), PME 0.32 (0.30–0.42), PLE 0.39 (0.33–0.46); Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.11 (0.11–0.18), AME–ALE 0.04 (0.04–0.08), ALE–PLE 0.45 (0.32–0.51), PME–PME 0.22 (0.19–0.30), PME–PLE 0.30 (0.22– 0.44), AME–PME 0.53 (0.47–0.60). Clypeus height at AME 0.69 (0.48–0.88). Leg formula: 1423. Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 1; Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 2.

Female (XP20 first, those of other female paratypes given as ranges in parentheses): Total length 22.38 (13.75–25.20), Prosoma length 8.31 (5.86–10.31), prosoma width 7.20 (4.34–7.46); opisthosoma length 14.07 (7.89–14.89), opisthosoma width 5.09 (3.33–8.21). Eyes diameter: AME 0.45 (0.29–0.45), ALE 0.50 (0.36–0.50), PME 0.45 (0.38–0.45), PLE 0.47 (0.40–0.47); Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.17 (0.17–0.33), AME–ALE 0.07 (0.07–0.09), ALE–PLE 0.65 (0.48–0.65), PME–PME 0.33 (0.26–0.39), PME–PLE 0.52 (0.36–0.52), AME– PME 0.79 (0.61–0.90). Clypeus height at AME 0.80 (0.52–0.88). Leg formula: 1243. Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 1. Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 2.

Colouration almost the same as for the general colouration of Psechrus , see Bayer (2012). Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 4 or 5 retromarginal teeth, and 3 central denticles. Leg I of male with 4 to 7 short macrosetae as single row at distal margin of coxae and 2 to 4 macrosetae as single row at distal margin of trochanteri.

Male palp: distal 1/2 of dorsal palpal cymbium with scopula ( Fig. 2b–c ). Conductor (C) with a pointed tip, pointing prolaterally; tubercles at prolateral side of C very small ( Figs 2a–b , 3a–b ). Embolus whip-like, with transverse marks; embolic base broad, proximal section retrolaterally lightly folded upward proximalmost section with a tapered apophysis visible in lateral view ( Figs 2b–c , 3b–c ); In ventral view, sperm duct very broad, Ushaped. Distal part of palpal with a cluster of hairs ( Fig. 2d ). Palpal femur ventrally with a cambered bulge ( Fig. 2e ).

Female copulatory organ: Slit sense organs (SO) outside the epigynal field, muscle sigilla (SG) inside or outside the epigynal field; median septum (MS) broad bottle shaped (rarely elongated trapezoid); epigyne anterior and lateral to MS with glossy areas with ear-like extensions anteriorly ( Figs 2f, 2d ). Copulatory ducts long, with a bulbous (sometimes nephroid) expansion centro-medially; Spermathecal base (SB) approximately round; spermathecal heads (SH) arising from ventro-medial part of SB, and running anterio-medially ( Figs 2g , 3e ).

Intraspecific variation. All seven examined males without significant variation. Female copulatory organs show high degree of variation ( Figs 4–5 ). SG of NJ16 ( Figs 4a–b ) and ZL06 ( Figs 5a–b ) included within epigynal field, whereas those of XP10 ( Figs 5c–d ) are far away from epigynal field; MS of XP11 ( Figs 5e–f ) with anterior section broad, almost as broad as posterior section; posterior margin of MS of NJ16, CX08 ( Figs 4c–d ), XP10 and XP11 with a small incision. Generally the expansion at centro-medial (means post-initial) medially section of CD is bulbous, but sometimes some kidney-shaped ( Figs 2g , 5d ) or irregular ( Fig. 5f ). Shapes of opposite sides of the same individual are different (asymmetrical).

Distribution. CHINA: Yunnan Province (Dali, Chuxiong, Yuxi), see Fig. 16.

Figures

FIGURES 2 a – g. Psechrus changminae sp. nov. a – e ♂ holotype (XP 03), f – g ♀ paratype (XP 20). a – d palp (a, d ventral, b prolateral, c retrolateral); e palpal femur, retrolateral; f epigyne, ventral; g vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 3 a – f. Psechrus changminae sp. nov. a – c ♂ holotype (XP 03), d – e ♀ paratype (XP 20). a – c palp (a ventral, b prolateral, c retrolateral); d epigyne, ventral; e vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 4 a – f. Psechrus changminae sp. nov. Intraspecific variation. a – b (NJ 16), c – d (CX 08), e – f (SB 03). a, c, e epigyne, ventral; b, d, f vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 5 a – f. Psechrus changminae sp. nov. Intraspecific variation of paratype females. a – b (ZL 04), c – d (XP 10), e – f (XP 11). a, c, e epigyne, ventral; b, d, f vulva, dorsal.