Luthela yiyuan, Xu & Yu & Liu & Li, 2022

Xu, Xin, Yu, Li, Liu, Fengxiang & Li, Daiqin, 2022, Delimitation of the segmented trapdoor spider genus Luthela gen. nov., with comments on the genus Sinothela from northern China (Araneae, Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 131-154 : 135-137

Luthela yiyuan sp. nov.

( Figs 3A–K , 4O–T )

Sinothela sinensis: Xu et al., 2015a: 139 ; misidentification.

Holotype. Male (XUX-2012-051, matured on 29 July 2012 at CBEE), Shiqiao Town , Yiyuan County, Zibo City, Shandong Province, China, 36.152°N, 118.334°E, 275 m, collected on 1 May 2012, by F.X. Liu, Z.L. Liu, and X. Xu, CBEE.

Paratypes. 3 females (XUX-2012-046/049/050) and 1 male (XUX-2012-045, matured on 29 July 2012 at CBEE), same data as the holotype ; 6 females (XUX-2012-034/035/036/037/040/042, XUX-2012-036 matured on 10 July 2012 at CBEE), Puji Town , Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province, China, 36.728°N, 117.611°E, 100 m, collected on 30 April 2012 ; 1 female (XUX-2016-096), Hushan forestry station, Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province, China, 36.674°N, 117.553°E, 184 m, collected on 5 August 2016 ; 2 females (XUX-2016-097/099), Puji Town , Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province, China, 36.728°N, 117.613°E, 106 m, collected on 7 August 2016 ; 10 females (XUX-2016-100/101/102/103/104/105/106/ 107/108/109), Zhangqiu City , Shandong Province, China, 36.669°N, 117.428°E, 103 m, collected on 8 August 2016 , by F. Li, F.X. Liu, H. Liu , and Z. T. Zhang. All in CBEE .

Diagnosis. Males of L. yiyuan sp. nov. resemble those of L. schensiensis and L. yuncheng sp. nov., but can be distinguished from those of L. schensiensis by the tegulum having a slightly larger terminal apophysis, and the embolus with less longitudinal ribs retrolaterally ( Fig. 3J, 3K ); from those of L. yuncheng sp. nov. by the marginal tegular apophysis and the dorsal extension of the terminal apophysis of the tegulum having irregular teeth ( Fig. 3G, 3K ); from those of L. dengfeng sp. nov. by the conductor having a longer lower spine ( Fig. 3G, 3K ); from those of L. handan sp. nov. by contrategulum margin having slightly small teeth ( Fig. 3D, 3K ); from those of L. badong sp. nov. and L. taian sp. nov. by the conductor with a small middle spine ( Fig. 3A–G ). Females of L. yiyuan sp. nov. differ from those of L. dengfeng sp. nov. by the bases of middle receptacular clusters being close to each other ( Fig. 4 ).

Description. Male (Holotype). Carapace brown; opisthosoma light brown, with dark brown tergites; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; few long pointed hairs over ocular mound in longitudinal row; chelicerae robust, promargin of groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, the second to fifth larger than others and the others small; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 16.40, CL 6.65, CW 5.50, OL 8.80, OW 6.20; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 18.40 (5.45 + 2.30+ 3.65 + 4.70 + 2.30), leg II 18.10 (5.00 + 2.35 + 3.45 + 4.70 + 2.60), leg III 19.55 (4.95 + 2.35+ 3.50 + 5.60 + 3.15), leg IV 24.60 (6.25 + 2.50 + 4.80 + 7.55 + 3.50).

Palp: Prolateral paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, numerous setae and spines at tip of paracymbium ( Fig. 3A–C ). Contrategulum with 7 or 8 teeth along margin, distal tooth with 3 serrations ( Fig. 3D, 3H ). Tegulum with irregular dentate marginal apophysis, irregular dorsal extension of terminal apophysis, and smooth terminal apophysis ( Fig. 3G, 3K ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with two long spines, upper one fits to furrow of embolus, lower one pointed to contrategulum, and one small tooth situated at between two long spines, and close to upper one ( Fig. 3A–G ), or an inconspicuous tooth located at the middle of two long spines ( Fig. 3H–J ). Embolus largely sclerotized, with a flat opening and several longitudinal ribs retrolaterally ( Fig. 3D, 3K ).

Female (XUX-2012-035). Carapace reddish brown; opisthosoma light brown, with brown tergites; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 10–11 strong denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, similar to male; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 21.70, CL 8.40, CW 8.10, OL 12.90, OW 12.20; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 16.40 (5.20 + 2.90 + 3.90 + 4.40), leg I 17.90 (5.60 + 3.30 + 3.40 + 3.70 + 1.90), leg II 16.40 (4.50 + 3.20 + 3.10 + 3.50 + 2.10), leg III 18.40 (5.40 + 3.20 + 3.00 + 4.40 + 2.40), leg IV 27.60 (7.90 + 3.90 + 4.80 + 7.40 + 3.60).

Genitalia: Posterior margin of genital sternite slightly incurved, two pairs of receptacular clusters similar-sized, middle ones with stalks, close to each other ( Fig. 4A–M ), or fused together as one large receptacular cluster ( Fig. 4N, 4O ), situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, lateral ones situated at slightly dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix with inconspicuous stalks ( Fig. 4 ).

Etymology. The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Distribution. Shandong Province (Zhangqiu, Zibo)

Remarks. Males and females vary in body size: males (N = 2): BL 14.75–16.40, CL 6.35–6.65, CW 5.50–5.85, OL 7.40–8.80, OW 5.00–6.20; females (N = 22): BL 16.70–24.90, CL 8.00–10.75, CW 7.10–8.90, OL 8.80–13.40, OW 6.90–13.20. There was intraspecific variation in male and female genital morphology and molecular markers. For male genitalia, the conductor has a small middle spine close to the upper spine ( Fig. 3A–G ), or an inconspicuous middle spine close to the lower spine ( Fig. 3H ). For female genitalia, the posterior margin of genital sternite was slightly incurved ( Fig. 4F, 4G, 4I, 4J, 4P, 4Q ) or straight ( Fig. 4H, 4R–T ); there were two pairs of receptacular clusters or the middle ones were fused as a large one ( Fig. 4N, 4O ).

Intraspecific genetic distance is between 0% and 3.4% based on the K2P substitution model and COI nucleotide sequences (N = 21, including juveniles). The GenBank accession code of the holotype (XUX-2012-051) is MH172727 .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male genital anatomy of Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A, D, H, palp prolateral view. B, E, I, palp ventral view. C, F, J, palp retrolateral view. G, K, palp distal view. A–G, XUX-2012-051 (holotype). H–K, XUX-2012-045. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Female genital anatomy of Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A–E, K–O, vulva dorsal view. F–J, P–T, vulva ventral view. A, F, XUX-2012-034. B, G, XUX-2012-035. C, H, XUX-2012-049. D, I, XUX-2016-101. E, J, XUX-2016-107. K, P, XUX-2012- 042. L, Q, XUX-2012-040. M, R, XUX-2012-046. N, S, XUX-2016-103. O, T, XUX-2016-108. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.