Lathys zhanfengi Liu, 2018

Liu, Keke, Meng, Zeyuan, Xiao, Yonghong & Xu, Xiang, 2018, Five new Lathys species (Araneae: Dictynidae) from South China and the first description of the male of Lathys spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012, Zootaxa 4500 (2), pp. 151-178 : 173-177

Lathys zhanfengi Liu spec. nov.

Figs 20–23

Type material. CHINA: Jiangxi Province: Holotype female: Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City , Ciping Town , Xiaojing Village , Longtan Scenic Spot , broad-leaf forest, 26.583°N, 114.135°E, 951 m elevation, 1 June 2014, Keke Liu, Zhiwu Chen, Zeyuan Meng, Xiaoping Huang, Yubao Tang and Zhanfeng Wang leg. ( ASM- JGSU).

Etymology. The species is named after Mr Zhanfeng Wang, who collected the type specimens; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. The female epigyne of this new species most closely resembles that of L. heterophthalma and L. spiralis ( Li & Wang 2017; Lissner 2016; Zhang et al. 2012) in having sub-spherical SP but mainly differs from these species in having the cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth (5 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth in L. spiralis ), three loops at the anterior part of CD and a small loop close to SP (two loops in L. heterophthalma ) ( Figs 20C–D , 21–22 ).

Description: Female. Habitus as in Figs 20A–B . Total length 2.11, carapace ( Fig. 21A ) length 0.80, width 0.65. Eight eyes, anterior eye row slightly recurved and posterior one procurved; diameters and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.09, ALE–AME 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.15, ALE–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.20, PLE–PME 0.15, PLE–PLE 0.37, AME–PME 0.15. Carapace anteriorly with row of setae medially, cervical groove and radial furrows distinct, fovea longitudinal indistinct ( Fig. 20A ). Chelicerae ( Figs 21A–D ) with small fangs, 3 promarginal (almost equal size) and 4 retromarginal teeth (third largest). Gnathocoxae with many setae, labium longer than wide, with a row of setae in ventral view, sternum slightly longer than wide, with numerous setae along margin and tubercles ( Fig. 20B ). Opisthosoma ( Figs 20A–B ) broad oval in dorsal view, length 1.24, width 1.07. Leg measurements: I 2.51 (0.76, 0.24, 0.63, 0.53, 0.35); II 2.02 (0.64, 0.21, 0.45, 0.42, 0.30) III 1.56 (0.51, 0.18, 0.31, 0.30, 0.26); IV missing.

Colouration. Carapace yellow brown, anteriorly with black reticular pattern, posteriorly with two groups of irregular dark spots, circled by many muscle sigilla. Chelicerae orange. Gnathocoxae anteriorly creamy-grey, posteriorly yellow. Labium anteriorly creamy-grey, posteriorly dark brown. Sternum yellow to dark brown. Palps yellowish. Legs yellowish, with distinct annulations. Opisthosoma cream to brown, dorsally with distinct pattern consisting of many white guanine crystals and black stripes around medial part; in ventral view medially light. Cribellum yellow. Spinnerets yellow brown.

Epigyne as in diagnosis ( Figs 20C–D , 22 ), with inverted heart-shaped atrium, CO slightly sclerotized, its anterior margin arched. Vulva with long CD, spiraled in three loops including two loops around CO and one small loop close to SP, joining SP medially. SP spherical, with short FD posteromedially.

Male: Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality Jiangxi Province ( Fig. 23 ).

Figures

FIGURES 20A–D. Lathys zhanfengi Liu spec. nov., holotype female. A Habitus, dorsal. B Same, ventral. C Epigyne, ventral. D Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A, B 0.5 mm; C, D 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 21A–D. Lathys zhanfengi Liu spec. nov., holotype female, left chelicera, SEMs (A ventrolateral, B retromarginal teeth, ventrolateral, C posterior, slightly retrolateral, D promarginal teeth, posterior, slightly retrolateral). Scale bars: A, C 20 µm; B, D 10 µm.

FIGURES 22A–B. Lathys zhanfengi Liu spec. nov., holotype female, copulatory organ. A Epigyne, ventral. B Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct, CO—copulatory opening, FD—fertilization duct, SP—spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 23. Collection localities for Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov., L. fibulata Liu spec. nov., L. huangyangjieensis Liu spec. nov. and L. zhanfengi Liu spec. nov. in Jinggangshan National Natural Reserve, Jiangxi Province and distribution of L. spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012 in China.