Frontinellina gemalakaensis, Irfan & Zhang & Peng, 2022

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, Megataxa 8 (1), pp. 1-292 : 84-87

Frontinellina gemalakaensis sp. nov. (ƏḚƀƉƦ) Figures 98 , 99

Types. Holotype ♀, CHINA, Yunnan, Gongshan County, Bingzhongluo Township, Gemalaka , 27.98139ºN, 98.48134ºE, alt. 4000m, 20 August 2006, Peng Hu leg. (Hu060820).

Etymology. This epithet derives from the type locality.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles Frontinellina locket Helsdingen, 1970 in having the similar elongated spermathecae ( Fig. 98B, C ; Helsdingen, 1970, figs 73, 74), but can be distinguished by the spiral tubes with 7.5 coils in F. gemalakaensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 98B, C ), whereas with 6 coils in M. locketi ( Helsdingen, 1970, fig. 73).`

Description. Female (holotype, Fig. 98A ): Total length: 4.71. Carapace 1.67 long, 1.27 wide, dark brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.36 high. Sternum longer than wide, dark brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with five promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.11, PME 0.09, PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.05, PME–PME 0.08, AME–ALE, 0.13, PME–PLE 0.12, AME–PME 0.10, ALE–ALE 0.62, PLE–PLE 0.65, ALE–PLE contiguous.

Length of legs: I 8.03 (2.08, 2.58, 2.15, 1.22), II 7.22 (1.96, 2.26, 1.95, 1.05), III 5.03 (1.59, 1.41, 1.32, 0.71), IV 6.29 (1.75, 2.08, 1.75, 0.71). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.82 and Tm IV 0.45. Tibial spine formula: 2-2- 2-2. Abdomen 3.05 long, 2.07 wide, oval, dorsally with folium-shaped brown pattern followed by white patches; ventral side brown.

Epigyne ( Fig. 98B, C ): Scape almost triangular, curved in ventral direction, ventrally with a socket. In ventral view, epigynal plate densely covered with long, thick spines. Vulva: entrance of spiral tubes located laterally, visible in dorsal view of vulva. Spiral tubes with thick wall and chitinous, with 7.5 coils. Turning points and spermathecae present anteriorly at the apex of spiral tubes. Spermathecae elongated, curved back between the spiral tube coils. Fertilization duct running through the axis of coils, present laterally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 99 ).

Genus Gnathonarium Karsch, 1881 (gssƦø)

Figures

FIGURE 98. Frontinellina gemalakaensis sp. nov., female holotype. A Habitus, dorsal view B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 99. Distribution of Frontinellina gemalakaensis sp. nov.