Bathyphantes ansulis, 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 : 27-40

Bathyphantes ansulis sp. nov. (NḦDzƦ)

Figures 30–32 , 41

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan; Tengchong County, Wuhe Township, Tongjia dauzhuang Village , Longchuanjiang river (Longjiang bridge), 24.89284°N, 98.67439°E, alt. 1210m, along the river, 24 May 2005, Heng-mei Yan and Ke-ji Guo. leg. ( GKJ020 ) . Paratype: 1♀, same data as holotype ( GKJ020 ) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ ansula ”, meaning “hook” and referring to the hook-shaped paracymbium in male palp.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles Bathyphantes eumenis (L. Koch, 1879) in having similar paracymbium in male palp and long scape in epigyne ( Figs 30A–D , 31A–C ; Tao, Li & Zhu, 1995, fig. 114, Ivie, 1969, fig. 41), but can be distinguished by the embolus being slightly curved and not in a circle, pointing towards reterolateral side in B. ansulis sp. nov. ( Fig. 30A–C ), whereas the embolus forms a complete circle and points towards the cymbium in B. eumenis ( Ivie, 1969, figs 40, 41). The anterior projection of embolic plate is retained below the cymbium apex in B. ansulis sp. nov. ( Fig. 30A–C ), whereas it protrudes above the cymbium apex in B. eumenis ( Ivie, 1969, figs 40, 41). Epigyne: the scape wider basally and partly covering the parmula in ventral view in B. ansulis sp. nov. ( Fig. 31A, B ), whereas consistent in width and completely covering the parmula in B. eumenis ( Tao et al. 1995, fig. 114, Ivie, 1969, fig. 42). Copulatory ducts forming a single loop before joining to the spermathecae in in B. ansulis sp. nov. ( Fig. 31B, C ), whereas two loops in B. eumenis ( Tao et al. 1995, fig. 116).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 32A, B ): Total length: 1.79. Carapace 0.86 long, 0.64 wide, the cephalic region slightly elevated, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Sternum longer than wide, dark brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eye region narrow, AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.30, PLE–PLE 0.33, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.49 (0.98, 1.12, 0.78, 0.61), II 3.16 (0.92, 1.02, 0.70, 0.52), III 2.51 (0.72, 0.79, 0.57, 0.43), IV 3.14 (0.94, 0.96, 0.73, 0.51). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.45 and Tm IV 0.38. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 0.93 long, 0.54 wide, oval, dorsally with distinct patterns of alternative dark greenish and light patches extending from the anterior margin of abdomen to the base of spinnerets, ventral side dark without any marking.

Palp( Fig.30A–D ):Tibia conic,with one retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria, covered by short or long spine-like hairs. Paracymbium J-shaped, sclerotized, distal tip curved into hook; tegulum with a prominent bulge on ectal side; most of the distal suprategular apophysis covered by the tegulum in reterolateral view, with a pointed end; median membrane extending out through the base of embolic plate and thread-like projections on prolateral surface of apical portion; embolic plate highly sclerotized, broad; dorsal projection of embolic plate slightly overlapping the cymbium; anterior projection of embolic plate thick, with pointed end touches the embolus, ventral process of lamella curved, protruding upward, with blunt end; embolus thick, highly sclerotized, slightly curved.

Female (paratype, Fig. 32C, D ): Total length: 2.4. Carapace 0.91 long, 0.66 wide, the cephalic region slightly elevated, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Sternum longer than wide, dark brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eye region narrow, AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.45 (1, 1.07, 0.76, 0.62), II 2.93 (0.82, 0.88, 0.66, 0.57), III 2.6 (0.81, 0.75, 0.58, 0.46), IV 3.06 (0.95, 0.94, 0.64, 0.53). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. Tm I 0.48 and Tm IV 0.36. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.49 long, 0.98 wide, oval, dorsally with distinct patterns of alternative dark greenish and light patches extending from the anterior margin of abdomen to the base of spinnerets, ventral side dark without any marking.

Epigyne ( Fig. 31A–C ): Ventral plate simple; scape Finger-like, proximal end wider than distal tip, parmula short and most of it covered by scape; copulatory openings present in the atrium; copulatory ducts forming a single loop before joining to the spermathecae; spermathecae globular, present at the apex of the dorsal plate; fertilization ducts extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 30. Bathyphantes ansulis sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C ventral view D dorsal view.

FIGURE 31. Bathyphantes ansulis sp. nov., female (paratype). A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 32. Bathyphantes ansulis sp. nov., male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 41. Distribution of Bathyphantes species.