Lathys spiralis, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Hu, Dong-Sheng & Zhang, Yao-Guang, 2012

Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Hu, Dong-Sheng & Zhang, Yao-Guang, 2012, Notes on the spider genus Lathys Simon, 1884 (Araneae: Dictynidae), with description of four new species from China, Zootaxa 3359, pp. 1-16 : 5-7

Lathys spiralis sp. nov.

Figs 4A–B , 5 A–H , 14

Type material. Holotype: Female, China, Shaanxi Province, Zhouzhi County, Houzhenzi Town, under stone or leaf litter, 33°50'50ʺ N, 107°50'0ʺ E, 1 May 2010, Z.X. Li, K.Y. Xu & L.Y. Wang leg. ( SWUC). Paratypes: 2 females, same data as holotype ( SWUC); 1 female, Chongqing Municipality, Jinyun Mountain, 29°50ʹ30.5ʺN, 106°21ʹ31.1ʺE, Guankou, under stone or leaf litter, 5 April 2010, Z.S. Zhang, Z.X. Li, K.Y. Xu & L.Y. Wang leg. ( SWUC); 7 females, Jinyun Mountain, Baizigou, 17 April 2010, Z.X. Li leg. ( SWUC); 1 female, Baizigou, 24 April 2010, Z.X. Li, K.Y. Xu & L.Y. Wang leg. ( SWUC); 2 females, Baizigou, 16 April 2008, Z.S. Zhang leg. ( SWUC).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word ‘ spiralis ’, meaning ‘spiraled’ and refers to the spiraled copulatory ducts of the epigyne; adjective.

Diagnosis. Female of the new species is similar to those of L. humilis- group species, L. humilis , L. nielseni , L. bin ( Marusik & Logunov, 1991: 92, figs 3.7–9) and L. subhumilis sp. nov. ( Figs 9D–E , 11G–H ), but can be distinguished from the others by the visible and long inner margins of copulatory openings, the relatively long and looped copulatory ducts and the big spermathecae ( Figs 4A–B , 5G–H ).

Description. Female total length 1.58–2.29. Holotype ( Figs 5A–E ) total length 2.01. Prosoma 0.93 long, 0.75 wide; opisthosoma 1.30 long, 0.99 wide. AME smallest, ALE largest. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.02, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.17 long, front width 0.09, back width 0.17. Clypeus height 0.04. Chelicerae with 4 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. Calamistrum of metatarsus IV relatively short. Leg measurements: I 2.62 (0.78, 0.93, 0.55, 0.36); II 2.12 (0.65, 0.71, 0.44, 0.32); III 1.83 (0.58, 0.58, 0.40, 0.27); IV 2.37 (0.75, 0.79, 0.53, 0.30). Leg formula: 1423.

Epigyne ( Figs 4A–B , 5G–H ). Inner margins of copulatory openings visible. Copulatory ducts spiraled around the copulatory openings and spermathecae, forming two loops. Spermathecae ball-like, relatively big, with slightly wider distance than their diameter.

Male unknown.

Distribution. China (Shaanxi and Chongqing) ( Fig. 14 ).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Distribution map of four Chinese new Lathys spiders.

FIGURES 4 A – B. Lathys spiralis sp. nov., holotype female. A. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Cd = copulatory duct; Co = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; Sp = spermatheca.

FIGURES 5 A – H. Lathys spiralis sp. nov., holotype female. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Eyes and chelicerae, frontal view; E. Chelicera, ventral view, showing the teeth; F. Matetarsus, showing the calamistrum; G. Epigyne, ventral view; H. Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURES 9 A – E. Lathys subhumilis sp. nov., holotype male (A – C) and female paratype (D – E). A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Ca = distal arm of conductor; Cb = base of conductor; Cd = copulatory duct; Co = copulatory opening; Ct = terminal of conductor; Em = embolus; Fd = fertilization duct; Pa = patellar apophysis; Sp = spermatheca; TA = tibial apophyses

FIGURES 11 A – H. Lathys subhumilis sp. nov., female paratype. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Matetarsus, showing the calamistrum; E. Eyes and chelicerae, frontal view; F. Chelicerae, ventral view, showing the teeth; G. Epigyne, ventral view; H. Vulva, dorsal view.