Leptoneta wangae, Tong & Li, 2008

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2008, Six new cave-dwelling species of Leptoneta (Arachnida, Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Beijing and adjacent regions, China, Zoosystema 30 (2), pp. 371-386 : 385

Leptoneta wangae n. sp.

( Fig. 6 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: China, Beijing City, Fangshan District, Xiayunling Town (39°42’N, 115°44’E), Beizhihe Village , Zhizhu Cave , 8.III.2005, leg. Q. Wang & Y. Tong, ♂ ( MNHN).

Paratypes: same data as holotype, 10 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀ ( IZCAS) ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The species is named after the collector Dr Qian Wang (Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

DIAGNOSIS. — The new species is similar to L. yongdamgulensis Paik & Namkung, 1969 ( Paik et al. 1969), but can be easily distinguished by the presence of eight teeth on promargin of fang furrow and five small denticles on retromargin, the presence of many long spines on ventral surface of male palpal femur, and the presence of two small strong spines on disto-lateral surface of male palpal tibia, instead of a single long spine on middle part of retrolateral surface as in L. yongdamgulensis .

DESCRIPTION

Male (n = 13)

Body length 1.76-1.99 (average: 1.87). Carapace 0.81-0.87 (average: 0.84) long, 0.70-0.76 (average: 0.73) wide; abdomen 0.95-1.16 (average: 1.04) long, 0.70-0.79 (average: 0.75) wide. Carapace yellow, with a pair of setae at lateral area of PME. Median groove dark brown, needle-shaped.Cervical grooves and radial furrows evident and light brown. Clypeus 0.20 high. Eyes six, but the PME strongly reduced or only one of the PME can be discernable or both absent. Eye sizes: ALE 0.04, PLE 0.04, PME 0-0.03. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.04, PLE-PME 0.04. AER 0.08, PER 0.10. Major axes of PLE convergent behind. PME, if both present, separated from each other by one time of their diameter. Chelicera ( Fig. 6G ) light brown, with eight teeth on promargin of fang furrow and five small teeth on retromargin. Endites and labium light brown.Sternum ( Fig. 6 D-F) usually shield-shaped, but varying greatly, some narrowed and lateral margins parallel and some asymmetrical at outer margins, especially in the part along the coxae III and IV. Legs yellow. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 2.24 (0.90, 0.39, 0.50, –, 0.45); I 8.93 (2.47, 0.30, 2.73, 2.22, 1.21); II 6.52 (1.87, 0.28, 1.90, 1.48, 0.99); III 5.21 (1.51, 0.21, 1.45, 1.28, 0.76); IV 7.27 (2.08, 0.28, 2.24, 1.75, 0.92). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Femur I with some relatively thicker setae on middle part of anterior surface. Tibia I with row of fine hairs on distal half of ventral surface ( Fig. 6C ). Abdomen haired, pale yellow, venter brownish, and oval in shape, no distinct pattern on the dorsum. Palpal femur with many long spines ventrally. Palpal tibia with three long trichobothria on the dorsal surface and with two strong short spines disto-laterally ( Fig. 6A, B, H ). Cymbium distally branched.

Female (n = 10)

Similar to male in coloration and general features, but legs shorter. Body length 1.65-2.01 (average: 1.89). Carapace 0.75-0.81 (average: 0.78) long, 0.69-0.73 (average: 0.71) wide; abdomen 0.90-1.21 (average: 1.12) long, 0.62-0.91 (average: 0.79) wide. Clypeus 0.19-0.20 (average:0.19) high. Eyes usually four, PME more strongly reduced than in male, in a few specimens, the PLE even slightly reduced.Eye sizes: ALE 0.04, PLE 0.04. Distance between eyes: ALE-PME 0.10, PLE-PLE 0.05, PLE-PME 0.07. AER 0.08, PER 0.12. PME, if both discernable, separated from each other by at least one time of their diameter. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 1.80 (0.62, 0.21, 0.45, –, 0.52); I 7.35 (1.95, 0.30, 2.19, 1.75, 1.16); II 5.58 (1.57, 0.26, 1.60, 1.27, 0.88); III 4.62 (1.30, 0.25, 1.23, 1.12, 0.72); IV 6.39 (1.85, 0.26, 1.91, 1.51, 0.86). Leg I without special hairs as in male. Internal genitalia with a pair of spermathecae and sperm duct, atrium visible ( Fig. 6I, J ).

Figures

FIG. 6. — Leptoneta wangae n. sp.: A, male left palp in prolateral view; B, male left palp in retrolateral view; C, male left leg I in anterior view;D-F, female sternum in ventral view; G, male chelicera in ventral view; H, tibial apophyses of male left palp,dorsal view; I, female genitalia in ventral view; J, female genitalia in dorsal view. Abbreviations: C, E, M, conductor, embolus and median apophysis of male palpal organ respectively. Scale bars: A, B, D-F, 0.2 mm; C, 0.5 mm; G-J, 0.1 mm.