Songthela shuyuan, Li & Liu & Xu, 2019

Li, Dengqing, Liu, Hao & Xu, Xin, 2019, Three new species of the primitively segmented spiders from Mt Yuelu, Hunan, China (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 4691 (2), pp. 139-152 : 146-149

Songthela shuyuan sp. nov.

Fig. 6 A–O

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:83C21633-F9D3-420F-A968-D813C658C7E7

Holotype. Male (DQ–2018–020), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu , Yuelu Academy , 28.1837°N, 112.9339°E, 73 m a.s.l., 23 March 2018, collected by DQ Li.

Paratypes. 3 males [DQ–2018–(004/047/049)], 2 females [DQ–2018–(003/006)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Jiangjunmu , 28.1920°N, 112.9379°E, 115–128 m a.s.l., 8 January–13 July 2018, DQ Li ; 1 male (DQ–2018–016) and 2 females [DQ–2018–(013/014)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, along road to Hunan Normal University Hospital , 28.1898°N, 112.9389°E, 69 m a.s.l., 12–14 March 2018, DQ Li ; 1 male (DQ–2018–021) and 1 female (DQ–2018–022), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, South Gate , 28.1927°N, 112.9441°E, 50 m a.s.l., 28 March 2018, DQ Li ; 6 males [DQ–2018–(053/054/055/056/057/058)] and 4 females [DQ–2018–(017/018/019/038)], same locality as holotype, 73–92 m a.s.l., 23 March–23 July 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (DQ–2018–035), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Energy Valley , 28.1830°N, 112.9377°E, 113 m a.s.l., 30 March 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (DQ–2018–037), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Aiwan Pavilion , 28.1808°N, 112.9385°E, 81 m a.s.l., 30 March 2018, DQ Li ; 4 females [XUX–2011–(018/021/027/030)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Lushan Temple , 28.1820°N, 112.9317°E, 125–162 m a.s.l., 16 August 2011, FX Liu, X Xu, R Xiao ; 1 female (XUX–2011–038), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Guimenguan , 28.1922°N, 112.9369°E, 112 m a.s.l., 16 August 2011, FX Liu, X Xu, R Xiao .

Diagnosis. Males of S. shuyuan sp. nov. resemble those of S. hangzhouensis , but can be distinguished from the latter by the more tortuous conductor in proximal portion in ventral view ( Fig. 6B ), and by the terminal apophysis reaching under the tegulum in retrolateral view ( Fig. 6C, F ); from S. goulouensis ( Yin, 2001) by the conductor with two obvious apical spines ( Fig. 6 A–B, D–E, G), and by the tegulum with a small terminal apophysis in retrolateral view ( Fig. 6C, F ); from S. pluma ( Yu, Li & Zhang, 2018) by the smooth conductor with two apical spines ( Fig. 6 A– B, D–E, G); and differ from those of other Songthela species by the conductor with two apical spines ( Fig. 6 A–B, D–E, G). Females of S. shuyuan sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of S. hangzhouensis by the basal median receptacular clusters far away from each other, and by small lateral pairs ( Fig. 6 H–O); differ from those of other Songthela species by the size and relative position of four receptacular clusters, with median pair situated at the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix, lateral pair situated more dorsally, smaller than median pair ( Fig. 6 H–O).

Description. Male holotype (DQ–2018–020). Carapace brown; opisthosoma light brown; tergites dark brown; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; few fine pointed hairs over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, second to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 12.33, CL 5.32, CW 4.82, OL 6.69, OW 5.10; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 15.83 (4.33 + 1.99 + 3.35 + 4.01 + 2.15), leg II 15.70 (4.23 + 2.02 + 2.91 + 4.15 + 2.39), leg III 17.53 (4.05 + 2.03 + 3.41 + 5.26 + 2.78), leg IV 23.89 (5.19 + 2.45 + 4.71 + 7.63 + 3.91).

Palp: Cymbium with projection ( Fig. 6A ); prolateral side of paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, with numerous setae and spines at tip ( Fig. 6A ); contrategulum with denticulate margin ( Fig. 6A, D, G ); tegulum with serrate marginal apophysis and dorsal extension of terminal apophysis, as well as smooth thumb-shaped terminal apophysis reaching underneath it in retrolateral view ( Fig. 6C, F ); conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with proximal portion relatively narrow, and distally with two slender apical spines ( Fig. 6B, E ); embolus sclerotized with wide and flat opening ( Fig. 6A, D ).

Female paratype (DQ–2018–035). Carapace and opisthosoma color like male; sternum narrow; few fine pointed hairs running over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, second to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 13.16, CL 4.97, CW 4.68, OL 6.70, OW 5.73; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 9.25 (3.20 + 1.68 + 1.94 + 2.43), leg I 10.15 (3.12 + 1.86 + 1.88 + 2.00 + 1.29), leg II 9.91 (2.85 + 1.76 + 1.87 + 2.13 + 1.30), leg III 10.98 (2.95 + 1.89 + 2.00 + 2.48 + 1.66), leg IV 15.63 (4.26 + 2.17 + 2.77 + 4.17 + 2.26).

Female genitalia: Median pair of receptacular clusters situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix with ribbed genital stalks relatively close basally but separated from each other distally; lateral pair smaller than median pair, spherical, situated more dorsally with obscure genital stalks; posterior part of genital area irregular arc ( Fig. 6K, O ).

Variation. Males and females vary in body size. The range of measurements in males (N = 12): BL 9.20–15.19, CL 4.51–6.33, CW 3.40–5.73, OL 4.42–8.19, OW 3.04–6.63; females (N = 16): BL 10.86–15.56, CL 4.79–6.97, CW 4.12–6.34, OL 4.87–8.07, OW 3.69–6.18. Female genitalia also exhibits considerable intraspecific variation: the genital stalks of median pair are slightly curved and with smooth surface as well as wide distance, the posterior part of the genital area rectangular with a notch in the middle ( Fig. 6H, L ); or the genital stalks of median pair slightly vertical; the lateral pair cylindrical; the posterior part of genital area rectangular ( Fig. 6I, M ); or the genital stalks of median pair with several small granula and tilted outward ( Fig. 6J, N )

Etymology. The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to “Academy”, Shuyuan in Chinese.

Distribution. Hunan (Changsha) Province, China.

GenBank accession numbers. . Holotype: DQ–2018–020: MN 400635 ; Paratypes: DQ–2018–003: MN 400611 ; DQ–2018–004: MN 400612 ; DQ–2018–006: MN 400613 ; DQ–2018–013: MN 400608 ; DQ–2018–014: MN 400609 ; DQ–2018–016: MN 400610 ; DQ–2018–017: MN 400633 ; DQ–2018–018: MN 400632 ; DQ–2018–019: MN 400634 ; DQ–2018–021: MN 400645 ; DQ–2018–022: MN 400646 ; DQ–2018–035: MN 400631 ; DQ–2018–037: MN 400607 ; DQ–2018–038: MN 400644 ; DQ–2018–047: MN 400614 ; DQ–2018–049: MN 400615 ; DQ–2018–053: MN 400638 ; DQ–2018–054: MN 400639 ; DQ–2018–055: MN 400640 ; DQ–2018–056: MN 400641 ; DQ–2018–057: MN 400642 ; DQ–2018–058: MN 400643 ; XUX–2011–018: MN 400616 ; XUX–2011–021: KP229819 ; XUX–2011–027: MN 400620 ; XUX–2011–030: MN 400623 ; XUX–2011–038: MN 400629 .

Remarks. Because the holotype and paratype of Heptathela yuelushanensis , which is considered as S. hangzhouensis , were lost in Hunan Normal University, it is impossible to compare the new species with Heptathela yuelushanensis . Here, we delimit the specimens from Mt Yuelu as a new species, and we provide the COI sequences of holotype and paratypes for future identification. We also provide the genetic distance between the new species and S. hangzhouensis . The maximum intraspecific genetic distance of S. shuyuan sp. nov. is 1.3/1.3% based on Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and p -distance model. The mean intraspecific genetic distance of S. shuyuan sp. nov. is 0.6/0.6% (K2P/ p -distance). The closest interspecific genetic distance between S. shuyuan sp. nov. and S. pyriformis sp. nov. is 16.9/15.0% (K2P/ p -distance), and the closest interspecific genetic distance between S. shuyuan sp. nov. and S. hangzhouensis is 13.2/11.9% (K2P/ p -distance). The mean interspecific genetic distance between S. shuyuan sp. nov. and S. pyriformis sp. nov. is 17.7/15.6% (K2P/ p -distance), and the mean interspecific genetic distance between S. shuyuan sp. nov. and S. hangzhouensis is 13.7/12.3% (K2P/ p -distance).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela shuyuan sp. nov. A–C, male palp, holotype, DQ–2018–020; A, prolateral view; B, ventral view; C, retrolateral view; D–G, male palp, paratype, DQ–2018–049; D, prolateral view; E, ventral view; F, retrolateral view; G, distal view; H–K, female genitalia, dorsal view; L–O, female genitalia, ventral view; H–O, paratypes; H, L, DQ–2018–013; I, M, DQ–2018–019; J, N, DQ–2018–018; K, O, DQ–2018–035. Scale bars: A–O, 0.3 mm.