Songthela pyriformis, 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 : 144-146

Songthela pyriformis sp. nov.

Fig. 5 A–M

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6EFDEA95-B7A7-43B2-8D34-BCBCC3382B7B

Holotype. Male (XUX–2011–033), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu , Aiwan Pavilion , 28.1827°N, 112.9313°E, 114 m a.s.l., 16 August 2011, collected by FX Liu, X Xu, R Xiao.

Paratypes. 4 females [XUX–2011–(032/034/035/036)], same locality as holotype, 16 August 2011, FX Liu, X Xu, R Xiao ; 1 male (XUX–2011–020) and 5 females [XUX–2011–(019/022/026/028/029)], 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 ; 2 females [DQ–2018–(024/026)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Yuelu Academy , 28.1804°N, 112.9392°E, 80 m a.s.l., 28–30 March 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (DQ–2018–025), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, South Gate , 28.1829°N, 112.9349°E, 51 m a.s.l., 30 March 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (DQ–2018–033), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Energy Valley , 28.1827°N, 112.9380°E, 117 m a.s.l., 30 March 2018, DQ Li .

Diagnosis. Males of S. pyriformis sp. nov. resemble those of S. ciliensis ( Yin, Tang & Xu, 2003) , but can be distinguished from the latter by the conductor with a slightly bent apical spine ( Fig. 5 A–B, D–E, G), and by the middle region of the marginal apophysis being curved ( Fig. 5B, G ); from those of other Songthela species by the conductor with one slightly bent and smooth apical spine ( Fig. 5 A–G). Females of S. pyriformis sp. nov. differ from those of other Songthela species by the lateral pair of receptacular clusters situated slight dorsolaterally of the bursa copulatrix in ventral view, the median pairs with long genital stalks, and smaller than the lateral pairs ( Fig. 5 K–M).

Description. Male holotype (XUX–2011–033). Carapace deep yellow with several hairs in margin; opisthosoma light brown; tergites dark brown; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; few fine pointed hairs running over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, second to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 10.17, CL 4.60, CW 4.22, OL 5.10, OW 3.85; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 12.80 (3.61 + 1.72 + 2.33 + 3.34 + 1.80), leg II 13.54 (3.54 + 1.69 + 2.66 + 3.64 + 2.01), leg III 13.94 (3.48 + 1.60 + 2.37 + 4.23 + 2.26), leg IV 18.91 (4.80 + 1.90 + 3.53 + 5.65 + 3.03).

Palp: Cymbium with projection ( Fig. 5A ); prolateral side of paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, with numerous setae and spines at tip ( Fig. 5A ); contrategulum with denticulate margin ( Fig. 5A, D, G ); tegulum with serrate marginal apophysis and lamella-shaped terminal apophysis in retrolateral view ( Fig. 5C, F ); conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with proximal portion relatively narrow, and distal portion with one apical spine ( Fig. 5B, E ); embolus with flat opening ( Fig. 5A, D ).

Female paratype (XUX–2011–028). Carapace and opisthosoma color like male; second and third tergites brown, remaining light brown with few brown flecks; 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, third to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 9.04, CL 4.43, CW 3.59, OL 3.91, OW 3.12; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 8.33 (2.83 + 1.63 + 1.77 + 2.10), leg I 9.11 (2.81 + 1.64 + 1.73 + 1.76 + 1.17), leg II 8.77 (2.48 + 1.78 + 1.60 + 1.62 + 1.29), leg III 9.32 (2.51 + 1.72 + 1.64 + 2.08 + 1.37), leg IV 12.94 (3.38 + 1.92 + 2.46 + 3.24 + 1.94).

Female genitalia: Median pair of receptacular clusters along anterior margin of bursa copulatrix with long genital stalks, smaller than lateral pair; lateral receptacular clusters with obscure genital stalks, situated slightly dorsolaterally; posterior part of genital area trapezoid ( Fig. 5H, K ).

Variation. Males and females vary in body size. The range of measurements in males as follows (N = 2): BL 10.00–10.17, CL 4.60–4.61, CW 4.20–4.22, OL 4.83–5.10, OW 3.56–3.85; females (N = 13): BL 7.91–14.51, CL 3.88–6.06, CW 3.32–5.73, OL 3.62–7.64, OW 2.22–6.43. In addition, female genitalia shows slight intraspecific variation: the diameter of genital stalks of the median pair is different; four receptacular clusters relatively large ( Fig. 5I, L ); or the median pair of receptacular clusters with relative vertical genital stalks; posterior part of genital area arc ( Fig. 5J, M ).

Etymology. The species epithet is taken from the pyriform conductor.

Distribution. Hunan (Changsha) Province, China.

GenBank accession numbers. Holotype:XUX–2011–033: MN 400625 ; Paratypes:DQ–2018–024: MN 400636 ; DQ–2018–025: MN 400647 ; DQ–2018–026: MN 400637 ; DQ–2018–033: MN 400630 ; XUX–2011–019: KP229903 ; XUX–2011–020: MN 400617 ; XUX–2011–022: MN 400618 ; XUX–2011–026: MN 400619 ; XUX–2011–028: MN 400621 ; XUX–2011–029: MN 400622 ; XUX–2011–032: MN 400624 ; XUX–2011–034: MN 400626 ; XUX– 2011–035: MN 400627 ; XUX–2011–036: MN 400628 .

Remarks. The maximum intraspecific genetic distance of S. pyriformis sp. nov. is 0.3/0.3% based on K2P and p -distance. The mean intraspecific genetic distance of S. pyriformis sp. nov. is 0.1/0.1% (K2P/ p -distance). The closest interspecific genetic distance between S. pyriformis sp. nov. and S. shuyuan sp. nov. is 16.9/15.0% (K2P/ p -distance), and the closest interspecific genetic distance between S. pyriformis sp. nov. and S. hangzhouensis is 15.9/14.2% (K2P/ p -distance). The mean interspecific genetic distance between S. pyriformis sp. nov. and S. shuyuan sp. nov. is 17.7/15.6% (K2P/ p -distance), and the mean interspecific genetic distance between S. pyriformis sp. nov. and S. hangzhouensis is 15.9/14.2% (K2P/ p -distance).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela pyriformis sp. nov. A–C, male palp, holotype, XUX–2011–033; A, prolateral view; B, ventral view; C, retrolateral view; D–G, male palp, paratype, XUX–2011–020; D, prolateral view; E, ventral view; F, retrolateral view; G, distal view; H–J, female genitalia, dorsal view; K–M, female genitalia, ventral view; H–M, paratypes; H, K, XUX–2011–028; I, L, XUX–2011–024; J, M, XUX–2011–032. Scale bars: A–M, 0.3 mm.