Cicurina spiralis Liao & Xu, 2022

Liao, Rongrong, Yin, Haiqiang, He, Ailan & Xu, Xiang, 2022, Description of three new species of the genus Cicurina Menge, 1871 from Guangdong, China (Araneae, Hahniidae), Zootaxa 5188 (5), pp. 477-488 : 482-484

Cicurina spiralis Liao & Xu , spec. nov.

(ḄṀ洞叶Ħ)

Figures 4–5 , 8

Type material. Holotype male ( HNU613 ): China, Guangdong Province, Shaoguan City, Shixing County, Chebaling National Nature Reserve , 24°42.19'N, 114°09.29'E, 532 m, 3 September 2020, Ailan He, Jinxin Liu, Huijuan Sheng, Jia Tang and Yun Liang leg.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective “ spiralis ” and refers to the spiral apical end of the conductor.

Diagnosis. The male of this new species is similar to those of Cicurina bifurca spec. nov. and C. calyciforma . The palps of these species share similar embolus and RTA morphology, but can be distinguished by the spermophor clearly visible ventrally through the tegular integument and the simple single spiral of the apical end of the conductor with a very small ventral apophysis in C. spiralis spec. nov. ( Figs 4D–F , 5A–C ), versus spermophor indistinct and the spiraled apical end of the conductor more complex and strongly bifurcated in C. bifurca spec. nov. ( Figs 2D–F , 3A–C ). The male of this new species is also similar to that of C. calyciforma . Both species share similar RTA morphology and similar spermophor which can be clearly seen through the tegular integument, but can be distinguished by different apical end of the conductor: as is mentioned above in C. spiralis spec. nov. ( Figs 4D–F , 5 ), versus only weakly bifurcate (nearly “normal”) in C. calyciforma (figs 11C–E in Wang et al. 2019).

Description. Male (Holotype): Total length 2.83, carapace 1.35 long, 1.15 wide, opisthosoma 1.27 long, 1.03 wide. Carapace pyriform and pale. AME smaller than other eyes, and the anterior eye row straight and posterior eye row procurved ( Fig. 4C ). Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.02, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.01, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.03, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.15 long, anterior width 0.07, posterior width 0.18. Clypeus height 0.11. Chelicerae yellowish, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 3.39 (1.06, 0.25, 0.73, 0.79, 0.56); II 3.07 (1.03, 0.17, 0.61, 0.66, 0.60); III 2.91 (0.93, 0.20, 0.72, 0.61, 0.45); IV 3.43 (1.05, 0.26, 0.96, 0.63, 0.53). Opisthosoma oval, slightly dark gray, and without any distinct patterns.

Palp ( Figs 4D–F , 5A–C ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) well developed, distally extended to nearly half of cymbium length, and with a typical Cicurina rolled and thickened retrolateral margin. Spur slightly triangular. Cymbium slightly short and relatively stout (length to width ratio less than 2:1). Embolus (E) originating at approximately 7 o’clock position, and with the first 1/4 wide and the apical 3/4 filamentous. In ventral view of tegulum, spermophor clearly visible. Conductor (C) with black, spiral apical end slightly extending toward the base of the cymbium; and with a small spiny apophysis ventrally near the apical end.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, China (Guangdong) ( Fig. 8 ).

Figures

FIGURES 2A–F. Cicurina bifurca spec. nov., holotype male. A–C Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral, C frontal). D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral). Scale bars: A–B 1 mm, C 0.5 mm, D–F 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: C—conductor, E— embolus, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sr—spur, T—tegulum.

FIGURES 3A–C. Cicurina bifurca spec. nov., holotype male. A–C Left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral). Scale bars: A–C 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: C—conductor, E—embolus, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sr—spur, T—tegulum.

FIGURES 4A–F. Cicurina spiralis spec. nov., holotype male. A–C Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral, C frontal). D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral). Scale bars: A–B 1 mm, C–F 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C—conductor, E—embolus, RTA— retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spermophor, Sr—spur, T—tegulum, VA—ventral apophysis.

FIGURES 5A–C. Cicurina spiralis spec. nov., holotype male. A–C Left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral). Scale bars: A–C 0.1 mm.Abbreviations: C—conductor, E—embolus, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spermophor, Sr—spur, T—tegulum, VA—ventral apophysis.

FIGURE 8. Collection localities for three new Cicurina spp. in China.