Beatitas octomaculatus, Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Further additions to the guardstone spider fauna from China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Zootaxa 5338 (1), pp. 1-104 : 15-21

Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov. (ĀDzffiff)

Figs 9–13

Type material. Holotype ♁, CHINA: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Hezhou City, Pinggui district , Guposhan scenic spot (24°37′47.49″N, 111°31′46.89″E, 830 m a.s.l.), 11 May 2021, leg. Yannan Mu.

Paratypes: 2 ♁ 9 ♀, with same data as holotype .

Etymology. This species name is a combination of “ octonarius ” and “ macula ”, referring to the eight light markings on the abdominal dorsum; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of this new species can be recognized by: 1) the strong and upward-extending embolus, 2) the membranous conductor, 3) the retrolateral tibial apophysis with a bifurcated tip, and curved dorsal tibial apophysis extending towards prolateral side of cymbium. The female can be recognized by: 1) the diamond-shaped atrium on the epigynal plate, 2) the widely separated copulatory openings located at the sides of the atrium, and 3) the globular spermathecae that are almost entirely surrounded by the long connecting tubes.

Description. Male (Holotype): total length 2.27, carapace 1.06 long, 0.89 wide; abdomen 1.21 long, 0.84 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.05, PLE 0.06; AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE– ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.23, ALE–PLE 0.03. EAW 0.32, CRW 0.45, EAW/CRW 0.71, CRW/CW 0.51. MOA 0.15 long, anterior width 0.15, posterior width 0.15. CH 0.13, CH /AME 2.17. Labium 0.12 long, 0.17 wide. Sternum 0.61 long, 0.56 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 3.22 (0.88, 0.37, 0.84, 0.78, 0.35), II 2.87 (0.80, 0.36, 0.65, 0.65, 0.41), III 2.56 (0.71, 0.32, 0.49, 0.62, 0.42), IV 3.80 (0.98, 0.36, 0.88, 0.97, 0.61). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 6 rv 5, tibia II pv 5 rv 5, metatarsi Ⅰ–II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace black, fovea round, with several markings resembling flowing water droplets beside fovea. Abdomen black, covered entirely by dorsal scutum, with four pairs of light markings on abdominal dorsum ( Fig. 9A, B ). Legs yellow except black femora; patellae, tibiae and metatarsi I–IV with black annuli ( Fig. 10 ).

Palp as in Figs 11A–D , 13A–C . Femoral apophysis round, protruded near tip of femur. Retroventral tibial apophysis strong, strongly curved, extending towards ventral side, middle parts wider than base and tip bifurcated as U-shaped; dorsal tibial apophysis digitiform, base wide and tip curved towards prolateral side of cymbium. Tegulum as wide as cymbium, diamond-shaped; tegular apophysis triangular, located at retrolateral tip of tegulum. Sperm duct distinct, U-shaped, tapering from retrolateral side of tegulum to embolus. Embolus strong, tip slightly curved, beak-shaped, directed retroventrally. Conductor large, membranous, close to embolus.

Female (One paratype): Total length 2.86, carapace 1.20 long, 1.02 wide; abdomen 1.66 long, 1.37 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE– ALE 0.17, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.24, ALE–PLE 0.04. EAW 0.35, CRW 0.50, EAW/CRW 0.70, CRW/CW 0.49. MOA 0.16 long, anterior width 0.16, posterior width 0.16. CH 0.14, CH /AME 2.80. Labium 0.15 long, 0.19 wide. Sternum 0.71 long, 0.64 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 3.65 (0.97, 0.41, 0.99, 0.88, 0.40), II 3.10 (0.82, 0.38, 0.75, 0.74, 0.41), III 2.85 (0.79, 0.38, 0.54, 0.68, 0.46), IV4.05 (1.03, 0.37, 0.98, 1.02, 0.65). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 6 rv 6, tibia II pv 6 rv 5, metatarsi Ⅰ–II pv 4 rv 3. Other characters as for male, except dorsal scutum absent ( Fig. 9C, D ).

Epigyne as in Figs 12A–B , 13D–E . Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized, posterior edge nearly straight. Atrium diamond-shaped. Median septum thin, Y-shaped. Copulatory openings large, horn-shaped, located at lateral margin of atrium. Copulatory ducts short and thick, straight and connected with oval bursa. Glandular appendages absent. Connecting tube long, thinner than copulatory ducts, nearly surrounding entire spermathecae. Bursa oval, at anterior of the plate. Spermathecae globular, slightly separated. Fertilization ducts located anterior margin of spermathecae.

Distribution. China (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Habitus of Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Female paratype, dorsal view; D. Same, ventral view.

FIGURE 10. Left legs of Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov. (male holotype): A. Leg I, prolateral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Leg II, prolateral view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Leg III, prolateral view; F. Same retrolateral view; G. Leg IV, prolateral view; H. Same, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 11. Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Ocular area, dorsal view; F. Cephalothorax, frontal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; C— conductor; DTA—dorsal tibial apophysis; FA—femoral apophysis; RvTA—retroventral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct; TA—tegular apophysis.

FIGURE 12. Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov.: A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Same, dorsal view; C. Ocular area, dorsal view; D. Male spinnerets; E. Female spinnerets. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CO—copulatory opening; CD—copulatory duct; CT— connecting tube; FD—fertilization duct; S—spermathecae.

FIGURE 13. Copulatory organs of Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.