Ketambea liupanensis ( Tang & Song, 1992 ) Li & Liu & Chen, 2018

Li, Jian Yong, Liu, Jie & Chen, Jian, 2018, A review of some Neriene spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from China, Zootaxa 4513 (1), pp. 1-90 : 5-6

Ketambea liupanensis ( Tang & Song, 1992) new combination

Figs 1–3 , 69

Neriene liupanensis Tang & Song, 1992b: 415 , f. 1–3 (Df); Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 194, f. 110H–I (f); Hu, Zhang & Li, 2011: 528, f. 1a–e (f, Dm).

Material examined. Ningxia: Guyuan City, Longde County, Liupanshan Mt. Red Army Memorial Tower, 35.67°N, 106.21°E, 2782m, 8.viii.2010, F.X. Liu, J. Chen & B.R. Zhu leg., 3FF (CBEE); Xizang: Linzhi Prefecture, Linzhi County, Boshuwang Park , 29.65°N, 94.36°E, 3100m, 18.viii.2009, Z.Z. Yang leg., 1M ( HEBU) .

Diagnosis: The long filiform embolus, the absence of terminal apophysis, the claviform distal suprategular apophysis, the absence of parmula, the erect fertilization grooves indicated that Neriene liupanensis Tang & Song, 1992 and Neriene nigripectoris ( Oi, 1960) should not belong to the genus Neriene ( Figs 1 , 2 B–D, 3B–D, 4–5, 6C– E). According to Millidge & Russell-Smith (1992) and Tanasevitch (2017), the atrium with paired, more or less round openings anteriorly, the lightly sclerotized suprategular apophysis largely hidden by the embolic division, the reduced paracymbium (except K. liupanensis ) and the coiled embolus with fairly slender end indicate N. liupanensis and N. nigripectoris should belong to the genus Ketambea Millidge & Russell-Smith, 1992 . The male of K. liupanensis can be distinguished from other Ketambea species by the developed paracymbium ( Figs 1B , 2B, 2D ). The female of K. liupanensis is similar to K. nigripectoris and Ketambea acuta Tanasevitch, 2017 in having similar fertilization grooves tracing which are running downwards from the spermathecae inside the spiral tracing of copulatory groove, but can be distinguished from the latters by the copulatory groove with more coils ( K. liupanensis with three coils, but K. nigripectoris and K. acuta with two coils) ( Figs 1 D–E, 3C–D, 4F–G, 6D–E).

Description: The measurements see Hu et al. (2011). Male palp ( Figs 1 A–B, 2B–D): Tibia shorter than cymbium. Paracymbium simple, U-shaped, with distal part widened. Distal suprategular apophysis small, claviform. Lamella well-developed, with four projections: lateral one long, U-shaped, with a claviform end curved upwardly, and posterior one short, with a slightly sharp end; anterior one blunt, with round margin; dorsal one short, with a sharp end. Embolus long, coiled. Embolic membrane massive, long, with coiled end. Male habitus as in Fig. 2A .

Epigynum ( Figs 1C , 3B ): aperture triangular, septum narrow, dividing aperture into two parts. Vulva ( Figs 1 D– E, 3C–D): Vulva longer than wide; copulatory grooves spiral, with about three coils; fertilization groove without coils, directly running downwards from the spermatheca inside the spiral tracing of copulatory groove; turningpoints situated laterally, pointing mesally; spermathecae oval. Female habitus as in Fig. 3A .

Distribution: China (Ningxia, Gansu, Xizang), Russia ( Fig. 69 ).

Remarks. Though we did not examine any Ketambea type specimens, Dr. Anderi V. Tanasevitch just examined the male holotype of K. rostrata Millidge & Russell-Smith, 1992 in 2017 for the diagnosis of K. acuta Tanasevitch, 2017 . N. nigripectoris and the female of N. liupanensis are very similar to K. acuta . We think it will be better to place these two species tentatively in Ketambea than Neriene , although the Ketambea needs further revision.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ketambea liupanensis (Tang & Song, 1992) n. comb. A–B, Pedipalp of male, drawings based on specimen from Boshuwang Park, Xizang. A, Prolateral. B, Retrolateral. C–E, Epigynum of female, drawings based on specimen from Liupanshan Mt., Ningxia. C, Ventral. D, Ventral, cleared; E, Dorsal, cleared. Scale bars, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Ketambea liupanensis (Tang & Song, 1992) n. comb., photos based on specimen from Boshuwang Park, Xizang. A, Male habitus, dorsal. B–D, Pedipal of male. B. Ventral. C, Prolateral. D, Retrolateral. Scale bars, A, 0.5 mm; B, C, D, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Ketambea liupanensis (Tang & Song, 1992) n. comb., photos based on specimen from Liupanshan Mt., Ningxia. A, Female habitus, dorsal. B–D, Epigynum. B, Ventral, on the body. C, Ventral, cleared. D, Dorsal, cleared. Scale bars, A, 0.5 mm; B, C, D, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 69. Map with sampling localities for each Neriene species. TTZ: Tiantangzai National Forest Park, Luotian County, Hubei Province; BWL: Bawangling Mountain National Nature Reserve, Hainan Province.