Icius zhengi, Yang & Zhang, 2024

Yang, Zhiyong & Zhang, Junxia, 2024, On eight species of Chrysillini from Xizang, China (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae), Zootaxa 5447 (2), pp. 151-187 : 170-173

Icius zhengi sp. nov. (Kĸ伊ø)

Figs 116–138

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (MHBU-ARA-00026731), CHINA: Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa City (Ë ḛṪ), Doilungdeqen District (堆ĪDzẑ区), Naiqung Street (乃Dzĕ), 29.6532°N, 90.8511°E, 3913 m a.s.l., 1 August 2023, leg. Y. Hou, Z Yang, Y. Ni & Y. Badan. Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-00026629, MHBU-ARA-00026732), same data as the holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honor of Prof. Guangmei Zheng (K光ṯ), who was a renowned ornithologist and conducted pioneering research on avian ecology and behavior.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Icius kulakangri sp. nov. in the markings on the body, especially in males, but can be distinguished by the shorter and straight embolus, the shorter distance between the copulatory openings, which are in close proximity to the fertilization ducts, and the prominent accessory glands on the copulatory duct ( Figs 130, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138; vs. the embolus longer and bent, the distance between copulatory openings longer, copulatory openings far away from the fertilization ducts, and accessory glands indistinct in I. kulakangri sp. nov., Figs 110–115). It differs from I. han sp. nov. in the almost triangular lamellar tegular process (LP), the shorter RTA, the smaller copulatory openings that are closer to each other, and the more prominent accessory glands ( Figs 130, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138; vs. the LP almost rectangular, RTA longer, copulatory openings larger and far apart, and accessory glands invisible in I. han sp. nov., Figs 60, 62–67).

Description. Male. Habitus as in Figs 116–118, 121, 122. Measurements of holotype: carapace 1.99 long, 1.37 wide, abdomen 1.81 long, 1.34 wide; eye measurements: AME 0.34, ALE 0.18, PME 0.05, PLE 0.15; leg measurements: Ⅰ 3.29 (1.07, 0.60, 0.73, 0.45, 0.44), II 2.69 (0.86, 0.46, 0.54, 0.40, 0.43), III 2.98 (0.92, 0.47, 0.57, 0.48, 0.54), IV 3.45 (1.04, 0.39, 0.78, 0.66, 0.58); leg formula 4132. Carapace dark brown, eye field black, with white scales on edge and in middle, black and yellow scales elsewhere ( Fig. 121). Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth ( Figs 125, 126). Abdomen covered with white scales in anterior middle part and along lateral sides, brown and black elsewhere ( Figs 121, 123). Legs brown, leg I darker than others ( Figs 116–118, 121).

Palp (129–131, 134–136): embolus thin and short; tegulum rough; tegular bump medio-retrolaterally located; RTA dagger-like, palp with white scales on dorsal side ( Figs 116–118).

Female. Habitus as in Figs 119, 120, 122, 124. Measurements of one paratype (MHBU-ARA-00026732): carapace 2.10 long, 1.48 wide, abdomen 2.83 long, 1.59 wide; eye measurements: AME 0.35, ALE 0.23, PME 0.06, PLE 0.16; leg measurements: Ⅰ 2.82 (0.86, 0.45, 0.65, 0.41, 0.45), II 2.63 (0.80, 0.39, 0.57, 0.36, 0.51), III 3.05 (0.92, 0.46, 0.53, 0.47, 0.67), IV 3.82 (1.16, 0.47, 0.87, 0.66, 0.66); leg formula 4312. Carapace brown, with white and yellow scales ( Figs 119, 120, 122). Abdomen dark brown, with yellowish-brown markings ( Figs 119, 120, 122). Legs yellow ( Figs 119, 120, 122) .

Epigynum ( Figs 132, 133, 137, 138): copulatory openings separated, located anterior to spermathecae, with two pockets close to genitalic groove. Vulva ( Figs 133, 138): copulatory ducts short, with prominent accessory glands, spermathecae small and oval.

Natural history. Lives in the nest aggregations beneath a pile of boulders.

Distribution. China (Xizang) ( Fig. 1).