Vappolotes tianjiayu, Li & Zhao & Li, 2023

Li, Bing, Zhao, Zhe & Li, Shuqiang, 2023, Three new species of the genus Vappolotes Zhao & Li, 2019 (Araneae, Agelenidae) from southwest China, Zootaxa 5270 (2), pp. 325-336 : 330-332

Vappolotes tianjiayu sp. n.

Figs 4 , 7

LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FD59BB0A-7E3B-4CBE-B406-1D3AB94ECE7E

Type material. Holotype: ♀ (IZCAS-Ar44376, XQ270): China: Hunan Prov.: Changde City: Shimen Co.: Hupingshan Town , Tianjiayu Vil., an unnamed cave, (N29.9065°, E110.8087°, 448 m), 14.IV.2016, Y.L. Li and Z.G. Chen leg. Paratypes: 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar44382, XQ263): same town as holotype, Qingshanxi Vil. , an unnamed cave, (N29.9869°, E110.8630°, 442 m), 12.IV.2016, same leg .; 5♀♀ (IZCAS-Ar44377–Ar44381, XQ270), same data as holotype ; 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar44383, XQ256): same vil. as holotype, another unnamed cave, (N29.9066°, E110.8088°, 455 m), 14.IV.2016, same leg.; 3♀♀ (IZCAS-Ar44384–Ar44386, XQ245): same town as holotype, Guluoping Vil. , Guluo Cave, (N29.9362°, E110.8574°, 395 m), 14.IV.2016, same leg .

Etymology. The new species is named after the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The female of Vappolotes tianjiayu sp. n. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the small copulatory ducts and the large spermathecae ( Fig. 4B ). The length of copulatory ducts far less than the length of spermathecae ( Fig. 4B ), but longer than 1.5 times in others ( Figs 1E , 3B , 6B ).

Description. Female (holotype): Abdomen light brownish gray, four chevrons present, rest as for the genus ( Fig. 4C–E ). Total length 7.16. Carapace 3.08 long, 2.04 wide. Abdomen 4.08 long, 2.81 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.04, AME–PME 0.03, ALE–PLE 0.01, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.06. Leg measurements: leg I 9.23 (2.51, 0.79, 2.39, 1.80, 1.74); II 8.59 (2.33, 0.73, 2.03, 1.86, 1.64); III 8.09 (2.49, 0.78, 1.86, 1.94, 1.02); IV 11.62 (3.13, 0.84, 2.97, 2.92, 1.76). Epigyne as in Fig 4A, B : ca. 1.4 times wider than long; atrium large, occupying ca. 3/5 of epigynal field, as long as wide; its posterior margin narrowed in the middle, ca. 1/7 the length of the atrium, at least 1.4 times longer than the width of its lateral margin; copulatory ducts cumuliform, located posteriorly, occupying less than one tenth of spermathecae, covered by spermathecae in dorsal view; spermathecae enlarged, occupying 1/2 of epigynal field; fertilization ducts thin, ca. 5 times longer than wide.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Total length of females: 6.52–7.16 (n=11).

Distribution. Known only from Hunan Province, China ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Male palp and epigyne of Vappolotes ganlongensis Zhao & Li, 2019 A male palp, prolateral view B same, ventral view C same, retrolateral view D epigyne, ventral view E vulva, dorsal view. Scale bar: equal for A, B, and C, equal for D and E. Abbreviations: A = atrium; AC = anterior conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CF = cymbial furrow; CO = copulatory opening; DC = dorsal conductor; E = embolus; EB = embolic base; FD = fertilization duct; H = hood; LC = lamella of conductor; LTA = lateral tibial apophysis; PA = patellar apophysis; PC = posterior conductor; PMA = posterior margin of atrium; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermatheca; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum; TS = tegulum sclerite.

FIGURE 3. Epigyne and habitus of Vappolotes longshan sp. n. A epigyne, ventral view B vulva, dorsal view C male habitus, dorsal view D female habitus, dorsal view E same, ventral view. Scale bars: equal for A and B, equal for D and E. Abbreviations: A = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; H = hood; PMA = posterior margin of atrium; S = spermatheca.

FIGURE 4. Epigyne and habitus of Vappolotes tianjiayu sp. n., holotype. A epigyne, ventral view B vulva, dorsal view C female habitus, dorsal view D same, ventral view E same, lateral view. Scale bars: equal for A and B, equal for C, D, and E. Abbreviations:A = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; H = hood; PMA = posterior margin of atrium; S = spermatheca; SH = spermathecal head.

FIGURE 6. Epigyne and habitus of Vappolotes hei sp. n. A epigyne, ventral view B vulva, dorsal view C male habitus, dorsal view D female habitus, dorsal view E same, ventral view. Scale bars: equal for A and B, equal for D and E. Abbreviations: A = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; H = hood; PMA = posterior margin of atrium; S = spermatheca; SH = spermathecal head.

FIGURE 7. Type localities of new (orange) and previously described (blue) species of Vappolotes from China. 1 V. ganlongensis 2 V. jianpingensis 3 V. longshan sp. n., 4 V. tianjiayu sp. n., 5 V. hei sp. n.