Vinathela nenglianggu, Li & Liu & Xu, 2019

Li, Dengqing, Liu, Hao & Xu, Xin, 2019, Three new species of the primitively segmented spiders from Mt Yuelu, Hunan, China (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 4691 (2), pp. 139-152 : 149-151

Vinathela nenglianggu sp. nov.

Fig. 7 A–K

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:020E2E38-ADEA-4F36-B795-6001AB5DBC6A

Holotype. Male (DQ–2018–036), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu , Energy Valley , 28.1829°N, 112.9377°E, 112m a.s.l., 30 March 2018, collected by DQ Li.

Paratypes. 4 females [DQ–2018–(007/028/029/030)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Aiwan Pavilion , 10–30 March 2018, DQ Li ; 3 females [DQ–2018–(039/040/046)], China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Aiwan Pavilion , 28.1847°N, 112.9328°E, 101m a.s.l., 19 April–29 June 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (DQ–2018– 002), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Jiangjunmu , 28.1919°N, 112.9380°E, 115m a.s.l., 8 January 2018, DQ Li ; 1 male (DQ–2018–008), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Aiwan Pavilion , 28.1810°N, 112.9378°E, 90m a.s.l., 10 March 2018, DQ Li ; 1 female (XUX–2011–037), China, Hunan Province, Changsha, Mt Yuelu, Guimenguan , 28.1926°N, 112.9381°E, 85m a.s.l., 16 August 2011, FX Liu, X Xu, R Xiao .

Diagnosis. Males of V. nenglianggu sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of V. hongkong (Song & Wu, 1997) by the distal portion of embolus being wider and the curved conductor with an inward tip ( Fig. 7 A–G), from those of other Vinathela species by the embolus with a flat opening ( Fig. 7G ). Females of V. nenglianggu sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of all other Vinathela species by having four receptacular clusters with short genital stalks, the median pair situated at the anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, the lateral pair situated more dorsally ( Fig. 7 H–K).

Description. Male holotype (DQ–2018–036). Carapace brown, and with some slight hairs in margin; opisthosoma light brown; tergites yellow-gray with several brown flecks; sternum narrow, nearly twice as long as wide; few fine pointed hairs over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, third to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 8 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 8.75, CL 4.01, CW 3.74, OL 4.54, OW 2.85; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 13.23 (3.64 + 1.59 + 2.63 + 3.39 + 1.98), leg II 13.31 (3.55 + 1.57 + 2.58 + 3.48 + 2.13), leg III 14.35 (3.51 + 1.62 + 2.58 + 4.19 + 2.45), leg IV 19.71 (4.58 + 1.83 + 3.72 + 6.10 + 3.48).

Palp: Cymbium with projection ( Fig. 7A ); prolateral side of paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, with numerous setae and spines at tip ( Fig. 7A ); contrategulum with two rows of denticulate margin ( Fig. 7A ); tegulum with serrate marginal apophysis and dorsal extension of terminal apophysis, as well as smooth thumb-shaped terminal apophysis in retrolateral view ( Fig. 7F ); conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with wide proximal portion but slightly sclerotized, bent and sclerotized distal portion ( Fig. 7 A–F); embolus with wide and flat opening and apophysis in center of distal portion ( Fig. 7 A–B, D–E, G).

Female paratype (DQ–2018–007). Carapace and opisthosoma colour similar as in male; tergites dark brown; sternum narrow; few fine pointed hairs over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, third to fifth larger than remaining and fourth largest; 8 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 11.99, CL 4.53, CW 3.86, OL 7.03, OW 5.91; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 7.92 (2.82 + 1.46 + 1.68 + 1.96), leg I 8.82 (2.72 + 1.58 + 1.74 + 1.67 + 1.11), leg II 8.50 (2.49 + 1.44 + 1.50 + 1.74 + 1.33), leg III 8.97 (2.31 + 1.59 + 1.62 + 2.07 + 1.38), leg IV 12.94 (3.60 + 1.61 + 2.36 + 3.44 + 1.93).

Female genitalia: Four receptacular clusters with short genital stalks, median pair situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix; lateral pair situated more dorsolaterally and larger than median pair; posterior part of genital area trapezoid. ( Fig. 7H, J ).

Variation. Males and females vary in body size. The range of measurements in males (N = 2): BL 8.75–9.46, CL 4.01–4.17, CW 3.74–3.87, OL 4.54–4.64, OW 2.85–3.18; females (N = 9): BL 8.48–13.54, CL 3.97–5.52, CW 3.40–4.63, OL 4.42–7.03, OW 3.04–5.91. Moreover, the female genitalia appears slight intraspecific variation: the median pair of receptacular clusters slightly large and close to each other, the posterior part of genital area irregular arc ( Fig. 7I, K ).

Etymology. The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to “Energy Valley”, Nenglianggu in Chinese.

Distribution. Hunan (Changsha) Province, China.

GenBank accession numbers. Holotype, DQ–2018–036: MN 400648 .

Remarks. Because the intraspecific genetic distance of V. nenglianggu sp. nov. is 0/0% based on K2P and p - distance, we provide only the holotype COI barcode sequence for further identification.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Male and female genital anatomy of Vinathela nenglianggu sp. nov. A–C, male palp, holotype, DQ–2018–036; A, prolateral view; B, ventral view; C, retrolateral view; D–G, male palp, paratype, DQ–2018–008; D, prolateral view; E, ventral view; F, retrolateral view; G, distal view; H–I, female genitalia, dorsal view; J–K, female genitalia, ventral view; H–K, paratypes; H, J, DQ–2018–007; I, K, DQ–2018–028. Scale bars: A–K, 0.3 mm.