Luthela dengfeng, Xu & Yu & Liu & Li, 2022

Xu, Xin, Yu, Li, Liu, Fengxiang & Li, Daiqin, 2022, Delimitation of the segmented trapdoor spider genus Luthela gen. nov., with comments on the genus Sinothela from northern China (Araneae, Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 131-154 : 139-141

Luthela dengfeng sp. nov.

( Fig. 6A–M )

Holotype. Male (XUX-2012-031, matured on 29 July 2012 at CBEE), Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng City, Henan Province, China, 34.511°N, 112.950°E, 568 m, collected on 27 April 2012 by F.X. Liu, Z.L. Liu, and X. Xu, CBEE.

Paratypes. 2 females (XUX-2012-023/030), same data as for holotype ; 1 female (XUX-2016-111) same data as for holotype , collected on 23 August 2016 by F. Li, F.X. Liu, H. Liu, and Z. T. Zhang, CBEE .

Diagnosis. The male of L. dengfeng sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of L. badong sp. nov. and L. taian sp. nov. by the conductor having one inconspicuous middle spine ( Fig. 6D–G ), and from that of L. badong sp. nov. by the conductor with two thicker spines; from those of all the other Luthela species by the conductor with a short lower spine, and a smaller angle between lower spine and conductor ( Fig. 6D–G ). Females of L. dengfeng sp. nov. differ from those of L. badong sp. nov., L. luotianensis , and L. yuncheng sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters being smaller than lateral ones ( Fig. 6H–J ); from those of L. schensiensis and L. yiyuan sp. nov. by the bases of the middle receptacular clusters separated from each other ( Fig. 6H ); from those of L. handan sp. nov. and L. taian sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters with slender and slightly longer stalks ( Fig. 6H–M ).

Description. Male (Holotype). Carapace brown; opisthosoma light brown, with dark brown tergites; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few long pointed hairs running over ocular mound in a longitudinal row; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 9–10 denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, the second to fifth larger than others and the others small; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 12.50, CL 6.00, CW 5.40, OL 6.90, OW 5.00; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 17.35 (5.10 + 2.35 + 3.55 + 4.05 + 2.30), leg II miss, leg III 18.10 (4.40 + 2.35 + 3.25 + 5.20 + 2.90), leg IV 23.95 (5.55 + 2.45 + 4.45 + 7.65 + 3.85).

Palp: Prolateral paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, numerous setae and spines at tip of paracymbium ( Fig. 6A–C ). Contrategulum with 6 teeth along the margin ( Fig. 6D ), and distal one with 4 serrations. Marginal apophysis of tegulum with several serrations proximally and smooth distally, dorsal extension of terminal apophysis of tegulum with irregular serrations, and terminal apophysis of tegulum smooth, triangle-shaped ( Fig. 6F, 6G ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with two large spines, upper one parallel to embolus, the angle between lower one and conductor about 30 ventrally ( Fig. 6B , 4E ), and one inconspicuous spine located at between two large spines ( Fig. 6D–G ). Embolus largely sclerotized, with a flat opening and several longitudinal ribs retrolaterally ( Fig. 6A, 6D, 6G ).

Female (XUX-2012-030). Carapace and opisthosoma similar to male; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 10–11 strong denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, similar to male; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 17.80, CL 6.90, CW 6.60, OL 11.30, OW 10.20; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 11.20 (3.90 + 1.80 + 2.60 + 2.90), leg I 13.70 (4.60 + 1.90 + 2.80 + 2.70 + 1.70), leg II 12.90 (4.00 + 2.20 + 2.40 + 2.50 + 1.80), leg III 13.90 (4.30 + 2.20 + 2.40 + 3.10 + 1.90), leg IV 21.00 (5.90 + 2.80 + 3.80 + 5.70 + 2.80).

Genitalia: Posterior margin of genital sternite slightly incurved ( Fig. 6H–J ), two pairs of receptacular clusters, middle ones smaller than lateral ones with slender stalks, separated from each other basally, and situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, lateral ones situated at slightly dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix with short thick stalks ( Fig. 6H–M ).

Etymology. The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Distribution. Henan Province (Dengfeng)

Remarks. Female variation (N = 3): BL 17.80–21.30, CL 6.90–8.40, CW 6.60–7.80, OL 11.30–12.60, OW 10.20–11.20. No intraspecific variation was found among the COI nucleotide sequences of seven specimens (including juveniles). The GenBank accession code of the holotype (XUX-2012-031) is MH172686 .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Female genital anatomy of Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A–E, K–O, vulva dorsal view. F–J, P–T, vulva ventral view. A, F, XUX-2012-034. B, G, XUX-2012-035. C, H, XUX-2012-049. D, I, XUX-2016-101. E, J, XUX-2016-107. K, P, XUX-2012- 042. L, Q, XUX-2012-040. M, R, XUX-2012-046. N, S, XUX-2016-103. O, T, XUX-2016-108. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Male and female genital anatomy of Luthela dengfeng sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. H–J, vulva dorsal view. K–M, vulva ventral view. A–G, XUX-2012-031 (holotype). H, K, XUX-2012-023. I, L, XUX-2012-030. J, M, XUX-2016-111. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.