Meta cona sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 394D796E-0044-4A4F-BF30-2341E2F5F36C

Figs 1C–D, 5–7, 22

Differential diagnosis

The male of this new species resembles M. bowo sp. nov. (Figs 1–4) in having the similar conductor, paracymbium and the abruptly thin embolus of male palp, but can be distinguished by the following characters: metaine embolic apophysis relatively globular, lower outgrowth narrow with pointed end in ventral view in M. cona sp. nov. (Figs 5B, 6E), whereas longer than wide, lower outgrowth thumbshaped with blunt end in M. bowo (Figs 2B, 3E); cymbial ectobasal process robust with a sharp tooth at distal end visible in ventral view in M. cona sp. nov. (Figs 5B–C, 6B–D), whereas oval with a depression on distal margin, tooth invisible in ventral view in M. bowo (Figs 2B–C, 3B–D). The female of M. cona sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the epigynal plate arc-shaped, relatively protruding posteriorly and spermathecae looks like beas on the string (Figs 5D–E, 7A–B).

Etymology

The epithet refers to the type locality.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Tibet, Cona County, Mama Township, Lebugou; 27°52′51.24″ N, 91°47′33.85″ E; alt. 2780 m; 4 Aug. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-03-01.

Paratypes CHINA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-TEg-03-02 • 1 ♀; Cona County, Mama Township, Lebugou; 27°53′54.98″ N, 91°48′2.01″ E; alt. 3008 m; 4 Aug. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-03-02 .

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 1C)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 7.89. Prosoma 3.74 long, 3.00 wide; opisthosoma 4.30 long, 3.03 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.21, PME 0.23, PLE 0.20; AME–AME 0.22, AME– ALE 0.25, PME–PME 0.17, PME–PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.57 long, front width 0.58, back width 0.60. Clypeus height 0.22.

CHELICERAE. Strong, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 20.25 (5.54, 7.04, 5.57, 2.10); II = 15.52 (4.47, 5.34, 4.05, 1.66); III = 8.76 (2.74, 2.71, 2.21, 1.10); IV = 12.13 (3.85, 3.93, 2.82, 1.53). Leg formula: 1243.

OPISTHOSOMA. Oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Both dorsum and venter white, with black markings.

PALP (Figs 5A–C, 6A–E). Cymbial ectobasal process simple, distal end protruding with a sharp tooth. Paracymbium finger-like, widest medially, with sparse long hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis sclerotized, globular, lower outgrowth narrow with pointed end, extending forward (shown with black arrow, Figs 5A–C, 6A–E).

EMBOLUS. Short, abruptly thin with very fine tip. Conductor strong, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb and extending clockwise, longer than wide, with membranous end.

Female (paratype SWUC-T-TEg-03-02, Fig. 1D)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 7.87. Prosoma 3.67 long, 2.83 wide; opisthosoma 4.53 long, 3.99 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.19, ALE 0.21, PME 0.22, PLE 0.21; AME–AME 0.23, AME– ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.08. MOA 0.68 long, front width 0.55, back width 0.61. Clypeus height 0.32.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 16.24 (4.53, 5.76, 3.90, 2.05); II = 13.03 (3.69, 4.61, 3.18, 1.55); III = 7.68 (2.28, 2.53, 1.73, 1.14); IV = 10.25 (3.09, 3.34, 2.64, 1.18). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male.

EPIGYNE (Figs 5D–E, 7A–B). Posterior margin of epigynal plate arc-shaped, protruding posteriorly.

VULVA. Spermathecae looks like beas on the string. Fertilization ducts thick, S-shaped.

Distribution

China, Tibet (Cona) (Fig. 22).