Prosoponoides minutus, Irfan & Zhang & Peng, 2022

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, Megataxa 8 (1), pp. 1-292 : 231-233

Prosoponoides minutus sp. nov. (ḿAEƦ)

Figures 270–273 , 286 .

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Gongshan County, Qiqi Dongshaofang , 27.69521ºN, 98.48514ºE, 3208m, 29 September 2007, Xian-jin Peng leg. (20070929) . Paratypes: 7♂ 3♀, same data as holotype male (20070929); 2♂ 1♀, Gongshan County, Dabadi to Yakou , along the tunnel, 27.7898889°N, 98.4510278°E –27.7961944°N, 98.4545278°E, 2984m, 02 October 2002, Heng-mei Yan leg. (Yan 021002); 2♂, Fugong County , 18km, Lumadeng, Yama river bridge, 25.13561°N, 98.84166°E, alt. 1612m, 7 October 2007, Xian-jin Peng leg. (20071007); 1♂, Gongshan County , Bingzhongluo Township, Gemalaka, 27.98139ºN, 98.48134ºE, 4000m, 20 August 2006, Peng Hu leg. (Hu 060820) ; 1♀, Gongshan County, Bingzhongluo Township , Gemalaka 27.98631ºN, 98.47069ºE, 3808m, 21 August 2006, Peng Hu leg. (Hu 060820) ; 1♀, Gongshan County, Cikai Township , Dahaituo, 27.78440°N, 98.46038°E, alt. 3363m, 13 August 2006, Peng Hu leg. (Hu 060813) ; 5♀, Fugong County, Pihe Township , Yueliangtian Village, 26.56784°N, 98.90884°E, alt. 1520m, 20, 23, 24 August 2005, Guo Tang leg. (Tang –05–08) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ minutus ”, meaning “small” and refers to the small body size of this spider.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the tip of distal suprategular apophysisrectangular,mesallygrooved;anteriorprojection of lamella characteristca absent; lateral projection of lamella characteristca sharp, slightly curved with pointed end ( Figs 270A, B, D , 271 ); Entrance grooves with one coil, spermathecae tongue-shaped ( Fig. 272B, C ).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 273A, B ): Total length: 1.62. Carapace 0.77 long, 0.71 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated yellow; cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.14 high. Sternum cordiform, yellow. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER procurved, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.05, PME 0.05, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.06, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.29, PLE–PLE 0.30, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.72 (1, 1.1, 1.01, 0.61), II 3.29 (0.93, 0.97, 0.88, 0.51), III 2.15 (0.66, 0.62, 0.52, 0.35), IV 2.82 (0.81, 0.84, 0.72, 0.45). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.31 and Tm IV 0.18. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 0.96 long, 0.64 wide, oval, pale, with white patches dorsally; ventral side pale.

Palp ( Figs 270A–D , 271 ): Patella shorter than tibia; tibia with two retrolateral and a dorsal trichobothria; paracymbium sclerotized, U-shaped; tegulum sclerotized, excavated ventrally; distal suprategular apophysis rectangular, distal part mesally grooved. Lamella characteristca with three well developed apophyses; lateral projection longer than wide, slightly curved, extending forward; the anterior projection absent; dorsal projection short, slightly curved and the posterior projection relatively long with pointed end. Embolic membrane broad, extending forward. Embolus sclerotized, slightly curved, projecting upward.

Female (one of paratypes, Fig. 273C, D ): Total length: 2.33. Carapace 0.88 long, 0.68 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated, yellow; cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.16 high. Sternum cordiform, yellow. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.05, PME 0.05, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.06, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.33, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.12 (0.83, 0.96, 0.79, 0.54), II 2.84 (0.80, 0.87, 0.68, 0.49), III 1.91 (0.59, 0.54, 0.43, 0.35), IV 2.53 (0.76, 0.75, 0.61, 0.41). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.36 and Tm IV 0.21. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 0.88 long, 0.68 wide, oval, pale, with white patches dorsally; ventral side pale.

Epigyne ( Fig. 272A–C ): Posteriorly with two openings of entrance grooves separated by median septum, margins curved and sclerotized. Parmula wider than long, with a socket ventrally. Vulva: wider than long, entrance grooves started from ventral wall, with one coil, turning points and spermathecae present dorso-mesally on apices; spermathecae tongue-shaped, pointing away from each other; fertilization ducts long, present dorsolaterally, extending upward.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 286 ).

Figures

FIGURE 270. Prosoponoides minutus sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 271. Prosoponoides minutus sp. nov., male (one of paratype). Embolic division, ventral view.

FIGURE 272. Prosoponoides minutus sp. nov., female (one of paratype). A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 273. Prosoponoides minutus sp. nov., male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 286. Distribution of Prosoponoides species.