Zhezhoulinyphia, Irfan, Muhammad, Zhou, Gu-chun & Peng, Xian-jin, 2019

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhou, Gu-chun & Peng, Xian-jin, 2019, Zhezhoulinyphia gen. nov. (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from Yunnan, China, ZooKeys 862, pp. 43-60 : 45

Zhezhoulinyphia gen. nov.

Type species.

Zhezhoulinyphia denticulata sp. nov.

Etymology.

The species name comes from the Chinese word “褶皱(Zhezhou)” meaning “wrinkle” and referring to parmula with wrinkles in epigyne. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis.

Zhezhoulinyphia gen. nov. resembles Diplostyla Emerton, 1882, Kaestneria Wiehle, 1956, Laetesia Simon, 1908 and Laperousea Dalmas, 1917 in: Epigyne with parmula originating from posterior margin of posterior median plate with a socket ventrally (Fig. 7 A–D; Ivie 1969, figs 105-108; van Helsdingen 1972, fig. 8; Irfan and Peng 2018, figs 5C, D, 6C, D;). Distal margin of radix semicircular with teeth as in Laetesia and Laperousea (Figs 4A, B, 5 C–E, 6A, B; Millidge 1988, figs 145-146). It can be distinguished by the following characters: the embolus and embolic membrane arise from the dorsal side of the distal margin of radix (Figs 4A, B, D, 5 C–E, 6A, B), whereas this arises from the lateral (inner) side of the embolic plate in Kaestneria and Laetesia ( Millidge 1988, figs 145, 149; Zhao and Li 2014, figs 47B, 49B) and in Diplostyla concolor embolus arises near base of cymbium and extends parallel along with full length of cymbium ( Ivie 1969, figs 107, 108); distal suprategular apophysis proximally broad with teeth, distal part strongly curved into inverse U-shaped, and almost touching distal margin of paracymbium (Figs 4A, B, D, 5G, 6A, B), whereas it is protruding upward with a notch in Laetesia ( Millidge 1988, fig. 146); without a notch in Kaestneria ( Tao et al. 1995, figs 77-78) and Diplostyla concolor (Ivie, 1969, fig. 108); parmula extending towards anterior margin first then folding backward, distal part with transverse wrinkles (Figs 7 A–D, 9 A–D, 10A, B), whereas parmula not folded and without transverse wrinkles both in Kaestneria and Laetesia ( Millidge 1988, figs 145, 149; Zhao and Li 2014, figs 47B, 49B) and in Diplostyla concolor , epigyne parmula reduced, invisible in ventral view, ventral plate with very long and slender scape (Ivie, 1969, figs 105, 106).

Description.

Large sized, 4.0-5.5. Male cephalic region strongly elevated, ocular area with spines, extending forward. AER procurved, PER slightly recurved. Chaetotaxy: 2 –2–2– 2. TmI 0.9-1.3, TmIV 0.5-0.75. Leg formula I–II–IV–III. Legs yellow without obvious patterns.

Male Palp: Femur almost equal to the collective length of patella and cymbium (Fig. 5A, B). Patella shorter than tibia, dorsally with a long spine (Figs 5A, B, 6A, B). Tibia with three retrolateral and a dorsal trichobothria (Figs 4A, B, 5G, 6A, B). Cymbium conical flask-shaped, with a cymbial retrolateral lobe (Figs 4B, 5B, G, 6B). Paracymbium large, distal arm broad with round tip (Figs 4B, 5F, 6B). Distal suprategular apophysis sclerotized, proximal end broad with teeth, strongly curved distally (Figs 4 A–C, 5G, 6A, B). Radix long, proximal end with finger-shaped dorsal lobe of embolic plate; distal margin semicircular with teeth and a radical apophysis. Embolus and embolic membrane arise from dorsal side of distal semicircular serrated margin of radix (Figs 4 A–C, 5 C–E, 6A).

Epigyne (Figs 1 A–D, 2 A–C, 7 A–D, 9 A–D, 10A, B): Anterior wall of epigyne (AE) longer than wide, posterior margin with a big outgrowth; copulatory openings present inside atrium; parmula long, extending towards anterior margin first then folding backward, distal part with transverse wrinkles (number of wrinkles varies among different species), distal tip with a socket posteriorly. Vulva: posterior median plate cordiform; copulatory ducts long, arch-shaped; spermathecae U- or L-shaped, present mesally on posterior median plate; fertilization ducts long, extending mesally.

Distribution.

Yunnan, Tibet (China) (Fig. 12).