Songthela Ono, 2000

Zhang, Yan, Chen, Zhaoyang, Li, Daiqin & Xu, Xin, 2023, Three new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae, Heptathelinae) from Hunan Province, China, ZooKeys 1154, pp. 17-31 : 17

Genus Songthela Ono, 2000

Type species.

Heptathela hangzhouensis Chen, Zhang & Zhu, 1981.

Diagnosis.

Males of Songthela differ from those of all other Heptathelinae genera by smooth conductor with one or two apical spines and by conductor middle portion having several teeth (Figs 3B, E , 4A-C , 6A, B ); by embolus having a wide and flat opening (Figs 3D , 4D , 6D ); and by contrategulum having densely serrated margin (Figs 3D , 4D , 6D ); females of Songthela can be distinguished from those of all other liphistiid genera by two pairs of receptacular clusters separated from each other, median ones with obviously tubular genital stalks, four receptacular clusters situated at the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix, or middle ones situated at the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix and lateral ones located relatively dorsolaterally, or all four located dorsally (Figs 3J-M , 5A-F , 7A-H ).

Distribution.

China (Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang) and Vietnam (Lao Cai).

Figures

Figure 3. Male and female genital anatomy of Songthela anhua Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A-C left palp A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view D-G right palp D prolateral view E ventral view F retrolateral view G distal view H conductor of left palp I conductor of right palp J, K vulva dorsal view L, M vulva ventral view A-C, H XUX- 2021 - 007 (holotype) D-G, I XUX- 2021 - 018 J, L XUX- 2021 - 008 K, M XUX- 2021 - 012. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-G, J-M); 0.1 mm (H, I).

Figure 4. Male genital anatomy of Songthela longhui Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, F palp retrolateral view G palp distal view H-J conductor ventral view A-C, H XUX- 2021 - 275 (holotype) D-G, J XUX- 2021 - 282 A I XUX- 2021 - 287. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-G); 0.1 mm (H-J).

Figure 5. Female genital anatomy of Songthela longhui Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A-C vulva dorsal view D-F vulva ventral view A, D XUX- 2021 - 281 B, E XUX- 2021 - 282 C, F XUX- 2021 - 278. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 6. Male genital anatomy of Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, F palp retrolateral view G palp distal view H-K conductor ventral view L contrategulum prolateral view A-C, J, L XUX- 2021 - 264 (holotype) D-G, I XUX- 2021 - 263 H XUX- 2021 - 262 K XUX- 2021 - 267. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-G); 0.1 mm (H-L).

Figure 7. Female genital anatomy of Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A-D vulva dorsal view E-H vulva ventral view A, E XUX- 2021 - 258 B, F XUX- 2021 - 259 C, G XUX- 2021 - 261 D, H XUX- 2021 - 265. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.