Qiongthela dongfang, Yu & Liu & Zhang & Li & Xu, 2021

Yu, Li, Liu, Fengxiang, Zhang, Zengtao, Li, Daiqin & Xu, Xin, 2021, Three new species of the segmented spider genus Qiongthela (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae) from Hainan Island, China, ZooKeys 1009, pp. 123-138 : 123

Qiongthela dongfang sp. nov. Figures 2 , 3

Type material.

Holotype ♂: China, Hainan Province, Dongfang City, between Puguang and the 14th Dongfang Farm, 19.08°N, 108.92°E, alt. 160 m, 24 August 2019, D. Li, F.X. Liu, X. Xu and L. Yu leg., XUX-2019-159 (matured on 2 October 2019 at HNU). Paratypes: 3 ♀♀, same data as holotype, XUX-2019-156, 157, 160; 1 ♂, same locality as holotype, 5 August 2017, D. Li, F.X. Liu, Z.T. Zhang and X. Xu leg., XUX-2017-065 (♂ matured on 20 October 2018 at HNU).

Diagnosis.

Males of Q. dongfang sp. nov. resemble those of Q. jianfeng , but can be distinguished from the latter by the tegular marginal apophysis with a pointed, sharp apex (Fig. 3D, E, G ) and the tegular terminal apophysis with a hook-like apex (Fig. 3A, B ); from those of the rest of Qiongthela species by the conductor base with a semioval apophysis ventrally (Fig. 3E ). Females of Q. dongfang sp. nov. differ from those of Q. bawang and Q. qiongzhong by the receptacular clusters all similar in size and with short genital stalks (Fig. 3H-K ); from those of Q. nankai sp. nov. by the bases of middle receptacular clusters separated from each other (Fig. 3H-K ); from those of the rest of Qiongthela species by the two paired receptacular clusters separated from each other, and situated along the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix and all similar in size (Fig. 3H-K ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Fig. 2D ). Carapace light brown; opisthosoma brown, with 12 dark brown tergites, close to each other, the first 2-7 larger than the others, and the fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few fine pointed hairs running over the ocular area; chelicerae with promargin of cheliceral groove bearing 8 denticles; legs with firm hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 10.89, CL 5.35, CW 4.85, OL 5.26, OW 3.56; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 16.22 (4.82 + 1.45 + 3.59 + 4.33 + 2.03), leg II 15.90 (4.48 + 1.30 + 3.58 + 4.37 + 2.17), leg III 15.34 (3.83 + 1.08 + 3.25 + 4.63 + 2.55), leg IV 20.64 (4.95 + 1.10 + 4.43 + 7.00 + 3.16).

Palp. Cymbium with a short projection dorsally (Fig. 3G ); paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotised prolaterally, with numerous setae at the tip (Fig. 3A-C ). Contrategulum with two edges distally: the inner one finely dentate, the outer one sharp, semi-translucent (Fig. 3D-F ). Marginal apophysis of the tegulum long, pointed, wide basally, with a sharp apex (Fig. 3D ), proximally-directed terminal apophysis of tegulum with several denticles, narrowing to a hooked apex (Fig. 3A, B, E ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on the embolus, basal portion fused with the embolus and forming a semioval apophysis ventrally, distal portion free, narrowing to a slightly bent apex (Fig. 3A, B, E ). Embolus largely sclerotised, with a wide, flat opening of the sperm duct distally (Fig. 3B, C, E ).

Female (Fig. 2E ). Carapace reddish brown; opisthosoma brown, with 12 light brown tergites, close to each other, the first 2-7 larger than the others, and the fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few fine pointed hairs running over the ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove containing 10 denticles of variable size; legs with firm hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 17.47, CL 8.25, CW 6.78, OL 8.36, OW 6.43; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 11.01 (3.66 + 1.40 + 2.81 + 3.14), leg I 15.16 (4.87 + 1.89 + 3.54 + 3.07 + 1.79), leg II 14.86 (4.78 + 1.85 + 3.20 + 3.15 + 1.88), leg III 15.37 (4.37 + 1.94 + 3.04 + 3.74 + 2.28), leg IV 22.99 (6.70 + 2.58 + 4.55 + 6.06 + 3.10).

Female genitalia. Two pairs of similar-sized receptacular clusters along the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix, with short genital stalks (Fig. 3H-K ).

Variation.

Males and females vary in body size. Range of measurements in males (N = 2): BL 10.89-14.76, CL 5.35-7.20, CW 4.85-6.50, OL 5.26-7.18, OW 3.56-4.58; in females (N = 3): BL 12.63-17.47, CL 6.00-8.25, CW 5.46-6.78, OL 6.19-8.36, OW 4.93-6.43.

Etymology.

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

Distribution.

Hainan (Dongfang), China

GenBank accession number.

XUX-2019-159: MT900751.

Remarks.

The maximum and mean intraspecific genetic distances of Q. dongfang sp. nov. are 0.3% and 0.2% based on Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model, respectively (N = 5). We calculated the interspecific genetic distance between the holotypes of the two closest species. The genetic distances between Q. dongfang sp. nov. and Q. jianfeng (GenBank accession code: KP229838 (paratype); we used the sequence of paratype because the DNA barcodes of the holotype and paratype are identical; Xu et al. 2017), Q. nankai sp. nov., and Q. yalin sp. nov. are 7.7%, 15.7%, and 9.1% based on K2P, respectively.

Figures

Figure 2. Microhabitat and general somatic morphology of Qiongthela dongfang sp. nov. A microhabitat B, C trapdoor with door closed and open D male (XUX- 2019 - 159, holotype) E female (XUX- 2019 - 157); Scale bars: 2 mm (D, E).

Figure 3. Male and female genital anatomy of Qiongthela dongfang sp. nov. A left palp, prolateral view B, E left palp, ventral view C left palp, retrolateral view D left palp, distal view F, G left palp, dorsal view H, I vulva, dorsal view J, K vulva, ventral view A-C, G XUX- 2019 - 159 (holotype) D-F XUX- 2017 - 065 H, J XUX- 2019 - 157 I, K XUX- 2019 - 160; Scale bars: 0.5 mm.