Leptonetela biocellata, He & Liu & Xu & Yin & Peng, 2019

He, Ailan, Liu, Jinxin, Xu, Xiang, Yin, Haiqiang & Peng, Xianjin, 2019, Description of three new species of spider genus Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 from caves of Hunan Province, China (Araneae, Leptonetidae), Zootaxa 4554 (2), pp. 584-600 : 585-590

Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov.

Figures 1–4 , 12

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 8B307A58-A49F-487D-8486-893086B96AF4

Type material. Holotype: male (HNU) China, Hunan Province, Xinning County, Langshan National Geological Park, rock cave of Yunv , 110°44.012'E, 26°16.543'N, 311m, 25 November 2014, collected from cracks between stones, Haiqiang Yin, Cheng Wang, Bing Zhou, Jiahui Gan, Yuhui Gong leg. Paratypes: 42 females, 14 males, same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is a combination of the Latin prefix “bi-” (two, twice, double) and the Latin “ocellatus” (having ocular spots), referring to the two white eyes which are strongly reduced in size.

Diagnosis. This species resembles Leptonetela quinquespinata (Chen & Zhu, 2008) in similar proportions of each part of the male palp; slightly wide, flattened conductor; similar shape of the atrium ( Figs 1 B–D, 2C, 3A, B, 4A, C in this present paper; figs 44B–D, 45C, 46A, B, 47B, D in Wang & Li 2011). The new species can be distinguished by eyes reduced to two white spots; median apophysis completely covered by the conductor, neither present in L. quinquespinata ( Figs 1A, B , 2A , 4C in this present paper; figs 44A, B, 45A, 47B, D in Wang & Li 2011); chelicerae with ten promarginal and seven small retromarginal teeth in new species ( Fig. 4D ), but nine promarginal and five small retromarginal teeth in L. quinquespinata (fig. 47C in Wang & Li 2011). Males of the new species resemble L. anshun Lin & Li, 2010 , L. grandispina Lin & Li, 2010 , L. liping Lin & Li, 2010 , L. maxillacostata Lin & Li, 2010 , L. tetracantha Lin & Li, 2010 , L. zhai Wang & Li, 2011 , L. yaoi Wang & Li, 2011 , L. thracia Gasparo, 2005 , L. mita Wang & Li, 2011 , and L. microdonta (Xu & Song, 1983) in pedipalpal tarsus with a transverse groove, slightly contracted mesially, with no distinct wrinkles (figs 4A, B, 19A, B, 31A, B, 33A, B, 49A, B in Lin & Li 2010; figs 70A, B, 67A, B, 59A, B, 30A, B, 34A, B in Wang & Li 2011). It can be distinguished from all the former species by the presence of two white eyespots ( Figs 1A , 2A ); membranous and slightly wide flattened conductor; embolus distally twisted at one third; median apophysis hidden by the conductor ( Figs 1B , 4C ). Females resemble L. parlonga Wang & Li, 2011 by the shape of atria and spermathecae; but can be distinguished by eyes reduced to two eyespots in the new species ( Figs 2A , 3C ), normal six eyes in L. parlonga (fig. 37A in Wang & Li 2011); anterior margin of the atrium decorated with dense short and slender hairs in L. parlonga (fig. 37C in Wang & Li 2011), absent in the new species ( Fig. 2C ).

Description. Male. Total length 2.45 ( Fig. 1A ). Carapace 1.13 long, 0.94 wide. Opisthosoma 1.23 long, 0.99 wide. Prosoma yellowish, with several setae near the anterior margin of carapace and a short seta situated before ALE (anterior lateral eyes) ( Fig. 3C ). ALE strongly reduced in size, only two white eyespots present; PME completely absent; PLE barely visible, with slight vestiges left. Eye sizes: ALE 0.03, the vestige of PLE less than 0.01 long. Thoracic median groove short, brown, needle-shaped. Cervical grooves and radial furrows light brown, indistinct. Clypeus 0.22 high. Chelicerae light brown, with ten promarginal and seven small retromarginal teeth, both rows of teeth gradually becoming smaller and denser from the base to the distal end of fang furrow ( Fig. 4D ). Endites reddish brown. Labium yellowish brown and plump, fused to sternum. Sternum pale yellow, peltate. Legs yellowish. Leg measurements: I 12.33 (3.51, 0.40, 3.56, 3.07, 1.79); II 9.72 (2.99, 0.31, 2.75, 2.45, 1.22); III 8.57 (2.32, 0.35, 2.36, 2.27, 1.27); IV 10.74 (3.17, 0.25, 3.00, 2.75, 1.57). Leg formula: I–IV–II–III. Opisthosoma pale brown, ovoid, lacking distinct patterns ( Fig. 1A ). Male pedipalpus as illustrated in Figs 1 B–D, 3A, B, 4C. Femur without any spines. Patella distally provided with a dorsal spine. Tibia with three trichobothria dorsally, five long spines prolaterally and eight spines (five spines in a longitudinal row along the tibia and the other three in a transversal row along distal margin of the tibia) retrolaterally. Tarsus sunken and contracted at middle position, attaching to an earlobe-shaped process retrolaterally. One distal short spine, three retrolateral and three prolateral long spines present on the distal half of the tarsus ( Figs 1C, D , 3A, B ). Pedipalpal bulb oval in shape, smooth. Conductor membranous, slight wide, flattened. Embolus with distal one third twisted towards prolateral side and the distal end slightly broader, not sharp. Median apophysis completely covered by the conductor and its vague outline can be seen through the conductor ( Figs 1B , 4C ). Prolateral lobe medium sized, triangular ( Fig. 3A ).

Female. Similar to male in general features, somatic coloration and body size, but legs shorter. Total length 2.43 ( Figs 2A, B ). Carapace 0.98 long, 0.90 wide. Opisthosoma 1.42 long, 1.13 wide. Eye sizes: ALE 0.03, the vestige of PLE 0.02 long. Clypeus 0.22 high. Leg measurements: I 9.43 (2.55, 0.36, 2.83, 2.23, 1.46); II 8.19 (2.31, 0.39, 2.31, 1.92, 1.26); III 7.88 (1.89, 0.32, 1.92, 1.67, 1.08); IV 8.49 (2.51, 0.38, 2.45, 1.98, 1.17). Leg formula: I– IV–II–III. Genital area densely covered with long hairs. Atrium much wider than long. Internal genitalia consist of paired spermathecae and sperm ducts. Spermathecae highly twisted, distal end more strongly sclerotized than proximally, and the distal ends separated slightly far from each other ( Figs 2B, C , 4A, B ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 12 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1A–D. Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov. A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Male pedipalpal bulb, ventral view; C. Male pedipalpus, prolateral view; D. As previous, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A, 0.5mm; B, 0.1mm; C–D, 0.2mm.

FIGURES 2A–C. Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov. A. Female habitus, dorsal view; B. As previous, ventral view; C. Female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–B, 0.5mm; C, 0.1mm.

FIGURES 3A–C. Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov. A. Male left pedipalpus, prolateral view; B. As previous, retrolateral view; C. Carapace of male holotype (showing eyes), dorsal view. Abbreviations: PL, prolateral lobe; TS, tibial spur. Scale bars: A–B, 0.2mm; C, 0.5mm.

FIGURES 4A–D. Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov. A. Female genitalia, dorsal view; B. Female genital area, ventral view; C. Male left pedipalpal bulb, ventral view; D. Male left chelicera, posterior view. Abbreviations: At, atrium; Em, embolus; MA, median apophysis; SD, sperm duct; Sp, spermatheca. Scale bars: A–C, 0.1mm; D, 0.2mm.

FIGURE 12. Locality records for Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov., L. biocellata sp. nov. and L. tangi sp. nov.