Megalepthyphantes gongshanensis, 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 : 162

Megalepthyphantes gongshanensis sp. nov. (ṄƜDffl ƉƦ)

Figures 184–186 , 189

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Gongshan County, Cikai Township, Gongshan , 27.74082°N, 98.66554°E, alt. 1505m, 21 September 2002, D. H. Kavanaugh leg. ( DHK –2002–023) . Paratypes: 3♂ 3♀, same data as holotype male ( DHK –2002–023) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the type locality.

Diagnosis. The female of new species resembles that of Megalepthyphantes kronebergi ( Tanasevitch, 1989) and M. turkestanicus ( Tanasevitch, 1989) in having a similar scape and V-shaped posterior median plate ( Figs 184A–D , 185A, C ; Tanasevitch, 1989, figs 43, 45, 49, 51), but can be distinguished by the spermathecae bean-shaped in M. gongshanensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 184D ). The male of the new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the proximal end of paracymbium with a broad D-shaped projection pointing towards the retrolateral margin of the cymbium ( Fig. 185A ). Proximal cymbial apophysis thumb-shaped with blunt end ( Fig. 185B–D ). Lamella characteristca curved, with three long and one small branches, distal end serrated ( Fig. 185B, D ).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 186A, B ): Total length: 2.39. Carapace 0.98 long, 0.89 wide, brown, lateral margin dark brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.18 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown,, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and two retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.07, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.06, AME– ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.38, PLE–PLE 0.40, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 6.49 (1.69, 2.12, 1.62, 1.06), II 5.67 (1.54, 1.78, 1.44, 0.91), III 4.28 (1.27, 1.28, 1.07, 0.66), IV 5.6 (1.56, 1.71, 1.45, 0.88). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.82 and Tm IV 0.53. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.41 long, 1.14 wide, oval, brown, dorsally with distinct black pattern; ventral side brown with a longitudinal light band at the center.

Palp ( Fig. 185A–D ): Patella shorter than tibia with a long dorsal spine; tibia short, with a depression at the distal margin; two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; proximal cymbial apophysis thumbshaped with blunt end. Paracymbium proximally wider than long, with a broad D-shaped ventral projection and fine spines, distal arm wider than long with blunt end. The ventral part of the distal suprategular apophysis small, covered by the tegulum with narrow hook-shaped dorsal tip. Radix longer than wide; Fickert’s gland situated embolus almost about half long of the radix. Lamella characteristca relatively sclerotized and curved, distal end leaf-shaped, three longer and one small shorter branches with serrated end.

Female (one of the paratypes, Fig. 186C, D ): Total length: 4.50. Carapace 1.61 long, 1.27 wide, brown, lateral margin dark brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.42 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown,, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.11, ALE 0.13, PME 0.11, PLE 0.12, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, AME–ALE, 0.10, PME–PLE 0.07, AME–PME 0.11, ALE–ALE 0.53, PLE–PLE 0.57, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 11.85 (3.21, 3.77, 3.01, 1.86), II 10.51 (2.97, 3.25, 2.65, 1.64), III 7.56 (2.26, 2.23, 1.94, 1.13), IV 10.26 (2.79, 3.05, 3.89, 1.53). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 1.41 and Tm IV 1.18. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2- 2. Abdomen 2.89 long, 1.84 wide, oval, brown, dorsally with distinct black pattern; ventral side brown with a longitudinal light band at the center.

Epigyne ( Fig. 184A–D ): Protruding; scape broad, wider than long, with a deep notch posteriorly in ventral view; distal part of scape with relatively small stretcher; entrance groove inside lateral pockets; lateral pockets ear lobe shaped extending laterally; posterior median plate broad, V-shaped with round lateral end on each side; spermathecae bean-shaped, curved, situated dorsolaterally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 189 ).

Figures

FIGURE 184. Megalepthyphantes gongshanensis sp. nov. female (one of paratypes). A, C Epigyne, ventral view B Epigyne, lateral view D Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 185. Megalepthyphantes gongshanensis sp. nov. male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 186. Megalepthyphantes gongshanensis sp. nov., male (holotype, A, B) and female (one of paratypes, C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 189. Distribution of Megalepthyphantes species.