Meotipa pseudomultuma, Liang & Yin & Xu, 2024

Liang, Yun, Yin, Haiqiang & Xu, Xiang, 2024, Three new species of the spider genus Meotipa Simon, 1895 from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (Araneae: Theridiidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 968, pp. 156-173 : 162-166

Meotipa pseudomultuma sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B2273F95-07E9-4B3B-88E6-7214FABD5F2F

Figs 3–6 , 11 , Tables 1–3

Diagnosis

The female of this new species is similar to that of M. spiniventris (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869) in having a large CO and oval S (compare Figs 3D , 4A with Deng et al. 2022: fig. 4d–e), but can be distinguished from the latter by the abdomen extending backwards beyond the spinnerets and a slender CD surrounding S in a semi-loop versus oval abdomen without extension as well as short and thick CD not convoluting around S in M. spiniventris (compare Figs 3 D−F, 4 with Deng et al. 2022: fig 4b, d, g). The male of this new species is similar to that of M. multuma Murthappa et al., 2017 in having a protruding C with a deep groove (compare Figs 5D , 6A with Sekhar & Sunil, 2021: fig. 4), but can be distinguished from the latter by a large T joining to C as well as a relatively small, curved C with its basal edge visible through T; whereas relatively small T as well as large, sclerotized, relatively straight, and entirely uncovered C are present in M. multuma (compare Figs 5D–F , 6 with Sekhar & Sunil, 2021: fig. 4).

Etymology

The specific name is the combination of the Latin prefix ‘ pseudo -’ and the species name ‘ multuma ’, meaning that the male of this new species is very similar to that of M. multuma in having a protruding conductor with a deep groove, and is an adjective, feminine.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♀; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chongzuo City, Nongang Nature Reserve , Nonggang Station ; 22°28′ N, 106º57′ E; alt. 184 m; 25 Oct. 2017, A. He, K. Liu, J. Liu, Q. Cai and J. Liu leg; HNU802 .

Paratypes CHINA • 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; HNU803 to HNU804 • 8 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; HNU805 to HNU812 .

Description

Female (holotype HNU802)

Total length 2.29, carapace 0.84 long, 0.74 wide, 0.45 height, abdomen 1.45 long, 0.94 wide, 1.28 height. Carapace yellowish, fovea round, radial furrow indistinct ( Fig. 3A ). Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.06, PME 0.05, PLE 0.05; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.04. Clypeus height 0.17. Clypeus slightly bulged. Chelicerae yellowish, very long, only two promarginal teeth. Pedipalp yellowish, tibia with one black flattened spine. STL 0.52, STW 0.43. Sternum yellowish, shield-shaped. Labium nearly rectangle. Legs yellowish, long and slender, patellae and tibiae with one or two black flattened spines. Leg measurements: I 9.57 (2.67, 0.45, 2.51, 3.01, 0.93); II 6.62 (1.75, 0.45, 1.41, 1.78, 0.83); III 3.83 (1.23, 0.25, 0.83, 0.98, 0.54); IV 5.91 (1.92, 0.33, 1.23, 1.65, 0.78). Leg formula I II IV III. Abdomen yellowish, with snowy patches and three pairs of black spots ( Fig. 3A ). Caudal region extending upwards beyond spinnerets ( Fig. 3C ). Venter of abdomen yellowish ( Fig. 3B ).

EPIGYNE ( Figs 3D–F , 4 ). CO large, horn-shaped, with broken embolus as mating plug. CD relatively long, surrounding S in semi-loop, and connecting to center of S ventrally. S oval, adjacent to each other. FD relatively short and curved, arising from lower-middle of S.

Male (paratype HNU803)

Total length 1.62; carapace 0.79 long, 0.70 wide, 0.21 height; abdomen 0.83 long, 0.56 wide, 0.41 height. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.05, PME 0.06, PLE 0.05; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.07. CL 0.20. STL 0.49, STW 0.41. Leg measurements: I 8.77 (2.47, 0.37, 2.21, 2.84, 0.88); II 5.52 (1.65, 0.34, 1.25, 1.62, 0.66); III 3.38 (1.13, 0.20, 0.73, 0.88, 0.44); IV 5.32 (1.73, 0.25, 1.15, 1.53, 0.66). Leg formula I II IV III. Abdomen oval, yellowish, dorsum with two pairs of black spots located anteriorly and two posteriorly ( Fig. 5A ). Caudal region not extending beyond spinnerets ( Fig. 5B ). Other characteristics similar to those of female.

PEDIPALPUS ( Figs 5D–F , 6 ). Prolateral margin of cymbium strongly extends ventrally. T large, transparent, and joining with C. St small, located on lower of bulb. C transparent, with deep groove in ventral view, resembling curved hook in prolateral view. E short, sharp, partially covered by C. MA small, situated between E and cymbium.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, China (Guangxi) ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

Fig. 3. Meotipa pseudomultuma sp. nov., ♀, holotype (HNU802). A–C. Habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. lateral view. D–E. Epigyne, ventral view. F. Vulva, dorsal view (E–F, after digestion with pancreatin). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–F = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 4. Meotipa pseudomultuma sp. nov., ♀, holotype (HNU802). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Meotipa pseudomultuma sp. nov., ♂, paratype (HNU803). A–C. Habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view. D–E. Left palp. D. Prolateral view. E. Ventral view. F. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–F = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 6. Meotipa pseudomultuma sp. nov., ♂, paratype (HNU803). A–C. Left palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 11. Collection localities for three new species of Meotipa Simon, 1895 in China.