Qiongthela yalin, 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 yalin sp. nov. Figures 6 , 7

Type material.

Holotype ♂: China, Hainan Province, Sanya City, Yalinling, 18.51°N, 109.24°E, alt. 220 m, 22 August 2019, D. Li, F.X. Liu, X. Xu and L. Yu leg., XUX-2019-140 (matured on 2 October 2019 at HNU). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype; XUX-2019-138 (♂ matured on 6 November 2019 at HNU), XUX-2019-139, 141; 1 ♀; same locality as holotype, 18.50°N, 109.23°E, alt. 240 m, 1 August 2017, D. Li, F.X. Liu, Z.T. Zhang and X. Xu leg., XUX-2017-033.

Diagnosis.

Males of Q. yalin sp. nov. resemble those of Q. sanya , but can be distinguished from the latter by the narrower conductor base (Fig. 7A, D ) and by the cymbium with a longer and more slender projection (Fig. 7G ); from those of Q. dongfang sp. nov. by the tegular marginal apophysis slightly longer and with a blunt apex (Fig. 7A, D ), and the cymbium with an elongated projection (Fig. 7G ); from those of the rest of Qiongthela species by the contrategulum with a smooth edge proximally (Fig. 7F, G ). Females of Q. yalin sp. nov. differ from those of Q. sanya by the middle receptacular clusters having short, indistinct genital stalks (Fig. 7I, L ); from those of Q. australis , Q. yini and Q. yinggezui by the smaller middle receptacular clusters compared with the lateral ones (Fig. 7H-M ); from those of the rest of Qiongthela species by the middle receptacular clusters situated along the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix, the laterals located slightly on the dorsal wall of the bursa copulatrix, and the trapezoidal bursa copulatrix (Fig. 7H-M ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Fig. 6D ). Carapace reddish 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 9 denticles of variable size; legs with firm hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 16.80, CL 7.52, CW 7.72, OL 9.13, OW 6.52; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 26.07 (7.40 + 1.96 + 6.12 + 7.23 + 3.36), leg II 25.66 (7.00 + 1.92 + 5.81 + 7.21 + 3.72), leg III 25.51 (6.06 + 1.70 + 5.40 + 8.10 + 4.25), leg IV 33.43 (8.64 + 2.44 + 7.18 + 10.26 + 4.91).

Palp. Cymbium with a slender projection dorsally (Fig. 7G ); paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotised prolaterally, with numerous setae at the tip (Fig. 7A-C ). Contrategulum with a smooth edge proximally and two edges distally: the inner one with fine, small denticles, the outer one smooth, sharp, semi-translucent, fused with the inner at the middle of the contrategulum (Fig. 7A, D, F ). Tegulum with a long, slightly curved, distally blunt marginal apophysis (Fig. 7A, D ), the proximally directed terminal apophysis with a dentate margin, continuously narrowing to a rounded, hooked apex (Fig. 7A-E ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on the embolus, fused with the embolus at the basal portion, distal portion free, narrowing to a slightly bent apex (Fig. 7A-E ). Embolus largely sclerotised, with a wide, flat opening of the sperm duct distally, ventrally smooth, retrolaterally with several longitudinal ribs (Fig. 7B, C, E ).

Female (Fig. 6E ). Carapace light brown; opisthosoma brown, with 12 brown tergites, separate from each other, the first 2-7 larger than the others, and the fourth largest; sternum narrow, nearly twice as long as wide; a few fine pointed hairs running over the ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove containing 9 denticles of variable size; legs with firm hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 18.31, CL 8.60, CW 7.47, OL 9.16, OW 7.52; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 14.72 (5.12 + 1.88 + 3.53 + 4.19), leg I 17.23 (5.56 + 2.14 + 3.82 + 3.61 + 2.10), leg II 16.69 (5.46 + 2.22 + 3.42 + 3.33 + 2.26), leg III 17.17 (5.32 + 2.40 + 3.07 + 3.97 + 2.41), leg IV 24.44 (7.27 + 2.34 + 5.28 + 6.25 + 3.30).

Female genitalia. The middle receptacular clusters along the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix, the lateral ones located slightly on the dorsal wall of the bursa copulatrix; the middle ones smaller than the lateral ones, with indistinct genital stalks; bursa copulatrix trapezoidal (Fig. 7H-M ).

Variation.

Males and females vary in body size. Range of measurements in males (N = 2): BL 15.76-16.80, CL 6.92-7.52, CW 6.18-7.72, OL 7.48-9.13, OW 5.89-6.52; in females (N = 3): BL 18.31-29.27, CL 8.60-14.19, CW 7.47-11.67, OL 9.16-13.68, OW 7.52-11.08.

Etymology.

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

Distribution.

Hainan (Sanya), China

GenBank accession number.

XUX-2019-140: MT900753.

Remarks.

Both maximum and mean intraspecific genetic distances of Q. yalin sp. nov. are 0% based on K2P (N = 5). The interspecific genetic distance between Q. yalin sp. nov. and Q. sanya (GenBank accession code: MN911990) is 7.2% based on K2P.

Figures

Figure 6. Microhabitat and general somatic morphology of Qiongthela yalin sp. nov. A microhabitat B, C trapdoor with door closed and open D male (XUX- 2019 - 140, holotype) E female (XUX- 2019 - 139); Scale bars: 2 mm (D, E).

Figure 7. Male and female genital anatomy of Qiongthela yalin 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-J vulva, dorsal view K-M vulva, ventral view A-C, G XUX- 2019 - 140 (holotype) D-F XUX- 2019 - 138 H, K XUX- 2017 - 033 I, L XUX- 2019 - 139 J, M XUX- 2019 - 141; Scale bars: 0.5 mm.