Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu, 2023

Zhang, Yan, Chen, Zhaoyang, Li, Daiqin & Xu, Xin, 2023, Three new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae, Heptathelinae) from Hunan Province, China, ZooKeys 1154, pp. 17-31 : 17

Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu sp. nov.

Figs 6 , 7

Type material.

Holotype: China · 1 ♂; Hunan Province, Huaihua City, Hecheng District, Zhongpo Forest Park; 27.57°N; 110.96°E; alt. 330 m; 17 September 2021; Z.Y. Chen, X. Xu, Y. Zhan, Y. Zhang leg.; XUX-2021-264 (matured on 3 August 2022). Paratypes: China · 3 ♂ 9 ♀; same data as for the holotype, alt. 300-345 m; XUX-2021-258, 259, 260, 261, 262 (matured on 18 September 2022), 263 (matured on 20 July 2022), 265, 266, 267 (matured on 26 July 2022), 267A, 267B, 267C.

Diagnosis.

Male of S. zhongpo sp. nov. resembles those of S. dapo , S. lingshang , and S. xiujian , by apical spine of conductor with slightly wider base (Fig. 6A, D, E, H-K ), but can be distinguished from S. dapo by tegulum with smaller terminal apophysis (Fig. 6C, F, G ); from S. lingshang by contrategulum with slightly larger teeth (Fig. 6D, F, G, L ), conductor with fewer teeth in middle part (Fig. 6A, D, E, H-K ), and tegulum with a small terminal apophysis (Fig. 6C, F, G ); from S. xiujian by tegulum with arched marginal apophysis (Fig. 6G ), and contrategulum with slightly smaller apophysis proximally (Fig. 6A, L ); from S. anhua sp. nov. by apical spine of conductor narrower and longer (Fig. 6A, B, D, H-K ); from S. longhui sp. nov. by apical spine of conductor with slightly narrower base (Fig. 6A, H-K ), and surface of dorsal extension of the tegular terminal apophysis with several ridges (Fig. 6G ); from those of other species of Songthela multidentata -group by contrategulum with two dentate margins in middle part (Fig. 6D, L ), by apical spine of conductor with slightly wider base and gradually becomes elongated distally (Fig. 6A, D, E, H-K ); from those of other Songthela species by middle part of the conductor with several teeth (Fig. 6A, B, D, E, H-K ).

Female of S. zhongpo sp. nov. can be distinguished from S. anhua sp. nov. by the lateral receptacular clusters with slightly longer genital stalks, and arched anterior margin of bursa copulatrix (Fig. 7A-D ); from S. longhui sp. nov. by median receptacular clusters with shorter genital stalks (Fig. 7A-D ); from S. multidentata by median receptacular clusters with thicker genital stalks (Fig. 7A-D ), from S. tianzhu by lateral genital stalks slightly longer (Fig. 7A, D ); from those of other species of Songthela multidentata -group by median receptacular clusters with slightly thicker genital stalks, and lateral ones with distinct genital stalks (Fig. 7A-H ); from those of other Songthela species by two pairs of receptacular clusters situated on dorsal wall of bursa copulatrix (Fig. 7A-H ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Carapace black brown; opisthosoma dark brown, with 12 brown tergites attached a pair of thick bristles, the second to fifth larger than others and the fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few pointed hairs running over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 13.53, CL 5.96, CW 5.44, OL 7.19, OW 5.94; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 18.97 (5.30 + 2.29 + 3.95 + 4.93 + 2.50), leg II 19.13 (4.99 + 2.33 + 3.93 + 5.24 + 2.64), leg III 21.49 (5.25 + 2.46 + 3.91 + 6.52 + 3.35), leg IV 27.19 (6.62 + 2.84 + 5.17 + 8.59 + 3.97).

Palp. Paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotised prolaterally, with several setae and spines on the tip (Fig. 6A-C ). Contrategulum with a triangular apophysis proximally and with a dentate edge in distal and proximal portions, while with two dentate margins in the middle part (Fig. 6A, D, F, G, H-K ). Tegulum with an arched helicoid marginal apophysis, a helicoid dorsal extension of the terminal apophysis, and a thumb-shaped terminal apophysis retrolaterally (Fig. 6C, E-G ). Conductor fused with embolus basally and having several teeth in the middle part, the long apical spine with a spinule basally and pointed to the one-fourth of opening of embolus proximally (Fig. 6A, B, D-K ). Embolus largely sclerotized, with a wide and flat opening, numerous longitudinal ribs in middle and distal portion (Fig. 6B, D-F ).

Female (XUX-2021-258). Carapace reddish brown and opisthosoma light brown, with 12 dark brown tergites attached a pair of thick bristles, the second to fifth larger than remaining ones and the fourth largest; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; a few pointed hairs running over ocular area; chelicerae robust with promargin of cheliceral groove with 11 denticles of variable size; legs with sturdy hairs and spines; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 9.32, CL 4.62, CW 3.95, OL 3.93, OW 3.31; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 8.57 (3.05 + 1.56 + 1.84 + 2.12), leg I 9.17 (2.57 + 1.79 + 1.82 + 1.76 + 1.23), leg II 8.57 (1.96 + 1.65 + 1.77+ 1.84 + 1.35), leg III 9.72 (2.62 + 1.58 + 1.74 + 2.27 + 1.51), leg IV 14.28 (4.07 + 1.90 + 2.67 + 3.61 + 2.03).

Female genitalia. Four receptacular clusters situated on the dorsal side of the bursa copulatrix; the middle ones with thick genital stalks close to each other, fused together basally and separated from each other distally (Fig. 7A-C ), or the middle genital stalks fused as one (Fig. 7D ); the lateral receptacular clusters similar to or smaller than the middle ones; the posterior margin of the bursa copulatrix sclerotized, the posterior margin of the genital area wide and straight (Fig. 7A, D ), or incurved in the middle (Fig. 7B, C ).

Variation.

Males and females vary in body size, cheliceral teeth and spinnerets. Range of measurements in males (N = 4): BL 12.54-13.80, CL 4.96-6.09, CW 5.29-5.89, OL 6.02-7.19, OW 4.23-5.94. The number of cheliceral teeth varies from 11 to 13. There are 6 or 8 spinnerets (N = 4). Females (N = 9): BL 9.32-13.77, CL 4.62-6.40, CW 3.95-5.49, OL 3.93-6.32, OW 3.31-5.14. The number of cheliceral teeth varies from 10 to 12. There are 7 or 8 spinnerets (N = 9). In addition, male palp and female genitalia also show intraspecific variations: in males, the apical spine of conductor with a spinule in the middle part (Fig. 6H ) or basally (Fig. 6A, D, I-K ); the middle of conductor with more teeth (Fig. 6I, L ) or relatively few teeth (Fig. 6H, K ). In females, the middle pair of receptacular clusters similar (Fig. 7B ) to or slightly larger than the lateral ones (Fig. 7A, C ), the middle genital stalks fused together basally and separated from each other distally (Fig. 7A, C ), or the middle genital stalks Y-shaped (Fig. 7B ), or fused together totally (Fig. 7D ).

Etymology.

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

Distribution.

Hunan (Huaihua), China

Remarks.

The three new species from Hunan Province, China can be assigned into the Songthela multidentata -group based on the following characters of both male palp and female genital morphology: 1) conductor of male palp with one apical spine and the middle part covered several teeth; 2) female genitalia with two pairs of receptacular clusters situated on the dorsal side of the bursa copulatrix; and 3) the posterior margin of the bursa copulatrix of female genitalia pigmented and sclerotised.

Figures

Figure 6. Male genital anatomy of Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A, D palp prolateral view B, E palp ventral view C, F palp retrolateral view G palp distal view H-K conductor ventral view L contrategulum prolateral view A-C, J, L XUX- 2021 - 264 (holotype) D-G, I XUX- 2021 - 263 H XUX- 2021 - 262 K XUX- 2021 - 267. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-G); 0.1 mm (H-L).

Figure 7. Female genital anatomy of Songthela zhongpo Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. A-D vulva dorsal view E-H vulva ventral view A, E XUX- 2021 - 258 B, F XUX- 2021 - 259 C, G XUX- 2021 - 261 D, H XUX- 2021 - 265. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.