Stertinius lhoba sp. nov.

Figs 29, 30, 47

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU - JS 0774), China: • Xizang Autonomous Region, Medog County, Beibeng Township, Deergong Village, Yarlung Zangbo National Nature Reserve (29°10.84'N, 95°8.67'E, ca 1670 m), 25. V. 2024, X. Q. Mi et al. leg . Paratypes • 2 ♀ (TRU - JS 0775–0776), same data as for holotype .

Etymology.

The specific name is after the Lhoba ethnic group, one of the two significant national minorities in Medog; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Stertinius lhoba sp. nov. resembles that of S. liqingae Wang, Mi & Li, 2024 in general shape of copulatory organs, especially the epigyne structure, but differs in: 1) retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) almost equal in width in retrolateral view (Fig. 29 B) vs almost tapered (Wang et al. 2024: fig. 15 C); 2) epigyne has a fold (F) (Fig. 30 A, B) vs a hood (Wang et al. 2024: fig. 16 A, B); 3) anterior chamber of spermatheca (AS) almost posteriorly extending (Fig. 30 B, C) vs transversely extending (Wang et al. 2024: fig. 16 B, C).

Description.

Male (Figs 29, 30 D, E, G, H). Total length 2.78. Carapace 1.28 long, 1.13 wide. Abdomen 1.60 long, 1.13 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.16, PLE 0.15, AERW 0.95, PERW 1.08, EFL 0.60. Legs: I 2.87 (0.90, 0.63, 0.68, 0.38, 0.28), II 2.04 (0.63, 0.38, 0.45, 0.30, 0.28), III 1.91 (0.60, 0.30, 0.40, 0.33, 0.28), IV 2.29 (0.75, 0.38, 0.50, 0.38, 0.28). Carapace mainly red-brown, covered with golden and pale setae, with central, irregular dark patch on cephalon. Chelicerae red-brown, with two promarginal teeth and one much larger pillar-shaped retromarginal tooth. Leg I robust, with enlarged femora and tibiae, and two pairs of ventral spines on tibiae and metatarsi. Dorsum of abdomen pale yellow, mingled with dark brown, covered wholly by scutum, with longitudinal, irregular central dark patch; venter dark with median dotted lines.

Palp (Fig. 29 A, B): femur length / width ratio ca 4.0; patella ~ 1.4 × longer than wide in retrolateral view; tibia almost as long as wide in retrolateral view, with short retrolateral apophysis (RTA) slightly curved outwards and blunt apically; cymbium ~ 2 × longer than tibia in ventral view, with sub-triangular baso-retrolateral process (CP); tegulum nearly oval, with sperm duct (SD) extending along submargin; embolus (E) originating from antero-prolateral portion of tegulum, slightly curved prolaterally at median portion and with pointed tip directed towards ca 11 o’clock position.

Female (Fig. 30 A – C, F). Total length 2.72. Carapace 1.15 long, 1.01 wide. Abdomen 1.68 long, 1.10 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.16, PLE 0.15, AERW 0.90, PERW 1.01, EFL 0.58. Legs: I 1.94 (0.63, 0.40, 0.40, 0.28, 0.23), II 1.62 (0.50, 0.33, 0.33, 0.23, 0.23), III 1.59 (0.50, 0.28, 0.30, 0.28, 0.23), IV 2.23 (0.70, 0.45, 0.45, 0.38, 0.25). Habitus (Fig. 30 F) similar to that of male except smaller retromarginal cheliceral tooth, and without dorsal abdominal scutum.

Epigyne (Fig. 30 A – C) ~ 1.46 × wider than long, with sub-labiate central fold (F); copulatory openings (CO) small, beneath lateral portion of fold; copulatory ducts (CD) short, without distinct border; spermathecae (S) divided into oval anterior chamber (AS) and spherical posterior chamber (PS); fertilization ducts (FD) originating from antero-inner portions of posterior chamber of spermatheca.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Xizang, China (Fig. 47).