Tenuiphantes taipingensis Irfan, Zhang & Peng, sp. n.

(太Ṿāe)

Figures 255–257, 315

Types. Holotype ♂ (HNU–HN– IV–1776), CHINA, Hunan Prov.: Shaoyang City, Chengbu Co., Dajiang Town, Taiping Vill., 26.34007°N, 110.24947°E, 553 m, 09.XI.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. Paratypes: 1♀, with same data as for holotype male (HNU–HN– IV–1776) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis. Tenuiphantes taipingensis sp. n. resembles T. aduncus (Figs 255A–D, 256A–D; Tu et al. 2006, figs 1–10), but can be distinguished by the proximal cymbial apophysis tail-shaped in T. taipingensis sp. n. (Figs 255A–D; vs. finger-shaped); distal arm of paracymbium with sclerotized rectangular projection in T. taipingensis sp. n. (Figs 255A–D; vs. with small tooth); lamella characteristica with about ten projections radiating from distal end in T. taipingensis sp. n. (Figs 255A–D; vs. with three projections); embolus longer than wide, proximal end with 3 tooth-like protrusions in T. taipingensis sp. n. (Figs 255A–D; vs. embolus distal narrow at middle, apical end broad covered with small dentils and with numerous strong tooth-like protrusions on basal part). Spermathecae U-shaped in T. taipingensis sp. n. (Figs 256C, D; vs. bean-shaped).

Description. Male (holotype, Figs 257A, B): Total length: 2.43. Carapace 1.06 long, 0.85 wide, yellowish brown, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Chelicerae with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Sternum shield-like, brownish black with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER slightly recurved, wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.35, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.36 (1.21, 1.33, 1.08, 0.74), II 3.93 (1.11, 1.14, 1.01, 0.67), III 3.22 (0.87, 1, 0.81, 0.54), IV 4.24 (1.11, 1.37, 1.14, 0.62). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. TmI 0.65 and TmIV 0.63. Opisthosoma 1.37 long, 0.74 wide, oval, grey, with six black chevrons; ventral side black, densely covered with fine spines.

Palp (Figs 255A–D): Femur unmodified, almost longer than both patella and tibia. Patella as long as tibia, with a long dorsal spine. Tibia unmodified, with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; cymbium unmodified, retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at the base, proximal cymbial apophysis (PCA) tail-shaped with small outgrowth; paracymbium (PC) Ushaped, distal arm with rectangular projection with blunt tip protruding upward. Pit hook (PH) tip pointed and notched. Radix (R) longer than wide, bean-shaped with Fickert’s glang (fg); lamella characteristica (LC) with about ten projections radiating and protruding upward; terminal apophysis (TA) longer than wide, apical end with 3 long projections extending forward with pointed end; embolus (E) longer than wide, proximal end with 3 tooth-like protrusions; thumb (TH) globular.

Female (one of the paratypes, Figs 257C, D): Total length: 2.30. Carapace 0.91 long, 0.74 wide, brown, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Chelicerae with five promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, brownish black with microsetae. Eyes:AER recurved, PER slightly recurved, wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.06, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.88 (1.12, 1.18, 0.91, 0.67), II 3.34 (0.97, 1.03, 0.83, 0.51), III 2.91 (0.86, 0.87, 0.73, 0.45), IV 3.86 (1.05, 1.13, 0.89, 0.79). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. TmI 0.67 and TmIV 0.63. Opisthosoma 1.39 long, 0.71 wide, oval, grey, with six black chevrons, ventral side black, densely covered with fine setae.

Epigyne (Figs 256A–D): Protruding; proximal part of scape (PPS) longer than wide, almost parallel sided with distal portion dilated and rolling up; median part of scape (MPS) form long and narrow wing-like extension in ventral view; distal part of scape relatively less sclerotized and translucent with well-developed stretcher (ST); entrance groove inside lateral pockets; Lateral pockets (LP) ear lobe shaped expanding laterally; posterior median plate (PMP) broad, somewhat triangular; spermathecae (S) long U-shaped, curved, situates dorso-laterally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Hunan Province, Fig. 315).