Luthela handan, Xu & Yu & Liu & Li, 2022

Xu, Xin, Yu, Li, Liu, Fengxiang & Li, Daiqin, 2022, Delimitation of the segmented trapdoor spider genus Luthela gen. nov., with comments on the genus Sinothela from northern China (Araneae, Mesothelae, Liphistiidae), Zootaxa 5091 (1), pp. 131-154 : 141-142

Luthela handan sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 8 )

Holotype. Male (XUX-2011-214, matured on 10 July 2012 at CBEE), Qilidian , Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, China, 36.760°N, 114.476°E, 58 m, collected on 23 November 2011 by H.Z. Li, F.X. Liu, X.Y. Wang, and X. Xu, CBEE.

Paratypes. 4 females (XUX-2011-206/207/208/215, 208 and 215 matured on 10 July 2012 at CBEE) and 1 male (XUX-2011-209, matured on 12 June 2013 at CBEE), same data as for holotype ; 3 females (XUX-2011- 202/203/205), nearby Hebei University of Engineering , Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, China, 36.752°N, 114.471°E, 66 m, collected on 23 November 2011 ; 9 females (XUX-2011-217/218/219/220/221/222/ 223/224/227) Dongtumen Village , Luquan County, Shijiazhang City, Hebei Province, China, 38.074°N, 114.282°E, 160 m, collected on 25 November 2011, by H.Z. Li, F.X. Liu, X.Y. Wang, and X. Xu. All in CBEE .

Diagnosis. Males of L. handan sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of L. dengfeng sp. nov., L. schensiensis , L. yiyuan sp. nov., and L. yuncheng sp. nov. by the conductor with a longer lower spine, and the dorsal extension of terminal apophysis of tegulum with regular serrations ( Fig. 7E–G ); from those of L. badong sp. nov. and L. taian sp. nov. by the conductor with small middle spines ( Fig. 7B, 7D ), and lower spine thicker and longer ( Fig. 7E, 7G ); Females of L. handan sp. nov. differ from those of L. badong sp. nov., L. luotianensis , L. yiyuan sp. nov., and L. yuncheng sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters smaller than lateral ones ( Fig. 8A–C, 8G–I ); from those of L. schensiensis by the lateral receptacular clusters with slightly longer stalks ( Fig. 8J ); from those of L. dengfeng sp. nov. and L. taian sp. nov. by the middle receptacular clusters with short stalks and close to each other basally ( Fig. 8A–F, 8H, 8I ).

Description. Male (Holotype). Carapace brown; opisthosoma light brown, with dark brown tergites; sternum narrow, much longer than wide; few long pointed hairs running over ocular mound in longitudinal row; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 10 denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, the second to fifth larger than others and the others small; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 15.55, CL 7.15, CW 6.85, OL 8.35, OW 5.65; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; leg I 19.95 (5.95 + 2.65 + 4.05 + 4.95 + 2.35), leg II 19.95 (5.80 + 2.60 + 3.55 + 5.05 + 2.95), leg III 20.55 (5.05 + 2.70 + 3.55 + 5.90 + 3.35), leg IV 26.65 (6.65 + 3.00 + 5.00 + 8.05 + 3.95).

Palp: Prolateral paracymbium unpigmented and unsclerotized, numerous setae and spines at tip of paracymbium ( Fig. 7A–C ). Contrategulum with 6 teeth along margin, and distal one with 3 serrations ( Fig. 7D, 7F ). Marginal apophysis of tegulum with few serrations proximally and smooth distally, dorsal extension of terminal apophysis of tegulum with regular serrations, and terminal apophysis of tegulum smooth, thumb-shaped ( Fig. 7E–G ). Conductor situated ventro-proximally on embolus, with two long spines, upper one parallel to embolus, lower one pointed to proximal of contrategulum, and one or two inconspicuous, small spines situated at middle between two long spines ( Fig. 7D–G ). Embolus largely sclerotized, with flat opening and several longitudinal ribs retrolaterally ( Fig. 7D, 7G ).

Female (XUX-2011-224). Carapace and opisthosoma light brown; chelicerae robust with promargin of groove with 9–12 strong denticles of variable size; legs with strong hairs and spines; opisthosoma with 12 tergites, similar to male; 7 spinnerets. Measurements: BL 17.35, CL 8.05, CW 6.95, OL 8.65, OW 6.30; ALE> PLE> PME> AME; palp 13.75 (4.65 + 2.40 + 3.10 + 3.60), leg I 15.85 (5.25 + 2.85 + 3.15 + 3.20 + 1.40), leg II 14.75 (4.70 + 2.85 + 2.60 + 3.25 + 1.40), leg III 16.30 (4.50 + 2.65 + 2.75 + 3.95 + 2.45), leg IV 22.45 (4.85 + 3.35 + 4.35 + 6.45 + 3.45).

Genitalia: Posterior margin of genital sternite slightly incurved ( Fig. 8A–L ), two pairs of receptacular clusters, middle ones smaller than lateral ones with slender stalks, separated from each other ( Fig. 8B, 8F, 8G–I ), situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix, lateral ones situated at slightly dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix with short stalks ( Fig. 8C, 8G–I ).

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

Distribution. Hebei Province (Handan, Shijiazhuang)

Remarks. Males and females vary in body size: males (N = 2): BL 14.75–16.20, CL 6.35–7.25, CW 5.50–6.85, OL 7.40–8.55, OW 5.00–6.15; females (N = 16): BL 17.35–26.95, CL 8.05–10.15, CW 6.95–9.45, OL 8.65–16.16, OW 6.30–15.35.

Intraspecific variation was found in female genital morphology and molecular markers. For female genitalia, the middle receptacular clusters are sclerotized well ( Fig. 8A–C ), or weakly ( Fig. 8G–I ); the bases of the middle stalks are fused together ( Fig. 8A, 8D ), or separated from each other ( Fig. 8B, 8C, 8G–L ).

Intraspecific genetic distance ranges from 0% to 3.5% based on the K2P substitution model and COI nucleotide sequences (N = 14, including juveniles). The GenBank accession code of the holotype (XUX-2011-214) is KP229810 .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Male genital anatomy of Luthela handan sp. nov. A, D, palp prolateral view. B, E, palp ventral view. C, F, palp retrolateral view. G, palp distal view. A–C, XUX-2011-214 (holotype). D–G, XUX-2011-209. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Female genital anatomy of Luthela handan sp. nov. A–C, G–I, vulva dorsal view. D–F, J–L, vulva ventral view. A, D, XUX-2011-203. B, E, XUX-2011-218. C, F, XUX-2011-206. G, J, XUX-2011-222. H, K, XUX-2011-224. I, L, XUX-2011- 227. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.