Qianleptoneta megaloda, Chen & Jia & Wang, 2010

Chen, Hui-Ming, Jia, Qiang & Wang, Shi-Jie, 2010, A revision of the genus Qianleptoneta (Araneae: Leptonetidae), Journal of Natural History 44 (47 - 48), pp. 2873-2915 : 2909-2914

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2010.512397
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B90520-FFC4-FF99-FDAD-D8FD43A8F0E7
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Qianleptoneta megaloda
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Qianleptoneta megaloda sp. nov.

( Figures 23 View Figure 23 , 24 View Figure 24 , 25I View Figure 25 )

Material

Holotype male. From Yanzi Cave (28 ◦ 17 ′ N, 106 ◦ 09 ′ E, 1231 m asl), Sangmu town, Xishui county , Guizhou Province, 30 July 2004. GoogleMaps

Paratypes. Two males and seven females, same data as holotype; one male, Gao Cave (28 ◦ 20 ′ N, 106 ◦ 10 ′ E, 1227 m asl), Donghuang town, Xishui county , Guizhou Province, 26 July 2004 GoogleMaps ; one male and 10 females, Dixian Cave (28 ◦ 20 ′ N, 106 ◦ 09 ′ E, 1224 m asl), Donghuang town, Xishui county , Guizhou Province, 25 July 2004 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis

The new species is distinguished from other species by male with the median apophysis (M) triangular, with marginal long and thick teeth ( Figure 25I View Figure 25 ).

Description

Male holotype. Total length 1.89. Carapace smooth, 0.87 long, 0.77 wide, height at fovea 0.66 times carapace width, yellowish; thoracic fovea brown, needle-shaped. Clypeus 0.18 high, yellowish. Chelicerae 0.46 long, yellowish, with eight teeth on promargin and five denticles on retromargin; seven short setae on base ( Figure 23C View Figure 23 ). Six eyes; ocular area 0.22 long, 0.19 wide; anterior row strongly recurved, ALE 0.08, PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.09; PME 0.06, slightly smaller than anterior row eyes, contiguous; dark pigment between eyes ( Figure 24B View Figure 24 ). Sternum 0.61 long, 0.53 wide, haired; labium 0.10 long, 0.17 wide, yellowish.

Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total): I: 1.63 + lack + lack + lack + lack =?; II: 1.68 + 0.31 + 1.73 + 1.28 + 1.02 = 6.02; III: 1.43 + 0.23 + 1.33 + 1.12 + 0.77 = 4.90; IV: 1.84 + 0.31 + 1.84 + 1.48 + 1.04 = 6.48. Leg yellowish, tibia without rows of fine hairs on ventral surface; preening comb occurs ventroapically on the metatarsus of leg II and III.

Palpal coxae 0.41 long, 0.22 wide. Palpal measurements (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total): 0.55 + 0.19 + 0.31 + 0.44 = 1.50; the length of tibia 1.60 times that of patella. Palpal tibia with three dorsal trichobothria ( Figure 23A,B View Figure 23 ); TBS thick, bend at apical part ( Figure 23B View Figure 23 ). Tarsus dwindles distally, with relatively shallow AC in middle part, RA in adjacent apical part in retrolateral view; retrolateral side with row of short setae on RA and at mid-tarsus; a group long setae at apical part ( Figure 23A,B View Figure 23 ). Bulb suboval, PL shuttle-shaped ( Figure 23A View Figure 23 ); M triangular, gradient, with six thick and long marginal teeth, ( Figure 25I View Figure 25 ); PF transparent, willow-leaf shaped ( Figure 23A,B View Figure 23 ).

Abdomen pale yellow, with a few purple-brown markings, sparse hair, 1.07 long, 0.77 wide ( Figure 24A View Figure 24 ).

Female paratype. Total length 2.40. Carapace smooth, 0.87 long, 0.77 wide, height at fovea 0.73 times carapace width, yellowish; thoracic fovea brown, needle-shaped ( Figure 24D View Figure 24 ). Clypeus 0.49 high, yellowish. Chelicerae 0.49 long, yellowish, with six teeth and two denticles on promargin of fang furrow and five denticles on retromargin; seven short setae on base ( Figure 23D View Figure 23 ). Six eyes; ocular area 0.10 long, 0.21 wide; anterior row strongly recurved, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.09; PME 0.05, slightly smaller than anterior row of eyes, contiguous; dark pigment between eyes ( Figure 24D View Figure 24 ). Sternum 0.58 long, 0.55 wide, haired; labium 0.08 long, 0.17 wide, yellowish.

Leg formula: 1423. Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total): I: 1.94 + 0.31 + 2.09 + 1.53 + 1.28 = 7.14; II: 1.53 + 0.31 + 1.53 + 1.22 + 0.48 = 6.07; III: 1.28 + 0.31 + 1.28 + 1.02 + 0.82 = 4.69; IV: 1.79 + 0.31 + 1.73 + 1.38 + 0.97 = 6.17. Leg yellowish, preening comb occurs ventroapically on the metatarsus of leg II and III.

Palpal coxae 0.39 long, 0.17 wide. Palpal measurements (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total): 0.54 + 0.21 + 0.40 + 0.60 = 1.74.

Abdomen similar to male, 1.58 long, 1.17 wide. Epigynal plate broadly rugby-ballshaped, simple ( Figure 23E View Figure 23 ); internal genitalia with a pair of spermathecae, coiled sperm duct, fan-shaped atrium ( Figure 23F View Figure 23 ).

Distribution

The species is known only from the type locality ( Figure 2 View Figure 2 ).

Etymology

The specific name comes from Latin “ megaloda ” meaning “big teeth”, referring to median apophysis of male palpal organ (M) with six big teeth at apical part ( Figure 25I View Figure 25 ).

Level of cave adaptation

This species lives in the twilight zone of caves and has functioning eyes and pigmentation. Troglophilous species.

Natural history

Yanzi Cave is about 800 m horizontally deep, 40 m high and 20 m wide, entrance about 30 m high and 20 m wide. Cave is large with a great underground river. Gao Cave is about 100 m horizontally deep, 10 m high and 5 m wide, entrance about 5 m high and 3 m wide. Cave is small with an underground deep pool. Dixian Cave is about 50 m horizontally deep, 4 m high and 5 m wide, entrance about 3 m high and 3 m wide. Cave is small with a small stream flow inside. All specimens were found near the twilight zone, about 20 m from the entrance.