Microdipoena zhulin, Zhang & Lin, 2023

Zhang, Qiuqiu & Lin, Yucheng, 2023, Phylogenetic placement of eight poorly known spiders of Microdipoena (Araneae, Mysmenidae), with descriptions of five new species, ZooKeys 1175, pp. 333-373 : 333

Microdipoena zhulin sp. nov.

Figs 21 , 22 , 23

Type material.

Holotype ♀ and paratype 1♂ 3♀ (NHMSU-GX02) China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin City, Lingui County, Ertang Township, Yanmendi Village, bamboo forest (25°12.892'N, 100°12.204'E; 165 m elev.), 19.VII.2013, H. Zhao leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Chinese pinyin for bamboo forest ( zhú lín), refers to this species living in this habitats; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This new species can be distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following features of the copulatory organ: having a cymbial tooth near the distal edge of cymbium, the conductor with a small, thumb-shaped, upper process and a right, broad, lower process, the spherical spermathecae separated by ca 2.6 × their diameter, the scape of uniform width from base to end, the vulva with two smooth, transparent membranes (probably part of copulatory ducts) (Figs 22B, D , 23D ).

Description.

Male: Total length 1.27. Carapace 0.31 long, 0.44 wide, 0.40 high. Clypeus 0.06 high. Sternum 0.31 long, 0.24 wide. Abdomen 0.96 long, 0.87 wide, 0.93 high. Length of legs: I 0.87 (0.26, 0.10, 0.23, 0.15, 0.13); II 0.64 (0.10, 0.08, 0.18, 0.13, 0.15); III 0.49 (0.18, 0.05, 0.10, 0.08, 0.08); IV 0.64 (0.18, 0.08, 0.18, 0.1, 0.10).

Somatic characters

(Fig. 21A-C ). Coloration: carapace silvery yellow centrally, black marginally. Chelicera, endites, labium yellow; sternum yellow with two orange stripes. Legs yellow-black. Abdomen black with large white spots dorsally, yellow with black and white spots ventrally. Prosoma: carapace nearly hexagonal in dorsal view and peak-shaped in lateral view. Cephalic part elevated and flat. Sternum scutiform, plump, covered with sparse setae. Legs: covered with setae. Mating clasper on metatarsus I, two strong spines on tibia I. Abdomen: nearly globose in dorsal view, covered in black setae.

Palp (Fig. 22A, F-H ): Cymbium translucent, the tip end of specialized as cymbial conductor, and the other end forming a large cymbial process, a small, sclerotized, cymbial tooth on the outward side of cymbial conductor. Paracymbium finger-shaped, with long setae. Conductor slightly sclerotized, with three large apophyses apically and an arched apophysis basally. Tegulum translucent, slightly swollen. Embolus long, coiled into two circles, the tip coiled and folded into a complex structure. Spermatic ducts can be seen through translucent tegulum.

Female (holotype). Total length 1.58. Carapace 0.65 long, 0.75 wide, 0.62 high. Clypeus 0.12 high. Sternum 0.47 long, 0.47 wide. Abdomen 0.93 long, 0.84 wide, 0.92 high. Length of legs: I 1.61 (0.64, 0.18, 0.26, 0.20, 0.33); II 1.39 (0.49, 0.18, 0.26, 0.18, 0.28); III 0.86 (0.28, 0.10, 0.18, 0.14, 0.16); IV 1.04 (0.36, 0.10, 0.18, 0.18, 0.22).

Somatic characters

(Fig. 21D-F ). Coloration: carapace pale yellow centrally, brown marginally. Ocular base black. Chelicera, endites, labium, and sternum yellow. Legs yellow-brown. Abdomen nearly white dorsally, black with multiple white and yellow spots ventrally. Prosoma: carapace nearly pear-shaped in dorsal view. Cephalic part slightly elevated. Sternum scutiform, slightly plump, covered in sparse setae. Legs: covered with setae and bristles. Femurs I and II with sclerotized femoral spot. Abdomen: nearly globose in dorsal view, covered with black setae.

Epigyne (Fig. 23A-D ): scape long, with wide folds, tip sclerotized. Copulatory duct membranous, coiled under the spermathecae. Fertilization ducts slightly sclerotized, originating from the ventral side of the epigyne and bent anteriorly. Paired spermathecae nearly round, separated by nearly double their diameter.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi).

Figures

Figure 21. Microdipoena zhulin sp. nov., male (A, B) and female (D-F) from Guangxi of China A habitus, dorsal B habitus, ventral C habitus, lateral D habitus, lateral E habitus, dorsal F habitus, ventral. Abbr.: FS = femoral spot. Scale bars: 0.50 mm.

Figure 22. Microdipoena zhulin sp. nov. from Guangxi of China A palp, apical B conductor, dorsal C cymbium, apical D cymbium, prolateral E left tibia I and metatarsus I, prolateral F palp, prolateral G palp, ventral H palp, retrolateral. Abbreviations: CT = cymbial tooth, Cy = cymbium, CyC = cymbial conductor, CyP = cymbial process, E = embolus, MC = mating clasper, Pa = patella, PC = paracymbium, T = tegulum, Ti = tibia, TS = tibial spine. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

Figure 23. Microdipoena zhulin sp. nov. from Guangxi of China A epigyne, ventral B epigyne, lateral C vulva, ventral D vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct, FD = fertilization duct, S = spermathecal, Sp = scape. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.