Symphytognatha milleri, Lin, 2019

Lin, Yucheng, 2019, First report of the spider genus Symphytognatha from Asia (Araneae, Symphytognathidae), Zootaxa 4638 (2), pp. 291-295 : 291-294

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4638.2.8
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5923797
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3C4787C1-FFEF-4714-16AD-F96D03EB6852
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Symphytognatha milleri
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Symphytognatha milleri View in CoL new species ( Figs 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 )

Type material. Holotype ♀ and paratype 1♂ (subadult) ( NHMSU), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Nujiang Prefecture, Gongshan County, Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve GoogleMaps , Dulongjiang Town GoogleMaps , Qinlangdang Village GoogleMaps , near to Habang Waterfall GoogleMaps , primary subtropical broadleaf deciduous forest, in leaf litter, 27.67934°N, 098.27291°E; 1205 m, 14.VIII.2018, Y.C. Li, Y. Li, Y.F. Shu & Y.C. Lin leg.

Etymology. Patronymic in honor of Dr. Jeremy A. Miller (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands), in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the study of Chinese symphytognathoid spiders.

Diagnosis. With the exception of S. globosa Hickman, 1931 , S. blesti Forster & Platnick, 1977 and S. picta Harvey, 1992 , the new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the presence of a vulval septum and coiled spermathecae ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ). It differs from S. globosa and S. blesti by a fingerlike vulval septum (needlelike in S. globosa , absent in S. blesti ), the wider spermatheca and the copulatory duct starts far from the base of vulval septum (starts at the base of the vulval septum in S. globosa , starts in the posteromarginal center of epigynum in S. blesti ) ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 vs. Hickman, 1931: fig. 6, plate 2; Forster & Platnick, 1977: figs 12, 13). Differs from S. picta by the long, fingerlike vulval septum (short, nearly triangular in S. picta ), and the copulatory ducts starts far from the base of vulval septum (starts at the base of the vulval septum in S. picta ) ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 vs. Harvey, 1992: fig. 3).

Description. Female (Holotype). Measurements: Total length, not including chelicerae 0.84. Carapace 0.32 long, 0.30 wide, 0.28 high. Clypeus 0.08 high. Sternum 0.25 long, 0.21 wide. Abdomen 0.67 long, 0.62 wide, 0.68 high. Length of legs: I 0.74 (0.23, 0.09, 0.16, 0.11, 0.15); II 0.63 (0.20, 0.07, 0.13, 0.11, 0.12); III 0.53 (0.15, 0.07, 0.10, 0.08, 0.13); IV 0.91 (0.29, 0.10, 0.20, 0.15, 0.17). Leg formula IV-I-II-III. Somatic characters see Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 D–F, H. Coloration: body chestnut red, but light color spots on sternum and abdomen, legs pale yellow. Cephalic pars strongly elevated. Thoracic pars sloping abruptly. Six eyes subequal in size, and in three diads, PME separated, lateral eyes contiguous, PLE-PME separated by ca. 1.3x PME diameter. Clypeus ca. 1.2x PME, concave. Chelicerae bright brown, projected forward, suture visible ( Figs 1H View FIGURE 1 , 2C View FIGURE 2 ), with two paired long, needle teeth on promargin ( Fig. 2B, C View FIGURE 2 ). Endites lack palp. Labium nearly rectangular, fused to sternum ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Sternum slightly plump, anterior narrow and posterior wide, surface bears long setae, posteriorly truncated ( Figs 1E, F View FIGURE 1 , 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Multidentate superior claws on legs I and II, but edental claws on leg III and IV ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A–D). Abdomen nearly globular dorsally, covers with long setae, dorsally and ventrally with indistinct fuscous pattern ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 D–F). Spinnerets pale brown, anteriors larger than posteriors. Colulus absent. Anal tubercle tiny, pale ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ).

Epigynum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D–G). Weakly sclerotized in posterior epigynal margin. Spermathecae twisted as Chinese doughnut. Copulatory ducts start at posterior margin of epigynum, almost run parallel to the fingerlike vulval septum. Short narrow fertilization ducts located at the bottom of spermathecae, on the outside of proximal copulatory ducts. Distal copulatory ducts membranous, translucent, connected with the outer laterals of spermathecae.

Male (subadult). Somatic characters as in Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 A–C, G. Deeper color than in female. Palpal details unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.