Leptonetela yuanhaoi Yao & Liu, 2024

Liu, Bin-Lu, Yao, Yan-bin, Jiang, Zi-Min, Xiao, Yong-hong & Liu, Ke-Ke, 2024, Midget cave spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Jiangxi and Fujian Province, China, ZooKeys 1189, pp. 287-325 : 287

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1189.111041
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C921C517-275E-4B3E-8CCC-9C2E214FEB1E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/74BE5C72-CB07-4A26-B274-BA45EA120254
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:74BE5C72-CB07-4A26-B274-BA45EA120254
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Leptonetela yuanhaoi Yao & Liu
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Leptonetela yuanhaoi Yao & Liu sp. nov.

Figs 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6 , 8E-L Vernacular name: 渊浩小弱蛛 View Figure 8

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂, China: Jiangxi Province, Ji’an City, Taihe County, Zhonglong Town , Zhonglong Village , Ziyao Mountain , 26°43'23.15"N, 115°13'31.70"E, 388 m, 28.X.2020, K. Liu, Y. Ying, K. Huang & S. Yuan leg. (Lep-7) GoogleMaps . Paratype: 4 ♀, the same data as the holotype (Lep-7) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 26°42'58.10"N, 115°13'39.00"E, 206 m, other data as same as holotype (Lep-5); 1 ♂, 26°43'15.05"N, 115°13'37.85"E, 332 m other data same as holotype (Lep-6) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, 26°43'05.30"N, 115°13'36.28"E, 228 m, other data same as holotype (Lep-1) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

The male of this species is similar to that of Leptonetela sexdentata Wang & Li, 2011 ( Wang and Li 2011: 15, fig. 53B-D) in having the tibia with a row of spines retrolaterally including one thick strong spine proximally and three thin spines, but can be separated from it by the tongue-shaped prolateral lobe (vs finger-like) and the median apophysis with narrow base (vs broad) and five teeth distally (under microscope) (vs six) (Figs 5B-D View Figure 5 , 8E-L View Figure 8 ). The males also resemble that of L. dawu sp. nov. in having the conductor with curved apex and the spine-like embolus, but can be separated from it by the leaf-shaped median apophysis (vs foot-shaped) (Figs 5B-D View Figure 5 , 8E-L View Figure 8 ). The female can be easily distinguished from L. sexdentata ( Wang and Li 2011: 15, fig. 54C) by the transversely extended spermathecal stalk (vs directed anteromedially) with four regular spirals (vs irregular) (Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 5A View Figure 5 . Total length 2.06. Carapace 0.91 long, 0.75 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09; ALE-PME 0.13, PLE-PLE 0.10, PLE-PME 0.05; AER 0.18, PER 0.22. Clypeus 0.13 high. Chelicerae (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ) with eight promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Endites with several long spines anterolaterally. Sternum shield-shaped, nearly as long as wide, with dense scale-like surface, posterior end blunt. Leg measurements: I 4.60 (1.13, 0.32, 1.28, 1.04, 0.83); II 3.28 (0.75, 0.21, 0.96, 0.72, 0.64); III 2.94 (0.77, 0.21, 0.75, 0.81, 0.40); IV 3.82 (1.09, 0.15, 0.94, 0.98, 0.66); formula: I, IV, II, III. Pedicel 0.12. Abdomen 1.02 long, 0.89 wide.

Coloration (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ). Carapace yellow to dark brown, with dark radial stripes and mottled markings on lateral margin, and an oval dark brown band medially. Chelicerae yellow. Endites yellow to dark brown, mottled. Labium yellow to dark brown. Legs with dark annulations on each segment except tarsi. Abdomen with four dark chevron-shaped stripes.

Palp (Figs 5B-D View Figure 5 , 8E-L View Figure 8 ). Tibia with five long setae retrolaterally, the proximal one very thick, long, strong, spine-like; cymbium with one long conspicuous seta prolaterally, one short, strong, thick spine retrolaterally and one long spine distally. Tip of bulb: prolateral lobe tongue-like, relatively short; median apophysis leaf-shaped, distal margin with four to ten teeth, prolateral one very small, retrolateral one very large with triangular tip; conductor membranous, relatively broad, near the base of median apophysis, longer than median apophysis; embolus short, transparent, broad, slightly bending retrolaterally.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 . Total length 1.70. Carapace 0.84 long, 0.71 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.08, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08; ALE-PME 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.12, PLE-PME 0.04; AER 0.15, PER 0.20. Clypeus 0.10 high. Chelicerae (Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ) with nine promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Endites with several long spines anterolaterally. Sternum (Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ) shield-shaped, nearly as long as wide, with dense scale-like surface, lateral margin thickened, posterior end blunt. Leg measurements: I 3.53 (1.00, 0.19, 1.05, 0.77, 0.52); II 2.80 (0.78, 0.20, 0.65, 0.59, 0.58); III 2.36 (0.71, 0.16, 0.56, 0.57, 0.36); IV 3.48 (0.97, 0.23, 0.89, 0.84, 0.55). Pedicel 0.06. Abdomen 1.06 long, 0.78 wide.

Coloration (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ). Darker than male.

Vulva (Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ). Internal genitalia with sub-trapezoidal atrium, slightly swollen spermathecae. and convoluted spermathecal stalk including three coils.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Jiangxi Province, China (Fig. 29 View Figure 29 ).

Etymology.

The species is named after Mr Yuanhao Ying, who collected the type specimens.

Comments.

We compared the palps of the new species with that of the very similar species L. dawu sp. nov. several times. This similarity is probably because the males of these two species have very similar characters: tibial spines, cymbial spine, and embolus. The distance between Dawu Mountain and Ziyao Mountain is approximately 25 km (linear distances), which is very close. Despite the close distance, we consider them as different species based on the morphological differences listed. This hypothesis will be confirmed or rejected in the future when molecular data and analysis can be provided.