Meta yani, Wang & Zhou & Irfan & Yang & Peng, 2020

Wang, Luyu, Zhou, Guchun, Irfan, Muhammad, Yang, Sufang & Peng, Xianjin, 2020, Five new species of Meta Koch, 1836 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) from Gaoligong Mountains, China, European Journal of Taxonomy 624, pp. 1-25 : 14-18

Meta yani sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D59B312C-31B9-45DC-B8BD-2B647DDCA724

Figs 1 E–F, 10–12

Differential diagnosis

Meta yani sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other Chinese Meta species by the wide and bifurcated metaine embolic apophysis of the male palp ( Figs 10D , 12B ) and the long fertilization ducts of its epigyne ( Figs 11B , 12E ). Meta yani sp. nov. resembles M. yinae sp. nov. ( Figs 13–15 ), but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters. Metaine embolic apophysis bifurcated in ventral view in M. yani sp. nov. ( Figs 10D , 12B ), not bifurcated in M. yinae sp. nov. ( Figs 13D , 15B ). The spine-like apophysis of the cymbial ectobasal process arises from the median portion of CEP and is pointed towards the cymbium in M. yani sp. nov. ( Figs 10B , 12C ), whereas it forms the top of CEP and is pointed towards the genital bulb in M. yinae sp. nov. ( Figs 13B , 15C ). The posterior margin of the epigynal plate is centrally incised in M. yani sp. nov. ( Figs 11A , 12D ), whereas it is almost round in M. yinae sp. nov. ( Figs 14A , 15D ). Spermathecae horizontal, with boxing glove-like shape in M. yani sp. nov. ( Figs 11B , 12E ), longitudinal in M. yinae sp. nov. ( Figs 14B , 15E ).

Etymology

The specific name comes from the family name of the collector, Prof. Yan Heng-mei; noun.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • 1 ♂; Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Cikai Township, Dabadi to Gongshan, along Pula river; 27°47′40″ N, 98°30′25″ E; 3025–3990 m; 4 Oct. 2002; H.M. Yan leg.; HNU-Yan021004 .

Paratypes

CHINA • 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; HNU-Yan021004 .

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 1E )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.14. Prosoma 1.92 long, 1.58 wide; opisthosoma 2.41 long, 2.29 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.11, PME 0.12, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.18, ALE–PLE 0.06. MOA 0.37 long, front width 0.32, back width 0.36. Clypeus 0.09 high.

CHELICERAE. Strong, yellowish brown, three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

GNATHOCOXAE AND LABIUM. Gray brown, longer than wide. Sternum gray brown, scutellate, with sparse brown hairs.

DORSUM OF PROSOMA. Yellowish brown, with longitudinal dark brown band. Cervical groove distinct, radial furrows indistinct ( Fig. 1E ).

LEGS. Yellowish brown, with annuli. Length of legs: I, 10.00 (2.79, 3.51, 2.64, 1.06); II, 7.72 (2.24, 2.68, 1.93, 0.87); III, 4.36 (1.39, 1.39, 1.00, 0.58); IV, 5.61 (1.80, 1.78, 1.42, 0.61). Leg formula: 1243.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ovate, dorsum with two pairs of sigillae, yellowish brown, with irregular black and white markings ( Fig. 1E ). Venter of opisthosoma yellowish brown, with black markings.

PALP ( Figs 10 , 12 A–C). Cymbial ectobasal process Y-shaped, with a small tooth ventro-laterally. Paracymbium short, rod-like, with sparse long, brown hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis bifurcated in ventral view. Embolus long, thin, most of proximal portion covered by conductor. Conductor longer than wide, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb, extending clockwise, with a membranous end.

Female (Yan 021004, Fig. 1F )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.00. Prosoma 1.85 long, 1.46 wide; opisthosoma 2.35 long, 1.96 wide ( Fig. 1F ). Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.14, PME 0.14, PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.13, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.38 long, front width 0.31, back width 0.37. Clypeus 0.07 high.

LEGS. Length of legs: I, 7.71 (2.18, 2.67, 1.92, 0.94); II, 6.05 (1.77, 2.00, 1.50, 0.78); III, 3.66 (1.13, 1.18, 0.79, 0.56); IV, 4.83 (1.54, 1.59, 1.11, 0.59).Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male except lightly colored.

EPIGYNE ( Figs 11 , 12 D–E). Spermathecae small, shape boxing glove-like. Fertilization ducts long, slightly curved.

Variation

The total length in male specimens examined ranges from 4.11 to 4.56, in female specimens from 3.57 to 4.34.

Distribution

China, Yunnan Province (Gongshan) ( Fig. 16 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Meta hamata sp. nov. (A–B), Meta longlingensis sp. nov. (I), Meta tangi sp. nov. (C–D), Meta yani sp. nov. (E–F), Meta yinae sp. nov. (G–H). A, C, E, G, I. Male holotype habitus, dorsal view. B, D, F, H. Female paratype habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Meta yanisp. nov. Left palp of holotype♂ (HNU-Yan021004). A. Prolateral view. B. Retrolateral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 12. Meta yani sp. nov. Left palp of holotype ♂ (A–C); epigyne (D) and vulva (E) of paratype ♀ (HNU-Yan021004). A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Retrolateral view. D. Epigyne, ventral view. E. Vulva, front view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 11. Meta yani sp. nov. Paratype ♀ (HNU-Yan021004). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, front view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 13. Meta yinaesp. nov.Left palp of holotype♂(HNU-Tang-05-08).A. Prolateral view.B. Retrolateral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 14. Meta yinae sp. nov. Paratype ♀ (HNU-Tang-05-08). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, front view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 15. Meta yinae sp. nov. Left palp of holotype ♂ (A–C); epigyne (D) and vulva (E) of paratype ♀ (HNU-Tang-05-08). A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Retrolateral view. D. Epigyne, ventral view. E. Vulva, front view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 16. Distribution records of five new species of the genus Meta Koch, 1836 in Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China.