Troglocoelotes ruanxiaowu Lin & Li, 2024

Lin, Yejie, Li, Shuqiang, Mo, Haolin & Wang, Xihao, 2024, Thirty-eight spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, Zoological Systematics 49 (1), pp. 4-98 : 11-12

Troglocoelotes ruanxiaowu Lin & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 2 , 3B )

Etymology. The species is named after Ruan Xiaowu, a character in the classic Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The female of the new species resembles T. liangensis Zhao & Li, 2019 by the epigynal teeth directed mesially and oval spermathecae, but it can be distinguished by the strongly procurved posterior margin of the atrium (vs. slightly recurved) and middle part of copulatory ducts expanded (vs. unexpanded).

Description. Female (holotype). Total length 4.72, carapace 2.65 long, 1.78 wide, opisthosoma 2.05 long, 3.08 wide. Eyes absent. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 11.24 (2.88, 3.70, 2.78, 1.88), II 10.60 (2.76, 3.36, 2.72, 1.76), III 10.04 (2.63, 2.97, 2.75, 1.69), IV 13.25 (3.24, 4.10, 3.85, 2.06).

Coloration ( Fig. 3B ). Carapace yellow-brown. Cephalic region brown to yellowish brown, thoracic region pale yellow. Cervical and radial furrows distinct. Chelicerae brown. Endites and labium brown. Sternum yellowish brown. Legs yellow with black setae. Opisthosoma oval, gray, without any pattern. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Epigyne ( Fig. 2 ). Epigynal plate as long as wide. Epigynal teeth finger shaped, located over the atrium, about 2 times wider than long. Atrium inconspicuous. Median plate strongly procurved. Copulatory ducts partially oval, then spiraled and attached to the anterior part of spermathecae. Spermathecal heads obvious. Spermathecae oval. Fertilization duct directed at 1:00-o’clock-position from spermatheca.

Male. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype ♀ (IZCAS-Ar44791), China: Guangxi, Fengshan Co., Fengcheng Town, Songren Vil. , Xi'an Cave (24.5657°N, 107.04108°E, elev. 574 m), 12.III.2007, Jie Liu and Yucheng Lin leg.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 2. Troglocoelotes ruanxiaowu Lin & Li, sp. nov., holotype female. A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; ET—epigynal tooth; FD—fertilization duct; S—spermatheca; SH— spermathecal head. Scale bars=0.1mm.

Figure 3. Troglocoelotes spp., dorsal view, holotype females, habitus. A. T. doul Lin & Li, sp. nov.; C. T. ruanxiaowu Lin & Li, sp. nov. Scale bars=1.0mm.