Lingulatus, Mu & Zhang, 2022

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2022, Lingulatus gen. nov., a new genus with description of three new species and one new combination (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Zootaxa 5178 (3), pp. 265-277 : 266-267

Lingulatus gen. nov. (fflfla)

Etymology. The generic name “ Lingulatus ” is a Latin adjective meaning “tongue-shaped”, referring to the tongueshaped tegular sheet originating from the tegulum. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. This new genus can be distinguished from all other Asian phrurolithid genera by the tegular sheet originating from the tegulum, located near the base of the embolus, combined with the tibia with a ventral tegular apophysis and retrodorsal tibial apophysis; the new genus can also be distinguished from all other phrurolithid genera by the round ventral tibial apophysis or regular, tapering, pointed apophysis located at the middle of the ventral surface of the tibia. This new genus is similar to Liophrurillus Wunderlich, 1992 by having a tegular sheet, but can be distinguished by: 1) embolus thin, acicular-shaped or flake-shaped (vs extremely stout, hook-shaped, compare Figs 3C , 6B , 8B with fig. 29 in Wunderlich 2012: 22); 2) tegular sheet medium or small in size (vs thick, compare Figs 3C , 6A , 8B with fig. 29 in Wunderlich 2012: 22); 3) femoral apophysis well-developed (vs a small triangular protrusion, compare Figs 3A , 6A , 8A with fig. 28 in Wunderlich 2012: 22); 4) the thin copulatory ducts and connecting tubes (vs thick and snail-shaped, compare Figs 4A–B , 8E–F with figs 30–31 in Wunderlich 2012: 22); 5) the presence of glandular appendages and bursa (vs absent, compare Figs 4B , 8F with figs 31 in Wunderlich 2012: 22); 6) copulatory openings small (vs large, compare Figs 4A , 8E with figs 30, 32 in Wunderlich 2012: 22).

Description. Small spiders, total length 2.88–3.71 mm. Carapace with nearly round thoracic region and narrowed cephalic region, smooth, yellow to blackish-brown, widest at coxae II, highest near fovea. Cervical groove inconspicuous. Fovea longitudinal, dark-red. Eight eyes in two rows, PER slightly wider than AER, AER recurved in dorsal view, PER slightly recurved in dorsal view. Eyes moderate in size, AME almost same size as ALE, larger than PME and PLE. Chelicerae yellow, promargin with three well-separated teeth and retromargin with four denticles close together ( Fig. 1E, F ), with one long and one short spine anteriorly. Endites longer than wide, labium wider than long. Sternum yellow to black, smooth, without pattern, longer than wide, shield-shaped; precoxal triangles present, intercoxal sclerites absent. Legs yellow to dark brown; all femora with one to three dorsal spines, femur I with four prolateral spines distally, femur II with two or three prolateral spines distally; tibia I usually with six to seven proventral spines and six to eight retroventral spines, tibia II usually with six or seven proventral spines and five or six retroventral spines; metatarsus I usually with four pairs of ventral spines, metatarsus II usually with four proventral spines and three retroventral spines; posterior legs lack spines; metatarsi III and IV with distal preening brush. Leg formula: 1423. Abdomen oval, dorsum black, with dorsal scutum in males; venter yellow; colulus absent; transverse row of white hairs present just anterior of anal tubercle.

Male palp: femur with well-developed femoral apophysis located at middle of ventral surface; tibia with round or modified ventral tibial apophysis, medium-sized tooth-shaped retrolateral apophysis, and large retrodorsal apophysis; embolus acicular or flake-shaped; tegulum oval, tegular apophysis present or absent, tegular sheet originating near base of embolus on tegulum; conductor absent. Female epigyne: epigynal plate weakly sclerotized; copulatory openings small and far apart; spermathecae small, located posteriorly; glandular appendages digit- or mastoid-shaped; a pair of long and oval bursa anteriorly.

Type species: Lingulatus pingbian sp. nov. (屏ṁfflfl)

Composition. Four species, including three new species described here: L. brevis sp. nov., L. longulus sp. nov., L. pingbian sp. nov. and L. christae ( Jäger & Wunderlich, 2012) comb. nov..

Remarks. Members of this genus can be divided into two species groups. Firstly, the pingbian- group ( L. longulus sp. nov. and L. pingbian sp. nov.) is characterized by: 1) DS is narrower than the abdomen, and more than half the length of the abdomen; 2) embolus flattened; 3) vTA with a small tip directed towards the tegulum; 4) TS longer than half the length of the tegulum; and 5) COs located posteriorly. Secondly, the brevis- group ( L. brevis sp. nov. and L. christae ( Jäger & Wunderlich, 2012) comb. n.) is characterized by: 1) DS large, almost covering the entire abdomen; 2) embolus acicular; 3) VTA round, without a small tip; 4) TS shorter than half the length of the tegulum; and 5) COs located anteriorly.

Distribution. China, Laos.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Left chelicerae: A. Lingulatus pingbian sp. nov., retromarginal view (male holotype); B. Same, retromarginal view (female paratype); C. Same, promarginal view (female paratype); D. L. longulus sp. nov., retromarginal view (male holotype); E. L. brevis sp. nov., retromarginal view (male holotype); F. Same, retromarginal view (female paratype).

FIGURE 3. Lingulatus brevis sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view.Abbreviations:E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; rDTA—retrodorsal tibial apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA—tegular apophysis; TS—tegular sheet; vTA—ventral tibial apophysis.

FIGURE 4. Lingulatus brevis sp. nov.: A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CD— copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CT—connecting tube; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; S— spermatheca.

FIGURE 6. Lingulatus longulus sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; rDTA—retrodorsal tibial apophysis; RTA— retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA—tegular apophysis; TS—tegular sheet; vTA—ventral tibial apophysis.

FIGURE 8. Lingulatus pingbian sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Epigyne, ventral view; F. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; rDTA—retrodorsal tibial apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; TS—tegular sheet; vTA—ventral tibial apophysis; B—bursa; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CT—connecting tube; GA—glandular appendages; FD—fertilization duct; S—spermathecae.