Gongylidium bifurcatus, Irfan & Zhang & Peng, 2022

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, Megataxa 8 (1), pp. 1-292 : 95-101

Gongylidium bifurcatus sp. nov. (ĀAEƂƦ)

Figures 114–116 , 119

Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Gongshan County,

Gongdangshen mountain, 28.00332°N, 98.36590°E, alt. 1900m, 5 October 2002, Chang-min Yin and Xiang Xu leg. (No. 14). Paratypes: 2♂ 4♀, same data as holotype (No. 14) ; 2♂ 2♀, Tengchong County, Jietou Township , Zoujiapo Village , 25.24920ºN, 98.40560ºE, 1734m, 24 October 2003, Guo Tang leg. (Tang031024); 2♂, 20 km N Liuku, along West Bank of Salween river, Genmazhai, 26.06667°N, 98.84833°E, alt. 975m, 21 October 1998, Charles Griswold, D. H. Kavanaugh and Chun-lin Long leg.(98– WB) ; 1♀, NujiangPrefecture , SanjiangTownship , Lushui County, Nu Jiang, 25.72964°N, 98.87180°E, alt. 790m, 26 June 2000, D. H. Kavanaugh, Charles Griswold and Heng-mei Yan leg. (00–Lan) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ bifurcatus ”, meaning “forked”, referring to the bifurcated distal end of the retrolateral tibial apophysis in the male palp.

Diagnosis. This new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by retrolateral tibial apophysis bifurcated, dorsal tibial apophysis somewhat triangular and distal suprategular apophysis trapezoid retrolateral view; epigyne ventral plate highly sclerotized, copulatory ducts inverted U-shaped ( Figs 114B, C , 115A–C ).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 116A–C ): Total length: 2.41. Carapace 1.05 long, 0.85 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated with microsetae, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Sternum almost round, brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with four promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER procurved, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.05, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.35, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.16 (1.14, 1.31, 1.10, 0.61), II 3.96 (1.01, 1.31, 0.96, 0.68), III 3.11 (0.86, 0.99, 0.79, 0.47), IV 3.66 (0.98, 1.22, 0.85, 0.61). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I 0.34 and Tm IV 0.29. Tibial spine formula: 2-2- 1-1. the other tibia dorsally with 2 to 3 trichobothria. Abdomen 1.35 long, 0.78 wide, oval, pale, base of spinnerets black.

Palp ( Fig. 114A–D ): Patella shorter than tibia, mesally grooved; tibia longer than wide, conical, with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; distal end of retrolateral tibial apophysis bifurcated, dorsal tibial apophysis somewhat triangular; paracymbium transverse U-shaped; distal end of suprategular apophysis somewhat trapezoid in retrolateral view; tegulum almost round; protegulum reduced. Lamella characteristca longer than wide, anterior part sclerotized, moderately long, overlapping the suprategulum, posterior end as long as the distal suprategular apophysis. Embolic membrane reduced. Embolus sclerotized, short, with pointed end retained below the apex of cymbium.

Female (paratype, Fig. 116D–F ): Total length: 2.53. Carapace 1.01 long, 0.71 wide; cephalic region slightly elevated, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.15 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with five promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER procurved, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.03, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.36, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.52 (0.96, 1.14, 0.85, 0.57), II 3.07 (0.86, 1.01, 0.76, 0.44), III 2.65 (0.72, 0.81, 0.69, 0.43), IV 3.61 (0.97, 1.18, 0.91, 0.55). Leg formula IV-I-II-III. Tm I 0.26 and Tm IV 0.19. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-1-1. The other tibia dorsally with 2 to 3 trichobothria. Abdomen 1.52 long, 0.98 wide, oval, pale, base of spinnerets black.

Epigyne ( Fig. 115A–C ): Ventral plate sclerotized, posterior margin narrow, beaked-shaped, prominent in lateral view; dorsal plate rectangular, wider than long; copulatory openings arched, present at the junction of dorsal and ventral plate; Vulva: copulatory ducts simple, fused at the center, forming loop before entering the spermathecae; spermathecae globular; fertilization ducts short, extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 119 ).

Figures

FIGURE 114. Gongylidium bifurcatus sp. nov., male palp of holotype. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C ventral view D dorsal view.

FIGURE 115. Gongylidium bifurcatus sp. nov., female (one of paratypes). A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 116. Gongylidium bifurcatus sp. nov., male (holotype, A–C), female (one of paratypes, D–F). A, D Habitus, dorsal view B, E Habitus, lateral view C, F Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 119. Distribution of Gongylidium species.