Megalepthyphantes sanchaheensis, 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 : 162-166

Megalepthyphantes sanchaheensis sp. nov. (ΞΔẦD fflƉƦ)

Figures 187–189

Types. Holotype ♀, CHINA, Yunnan, Longyang County, Bawan Township, Sanchahe , Luoshuidong area , 24.92597°N, 98.75806°E, alt. 2300m, 3 June 2005, Charles Griswold leg. ( CGY137 ) . Paratypes: 1♀, same data as holotype female ( CGY137 ) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the type locality.

Diagnosis. The female resembles Megalepthyphantes pseudocollinus Saaristo, 1997 in having the similar posterior median plate ( Fig. 187A–D ; Saaristo, 1997, figs 3, 4), but can be distinguished by the scape wider than long, posteriorly round with deep notch at the centre in M. sanchaheensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 187A–D ), whereas longer than wide, and without notch in M. pseudocollinus ( Saaristo, 1997, figs 3, 4).

Description. Female (holotype, Fig. 188A, B ): Total length: 2.46. Carapace 0.91 long, 0.74 wide, 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 three retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER slightly recurved, wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.09, PME 0.06, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.05, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.09, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.02. Length of legs: I 4.08 (1.09, 1.34, 1.04, 0.61), II 3.65 (0.99, 1.13, 0.92, 0.61), III 2.98 (0.91, 0.83, 0.75, 0.49), IV 3.7 (1.14, 1.09, 0.96, 0.51). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. Tm I 1.55 and Tm IV 0.92. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.55 long, 0.92 wide, oval, brown, dorsally with two distinct longitudinal black bands extending towards the lateral sides, followed by irregular white patches; ventral side dark grey.

Epigyne ( Fig. 187A–D ): Protruding; scape broad, wider than long, round posteriorly and a deep notch posteriorly in ventral view; distal part of scape with relatively small stretcher; entrance groove inside lateral pockets; Lateral pockets ear lobe shaped extending laterally; posterior median plate broad, somewhat rectangular; spermathecae bean-shaped, curved, situated dorso-laterally.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 189 ).

Genus Mermessus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899 (ÊẮ Ʀø)

Figures

FIGURE 187. Megalepthyphantes sanchaheensis sp. nov., female holotype. A, C Epigyne, ventral view B Epigyne, lateral view D Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 188. Megalepthyphantes sanchaheensis sp. nov., female holotype. A Habitus, lateral view B Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 189. Distribution of Megalepthyphantes species.