Grandilithus tongren sp. nov.

Chinese name: NJ仁kṄĦ

Figs 7–9, 10

Type material. Holotype ♂ (MHBU-Ara-GZ2021062001), CHINA: Guizhou Province: Tongren, Shiqian Co., Gelao Ethnic Culture Vill., (27°20′6.09″N 108°9′4.48″E, 635 m a. s. l.), 20.06.2021, leg. Junxia Zhang.

Paratypes: 2♀ (MHBU-Ara-GZ2021062001), with same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species resembles G. chongzuo Xu et al., 2023, G. aobei Liu & Li, 2022 and G. taiwanicus (Hayashi & Yoshida, 1993) in having a similarly shaped femoral apophysis and embolus but can be recognized by: 1) the digitiform tegular apophysis, with the tip covering the base and pointing retrolaterally (Fig. 8B–C) (vs either the tip not covering the base as in G. chongzuo (see fig. 2B–C in Xu et al. 2023) and G. taiwanicus (see figs 16–17 in Kamura 2001) or not digitiform as in G. aobei (see fig. 41D–E in Liu & Li 2022)); 2) retrolateral tibial apophysis narrower near the tip (Fig. 8B–D) (vs wide near the tip, as in G. aobei (see fig. 41D–F in Liu & Li 2022), G. chongzuo (see fig. 2B–D in Xu et al. 2023) and G. taiwanicus (see figs 16–17 in Kamura 2001)).

The female of the new species resembles G. taiwanicus (Hayashi & Yoshida, 1993), G. xiaohuangshan Xu & Zhang, 2023 and G. xiaoxiicus (Liu, 2020) in having similarly shaped copulatory openings and copulatory ducts but can be recognized by: 1) indistinct glandular appendages (Fig. 8F) (vs distinct, as in G. taiwanicus (see fig. 19 in Kamura 2001), G. xiaohuangshan (see fig. 4F in Xu et al. 2023) and G. xiaoxiicus (see fig. 21D in Liu et al. 2020)); 2) almost rectangular bursa (Fig. 8F) (vs balloon-shaped as in G. taiwanicus (see fig. 19 in Kamura 2001) and G. xiaohuangshan (see fig. 4F in Xu et al. 2023) and oval as in G. xiaoxiicus (see fig. 21D in Liu et al. 2020)); 3) median septum wider at the center (Fig. 8E) (vs anteriorly wider, as in G. taiwanicus (see fig. 18 in Kamura 2001), G. xiaohuangshan (see fig. 4E in Xu et al. 2023) and G. xiaoxiicus (see fig. 21C in Liu et al. 2020)).

Description. Male (holotype): total length 3.82, carapace 1.85 long, 1.54 wide; abdomen 1.97 long, 1.10 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PME 0.08, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE– ALE 0.31, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.37, ALE–PLE 0.09. EAW 0.53, CRW 0.72, EAW/CRW 0.74, CRW/CW 0.47. MOA 0.33 long, anterior width 0.30, posterior width 0.26. CH 0.15, CH /AME 1.07. Labium 0.18 long, 0.26 wide. Sternum 0.99 long, 0.87 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 10.03 (2.34, 0.62, 2.81, 2.42, 1.84), II 8.01 (2.02, 0.62, 2.14, 1.84, 1.39), III 6.33 (1.70, 0.55, 1.31, 1.80, 0.97), IV 10.09 (2.82, 0.60, 2.27, 2.90, 1.50). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femora I pl 5, II pl 3, tibiae Ⅰ pv 9 rv 9, II pv 8 rv 8, metatarsi Ⅰ pv 4 rv 3, II pv 4 rv 3.

Carapace yellow, black ripples along margin. Abdomen yellow, small yellow dorsal scutum anteriorly, black patterns beside scutum and posteriorly; slightly sclerotized area near spinnerets with black setae (Fig. 7A–B). Legs yellow.

Palp as in Fig 8A–D, 9A–D. Femoral apophysis well-developed. Tibia half as long as femur. Tubercle distinct. Prolateral tibial apophysis almost triangular. Retrolateral tibial apophysis tapering, beak-like, as long as tibia. Sperm duct distinct, tapering. Tegular apophysis digitiform, curving ventrally. Embolus hook-shaped, tip sharp.

Female: total length 4.85, carapace 1.93 long, 1.75 wide; abdomen 2.92 long, 2.24 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PME 0.10, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.34, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.43, ALE–PLE 0.11. EAW 0.60, CRW 0.82, EAW/CRW 0.73, CRW/ CW 0.47. MOA 0.35 long, anterior width 0.31, posterior width 0.29. CH 0.15, CH /AME 1.07. Labium 0.20 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 1.15 long, 0.94 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 9.79 (2.41, 0.72, 2.94, 2.10, 1.62), II 7.89 (2.01, 0.60, 2.28, 1.70, 1.30), III 6.56 (1.74, 0.59, 1.46, 1.78, 0.99), IV 9.75 (2.72, 0.61, 2.32, 2.81, 1.29). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femora I pl 6, II pl 4, tibiae Ⅰ pv 9 rv 10, II pv 8 rv 8, metatarsi Ⅰ pv4 rv4, II pv 4 rv 3. Legs yellow. Other characters as in male, except: carapace darker; abdomen black with a small white patch anteriorly; dorsal scutum absent (Fig. 7C, D).

Epigyne as in Figs 8E–F, 9E–F. Epigynal plate sclerotized. Median septum wider at center. Copulatory openings oval, separated by median septum. Copulatory ducts oval. Connecting tubes slightly curved, as long as copulatory ducts. Glandular appendages indistinct. Bursae large, almost rectangular, separated. Spermathecae clavate, separated. Fertilization ducts located at anterior margin of spermathecae. Posterior edge of epigyne with membranous structure, covering 1/6 of spermathecae.

Note. The right copulatory opening in the described female specimen bears a curved ossified structure that extends to the edge of the epigyne.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 10).

Species-grouping of Grandilithus

After reviewing the 35 currently known species of Grandilithus, we classified them into three species groups based on characteristics of their copulatory organs. The diagnostic characters for males and females are detailed for each species group, followed by a list of all included species (Table 1).