Grandilithus nigromaculatus sp. nov.

Chinese name: DZȗkṄĦ

Figs 4–6, 10

Type material. Holotype ♂ (MHBU-Ara-GD2024080701), CHINA: Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, Conghua Dist., Liuxi River (23°42′26.99″N 113°47′16.92″E, 896.1 m a.s.l.), 08.07.2024, leg. Junxia Zhang, Weihang Wang, Zhiyong Yang, Yi Ni.

Paratypes: 2 ♂ 6♀ (MHBU-Ara-GD2024080701), with same data as holotype .

Etymology. This species name is a combination of the Latin word “ nigro ” and “ maculatus ”, referring to the black pattern on the carapace of male; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species resembles G. fujian (Fu, Jin & Zhang, 2014), G. yunyin Liu & Li, 2022, G. limushan (Fu, Zhang & Zhu, 2010) in having a similarly shaped femoral apophysis and embolus, but can be recognized by:1) the digitiform tegular apophysis curves retrolaterally (Fig. 5B–C) (vs either curves prolaterally as in G. yunyin (see fig. 68D–E in Liu & Li 2022) or not digitiform as in G. fujian (see fig. 1C–D in Fu et al. 2014) and G. limushan (see fig. 42–43 in Fu et al. 2015)); 2) the retrolateral tibial apophysis digitiform tip slightly curved (Fig. 5D) (vs beak-like retrolateral tibial apophysis digitiform tip distinctly curved, as in G. fujian (see fig. 1C–D in Fu et al. 2014), G. limushan (see fig. 40 in Fu et al. 2015) and G. yunyin (see fig. 68F in Liu & Li 2022)).

The female of the new species resembles G. fujian (Fu, Jin & Zhang, 2014), G. florifer (Fu, He & Zhang, 2015), and G. xiaohuangshan Xu et al., 2023 in having similarly shaped copulatory openings and bursa but can be recognized by: 1) shorter, oval spermathecae (Fig. 5F) (vs long, clavate, as in G. florifer; (see fig. 28 in Fu et al. 2015), G. fujian (see fig. 1G in Fu et al. 2014) and G. xiaohuangshan (see fig. 4F in Xu et al. 2023)); 2) indistinct glandular appendages (Fig. 5F) (vs distinct, as in G. florifer (see fig. 28 in Fu et al. 2015), G. fujian (see fig. 1G in Fu et al. 2014) and G. xiaohuangshan (see fig. 4F in Xu et al. 2023)); 3) longer connecting tubes, equal in length to spermathecae (Fig. 5F) (vs shorter than spermathecae, as in G. florifer (see fig. 28 in Fu et al. 2015), G. fujian (see fig. 1G in Fu et al. 2014) and G. xiaohuangshan, (see fig. 4F in Xu et al. 2023)).

Description. Male (holotype): total length 3.22, carapace 1.61 long, 1.36 wide; abdomen 1.56 long, 0.80 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.11, PLE 0.09; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.09, ALE– ALE 0.33, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.03, PLE–PLE 0.27, ALE–PLE 0.08. EAW 0.48, CRW 0.63, EAW/CRW 0.76, CRW/CW 0.47. MOA 0.27 long, anterior width 0.25, posterior width 0.26. CH 0.10, CH /AME 1.11. Labium 0.17 long, 0.22 wide. Sternum 0.92 long, 0.71 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 7.58 (1.89, 0.41, 2.29, 1.76, 1.23), II 6.13 (1.55, 0.32, 1.69, 1.48, 1.09), III 4.92 (1.31, 0.38, 1.06, 1.32, 0.85), IV 8.06 (2.28, 0.46, 1.92, 2.35, 1.05). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femora I pl 5, II pl 3, tibiae Ⅰ pv 8 rv 8, II pv 8 rv 7, metatarsi Ⅰ pv 4 rv 4, II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace with black pattern, except near median furrow. Abdomen black, small yellow dorsal scutum anteriorly; irregular, slightly sclerotized area near spinnerets, with black setae (Fig. 4A–B). Legs yellow; femora with black markings.

Palp as in Figs 5A–D, 6A–D. Femur, tibia and patella black. Femoral apophysis protruding. Tibia half as long as femur. Tubercle indistinct. Prolateral tibial apophysis almost semiround. Retrolateral tibial apophysis tapering, digitiform tip slightly curved, approximately half the length of tibia. Sperm duct distinct, tapering. Tegular apophysis digitiform, curving retrolaterally. Embolus hook-shaped, tip sharp.

Female. total length 3.20, carapace 1.59 long, 1.34 wide; abdomen 1.55 long, 0.82 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.09, PME 0.10, PLE 0.09; AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.38, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.03, PLE–PLE 0.29, ALE–PLE 0.10. EAW 0.52, CRW 0.78, EAW/CRW 0.67, CRW/ CW 0.52. MOA 0.29 long, anterior width 0.28, posterior width 0.27. CH 0.12, CH /AME 1.20. Labium 0.21 long, 0.27 wide. Sternum 1.13 long, 0.83 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 7.59 (1.88, 0.38, 2.31, 1.78, 1.24), II 6.06 (1.52, 0.36, 1.71, 1.46, 1.01), III 4.96 (1.29, 0.39, 1.09, 1.30, 0.89), IV 8.07 (2.27, 0.48, 1.95, 2.31, 1.06). Spination: femora I–IV d 1, femora I pl 5, II pl 4, tibiae Ⅰ pv 9 rv 9, II pv 8 rv 8, metatarsi Ⅰ pv4 rv4, II pv 4 rv 3. Other characters as in male, except: carapace paler; abdomen with a white patch anteriorly; dorsal scutum absent (Fig. 4C).

Epigyne as in Figs 5E–F, 6E–F. Epigynal plate sclerotized. Median septum wider at center. Copulatory openings oval, with depression nearby. Copulatory ducts arc-shaped, longer than wider. Connecting tubes U-shaped, shorter than the copulatory ducts. Glandular appendages indistinct. Bursae irregular, separated. Spermathecae oval, thick, contiguous. Fertilization ducts located at anterior margin of spermathecae. Posterior edge of epigyne with membranous structure, covering 1/4 of spermathecae.

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