Lathys adunca Liu, 2018

Liu, Keke, Meng, Zeyuan, Xiao, Yonghong & Xu, Xiang, 2018, Five new Lathys species (Araneae: Dictynidae) from South China and the first description of the male of Lathys spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012, Zootaxa 4500 (2), pp. 151-178 : 152-155

Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov.

Figs 1–3 , 23

Type material. CHINA: Jiangxi Province: Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City. Holotype male: Dalong Town , Yuantou Village , broad-leaf forest, 26.626°N, 114.106°E, 791 m elevation, 5 April 2014, Keke Liu, Zhiwu Chen, Zeyuan Meng, Xiaoping Huang and Yubao Tang leg. ( ASM-JGSU).

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning “curved” and referring to the large dorsolateral HTA of the male palp ( Figs 1C–E , 2D–H , 3 ).

Diagnosis. Males of the new species resemble those of L. chishuiensis and L. inaffecta ( Li & Wang 2017; Zhang et al. 2009) in having a short and filiform embolus, but can be clearly distinguished by having a hollow

retro-dorsal MTA (without MTA in L. chishuiensis and L. inaffecta ), a short and spiniform TA (long and blunt in L. chishuiensis ; finger-like in L. inaffecta ), and a strongly sclerotized HTA (weakly sclerotised in L. inaffecta and L. chishuiensis ) ( Figs 1C–E , 2D–H , 3 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 1A–B . Total length 1.53, carapace ( Fig. 1A ), length 0.68, width 0.59, with a row of setae medially. Six eyes in two groups ( Fig. 1A ), without AME; diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.07, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08, ALE–PLE 0.15, PLE–PME 0.14, ALE–ALE 0.22, PLE–PLE 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.15, ALE smallest, PME largest, ALE–PLE touching. Chelicerae ( Figs 1A , 2A–C ) with big fang, 3 promarginal (second largest) and 3 retromarginal teeth (second largest, the third smallest and near the apex of fang in resting position). Gnathocoxae longer than wide, with many setae ventrally, anteriorly with a single row serrula, labium sub-hexagonal, with a row of setae, sternum longer than wide ( Fig. 1B ), with numerous tubercles on the surface. Opisthosoma oval ( Figs 1A–B ) in dorsal view. Leg ( Figs 1A–B ) measurements: I 1.92 (0.57, 0.20, 0.49, 0.38, 0.28); II 1.73 (0.52, 0.19, 0.40, 0.35, 0.27); III 1.33 (0.43, 0.16, 0.26, 0.29, 0.19); IV 1.65 (0.51, 0.19, 0.36, 0.36, 0.23); formula: I, II, IV, III. Metatarsus IV with distinct calamistrum, covering more than 2/3 of length of metatarsus, each seta apically bent.

Colouration. Carapace anteriorly yellow-brown with dark net-shaped pattern, posteriorly with distinct dark radiant stripes around fovea. Chelicerae yellow. Gnathocoxae yellowish pink. Labium anterior part yellowish white and posterior part yellow brown. Sternum yellow brown. Palp pale yellow. Bulb yellowish white. Legs pale yellowish white, without annulations. Opisthosoma white to grey, with light transverse band in ventral view. Cribellum and spinnerets yellowish white.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 1C–E , 2D–H , 3 ). Bulb spherical in ventral view, with distinct, S-shaped sperm duct in prolateral view and spine-like apex of TA. Palpal tibia with distinct MTA, HTA and two RTS (including a strong and a weak one). Base of HTA broad, lamellar, distally bending in direction of MTA.

Female: Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Jiangxi Province ( Fig. 23 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1A–E. Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., holotype male. A Habitus, dorsal. B Same, ventral. C Left palp, prolateral. D Same, ventral. E Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: A, B 0.5 mm; C–E 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 2A–H. Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., holotype male, SEMs. A Left chelicera, frontal, slightly prolateral. B Same, retromarginal teeth, frontal, slightly prolateral. C Same, ventral. D Left palp, ventral. E Same, retrolateral. F Same, dorsal. G Right palp, retrolateral. H Same, showing detail of tibial apophyses and RTS. Abbreviations: Em—embolus, HTA—hookshaped tibial apophysis, MTA—retro-dorsal hollow membranous tibial apophysis, RTS—retro-dorsal tibial spine, TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: A–F 20 µm; G 0.1 mm; H 10 µm.

FIGURES 3A–C. Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., holotype male, left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral). Abbreviations: Em—embolus, HTA—hook-shaped tibial apophysis, RTS—retro-dorsal tibial spines, TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 50 µm.

FIGURE 23. Collection localities for Lathys adunca Liu spec. nov., L. deltoidea Liu spec. nov., L. fibulata Liu spec. nov., L. huangyangjieensis Liu spec. nov. and L. zhanfengi Liu spec. nov. in Jinggangshan National Natural Reserve, Jiangxi Province and distribution of L. spiralis Zhang, Hu & Zhang, 2012 in China.