Gracilentus serratus, 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 : 109-110

Gracilentus serratus sp. nov. (ḏḦdzƦ)

Figures 124 , 125 , 128

Types. Holotype ♀, CHINA, Yunnan, Tengchong County, Qushi Township , Heiyuhe L and scape, 25.22186°N, 98.57167°E, alt. 1550m, 2 June 2006, Chang-min Yin, Jia-fang Hu and Ming-wei Yang, Shao-xian He leg. ( YHY20 ) . Paratypes: 2♀, same data as holotype ; 1♀, Fugong County, 4.5 km Aludi, 27.10829°N, 98.87162°E, alt. 1263m, 22 April 2004, Charles Griswold and D. H. Kavanaugh leg. ( CGY05 ) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ serratus ”, meaning “saw-edged” and refers to the saw-shaped posterior margin of the ventral plate in the epigyne.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles Gracilentus tengchongensis sp. nov. in having similar spermathecae and copulatory ducts ( Fig. 124A–C ; Fig. 126A–C ), but can be distinguished by the ventral plate wider than long and posterior margin serrated in G. serratus sp. nov. ( Fig. 124A–C ), whereas longer than wide and posterior margin not serrated in G. tengchongensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 126A–C ).

Description. Female (holotype, Fig. 125A, B ): Total length: 2.82. Carapace 0.97 long, 0.83 wide, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.26 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae sclerotized, dark brown, with five promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.07, AME–ALE, 0.03, PME–PLE 0.01, AME–PME 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.30, PLE–PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.31 (1.26, 1.36, 1.08, 0.61), II 4.09 (1.17, 1.39, 0.97, 0.56), III 2.54 (0.86, 0.92, 0.76, 0.32), IV 3.84 (1.11, 1.16, 1.11, 0.46). Leg formula I-II-IV-III. Tm I and Tm IV present. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-1-1. Abdomen 1.85 long, 1.34 wide, oval, pale, mid dorsally with a longitudinal pale band, dorso-laterally with a dark grey pattern followed by three transverse chevrons, ventral side pale.

Epigyne ( Fig. 124A–C ): Ventral plate wider than long, protruding above the epigastric furrow posteriorly, posterior margin serrated; copulatory openings present at the posterior margin of the ventral plate. Vulva: Dorsal plate rectangular; copulatory ducts sclerotized, fused, protruding above the spermathecae anteriorly; spermathecae elliptical, pointing towards the posterior lateral wall of ventral plate, separated by a distance of 2/3 their diameter; fertilization ducts small, extending mesally.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 128 ).

Figures

FIGURE 124. Gracilentus serratus sp. nov., female holotype. A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 125. Gracilentus serratus sp. nov., female holotype. A Habitus, dorsal view B Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 126. Gracilentus tenchongensis sp. nov., female holotype. A, B Epigyne, ventral view C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 128. Distribution of Gracilentus gen. nov. species.