Macrothele nullispine, Zhang & Wu & Zhao & Yang, 2024

Zhang, Meng-Meng, Wu, Ya-Ying, Zhao, Yu & Yang, Zi-Zhong, 2024, Two new species of the genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 from Yunnan Province, China (Araneae: Macrothelidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 932, pp. 69-81 : 71-75

Macrothele nullispine sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3781E457-652E-4BC3-96B6-542AD4BFC339

Figs 2–5

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to Macrothele arcuata Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020 ( Tang et al. 2020), but differs by the male embolus and the bulb not strongly bent in the new species, and the embolus gradually tapering down from the bulb, with a curved apex ( Fig. 3D–G ), and the palpal tibia without spines ( Fig. 3A–C ); male chelicerae ventrally with 9 short and stout teeth ( Fig. 2D ); female copulatory ducts long, with a wider base and an inwardly curved proximal end, spermathecae small and nearly dropletlike ( Fig. 4D–E ). Conversely, the embolus and bulb are strongly bent, the end of the embolus is straight in; and the female copulatory ducts are longer the M. arcuata .

Etymology

The new species name is a noun in apposition, referring to the male palpal tibia lacking spines.

Material examined

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Yunnan Province, Shidian County, He Yuan Town, Shiping Highway ; 24°44′26″ N, 99°8′49″ E; 1891 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 2019; Zizhong Yang and Yunfen Xiong leg.; DNA voucher no. HYX ; ♀ GenBank accession no.: OQ724523 ; Mn-hy-f01; DNA voucher no. SPGL01 ; ♀ GenBank accession no.: OQ724526 ; Mn-hy-f02 .

Paratypes CHINA • 3 ♂♂ (juveniles), 11 ♀♀ (4 juveniles); same collection data as for holotype • 3 ♀♀ (1 juvenile); Yunnan Province, Shidian County, He Yuan Town, near the village entrance of Da Menzhai Village ; 24°41′35.59″ N, 99°7′31.97″ E; 1430 m a.s.l.; 24 Dec. 2020; Zizhong Yang and Chaowu Yang leg. • 2 ♀♀; Jiangxi Province, Jinggangshan; 8 Sep. 1982; Jiafu Wang leg.

Description

Male (holotype, see Figs 2–3 )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 9.81: cephalothorax 4.99 long, 4.23 wide; opisthosoma 4.70 long, 2.91 wide.

PROSOMA. Carapace brown, brown hairs. Fovea pit-shaped ( Fig. 2C ). Chelicerae brown, with 9 short and stout promarginal teeth, 9 small retromarginal teeth, and 18 tiny teeth within fang furrow. Labium yellow at base and end; maxillae yellow medially, colloquial laterally; labium and maxillae with numerous cuspules; maxillae 1.48 long, and cuspule area length 0.97. Sternum yellow and with three pairs of sigilla.

PALP. Palpal tibia spinose. Palpal bulb suborbicular, joint of embolus and bulb not strongly bent in new species, embolus gradually tapers down from bulb, with curved end, 2.75 long.

EYES AND SPINNERETS. Both eye rows recurved in dorsal view. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.16, ALE 0.40, PME 0.21, PLE 0.27; ALE–AME 0.09, AME–AME 0.15, ALE–PLE 0.10, PLE–PME 0.13, PME–PME 0.37. Eye area 0.65 long, 1.15 wide.

LEGS. Brown, hirsute. Leg formula: 4321. Leg measurements as follows: I 11.02 (3.27, 1.56, 2.37, 2.16, 1.66); II 12.41 (3.12, 2.04, 2.46, 2.89, 1.90); III 12.92 (3.24, 3.64, 2.27, 2.96, 1.81); IV 13.27 (2.94, 1.98, 2.63, 3.82, 1.90).

OPISTHOSOMA. Brown, hirsute. Spinnerets: PMS one segment, 0.83 long, 0.26 wide, PMS–PMS 0.76; PLS three segments, PLS 5.20 long (1.49, 1.79, 1.92).

Female (see Fig. 4 )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 10.80: cephalothorax 5.63 long, 4.51 wide; opisthosoma 5.41 long, 3.51 wide.

PROSOMA. Chelicerae brown, with 10 stout promarginal teeth, 14 small retromarginal teeth, and 18 tiny teeth within fang furrow. Labium and maxillae with numerous cuspules; maxillae length 1.54, and cuspules area length 1.02.

EYES AND SPINNERETS. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.34, PME 0.23, PLE 0.27; AME– AME 0.19, ALE–AME 0.11, ALE–PLE 0.13, PME–PME 0.52, PLE–PME 0.08. Eye area 0.75 long, 1.27 wide.

LEGS. Legs brown with many spines and hairs. With spines. Leg formula: 4321. Leg measurements as follows: I 9.86 (2.57, 1.55, 2.77, 1.70, 1.27); II 11.4 (3.10, 1.47, 2.73, 2.24, 1.86); III 11.59 (3.13, 1.29, 2.39, 2.63, 2.15); IV 13.39 (3.57, 1.56, 2.55, 3.29, 2.42).

SPERMATHECAE. Receptacula apically small and nearly teardrop-shaped, copulatory ducts long, broad at base and inward bending. Spinnerets: PMS 1.25 long, 0.43 wide, PMS–PMS 1.03; PLS 3.46 long (1.45, 0.93, 1.08).

Natural history

The spiders mainly reside in existing stone crevices or caves along highways, soil slopes, gaps in tree bark, and under fallen leaves.

Distribution

Yunnan Province, China (Shidian City).

Figures

Fig. 2. Macrothele nullispine sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (Mn-hy-m01), ventral view. A. Body. B. Cuspules and sternum. C. Fovea. D. Left chelicera.

Fig. 3. Macrothele nullispine sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (Mn-hy-m01). A. Left palp tibia, inside view. B. Same, dorsal view. C. Same, lateral view. D–G. Left palpal embolus. D. Inside view. E. Dorsal view. F. Lateral view. G. The end.

Fig. 4. Macrothele nullispine sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (Mn-hy-f01). A. Body. B. Left chelicera, ventral view. C. Cuspules and sternum. D. Genitalia, dorsal view.

Fig. 5. Macrothele nullispine sp. nov. A. Microhabitat and living female. B. Web.