Pennalithus micous, Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Further additions to the guardstone spider fauna from China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Zootaxa 5338 (1), pp. 1-104 : 76-78

Pennalithus micous sp. nov. (ĤŢRff)

Figs 61–63

Type material. Holotype ♁, CHINA: Hunan Province: Yongzhou City, Ningyuan County, Jiuyi Mountain (25°16′43.12″N, 111°56′45.6″E, 734 m a.s.l.), 27 Apr. 2021, leg. Yannan Mu.

Etymology. This specific name is derived from the Latin word “ mico ”, referring to the twinkling iridescent scales; adjective.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles P. splendidus (Song & Zheng, 1992) in having a similarly shaped embolus, but can be distinguished by: 1) the M-shaped prolateral margin of the retrolateral tibial apophysis, and the shorter, digitiform tip (vs arch-shaped and tip long, cf. Fig. 62C and fig. 3I in Kamura [2021]), 2) the horseshoe-shaped retroventral tibial apophysis (vs trapezoid-shaped, cf. Fig. 62C and fig. 3I in Kamura [2021]), and 3) the round tegular apophysis (vs nearly rectangular, cf. Fig. 62B and fig. 3K in Kamura [2021]).

Description. Male (Holotype): total length 2.76, carapace 1.30 long, 1.13 wide; abdomen 1.46 long, 0.79 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.22, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.30, ALE–PLE 0.06. EAW 0.41, CRW 0.57, EAW/CRW 0.72, CRW/CW 0.50. MOA 0.24 long, anterior width 0.22, posterior width 0.21. CH 0.12, CH /AME 1.33. Labium 0.13 long, 0.20 wide. Sternum 0.80 long, 0.67 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 5.84 (1.50, 0.49, 1.57, 1.34, 0.94), II 4.67 (1.25, 0.44, 1.17, 1.03, 0.78), III 4.09 (1.12, 0.43, 0.88, 1.02, 0.64), IV 6.36 (1.71, 0.53, 1.52, 1.72, 0.88). Spination: femur I d 2 pl 3, femur II d 2, femora III–IV d 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 7 rv 6, tibia II pv 6 rv 6, metatarsus Ⅰ pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace black, oval, radial striae distinct, with sparse iridescent scales in dorsal view. Abdomen darker in color than carapace, with lighter color at anterior of dorsal scutum, gray transverse stripe medially, and dense iridescent scales posteriorly in dorsal view ( Fig. 61 ). Legs gray.

Palp as in Figs 62–63 . Femoral apophysis protruding slightly near tip, with several setae. Prolateral tibial apophysis distinct, semicircular. Retrolateral tibial apophysis wide basally, prolateral margin curved, M-shaped, digitiform tip short, curved posteriorly; retroventral tibial apophysis horseshoe-shaped. Tegulum thinner than cymbium, oval; tegular apophysis nearly round. Sperm duct distinct, stomach-shaped, tapering from retrolateral side of tegulum to embolus. Embolus short, transverse. Conductor membranous.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Hunan Province).

Figures

FIGURE 61. Habitus of Pennalithus micous sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view.

FIGURE 62. Male left palp of Pennalithus micous sp. nov.: A. Prolateral view; B. Ventral view; C. Retrolateral view; D. Dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA—retroventral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct; TA—tegular apophysis.

FIGURE 63. Male left palp of Pennalithus micous sp. nov.: A. Ventral view; B. Ventral view; C. Retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.