Aculithus brevispina, 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 : 8-9

Aculithus brevispina sp. nov. (flƉẇff)

Figs 3–5

Type material. Holotype ♁, CHINA: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Hezhou City , Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County, Chengbei Town , Xinzhai Village (24°45′57.7″N, 111°13′53.85″E, 312 m a.s.l.), 7 May 2021, leg. Yannan Mu.

Paratype: 1 ♀, with same data as holotype .

Etymology. This species name is a combination of “ brevis ” and “ spina ”, referring to the short, spine-like embolus; adjective.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles A. fabiformis ( Liu, Xu, Xiao, Yin & Peng, 2019) in having similarlyshaped spermathecae, but can be recognized by: 1) embolus transverse (vs directed anteriorly, cf. Fig. 4C and fig. 6C in Liu et al. [2019]), 2) retrolateral tibial apophysis strongly curved in ventral view, and dorsal tibial apophysis curved towards the prolateral side of the cymbium in dorsal view (vs retrolateral tibial apophysis slightly curved, dorsal tibial apophysis straight, cf. Fig. 4C, D and fig. 6D, E in Liu et al. [2019]), 3) median septum narrower (vs wide, cf. Fig. 4E and fig. 7B in Liu et al. [2019]), and 4) glandular appendages of copulatory duct small, mastoid-shaped (vs without glandular appendages, cf. Fig. 4F and fig. 7C in Liu et al. [2019]).

Description. Male (Holotype): total length 2.27, carapace 1.14 long, 0.97 wide; abdomen 1.13 long, 0.82 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.05. EAW 0.38, CRW 0.54, EAW/CRW 0.70, CRW/CW 0.56. MOA 0.16 long, anterior width 0.13, posterior width 0.21. CH 0.10. CH /AME 1.67. Labium 0.14 long, 0.16 wide. Sternum 0.70 long, 0.61 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 4.13 (1.10, 0.44, 1.12, 1.03, 0.44), II 3.42 (0.96, 0.39, 0.86, 0.85, 0.36), III 2.92 (0.80, 0.34, 0.61, 0.73, 0.44), IV 4.34 (1.17, 0.40, 0.93, 1.26, 0.58). Spination: femur I d 1 pl 3, femur II d 1 pl 2, femur IV d 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 6 rv 7, tibia II pv 6 rv 6, metatarsus Ⅰ pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace yellow, with several shapes resembling flowing water droplets beside fovea. Abdomen gray, with small, dorsal scutum anteriorly and 5 black transverse chevron stripes posteriorly ( Fig. 3A, B ). Leg yellow, with black annuli near tip of femora, tibia, metatarsi I–IV.

Palp as in Figs 4A–D , 5A–C . Femoral apophysis protruding. Retrolateral tibial apophysis base wide, strongly curved in ventral view, tapering from base to tip; dorsal tibial apophysis curved towards prolateral of cymbium in dorsal view. Tegulum oval, wider than cymbium; tegular apophysis absent. Sperm duct distinct, tapering from retrolateral side of tegulum to embolus. Embolus short, needle-like, transverse. Conductor absent.

Female: total length 2.79, carapace 1.15 long, 1.02 wide; abdomen 1.64 long, 1.28 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.06. EAW 0.38, CRW 0.54, EAW/CRW 0.70, CRW/ CW 0.53. MOA 0.19 long, anterior width 0.12, posterior width 0.20. CH 0.09, CH /AME 1.80. Labium 0.13 long, 0.19 wide. Sternum 0.74 long, 0.65 wide. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 4.19 (1.12, 0.40, 1.18, 1.08, 0.41), II 3.41 (0.91, 0.42, 0.87, 0.85, 0.36), III 3.06 (0.80, 0.38, 0.60, 0.83, 0.45), IV 4.36 (1.18, 0.40, 0.96, 1.27, 0.55). Spination: femur I d 1 pl 3, femur II d 1 pl 2, femur IV d 1, tibia Ⅰ pv 6 rv 6, tibia II pv 5 rv 6, metatarsus Ⅰ–II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace darker color than male, with several shapes resembling flowing water droplets beside fovea. Abdomen gray, with black triangular pattern anteriorly, with 4 chevron stripes at posterior of abdomen ( Fig. 3C, D ). Leg yellows, with black annuli near tip of femora, tibiae and metatarsi I–IV.

Epigyne as in Figs 4E–F , 5D–E . Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized. Median septum thin. Copulatory openings small, slightly separate, located at centre of plate. Copulatory ducts thick, L-shaped. Connecting tubes thinner than copulatory ducts, straight. Bursa large, asymmetrical. Glandular appendages mastoid-shaped, subtriangular. Spermathecae clavate, transverse, close to each other. Fertilization ducts located along anterior margin of spermathecae.

Distribution. China (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus of Aculithus brevispina sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Female paratype, dorsal view; D. Same, ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Copulatory organs of Aculithus brevispina sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Epigyne, ventral view; F. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; DTA—dorsal tibial apophysis; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; SD—sperm duct; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; B—bursa; CO—copulatory opening; CD—copulatory duct; CT—connecting tube; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; MS—median septum; S—spermathecae.

FIGURE 5. Copulatory organs of Aculithus brevispina sp. nov.: A. Male left palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.