Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, 2024

Lin, Yejie, Li, Shuqiang, Mo, Haolin & Wang, Xihao, 2024, Thirty-eight spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, Zoological Systematics 49 (1), pp. 4-98 : 26-29

Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 18–20 )

Etymology. The species is named after Yang Xiong, a character in the classic Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li , sp. nov. can be distinguished from two other Phricotelus species by the long and slender scape and the copulatory ducts coiled 5 times around spermathecae (vs. copulatory ducts with 1 convolution in P. langwanduo Zhang, Li & Lin, 2023 and not coiled in P. stelliger Simon, 1895 (see Lopardo & Hormiga, 2015)).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 1.07, carapace 0.45 long, 0.43 wide. Opisthosoma 0.61 long, 0.51 wide. Leg measurements: I 1.46 (0.44, 0.48, 0.29, 0.25), II 1.20 (0.37, 0.39, 0.23, 0.21), III 1.03 (0.34, 0.31, 0.20, 0.18), IV 1.22 (0.39, 0.40, 0.23, 0.20).

Coloration ( Figs 20A–B ). Carapace oval, dark brown, with dark areas centrally and marginally. Cephalic area moderately raised. Chelicerae dark. Sternum black, edge lighter, peltate, posteriorly truncate. Metatarsus I with prolateral mating clasper. Opisthosoma yellowish, modified by dark brown spots of various sizes, with short posterior protuberance.

Palp ( Fig. 18 ). Almost equal to carapace size. Femur almost 3 times longer than patella. Patella longer than wide. Tibia small, bowl shaped, basally constricted, width equal to length, edge with long setae. Cymbium 2 times longer than wide, envelops bulb retrolaterally, with a large, leaf-shaped cymbial process medially, tip with hook, serrated retrolaterally. Distal part forming long, fingerlike cymbial conductor, tip with setae. Tegulum smooth. Embolus almost 1.5 times longer than bulb, slender, with velum distally.

Female (paratype Ar44813). Total length 1.84, carapace 0.50 long, 0.47 wide. Opisthosoma 1.36 long, 0.84 wide. Leg measurements: I 1.51 (0.48, 0.51, 0.27, 0.25), II 1.34 (0.42, 0.46, 0.25, 0.21), III 1.15 (0.37, 0.39, 0.20, 0.19), IV 1.52 (0.52, 0.50, 0.29, 0.21) .

Coloration ( Figs 20C–D ). Similar to that of male except paler, dark brown spots on opisthosoma reduced and femoral spot on leg I.

Epigyne ( Fig. 19 ). Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized, almost as long as wide. Two grooves on epigynal plate, distance between grooves about 1–1.5 times wider than grooves width. Scape protruded, membranous, ridged. Copulatory openings unobvious. Membranous copulatory ducts coiled 5 times around spermathecae, entering from posterolateral side of spermathecae. Spermathecae spiraled, strongly sclerotized, separated by ca. 1.5 times their length. Fertilization ducts sclerotized, originating from posteromedial side of spermathecae, terminus triangular.

Material examined. Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar44812), China: Chongqing, Chengkou Co., 8.VII.2023, Yuyang Zhou leg. Paratypes. 4♀ (IZCAS-Ar44813–Ar44816), same data as holotype .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Comments. There are currently only two species in this genus, P. langwanduo and P.stelliger , and both are only known from the female. The presence of an abdominal protuberance indicates this species should be placed in this genus.

Figures

Figure 18. Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, sp. nov., holotype male. A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, dorsal view. C. Same, embolic tip. Abbreviations: Cy—cymbium; CyC—cymbial conductor; CyCs—setae on cymbial conductor; CyF—cymbial fold; CyP—cymbial process; E—embolus; Pa—patella; Ti—tibia; V—velum. Scale bars:A–B=0.1 mm; C=0.02mm.

Figure 19. Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, sp. nov., paratype female. A–B. Epigyne, ventral view; C. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; EP—epigynal plate; FD—fertilization duct; S—spermatheca; SC— scape. Scale bars=0.1mm.

Figure 20. Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, sp. nov., dorsal view (A, C) and lateral view (B, D), habitus. A–B. Holotype male; C–D. Paratype female. Scale bars=0.2 mm.