Walckenaeria hongqiensis, Muhammad & Wang & Zhang, 2023

Muhammad, Irfan, Wang, Lu-Yu & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2023, One new genus and nine new species of Linyphiidae spiders from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, Chongqing of China, Zootaxa 5257 (1), pp. 82-114 : 111-113

Walckenaeria hongqiensis sp. n. (ḦOiḢĦ)

Figures 24–26

Type material. Holotype male: CHINA: Chongqing, Wuxi County, YNR, Baiguo Linchang, Mao Xuanwo , 31°29′25.02″N, 109°47′35.41″E, elev. 2010 m, 11.IV.2022, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-33-01) . Paratype: 1 female, Wuxi County, YNR, Baiguo Linchang , Hongqi Management and Protection Station, 31°31′22.19″N, 109°49′36.80″E, elev. 1194 m, 10.IV.2022, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-33-02) .

Etymology. This epithet derives from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Walckenaeria hongqiensis sp. n. resembles W. ferruginea Seo, 1991 in having the similar copulatory organs ( Figs 24A–D , 25A–C ; Song & Li 2011, figs 6A–G, 7A–G), but can be distinguished by the dorsal tibial apophysis present in W. hongqiensis sp. n. ( Fig. 24B, C ), vs., dorsal tibial apophysis absent in W. ferruginea ( Song & Li 2011, fig. 6D, G); distal suprategular apophysis protruding above the embolus in W. hongqiensis sp. n. ( Fig. 24B, D ), vs., retained below the embolus in W. ferruginea ( Song & Li 2011, fig. 6G). Copulatory ducts sinuous in W. hongqiensis sp. n. ( Fig. 25C ), vs., straight in W. ferruginea ( Song & Li 2011, fig. 7A, B); spermathecae located mid-dorsally in W. hongqiensis sp. n. ( Fig. 25C ), vs., anteriorly in W. ferruginea ( Song & Li 2011, fig. 7A, B).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 26A, B ): Total length 2.91. Carapace 1.19 long, 0.89 wide, orange, slightly elevated, with pair of small bird’s wing-shaped macrosetae covering the PMEs, followed by thumb-shaped projection located between PMEs. Clypeus 0.18 high. Chelicerae with 4 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER procurved slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.08, PME 0.05, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.12, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.06, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–ALE 0.33, PLE– PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE 0.01. Length of legs: I 4.52 (1.29, 1.53, 1.02), II 4.2 (1.23, 1.43, 0.91, 0.63), III 3.42 (0.91, 1.17, 0.77, 0.57), IV 4.62 (1.34, 1.57, 1.06, 0.65). TmI 0.48. Abdomen 1.72 long, 1.09 wide, oval, greenish-grey, with irregular patches.

Palp ( Fig. 24A–D ): Patella 2 times shorter than tibia; tibia broadened distally, cone-shaped, with 2 retrolateral trichobothria, tibia with three tibial apophyses, forming acute angle, dorsal tibial apophysis ventrally grooved, triangular, prolateral tibial apophysis long, apex curved with scaly inner surface, directed anteriorly, ventral tibial apophysis rectangular with blunt end; paracymbium J-shaped, distal arm hook-shaped; protegulum transparent with round margin; distal suprategular apophysis slightly grooved, protruding above the embolus with pointed tip. Radix swollen; embolus form complete circle; embolic membrane running along embolus; tailpiece broad at base, abruptly narrowed to a pointed dorsal-curved apex.

Female (paratype, Fig. 26C ): Total length: 2.94. Carapace 1.16 long, 0.91 wide, orange, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.17 high. Chelicerae with 4 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER procurved, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.01, PME–PME 0.08, AME–ALE, 0.01, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.28, PLE– PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.43 (1.28, 1.44, 0.95, 0.67), II 4.05 (1.22, 1.34, 0.86, 0.63), III 3.52 (1.12, 1.07, 0.79, 0.54), IV 5.03 (1.83, 1.48, 1.03, 0.69). TmI 0.24 and TmIV 0.19. Abdomen 1.31 long, 0.75 wide, oval, greenish-grey, with irregular patches.

Epigyne ( Fig. 25A–C ): Dorsal plate partly visible in ventral view and elliptical in posterior view. Copulatory openings present at junction of dorsal and ventral plate. Vulva: copulatory ducts sinuous, forming 3 turns before entering spermathecae. Spermathecae round, located anteriorly, separated from each other by about diameter, fertilization ducts long, extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Walckenaeria hongqiensis sp. nov., male holotype, left palp. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view.

FIGURE 25. Walckenaeria hongqiensis sp. nov., female (one of paratypes). A, B Epigyne, ventral view, C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 26. Walckenaeria hongqiensis sp. nov., male holotype (A, B) and female (one of paratype, C). A, C habitus, dorsal view B habitus, dorso-lateral view.