Caracladus daguanshanensis, 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 : 83-87

Caracladus daguanshanensis sp. n. (kḂXĿĦ)

Figures 1–4

Type material. Holotype male: CHINA, Chongqing, Wuxi County, YNR, Daguanshan , 31°29′43.91″N, 109°43′44.17″E, elev. 2404 m, 2.IX.2020, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-25-01) . Paratypes (6 females): 2 females, same data as holotype (SWUC-T-LIN-25-02~03) ; 1 female, YNR, Guanshan Forest farm, Huajiaya, 31°31′33.83″N, 109°42′17.11″E, elev. 2192 m, 1.IX.2020, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-25-04) ; 3 females, YNR, Guanshan Forest farm, Huajiaya, Yezhuping, 31°29′43.30″N, 109°43′44.55″E, elev. 2411 m, 9.IV.2022, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC-T-LIN-25-05~07) .

Etymology. This epithet is derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles Caracladus montanus Sha & Zhu, 1994 and C. tsurusakii Saito, 1988 in having similar ventral plate of epigyne with broad atrium and dorsal plate extending anteriorly inside the atrium of epigyne ( Fig. 2A, B ; Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 6; Frick & Muff 2009, fig. 40) and male palp with similar embolic division ( Fig. 1A–D ; Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 3; Frick & Muff 2009, fig. 41), but can be distinguished by the distal end of cephalic lobe straight in C. daguanshanensis sp. n. ( Fig. 3B ), vs., distally curved both in C. montanus ( Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 2) and C. tsurusakii ( Frick & Muff 2009, figs 44, 45). Moreover, in the male palp of C. daguanshanensis sp. nov., the dorsal tibial apophysis with two arms ( Fig. 1C ), vs., with two apophyses, prolateral tibial apophysis and retrolateral tibial apophysis in C. montanus ( Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 5) and C. tsurusakii ( Frick & Muff 2009, fig. 42); ventral surface of dorsal tibial apophysis with several teeth in C. daguanshanensis sp. n. ( Fig. 1B ), vs., teeth absent in C. montanus ( Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 3) and C. tsurusakii (Saito 1988, fig. 14). The inner margin of ventral plate of epigyne trapezoid in C. daguanshanensis sp. n. ( Fig. 2A, B ), vs., almost rectangular in C. montanus ( Sha & Zhu 1994, fig. 6) and oval in C. tsurusakii ( Frick & Muff 2009, fig. 40).

Description. Male (holotype, Figs 3A, B, D , 4A, B ): Total length: 2.38. Carapace 1.37 long, 0.72 wide, yellowish-brown, cephalic lobe 0.49 long, projecting forward, narrowing towards tip with sparse stout setae; cephalic pits absent; thoracic region slightly elevated, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.24 high, directed obliquely anteriorly. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. AER straight, present at the base of cephalic lobe, PMEs present on the dorsal surface of the cephalic lobe. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.05, PME 0.04, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.01, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.19, ALE–ALE 0.17, PLE–PLE 0.18, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 2.44 (0.74, 0.82, 0.47, 0.41), II 2.19 (0.66, 0.76, 0.43, 0.34), III 1.91 (0.57, 0.63, 0.40, 0.31), IV 2.46 (0.76, 0.85, 0.48, 0.37). TmI 0.57. Tibial spine formula: 1-1-1-1. Abdomen 1.01 long, 0.76 wide, oval, grey, dorsally with two pairs of sigillae, ventral side grey.

Palp (holotype, Fig. 1 A−D): Patella two times longer than wide, ventrally slightly curved; tibia with two dorsal trichobothria, dorsal tibial apophysis with two arms; paracymbium simple, J-shaped; tegulum with short and long protegular papillae on protegulum; suprategulum with median tooth, distal suprategular apophysis sclerotized, distal end curved with pointed end; embolic membrane slender, running along the embolus; radix simple, tailpiece footshaped in prolateral view; embolus whip-like, gradually narrowing towards tip..

Female ( Figs 3C , 4C ): Total length: 2.01 mm. Carapace 0.97 long, 0.69 wide, yellowish-brown, cephalic region slightly elevated, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.14 high. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth. AER straight, PER procurved, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.24, PLE–PLE 0.28, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 2.44 (0.71, 0.80, 0.47, 0.39), II 2.18 (0.66, 0.73, 0.44, 0.35), III 1.98 (0.61, 0.65, 0.39, 0.33), IV 2.46 (0.74, 0.87, 0.50, 0.35). TmI 0.41. Tibial spine formula: 1-1-1-1. Abdomen 1.01 long, 0.76 wide, oval, grey, dorsally with two pairs of sigillae, ventral side grey.

Epigyne ( Fig. 2 A−C): Ventral plate wider than long, with broad trapezoid opening at the center; dorsal plate extending anteriorly inside the atrium; copulatory opening at anterior end of trapezoid dorsal plate.Vulva: Copulatory pouch almost round, posteriorly connected with copulatory ducts; copulatory ducts short, relatively sclerotized; spermathecae globular, pointing dorso-laterally, separated by distance one and half times longer than their diameter; fertilization ducts extending mesally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Caracladus daguanshanensis sp. nov., male holotype, left palp. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D ventral view. Arrow in prolateral view indicating the position of median tooth of distal suprategular apophysis on undissected palp.

FIGURE 2. Caracladus daguanshanensis sp. nov., female (one of paratypes). A, B Epigyne, ventral view, C Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 3. Caracladus daguanshanensis sp. nov., male holotype (A, B, D), female paratype (C). A, C habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view D habitus, cephalothorax dorsal view.

FIGURE 4. Caracladus daguanshanensis sp. nov., male paratype (A, B), female paratype C). A living habitus, lateral view B, C living habitus, dorsal view.