Phintella jiugongensis Wang, Mi & Peng sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E359636E-471E-4D33-A275-310E41F458F8

Figs 17–18, 61

Diagnosis

The male of Phintella jiugongensis sp. nov. closely resembles that of P. panda Huang, Wang & Peng, 2015, but differs in: (1) the lamellar process being about two times as long as wide (Fig. 17A), whereas about four times as long as wide in P. panda (Fig. 22A); (2) the tegulum having a knob below the embolic base (Fig. 17A–B), whereas absent in P. panda (Fig. 22A–B). The female also resembles that of P. panda in having a similar epigyne, but it can be distinguished by the following: (1) the copulatory openings being below the anterior-most spermathecal margins (Fig. 18A–B), whereas anterior to spermathecae in P. panda (Fig. 23A–B); (2) the distance between two protrusions of the basal epigynal plate being almost equal to spermathecal width (Fig. 18A–B), whereas about half the spermathecal width in P. panda (Fig. 23A–B). The female also resembles P. linea (Karsch, 1879) in the general shape of the epigyne, but it can be easily distinguished by the copulatory openings, which are below the anterior-most spermathecal margins and separated from each other about half the spermathecal width (Fig. 18A–B), whereas anterior to spermathecae and separated from each other by more than the spermathecal width in P. linea (Prószyński 1973: figs 42–43).

Etymology

The species name is derived from the name of the type locality, Jiugong Mountain National Nature Reserve; adjective.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Hubei, Tongshan County, Jiugong Mountain, Shilongxia Scenic Zone; 29°24.75′ N, 114°39.05′ E; elevation unspecified; 12 Jul. 2020; Y. Zhong et al. leg.; TRU-JS 0152.

Paratypes

CHINA • 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype.; TRU-JS 0153–0155.

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.65. Carapace 1.86 long, 1.43 wide. Abdomen 1.71 long, 1.14 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.45, ALE 0.26, PLE 0.24, AERW 1.37, PERW 1.24, EFL 0.90. Legs: I 4.88 (1.38, 0.75, 1.25, 1.00, 0.50), II 3.98 (1.20, 0.58, 0.95, 0.75, 0.50), III 4.64 (1.40, 0.58, 1.03, 1.13, 0.50), IV 5.01 (1.50, 0.53, 1.25, 1.23, 0.50).

HABITUS. Carapace brown to dark brown, covered with white and dark scale-like setae and brown setae, with yellow area bearing white scale-like setae medially on thorax, a pair of later-marginal yellow bands, and two clusters of white scale-like setae between ALEs and PLEs (Fig. 18C, F). Chelicerae with one retromarginal tooth and two promarginal teeth, and distal flange of fang (Fig. 18G). Legs pale to dark brown somewhat mingled with green. Abdomen sub-oval, dorsum green-brown anteromedially, with alternate dark brown and pale yellow stripes posteromedially; venter with green-brown, central, longitudinal band extended from epigastric furrow to terminus (Fig. 18C–D).

PALP. Tibia wider than long; RTA strongly sclerotized, tapered, broadened at base, slightly curved medially in ventral view and almost triangular at distal half in retrolateral view; bulb elongated, with sub-triangular posterior lobe and small knob below embolic base; tegular bump lamellar, medio-retrolaterally located; lamellar process about two times as long as wide; embolus short, strongly sclerotized, directed towards about 2 o’clock position apically in ventral view (Fig. 17).

Female (paratype, TRU-JS 0153)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.96. Carapace 1.64 long, 1.38 wide. Abdomen 2.38 long, 1.72 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.45, ALE 0.25, PLE 0.23, AERW 1.32, PERW 1.24, EFL 0.89. Legs: I 3.54 (1.08, 0.60, 0.80, 0.68, 0.38), II 3.39 (1.05, 0.53, 0.78, 0.65, 0.38), III 3.74 (1.13, 0.53, 0.78, 0.90, 0.40), IV 4.34 (1.28, 0.53, 1.05, 1.05, 0.43).

HABITUS. Similar to that of male except paler in color (Fig. 18E).

EPIGYNE. With broad, bow-shaped basal plate and a pair of anterior atrial ridges inner to copulatory openings; copulatory openings almost round, located anteriorly; copulatory ducts strongly curved more than 90° posteromedially, with short accessory glands at terminus; spermathecae pear-shaped, separated from each other by one-seventh the spermathecal width; fertilization ducts lamellar, anterior-laterally extended (Fig. 18A–B).

Distribution

China (Hubei) (Fig. 61).