Rhene yunnanensis (Peng & Xie, 1995)

Figs 40–41, 60

Zeuxippus yunnanensis Peng & Xie, 1995: 134, fig. 1–5 (D ♀, female holotype, not examined).

Rhene yunnanensis – Caleb et al. 2022: 390 (T from Zeuxippus). For full reference list see World Spider Catalog (2023).

Diagnosis

This male of Rhene yunnanensis (Peng & Xie, 1995) closely resembles R. rubrigera (Thorell, 1887) in having a similar habitus and palp, but differs in: (1) the RTA being horizontally extended towards the ventral side at the distal half in retrolateral view (Fig. 40C), whereas extended diagonally upward in R. rubrigera (Żabka 1985: figs 546, 550, 553); (2) the embolus being longer than RTA in ventral view (Fig. 40B), whereas shorter than RTA in R. rubrigera (Żabka 1985: figs 544, 549, 552). The female also resembles that of R. rubrigera but differs in: (1) the epigynal hood being wider than long (Fig. 41A), whereas longer than wide in R. rubrigera (Żabka 1985: figs 554, 558); (2) the copulatory ducts twisted into L-shape (Fig. 41B), whereas coiled into U-shape in R. rubrigera (Żabka 1985: figs 555, 559, 562).

Material examined

CHINA • 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Hainan, Ledong County, Jianfeng Township, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Yulingu; 18°44.96′ N, 108°55.32′ E; 650 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 2019; C. Wang and Y.F. Yang leg.; TRU-JS 0508–0510.

Description

Male (TRU-JS 0509)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.03. Carapace 1.88 long, 1.91 wide. Abdomen 2.38 long, 1.56 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.41, ALE 0.20, PLE 0.20, AERW 1.30, PERW 1.94, EFL 1.18. Legs: I 4.58 (1.55, 0.78, 1.00, 0.75, 0.50), II 3.36 (1.02, 0.63, 0.75, 0.58, 0.38), III 3.14 (0.95, 0.55, 0.63, 0.63, 0.38), IV 3.62 (1.13, 0.60, 0.78, 0.73, 0.38).

HABITUS. Carapace flat, red-brown, covered with dense brown and white thin setae, with irregular dark patch on center of eye field (Fig. 41C, F). Chelicerae red-brown, with one retromarginal tooth and two promarginal teeth, bearing dense white setae on base of anterior surface (Fig. 41F). Legs I well-developed, yellow to yellow-brown, with dense dark brown setae on ventral sides of patellae and tibiae (Fig. 41G); other legs yellow. Abdomen elongate-oval, dorsum with irregular dark brown patch antero-medially, and narrow, wave-shaped stripes formed by white setae laterally and posteriorly, covered by white and dark brown thin setae; venter pale to brown, with broad, brown patch medially (Fig. 41C–D).

PALP. Tibia wider than long; RTA stout, with pointed tip transversely directed towards ventral side in retrolateral view; bulb longer than wide, with semicircular membranous extension adjacent to embolic base; sperm duct tapered and extended along bulb margin; embolus tapered and pointed apically (Fig. 40A–C).

Female (TRU-JS 0508)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.36. Carapace 1.76 long, 1.87 wide. Abdomen 2.67 long, 1.63 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.38, ALE 0.20, PLE 0.18, AERW 1.22, PERW 1.82, EFL 1.10. Legs: I 3.39 (1.13, 0.68, 0.75, 0.45, 0.38), II 2.80 (0.88, 0.53, 0.63, 0.43, 0.33), III 2.71 (0.88, 0.50, 0.50, 0.50, 0.33), IV 3.54 (1.13, 0.60, 0.75, 0.73, 0.33).

HABITUS. Similar to that of male except with darker carapace and paler abdomen (Fig. 41E).

EPIGYNE. Slightly longer than wide, with broad posterior hood; copulatory openings slit-shaped, located anteriorly; copulatory ducts relatively long and stout, descending in anterior half, and then horizontally extended before ascending upward; fertilization ducts lamellar (Fig. 41A–B).

Distribution

China (Hainan (Fig. 60), Yunnan).