Seven new species of Meta C. L. Koch, 1836 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from Southwest China Author Wang, Lu-Yu 6C219212-8F77-4037-949C-1F17B252BFCE Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. wangluyu1989@163.com Author Irfan, Muhammad 81552C4A-93FC-4B6E-8EA1-0B4E38CC6466 Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. irfanuos94@yahoo.com Author Chen, Hui-Ming 0B0FF1C7-C0A8-4836-B5D0-019F290EB663 Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China. mei0601@126.com;zhangzs327@qq.com Author Zhang, Zhi-Sheng 91F0C98D-A307-431A-BAAD-9691F014E6BA Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. mei0601@126.com;zhangzs327@qq.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2022 2022-08-22 834 117 147 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.834.1905 journal article 128002 10.5852/ejt.2022.834.1905 4c24df32-5d1d-468e-a85a-e8c8ae263477 2118-9773 7017596 508297E3-787B-4B87-8C51-FCB35BB1D652 Meta cona sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 394D796E-0044-4A4F-BF30-2341E2F5F36C Figs 1C–D , 5–7 , 22 Differential diagnosis The male of this new species resembles M. bowo sp. nov. ( Figs 1–4 ) in having the similar conductor, paracymbium and the abruptly thin embolus of male palp, but can be distinguished by the following characters: metaine embolic apophysis relatively globular, lower outgrowth narrow with pointed end in ventral view in M. cona sp. nov. ( Figs 5B , 6E ), whereas longer than wide, lower outgrowth thumbshaped with blunt end in M. bowo ( Figs 2B , 3E ); cymbial ectobasal process robust with a sharp tooth at distal end visible in ventral view in M. cona sp. nov. ( Figs 5B–C , 6B–D ), whereas oval with a depression on distal margin, tooth invisible in ventral view in M. bowo ( Figs 2B–C , 3B–D ). The female of M. cona sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the epigynal plate arc-shaped, relatively protruding posteriorly and spermathecae looks like beas on the string ( Figs 5D–E , 7A–B ). Fig. 5. Meta cona sp. nov. A–C . ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-03-01). D–E . ♀, paratype (SWUC-T- TEg-03-02). A . Left palp, prolateral view. B . Same, ventral view. C . Same, retrolateral view. D . Epigyne, ventral view. E . Vulva, dorsal view. A–B . Red arrow indicating the lower outgrowth of metaine embolic apophysis. Fig. 6. Meta cona sp. nov. , ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-03-01). A . Left palp, prolateral view. B . Same, ventral view. C . Same, retrolateral view. D . Same, dorsal view. E . Right palp, Embolus and metaine embolic apophysis, dorsal view. A, C . White arrow indicating the lower outgrowth of metaine embolic apophysis. Fig. 7. Meta cona sp. nov. , ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-03-02). A . Epigyne, ventral view. B . Vulva, dorsal view. Etymology The epithet refers to the type locality. Type material Holotype CHINA • ♂ ; Tibet , Cona County , Mama Township , Lebugou ; 27°52′51.24″ N , 91°47′33.85″ E ; alt. 2780 m ; 4 Aug. 2020 ; L.Y. Wang , T. Yuan and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-03-01 . Paratypes CHINA • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-TEg-03-02 • 1 ♀ ; Cona County , Mama Township , Lebugou ; 27°53′54.98″ N , 91°48′2.01″ E ; alt. 3008 m ; 4 Aug. 2020 ; L.Y. Wang , T. Yuan and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-03-02 . Description Male ( holotype , Fig. 1C ) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 7.89. Prosoma 3.74 long, 3.00 wide; opisthosoma 4.30 long, 3.03 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.21, PME 0.23, PLE 0.20; AME–AME 0.22, AME– ALE 0.25, PME–PME 0.17, PME–PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.57 long, front width 0.58, back width 0.60. Clypeus height 0.22. CHELICERAE. Strong, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 20.25 (5.54, 7.04, 5.57, 2.10); II = 15.52 (4.47, 5.34, 4.05, 1.66); III = 8.76 (2.74, 2.71, 2.21, 1.10); IV = 12.13 (3.85, 3.93, 2.82, 1.53). Leg formula: 1243. OPISTHOSOMA. Oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Both dorsum and venter white, with black markings. PALP ( Figs 5A–C , 6A–E ). Cymbial ectobasal process simple, distal end protruding with a sharp tooth. Paracymbium finger-like, widest medially, with sparse long hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis sclerotized, globular, lower outgrowth narrow with pointed end, extending forward (shown with black arrow, Figs 5A–C , 6A–E ). EMBOLUS. Short, abruptly thin with very fine tip. Conductor strong, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb and extending clockwise, longer than wide, with membranous end. Female ( paratype SWUC-T-TEg-03-02, Fig. 1D ) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 7.87. Prosoma 3.67 long, 2.83 wide; opisthosoma 4.53 long, 3.99 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.19, ALE 0.21, PME 0.22, PLE 0.21; AME–AME 0.23, AME– ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.08. MOA 0.68 long, front width 0.55, back width 0.61. Clypeus height 0.32. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 16.24 (4.53, 5.76, 3.90, 2.05); II = 13.03 (3.69, 4.61, 3.18, 1.55); III = 7.68 (2.28, 2.53, 1.73, 1.14); IV = 10.25 (3.09, 3.34, 2.64, 1.18). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male. EPIGYNE ( Figs 5D–E , 7A–B ). Posterior margin of epigynal plate arc-shaped, protruding posteriorly. VULVA. Spermathecae looks like beas on the string. Fertilization ducts thick, S-shaped. Distribution China , Tibet (Cona) ( Fig. 22 ).