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 hongyuan sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 58FF42FD-1DF9-4525-9325-403E3809F8B7 Figs 1F–G , 10–12 , 22 Differential diagnosis The male of this new species resembles M. bowo sp. nov. ( Figs 2–4 ) in having the similar bifurcate metaine embolic apophysis and paracymbium of male palp, but can be distinguished by the following characters: cymbial ectobasal process U-shaped with a sharp pointed tip in ventral view and lacking a tooth-like process in M. hongyuan sp. nov. ( Figs 10B–C , 11B–D ), whereas oval with a tooth-like process and a depression on distal margin in M. bowo ( Figs 2B–C , 3B–D ); embolus long, arc-shaped and gradually narrowing towards tip in M. hongyuan sp. nov. ( Figs 10A , 11A ), whereas short and abruptly thin in M. bowo ( Figs 2A , 3A, E ). The female of M. hongyuan sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the epigynal plate posteriorly with a distinct sclerotized depression and spermathecae brain-shaped ( Figs 10D–E , 12A–B ). Etymology The epithet refers to the type locality. Type material Holotype CHINA • ♂ ; Sichuan Province , Hongyuan County , Shuajingsi Town , Shuamalukou ; 31°57′41.23″ N , 102°38′12.03″ E ; alt. 3189 m ; 13 Oct. 2020 ; L.Y. Wang , Y. Zhang , J.X. Zhao and J.S. Luo leg.; SWUC- T-TEg-05-01 . Paratypes CHINA • 1 ♂ ; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-TEg-05-02 • 2 ♀♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; SWUC-T-TEg-05-03–04 . Description Male ( holotype , Fig. 1F ) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.03. Prosoma 2.46 long, 1.93 wide, opisthosoma 2.82 long, 2.28 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.18, PME 0.17, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.10, AME– ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.45 long, front width 0.40, back width 0.45. Clypeus height 0.18. Fig. 10. Meta hongyuan sp. nov. A–C . ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-01). D–E . ♀, paratype (SWUC-T- TEg-05-03). A . Left palp, prolateral view. B . Same, ventral view. C . Same, retrolateral view. D . Epigyne, ventral view. E . Vulva, dorsal view. Fig. 11. Meta hongyuan sp. nov. , ♂, holotype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-01). A . Left palp, prolateral view. B . Same, ventral view. C . Same, retrolateral view. D . Same, dorsal view. Fig. 12. Meta hongyuan sp. nov. , ♀, paratype (SWUC-T-TEg-05-03). A . Epigyne, ventral view. B . Vulva, dorsal view. CHELICERAE. Strong, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 12.18 (3.26, 4.22, 3.34, 1.36); II = 9.32 (2.56, 3.37, 2.36, 1.03); III = 5.31 (1.70, 1.61, 1.26, 0.74); IV = 6.97 (2.26, 2.20, 1.69, 0.82). Leg formula: 1243. OPISTHOSOMA. Oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Both dorsum and venter white, with black markings. PALP ( Figs 10A–C , 11A–D ). Cymbial ectobasal process simple, U-shaped with pointed end. Paracymbium finger-like, narrow towards tip, with sparse long hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis distal end broad, bifurcated, extending forward. EMBOLUS. Long, arc-shaped, with curved tip. Conductor strong, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb and extending clockwise, longer than wide, with membranous end. Female ( paratype SWUC-T-TEg-05-03, Fig. 1G ) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.17. Prosoma 2.39 long, 2.06 wide; opisthosoma 4.24 long, 3.85 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.17; AME–AME 0.13, AME– ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.46 long, front width 0.44, back width 0.48. Clypeus height 0.23. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 8.91 (2.46, 2.89, 2.40, 1.16); II = 7.43 (2.21, 2.53, 1.81, 0.88); III = 4.67 (1.50, 1.52, 1.00, 0.65); IV = 6.37 (2.04, 2.11, 1.52, 0.70). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male. EPIGYNE ( Figs 10D–E , 12A–B ). Posterior margin of epigynal plate with distinct sclerotized depression. VULVA. Spermathecae brain-shaped. Fertilization ducts thick, S-shaped. Distribution China , Sichuan (Hongyuan) ( Fig. 22 ).