Midget cave spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Jiangxi and Fujian Province, China Author Liu, Bin-Lu https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3080-8987 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China Author Yao, Yan-bin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2560-9299 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China & Jinshan College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian, China Author Jiang, Zi-Min https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9044-3312 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China Author Xiao, Yong-hong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-9366 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China Author Liu, Ke-Ke https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-3667 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China liukeke_1986@126.com text ZooKeys 2024 2024-01-18 1189 287 325 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1189.111041 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1189.111041 1313-2970-1189-287 C921C517275E4B3E8CCC9C2E214FEB1E F1DFA49483FC5D47BA0749C39487F6A2 Leptonetela yuanhaoi Yao & Liu sp. nov. Figs 5 , 6 , 8E-L Vernacular name: 渊浩小弱蛛 Material examined. Holotype : ♂ , China : Jiangxi Province , Ji'an City , Taihe County , Zhonglong Town , Zhonglong Village , Ziyao Mountain , 26°43'23.15"N , 115°13'31.70"E , 388 m , 28.X.2020 , K. Liu , Y. Ying , K. Huang & S. Yuan leg. (Lep-7) . Paratype : 4 ♀ , the same data as the holotype (Lep-7) ; 1 ♂ , 26°42'58.10"N , 115°13'39.00"E , 206 m , other data as same as holotype (Lep-5); 1 ♂ , 26°43'15.05"N , 115°13'37.85"E , 332 m other data same as holotype (Lep-6) ; 1 ♀ , 26°43'05.30"N , 115°13'36.28"E , 228 m , other data same as holotype (Lep-1) . Diagnosis. The male of this species is similar to that of Leptonetela sexdentata Wang & Li, 2011 ( Wang and Li 2011 : 15, fig. 53B-D) in having the tibia with a row of spines retrolaterally including one thick strong spine proximally and three thin spines, but can be separated from it by the tongue-shaped prolateral lobe (vs finger-like) and the median apophysis with narrow base (vs broad) and five teeth distally (under microscope) (vs six) (Figs 5B-D , 8E-L ). The males also resemble that of L. dawu sp. nov. in having the conductor with curved apex and the spine-like embolus, but can be separated from it by the leaf-shaped median apophysis (vs foot-shaped) (Figs 5B-D , 8E-L ). The female can be easily distinguished from L. sexdentata ( Wang and Li 2011 : 15, fig. 54C) by the transversely extended spermathecal stalk (vs directed anteromedially) with four regular spirals (vs irregular) (Fig. 6C ). Figure 5. Leptonetela yuanhaoi sp. nov., male holotype A habitus, dorsal view B palp, prolateral view C same, ventral view D same, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: Em - embolus, MA - medial apophysis, PL - prolateral lobe. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Figure 6. Leptonetela yuanhaoi sp. nov., female paratype A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: At - atrium, Spe - spermathecae, SS - spermathecae stalk. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 5A . Total length 2.06. Carapace 0.91 long, 0.75 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09; ALE-PME 0.13, PLE-PLE 0.10, PLE-PME 0.05; AER 0.18, PER 0.22. Clypeus 0.13 high. Chelicerae (Fig. 5A ) with eight promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Endites with several long spines anterolaterally. Sternum shield-shaped, nearly as long as wide, with dense scale-like surface, posterior end blunt. Leg measurements: I 4.60 (1.13, 0.32, 1.28, 1.04, 0.83); II 3.28 (0.75, 0.21, 0.96, 0.72, 0.64); III 2.94 (0.77, 0.21, 0.75, 0.81, 0.40); IV 3.82 (1.09, 0.15, 0.94, 0.98, 0.66); formula: I, IV, II, III. Pedicel 0.12. Abdomen 1.02 long, 0.89 wide. Coloration (Fig. 5A ). Carapace yellow to dark brown, with dark radial stripes and mottled markings on lateral margin, and an oval dark brown band medially. Chelicerae yellow. Endites yellow to dark brown, mottled. Labium yellow to dark brown. Legs with dark annulations on each segment except tarsi. Abdomen with four dark chevron-shaped stripes. Palp (Figs 5B-D , 8E-L ). Tibia with five long setae retrolaterally, the proximal one very thick, long, strong, spine-like; cymbium with one long conspicuous seta prolaterally, one short, strong, thick spine retrolaterally and one long spine distally. Tip of bulb: prolateral lobe tongue-like, relatively short; median apophysis leaf-shaped, distal margin with four to ten teeth, prolateral one very small, retrolateral one very large with triangular tip; conductor membranous, relatively broad, near the base of median apophysis, longer than median apophysis; embolus short, transparent, broad, slightly bending retrolaterally. Female (paratype). Habitus as in Fig. 6A, B . Total length 1.70. Carapace 0.84 long, 0.71 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.08, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08; ALE-PME 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.12, PLE-PME 0.04; AER 0.15, PER 0.20. Clypeus 0.10 high. Chelicerae (Fig. 6B ) with nine promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Endites with several long spines anterolaterally. Sternum (Fig. 6B ) shield-shaped, nearly as long as wide, with dense scale-like surface, lateral margin thickened, posterior end blunt. Leg measurements: I 3.53 (1.00, 0.19, 1.05, 0.77, 0.52); II 2.80 (0.78, 0.20, 0.65, 0.59, 0.58); III 2.36 (0.71, 0.16, 0.56, 0.57, 0.36); IV 3.48 (0.97, 0.23, 0.89, 0.84, 0.55). Pedicel 0.06. Abdomen 1.06 long, 0.78 wide. Coloration (Fig. 6A, B ). Darker than male. Vulva (Fig. 6C ). Internal genitalia with sub-trapezoidal atrium, slightly swollen spermathecae. and convoluted spermathecal stalk including three coils. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Jiangxi Province, China (Fig. 29 ). Etymology. The species is named after Mr Yuanhao Ying, who collected the type specimens. Comments. We compared the palps of the new species with that of the very similar species L. dawu sp. nov. several times. This similarity is probably because the males of these two species have very similar characters: tibial spines, cymbial spine, and embolus. The distance between Dawu Mountain and Ziyao Mountain is approximately 25 km (linear distances), which is very close. Despite the close distance, we consider them as different species based on the morphological differences listed. This hypothesis will be confirmed or rejected in the future when molecular data and analysis can be provided.