Notes on the spider genus Lathys Simon, 1884 (Araneae: Dictynidae), with description of four new species from China Author Zhang, Zhi-Sheng Author Hu, Dong-Sheng Author Zhang, Yao-Guang text Zootaxa 2012 3359 1 16 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.281616 6abc8cb2-b45b-4190-b963-7dc74544ed3a 1175-5326 281616 Lathys borealis sp. nov. Figs 1A–E , 2A–H , 3A–H Type material. Holotype : Male, China , Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jingyuan County, Erlonghe Forestry Centre, under stones, N35°20' , E 106°20' , 31 July 2010 , D.S. Hu & Y.Q. Peng leg. ( MHBU ). Paratypes : 1 female , with same data as holotype ( MHBU ); 1 male , Ningxia, Pengyang County, Guamagou Forestry Centre, 35°23' N , 106°16' E , 11 July 2008 , C. Zhang leg. ( MHBU ). FIGURES 1A–E. Lathys borealis sp. nov. , from Ningxia. A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, dorsal view; D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Ca = distal arm of conductor; Cb = base of conductor; Cd = copulatory duct; Co = copulatory opening; Ct = terminal of conductor; Em = embolus; Fd = fertilization duct; Pa = patellar apophysis; Sp = spermatheca; TA = tibial apophyses. Etymology. The specific name cames from the Latin word ‘ borealis ’, meaning ‘boreal, north’, refers to its distribution in the coniferous forest in northern China ; adjective. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to L. humilis ( Marusik et al. 2009b : 22, figs 45–47, 54–57), L. nielseni ( Marusik et al. 2009a : 189, figs 17–19, 28–31) and L. subhumilis sp. nov. ( Figs 9–11 ), but distinguished by the relatively long patellar apophysis, the different shapes of complex tibial apophyses ( Figs 1B–C , 2G–H ), the large copulatory openings, the distinct posterior and inner margins of the copulatory openings, and the relatively large spermathecae ( Figs 1D–E , 3G–H ). Description. Male holotype ( Figs 2A–E ) total length 1.90. Prosoma 0.91 long, 0.71 wide; opisthosoma 1.09 long, 0.87 wide. AME smallest, ALE largest. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.17 long, front width 0.09, back width 0.20. Clypeus height 0.09. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 2.62 (0.74, 0.91, 0.59, 0.38); II 2.13 (0.66, 0.71, 0.46, 0.30); III 1.74 (0.53, 0.53, 0.39, 0.29); IV 2.07 (0.64, 0.69, 0.47, 0.27). Leg formula: 1423. Male palp ( Figs 1A–C , 2F–H ) with a distally originated patellar dorsal apophysis. Tibia with three apophyses, surrounding the terminal part of conductor. Embolus originating prolatero- basally and coiled clockwise (left palp). Conductor with a straight terminal part extending to the dorsal tibia. Female paratype ( Figs 6A–F ) total length 2.36. Prosoma 0.86 long, 0.71 wide; opisthosoma 1.54 long, 1.21 wide. AME smallest, ALE largest. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.02, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.17 long, front width 0.10 back width 0.20. Clypeus height 0.05. Chelicerae with 4–5 promarginal and 3–4 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 2.63 (0.75, 0.91, 0.59, 0.38); II 2.13 (0.66, 0.71, 0.46, 0.30); III 1.74 (0.53, 0.53, 0.39, 0.29); IV 2.07 (0.64, 0.69, 0.47, 0.27). Leg formula: 1423. FIGURES 2A–H. Lathys borealis sp. nov. , male from Ningxia. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Eyes and chelicerae, frontal view; E. Chelicerae, ventral view, showing teeth; F. Left palp, ventral view; G. Same, retrolateral view; H. Same, dorsal view. FIGURES 3A–H. Lathys borealis sp. nov. , female from Ningxia. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Eyes, dorsal view; E. Chelicera, ventral view, showing teeth; F. Metatarsus IV, showing the calamistrum; G. Epigyne, ventral view; H. Vulva, dorsal view. Epigyne ( Figs 1D–E , 3G–H ). Inner and posterior margins of copulatory openings visible. Copulatory ducts spiraled around the copulatory openings, forming only one loop. Spermathecae relatively large, separated by more than their diameter. Distribution. China (Ningxia,?Gansu,?Shanxi) ( Fig. 14 ). Remark. Female L. humilis from Gansu reported by Schenkel (1936) and male from Shanxi by Zhu & Shi (1983) are similar to the new species. But due to unavailable specimens and the existence of intraspecific variations, we are not able to make a conclusion that they are the same species.