Troglotheridion sangzhiense ( Zhu, 1998 ), 2025

Troglotheridion sangzhiense ( Zhu, 1998) comb. nov.

Figs 1D View FIGURE 1 , 5‒7 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7

Theridion sangzhiensis Zhu, 1998: 127 , figs 72A‒E (♂ ♀); Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 142, figs 79C‒D, J, L (♂ ♀).

Theridion sangzhiense Yin et al., 2012: 417 View in CoL , figs 185a‒e (♂ ♀).

Type material (examined). Holotype: ♀, CHINA: Hunan Province: Zhangjiajie City, Sangzhi Co. , Jiutian Cave ; 29.3306°N, 110.1256°E, elev. 287 m; 25.08.1990, M.S. Zhu leg. ( MHBU, HBU (Ar.)006953) GoogleMaps . Allotype: ♂, same data as holotype ( MHBU, HBU (Ar.)006953) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 3♀, same data as holotype ( MHBU, HBU (Ar.)006956, GoogleMaps HBU (Ar.)006957, GoogleMaps HBU (Ar.)006960) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. See the above diagnosis under Troglotheridion lamellatum sp. nov..

Redescription. Male (allotype): Total length 2.10. Carapace 0.80 long, 0.75 wide. Abdomen missing. Measurements of legs: I 8.70 (2.60, 3.00, 2.18, 0.92), II 6.12 (1.91, 2.10, 1.40, 0.71), III 4.19 (1.39, 1.25, 0.99, 0.56), IV 5.69 (1.82, 1.91, 1.22, 0.74). AME and PME absent, ALE and PLE strongly vestigial. Other characteristics of male habitus as in generic description ( Figs 1D View FIGURE 1 , 5A, B View FIGURE 5 ).

Cymbium longer than tibia. Tegular retrolateral apophysis (TRA) wide, almost as wide as conductor (C), thick part of sperm duct (SD) in prolateral tegulum (T) S-shaped in ventral view, thin part of sperm duct (SD) in retrolateral tegulum (T) almost as wide as the diameter of tarsal organ (TO). Uncovered portion of median apophysis (MA) longer than wide. Tegular apophysis (TA) not extending beyond cymbium. Embolus (E) with a short and triangular embolic projection II (EP II), embolic tip almost 1/3 times thinner than embolic projection I (EP I), notch between embolic tip and embolic projection II (EP II) small, almost 1/3 times thinner than embolic projection I (EP I). Other characteristics of male palp as in generic description ( Fig. 6A‒C View FIGURE 6 ).

Female (holotype): Total length 2.40. Carapace 0.73 long, 0.69 wide. Abdomen 1.52 long, 1.42 wide. Measurements of legs: I 8.60 (2.60, 3.00, 2.10, 0.90), II 6.10 (1.90, 2.10, 1.40, 0.70), III 3.95 (1.40, 1.30, 0.66, 0.59), IV 5.71 (1.80, 1.90, 1.22, 0.79). Other characteristics of female habitus as in generic description ( Fig. 5C, D View FIGURE 5 ).

Epigyne wider than long, with U-shaped posterior margin. Interdistance of copulatory openings less than 1/10 width of epigyne. Posterior portion of copulatory ducts (CD) almost parallel to each other. Spermathecae (S) beanshaped. Other characteristics of epigyne as in generic description ( Fig. 6D‒F View FIGURE 6 ).

Natural history. This species inhabits in rock depressions or crevices in caves and builds a simple cobweb ( Zhu, 1998).

Distribution. China (Hunan Province) ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).