Acanoides ningxiangensis Irfan, Zhang & Peng

Acanoides ningxiangensis Irfan, Zhang & Peng , sp. n.

(Ṫ乡x刺me)

Figures 4–6 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 , 315 View FIGURE 315

Types. Holotype ♂ ( HNU–HN– IV–1779 ), CHINA, Hunan Prov.: Ningxiang Co., Huaminglou Town, Jinyuan Vill. , 28.10046°N, 112.66057°E, 209 m, 12.XI.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: 4♀, with same data as for holotype ( HNU–HN– IV–1779 ); GoogleMaps 1♀, Shaoyang City, Chengbu Co., Rulin Town , Lengshuiping Vill. , Biyun Cave (specimen was collected at the mouth of the cave from the leaf litter), 26.34273°N, 110.32927°E, 473 m, 10.XI.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. ( HNU–HN– IV–1778 ) GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Hengyang City, Nanyue District, Nanyue Town , Huangzhu Vill. , 27.262258°N, 112.73683°E, 160 m, 18.I.2018, G.C. Zhou & L.Y. Wang leg. ( HNU–HNHS–18–08 ) GoogleMaps ; 1♂, 10♀, Ningxiang Co., Huaminglou Town, Jinyuan Vill. , 28.1002°N, 112.5277°E, 187 m, 24.X.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. ( HNU–HN– IV–1755 ). GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis. The males of Acanoides ningxiangensis sp. n. resemble those of A. hengshanensis in having similar radix and lamella characteristica in male palp ( Figs 4A– D View FIGURE 4 ; Sun et al. 2014, figs 2A–G), but can be distinguished by the proximal cymbial apophysis not curved in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ; vs. apical part slightly curved); ventral part of distal arm of paracymbium round in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. ( Figs 4B, 4C View FIGURE 4 , pointed with red arrows; vs. margin not round); paracymbial lateral tooth horn-shaped in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ; somewhat triangular); distal end of thumb as wide as long in retrolateral view in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ; vs. longer than wide). Females of A. ningxiangensis sp. n. resembles those of A. hengshanensis in having the similar proximal part of anterior wall of epigyne somewhat globular ( Figs 5A–C View FIGURE 5 ), and can be distinguished by oval spermathecae in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ; vs. beans-like). In male, chelicerae with one promarginal and one retromarginal teeth in A. ningxiangensis sp. n. (vs. two promarginal and two retromarginal teeth in A. Hengshanensis ).

Description: Male (holotype, Figs 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ): Total length: 2.08, carapace 0.89 long, 0.76 wide, cephalic region slightly elevated, yellow; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct; laterally with a black band on each side. Clypeus 0.17 high. high. Chelicerae with one promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Sternum as wide as long, brown. Eyes: AER recurved, PER slightly recurved and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.06, PME 0.07, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.03, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.28, PLE–PLE 0.30, ALE– PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 5.04 (1.03, 1.58, 1.32, 0.84), II 4.21 (1.16, 1.28, 1.10, 0.67), III 3.36 (0.93, 0.98, 0.91, 0.54), IV 4.25 (1.11, 1.06, 1.32, 0.76). TmI 0.23 and TmIV absent. Opisthosoma 1.08 long, 0.69 wide, oval, dorsally densely covered with microsetae, with distinct black pattern extending posteriorly to base of spinnerets and on lateral sides; ventral side light brown followed by ventro-laterally with black patches at proximal and distal end.

Palp ( Figs 4A–D View FIGURE 4 ): Femur unmodified, almost longer than both patella and tibia. Patella as long as tibia, dorslally with long thick spine. Tibia with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria, ventrally with small outgrowth equipped with spine at tip in prolateral view; cymbium unmodified, with proximal cymbial apophysis (PCA) with blunt tip; paracymbium (PC) large, proximal part broad with patch of 5 spines, lateral tooth reduced in size, situated at proximal part, pointing towards distal margin of tibia in ventral view (best visible in ventral view, Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); pit hook ( PH) invisible on undissected palp. Embolic division: radix (R) 2/3 the length of cymbium, narrowing towards distal end, Fickert’s gland present at distal end; lamella characteristica (LC) unbranched, long and slender, with sharp and strongly sclerotized apex (best visible in ventral view, Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); embolus (E) main body short, as wide as apical arm of paracymbium, strongly sclerotized, with serrated area on ventral surface; thumb (TH) horn-shaped, slightly curved with blunt end; embolus proper (EP) half the length of thumb, sharp with pointed end..

Description. Female (paratype, Figs 6C–D View FIGURE 6 ): Total length: 1.91, carapace 0.82 long, 0.63 wide; opisthosoma 1.01 long, 0.72 wide, all other morphological characters same as in male. Clypeus 0.15 high. Chelicerae with three promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, brown. Eyes: AER recurved, PER slightly recurved and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.07, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.02, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.26, PLE–PLE 0.28 ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.93 (1.02, 1.25, 0.9, 0.67), II 3.32 (0.89, 1.01, 0.82, 0.60), III 2.59 (0.72, 0.84, 0.60, 0.43), IV 3.51 (0.89, 1.02, 0.98, 0.62). TmI 0.20.

Epigyne ( Figs 5A–C View FIGURE 5 ): Epigynal plate two times wider than the length, anteriorly with conspicuous extendible area (EA). Ventral part of anterior wall (AW) of epigyne almost round, dorsal part of anterior wall wider than long forming lateral lobes; copulatory openings (CO) located on dorsal surface of anterior wall posteriorly, slits of epigynal grooves extending laterally, passing from ventral to dorsal surface, then convergent mesally. Posterior median plate, epigynal cavity, scape and stretcher absent; spermathecae finger-shaped.

Distribution. Known from the type localities (Hunan Province, Fig. 315 View FIGURE 315 ).