Lysiteles tanfei, Chen & Liu & Hu, 2025

Lysiteles tanfei sp. nov.

Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 7 View FIGURE 7

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( QZMS05426 ), CHINA : Hubei Province: Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Xuan’en County, Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve , Shadaogou Town , Xueluozhai Forest Farm ; 29.74721°N, 109.74536°E; 1338 m; 30 May 2024; Changhao Hu and Mian Wei leg. GoogleMaps Paratype: 1♀ ( QZMS05427 ), with the same data as for holotype GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Chinese Pinyin tán fēi (meaning “missing”), referring to the strange experience encountered during the identification of this species.

Diagnosis. The male of Lysiteles tanfei sp. nov. is characterized by its branched RTA in combination with the screwed distal embolus. It differs from the similar L. bicuspidatus Yu, Li & Jin, 2017 (cf. Figs 5A–C View FIGURE 5 and figs 3–6, 10–12 in Yu et al. 2017) in: 1. VTA straight and almost as long as RTA in lateral view, wider than embolus in ventral view (vs. curved and longer than RTA in lateral view, almost as wide as embolus in L. bicuspidatus ); and 2. VTA ventrally with bunch of setae (vs. seta absent in L. bicuspidatus ). From the also similar L. ambrosii Ono, 2001 (cf. Figs 5A–C View FIGURE 5 and figs 29, 30 in Ono 2001, figs 47, 48 in Tang et al. 2007), it can be distinguished by the ventral branch of RTA larger than dorsal branch of RTA (vs. ventral branch of RTA smaller than dorsal branch of RTA in L. ambrosii ).

The female of Lysiteles tanfei sp. nov. is characterized by its spherical internal genitalia. It differs from the similar L. uniprocessus Tang, Yin, Peng, Ubick & Griswold, 2008 (cf. Figs 3D, E View FIGURE 3 and figs 20g, i, j in Tang et al. 2008) in: 1. copulatory openings large, almost 2/3 the diameter of spermathecae (vs. tiny, almost 1/8 the diameter of spermathecae in L. uniprocessus ); 2. copulatory ducts laterally located (vs. located inner-laterally in L. uniprocessus ); and 3. spermathecae swollen C-shaped (vs. spherical in L. uniprocessus ).

Description. Male: Total length 2.59. Carapace 1.26 long, 1.17 wide; opisthosoma 1.38 long, 1.05 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.14, PME 0.07, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.10, PME– PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.20, AME–PME 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.14. Leg measurements: I 5.54 (1.58, 0.40, 1.42, 1.31, 0.83); II 5.87 (1.63, 0.43, 1.57, 1.38, 0.86); III 3.57 (1.10, 0.27, 0.93, 0.77, 0.50); IV 3.67 (1.19, 0.31, 0.94, 0.77, 0.46). Leg formula: 2143.

Palp ( Figs 3A–C View FIGURE 3 ). Tibia almost half the length of cymbium; VTA broad, with two apexes, almost quadrangular in retrolateral view; RTA branched, with two dentiform apexes. Tegulum rounded. Embolus divided into two parts, prolateral part falciform, retrolateral part screwed.

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ). Generally light yellow. Carapace with two black lines from PLEs to median part. Metatarsus and tarsus of legs I and II brown. Dorsal opisthosoma with two red markings and six black patches, ventral opisthosoma laterally with two black spots.

Female: Total length 3.47. Carapace 1.33 long, 1.21 wide; opisthosoma 2.10 long, 2.18 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.19, PME 0.07, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.11, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.23, AME–PME 0.10, ALE–PLE 0.13. Leg measurements: I 4.08 (1.29, 0.40, 1.01, 0.82, 0.56); II 4.48 (1.30, 0.39, 1.21, 0.93, 0.65); III 2.68 (0.84, 0.24, 0.69, 0.52, 0.39); IV 2.97 (0.98, 0.32, 0.72, 0.58, 0.37). Leg formula: 2143.

Epigyne ( Figs 3D, E View FIGURE 3 ). Epigynal field wider than long. Copulatory openings triangular. Copulatory ducts shorter than spermathecae, laterally located. Spermathecae swollen C-shaped. Fertilization ducts filiform and C-shaped.

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 4C, D View FIGURE 4 ). As in male, but generally lighter.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).