Qianlingula turbinata, Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004

Qianlingula turbinata View in CoL

Figs 1 C – D View Figure 1 , 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6 , 7 View Figure 7

Qianlingula turbinata Zhang et al., 2004: 402, figs 160–162 ( ♀); Yin et al. 2012: 896, fig. 451 a – c ( ♀). View in CoL

Material examined.

Holotype • ♀, China, Hunan, Chengbu Co., 20.08.1982, J. F. Wang leg. ( MHBU, Figs 6 A, C View Figure 6 ) . Paratypes • 1 ♂ 1 ♀, China, Hainan, Wuzhishan Ct., Emerald Park , Taiping Cr., 18°47'34"N, 109°31'33"E, elev. 381 m, 17.02.2024, Q. L. Lu et al. leg. ( SWUC, Figs 5 View Figure 5 , 6 B, D View Figure 6 ) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

This species resembles Q. jiafu (Figs 2 View Figure 2 – 4 View Figure 4 ) in having bifurcated retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA), long and slender embolus (E), spine-like embolic process of male palp (EBP), slit-like copulatory openings (CO) of epigyne, but differs by larger body size (27.45–34.33) (Fig. 1 C, D View Figure 1 , vs 16.23–18.14); margin of anterior branch of retrolateral tibial apophysis more curled (Fig. 5 E – H View Figure 5 , vs thick, Fig. 2 E – H View Figure 2 ); cymbial furrow (CF) 2 times shorter than cymbium (Fig. 5 E View Figure 5 , vs 0.6 times of cymbium length, Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ); tip of cymbium longer than bulb (Fig. 5 E View Figure 5 , vs shorter, Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ); tip of conductor (C) blunt in ventral view (Fig. 5 B View Figure 5 , vs pointed, Fig. 2 B View Figure 2 ). Posterior part of median plate of epigyne narrower than half width of anterior part (Fig. 6 A, B View Figure 6 , vs wider, Fig. 3 A, B View Figure 3 ).

Description.

Male (Fig. 1 C View Figure 1 ). Total length 27.45. Carapace 13.91 long, 11.94 wide; abdomen 13.54 long, 8.89 wide. Carapace yellow-brown, margin dark brown, with eight red-brown radiating furrows. Dorsum of abdomen brown, cardiac pattern rhomboid yellow-brown with pair dark-brown muscular impression, with heart-shaped depression, two white spots at heart angles. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.65, ALE 0.51, PME 0.62, PLE 0.69; AME – AME 0.31, AME – ALE 0.26, PME – PME 0.43, PME – PLE 0.77. Clypeus height 1.33. Spination of left leg I: Fe 3 d 5 p 5 r; Pa 1 d 1 p 1 r; Ti 2 d 2 p 2 r 4-4 v; Mt 3 d 3 p 3 r 3-0 v. Leg measurements: I 76.04 (21.00, 27.95, 20.67, 6.42); II 84.46 (23.03, 31.05, 23.45, 6.93); III 76.65 (21.05, 27.51, 21.58, 6.51); IV 85.64 (22.16, 29.95, 25.77, 7.76).

Palp (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). Tibia ca 2 times longer than wide in retrolateral view, ca 0.4 of femur length, as long as patella, with two strong prolateral spines; tibial apophysis bifurcated, anterior branch with lamellar and curled margin, posterior branch claw-like. Cymbium droplet-shaped, 2.8 time longer than wide; cymbial furrow (CF) as long as half of cymbium; tip longer than bulb. Bulb elliptical; proximal terminal part of tegulum (T) curved; subtegulum (St) triangular in retrolateral view; median apophysis (MA) located centrally, hook-like, curved ventrally. Conductor (C) crescent-shaped in ventral view, with groove (holding fulcrum (Ful) and embolus (E )), with pointed tip. Embolus complex: with fulcrum (Ful) and basal process (EBP); fulcrum curved clockwise as long as embolus, with groove anteriorly; basal process spine-like, slightly curved at posterior end. Embolus proper originating at approximately 6 - o’clock position, long, running clockwise surrounded tegulum, distal part resting in long groove of fulcrum.

Female (Fig. 1 D View Figure 1 ). Total length 34.33. Carapace 15.08 long, 12.75 wide; abdomen 19.0 long, 12.56 wide. Carapace yellow-brown, margin dark brown, with red-brown radiating furrows. Fovea longitudinal, dark brown. Dorsum of abdomen dark brown, cardiac pattern rhomboid yellow-brown with pair of brown muscular impressions, with heart-shaped depression, two white spots at heart angles. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.70, ALE 0.59, PME 0.70, PLE 0.85; AME – AME 0.32, AME – ALE 0.34, PME – PME 0.37, PME – PLE 0.78. Clypeus height 1.56. Chelicerae brown, with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Spination of left leg I: Fe 3 d 5 p 5 r; Pa 1 d 1 p 1 r; Ti 2 d 2 p 2 r 4-4 v; Mt 3 d 3 p 3 r 3-0 v. Leg measurements: I 74.91 (20.17, 27.85, 20.35, 6.54); II 83.29 (23.29, 30.25, 22.56, 7.19); III 75.09 (21.30, 25.82, 21.06, 6.91); IV 86.10 (23.52, 29.15, 25.60, 7.83).

Epigyne (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ). Epigynal plate pentagonal, almost as wide as long. Anterior part of median plate 2 times wider than posterior part, almost Y-shaped. Copulatory openings (CO) slit-like, located mid ventrally on between lateral walls (LW) and median plate (MP). Copulatory ducts (CD) wrapped 3 times around base of spermatheca (BS), forming round figure; first loop of CD touching each other, and other loops slightly spaced; spermatheca head (SH) almost heart-shaped. Fertilization ducts (FD) crescent-shaped.

Distribution.

China ( Hunan, Fujian, Guizhou, Guangdong and Hainan) ( Yin et al. 2012; Zhang and Wang 2017) (Fig. 7 View Figure 7 ).

Remarks.

Yin et al. (2012) recorded this species from Hunan, Fujian, and Hainan provinces in China. Zhang and Wang (2017) recorded it from Guangdong, with a photo of female habitus. So, this is a widely distributed species reported in four provinces in Southern China.

Both Q. jiafu and Q. turbinata inhabit rocky shoals along streams, hiding under rocks when sensing danger or during the day. Qianlingula jiafu prefers slower-moving waters, while Q. turbinata thrives in fast-flowing currents. Notably, both species possess dense bristles on their walking legs — particularly on the tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus — which likely facilitate rapid movement across the water surface, an adaptation to their semi-aquatic hunting behavior. This morphological specialization warrants further investigation.