Pholcus liaoning S. Li & Yao, 2025

Pholcus liaoning S. Li & Yao sp. nov.

Figs 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12

Type material.

Holotype: China • ♂; Liaoning, Chaoyang, Beipiao, Daheishan Scenic Spot ; 42.006997°N, 120.484051°E; alt. 609 m; 16 Jul. 2024; Z. Yao, J. Li & M. Yan leg.; SYNU -Ar 00433 GoogleMaps . Paratypes: China • 1 ♂; same data as for the holotype; SYNU -Ar 00434 GoogleMaps • 2 ♀; same data as for the holotype; SYNU -Ar 00435 –36 GoogleMaps .

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles Pholcus wangjiang Yao & Li, 2021 ( Yao et al. 2021: S 22, figs 2 B. 20, S 21 A – D, S 22 A – H) by having a similar uncus (Fig. 12 C View Figure 12 ) and male chelicerae (Fig. 12 D View Figure 12 ), but it can be distinguished by the: procursus with a ventro-distal apophysis (arrow 2 in Fig. 11 C View Figure 11 vs. absent) and nearly semi-circular, dorso-distal membranous lamella (arrow 1 in Fig. 11 D View Figure 11 vs. absent), epigynal plate without brown marks (Fig. 12 A View Figure 12 vs. with distinct lateral brown marks), vulval pore plates quadrilateral (pp in Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 vs. elliptical).

Description.

Male (holotype): Total length 4.37 (4.49 with clypeus), carapace 1.34 long, 1.50 wide, opisthosoma 3.03 long, 1.41 wide. Leg I: 37.15 (9.36, 0.70, 9.49, 15.32, 2.28), leg II: 25.89 (7.12, 0.67, 6.47, 10.13, 1.50), leg III: 18.46 (5.38, 0.63, 4.49, 6.79, 1.17), leg IV: 24.22 (6.99, 0.63, 6.20, 9.04, 1.36); tibia I L / d: 67. Eye interdistances and diameters: PME – PME 0.21, PME 0.14, PME – ALE 0.04, AME – AME 0.06, AME 0.08. Sternum width / length: 1.04 / 0.86. Habitus as in Fig. 12 E, F View Figure 12 . Carapace yellowish, with brown radiating marks and marginal brown bands; ocular area yellowish, with median and lateral brown bands; clypeus and sternum yellowish, with brown marks. Legs yellowish, dark brown on patellae and whitish on distal parts of femora and tibiae, with darker rings on subdistal parts of femora and proximal and subdistal parts of tibiae. Opisthosoma yellowish, with dorsal and lateral brown spots. Chelicerae with pair of proximo-lateral apophyses (pa in Fig. 12 D View Figure 12 ), pair of distal apophyses (da in Fig. 12 D View Figure 12 ) with two teeth each, and pair of frontal apophyses (fa in Fig. 12 D View Figure 12 ). Palps as in Fig. 11 A, B View Figure 11 ; trochanter with retrolaterally strongly bulged ventral apophysis; femur with retrolatero-proximal protrusion (arrow 1 in Fig. 11 B View Figure 11 ) and indistinct ventral protrusion; tibia with prolatero-ventral protrusion (arrow in Fig. 11 A View Figure 11 ); procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with raised prolatero-subdistal edge bearing pointed apophysis (arrow 1 in Fig. 11 C View Figure 11 ), ventro-distal apophysis (arrow 2 in Fig. 11 C View Figure 11 ), dorso-distal membranous lamella (arrow 1 in Fig. 11 D View Figure 11 ), and two strong dorsal spines (arrows 2, 3 in Fig. 11 D View Figure 11 ); uncus nearly elliptical, with scales (u in Fig. 12 C View Figure 12 ); “ pseudo-appendix ” semi-transparent (arrow 2 in Fig. 11 B View Figure 11 ); embolus weakly sclerotized, with transparent distal projections (e in Fig. 12 C View Figure 12 ). Retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia I at 5 % proximally; legs with short, vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi; tarsus I with 30 distinct pseudosegments.

Female (paratype, SYNU -Ar 00435 ): Similar to male, habitus as in Fig. 12 G, H View Figure 12 . Total length 4.68 (4.81 with clypeus), carapace 1.40 long, 1.52 wide, opisthosoma 3.28 long, 1.86 wide; tibia I: 8.01; tibia I L / d: 57. Eye interdistances and diameters: PME – PME 0.19, PME 0.13, PME – ALE 0.04, AME – AME 0.04, AME 0.08. Sternum width / length: 0.99 / 0.90. Clypeus brown. Epigyne posteriorly slightly curved, with knob (kn in Fig. 12 A View Figure 12 ). Vulva with ridge-shaped anterior arch (aa in Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 ) and pair of quadrilateral pore plates (pp in Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 ).

Variation.

Tibia I in paratype male ( SYNU -Ar 00434 ): 8.84. Tibia I in another paratype female ( SYNU -Ar 00436 ): 8.33.

Habitat.

Underside of overhang on rocky cliffs in mountainous area.

Distribution.

Liaoning; known only from the type locality (Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2E View Figure 2 ).