Moneta linzhi Gan, Mi & Wang, 2025

Moneta linzhi Gan, Mi & Wang sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 5 A, B View Figure 5 , 8 View Figure 8

Type material.

Holotype • ♂ ( TRU -XZ-THR-0001 ), China: Xizang Autonomous Region, Linzhi City, Bomi County, Gangyunshanlin Scenic Area ( 29°52.66'N, 95°34.22'E, c. 2658 m), 21.V.2024, X. Q. Mi et al. leg GoogleMaps . Paratypes • 4 ♀ 13 ♂ ( TRU -XZ-THR-0002 –0018), same data as for holotype GoogleMaps ; • 2 ♀ ( TRU -XZ-THR-0019 –0020), same site as for holotype, 29.VI.2023, C. Wang leg. GoogleMaps

Etymology.

The species name is a noun in apposition and derived from the type locality, Linzhi City.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species is closely similar to that of M. tumulicola Zhu, 1998 in having a very similar palpal structure, but it can be easily distinguished by the following: (1) embolic apophysis ( EA) is sheet-shaped in ventral view (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 ) vs almost bar-shaped ( Zhu 1998: fig. 190 A); and (2) ventrally extending portion of the distal cymbium is about 2 / 5 the bulb width and having a blunt end in prolateral view (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ) vs about 4 / 5 the bulb width and having a rather pointed end ( Zhu 1998: fig. 190 B). This species is also similar to that of M. oupeng Lin & Li, 2024 in having similar copulatory organs, but it can be easily distinguished by the following: (1) embolus (E) is arc-shaped in ventral view (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 ) vs invisible ( Lin et al. 2024 b: fig. 10 B); (2) retrolateral branch of the ventral tegular apophysis ( VTA) is sclerotized distally and has a blunt tip in ventral view (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 ) vs membranous and has a somewhat pointed tip ( Lin et al. 2024 b: fig. 10 B); (3) prolateral tegular apophysis ( PTA) is about as long as wide (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ) vs obviously wider than long ( Lin et al. 2024 b: fig. 10 A); (4) basal epigynal plate ( BP) is far away from the atrium about the atrial length (Figs 2 A View Figure 2 , 5 A View Figure 5 ) vs almost touched ( Lin et al. 2024 b: fig. 11 A); and (5) copulatory ducts ( CD) are obvious wider than long (Figs 2 B View Figure 2 , 5 B View Figure 5 ) vs almost as wide as long ( Lin et al. 2024 b: fig. 11 B).

Description.

Male ( holotype; Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 C View Figure 2 ). Total length 2.65. Carapace 1.10 long, 1.00 wide. Abdomen 1.61 long, 1.03 wide. Carapace oval, yellow except surrounding dark brown, with irregular dark patch behind PMEs. Radial grooves indistinct. Clypeus projecting, 0.13 high. AER slightly recurved and PER straight. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.11, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08, AME – AME 0.17, AME – ALE 0.17, PME – PME 0.17, PME – PLE 0.21, ALE – PLE 0.17. Chelicerae saffron yellow, base black grey. Endites beige. Labium pale grey, base black grey. Sternum pale yellow and edge black grey. Legs beige, with black grey stripes on side. Measurements of legs: I 5.86 (2.08, 1.75, 1.75, 0.28), II 4.11 (1.28, 1.50, 1.13, 0.20), III 2.22 (0.73, 0.63, 0.63, 0.23), IV 4.33 (1.50, 1.25, 1.25, 0.33). Dorsum of abdomen mainly dark except central portion pale, covered with off-white spots, with central furcella, and pair of longitudinal yellow sigilla lateral to furcella; venter off-white, anterior black grey.

Palp (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ): femur c. 4.5 times longer than wide, yellow except base and terminus dark prolaterally; patella c. 2 times longer than wide, yellow except terminal dark; tibia c. 1.4 times longer than wide, gradually widened from base to distal end; cymbium almost 1.5 times longer than wide; prolateral tegular apophysis ( PTA) irregular, large, mainly sheet-shaped in prolateral view; ventral tegular apophysis ( VTA) divided into slender, distally curved prolateral branch and wider, distally sclerotized retrolateral branch; conductor (C) almost triangular, membranous; embolus (E) strongly curved medially, originates from anterior 1 / 3 portion of retrolateral side of bulb, rather pointed apically; embolic apophysis ( EA) sheet-shaped, almost parallel to emblolus, with pointed tip.

Female ( TRU -XZ-THR-0002 , Fig. 2 A, B, D, E View Figure 2 ; TRU -XZ-THR-0003 , Fig. 5 A, B View Figure 5 ). Total length 2.39. Carapace 1.01 long, 0.95 wide. Abdomen 1.34 long, 1.00 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME – AME 0.15, AME – ALE 0.16, PME – PME 0.16, PME – PLE 0.21, ALE – PLE 0.12. Measurements of legs: I 4.99 (1.73, 1.55, 1.48, 0.23), II 3.61 (1.13, 1.15, 1.15, 0.18), III 2.06 (0.65, 0.68, 0.55, 0.18), IV 4.11 (1.38, 1.23, 1.25, 0.25). Habitus (Fig. 2 D, E View Figure 2 ) similar to that of male.

Epigyne (Figs 2 A, B View Figure 2 , 5 A, B View Figure 5 ): slightly longer than wide, with base plate slightly beyond epigastric groove; atrium oval, centrally located; copulatory openings ( CO) beneath antero-lateral portions of atrium; copulatory ducts ( CD) oval; spermathecae (S) oblong, slightly less than 2 times wider than long, slightly separated from each other; fertilization ducts ( FD) posterior to spermathecae.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Xizang, China (Fig. 8 View Figure 8 ).