Utivarachna daweishanensis Wang & Mi, 2025

Utivarachna daweishanensis Wang & Mi , sp. nov.

Figs 1A–C View FIGURE 1 , 2A, B View FIGURE 2 , 3A, B View FIGURE 3 , 4A–D View FIGURE 4

Type material. Holotype ♂ (TRU-TRC-0001), CHINA: Yunnan Province: Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, Daweishan National Forest Park ( 22.91351°N, 103.70037°E), 2044 m a.s.l., 15.V.2024, leg. Cheng Wang et al. GoogleMaps

Paratypes. 2♀ (TRU-TRC-0002–0003), same data as for holotype GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, Daweishan National Forest Park; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of this species closely resembles that of U. deelemanae sp. nov. in the general shape of the palp, but differs in: (1) the beginning of the visible portion of the sperm duct, which is anterior to the tip of the retrolateral tibial apophysis in retrolateral view ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ) vs posterior in U. deelemanae ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); (2) the visible portion of the subtegulum, which is about ½ the cymbial length in prolateral view ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) vs about two-fifths in U. deelemanae ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ); (3) the tip of the retrolateral tibial apophysis is about directed towards about 02:30 position in retrolateral view ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ) vs about 12:30 position in U. deelemanae ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). The male also somewhat resembles that of U. arcuata Zhao & Peng, 2014 in the general shape of the palp, but can be distinguished by the retrolateral tibial apophysis that is almost equal in width in the basal third, with its tip directed dorsally in retrolateral view ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ) vs tapered and tip directed distally in U. arcuata ( Zhao & Peng 2014: figs 1E, 2C). The female of this new species closely resembles that of U. gongshanensis Zhao & Peng, 2014 in having a very similar epigyne, especially the anterior atrial rim and the copulatory ducts, but can be distinguished by the following aspects: (1) the connecting ducts are almost tapered from the posterior to the anterior portions ( Figs 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ) vs narrowest antero-medially in U. gongshanensis ( Zhao & Peng 2014: figs 7C, 8B); (2) the bursal extensions are almost transversely extending and are not continuations of the anterior bursal margins ( Figs 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ) vs posterolaterally extending and are continuations of the anterior bursal margins ( Zhao & Peng 2014: figs 7C, 8B); (3) the spermathecae are almost touching each other and their long axis is at about 60 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the epigyne ( Figs 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ) vs separated by at least ¼ their width and at about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the epigyne in U. gongshanensis ( Zhao & Peng 2014: figs 7C, 8B).

Description. Male ( holotype, Figs 1A–C View FIGURE 1 , 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ). Total length 4.43. Carapace 2.22 long, 1.70 wide. Abdomen 2.19 long, 1.72 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.17, PME 0.15, PLE 0.14, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.19, PME–PLE 0.22, ALE–PLE 0.22. MOA 0.36 long, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 6.70 (2.35, 0.75, 1.70, 1.25, 0.65), II 6.00 (1.65, 0.75,1.80, 1.20, 0.60), III 3.95 (1.05, 0.55, 0.90, 1.00, 0.45), IV 5.25 (1.50, 0.55, 1.25, 1.45, 0.50).

Carapace red-brown to dark, cephalic area prominently elevated and thoracic area sloped, covered with small tuberces bearing short, thin setae. Chelicerae with three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Endites about 1.5 times longer than wide, distally widened. Labium dark. Sternum almost heart-shaped, with truncated anterior edge, covered with small tubercles bearing long, thin, pale setae. Legs yellow to red-yellow.Abdomen oval, dorsum dark-brown, mingled with green except pale centrally, with longitudinal yellow scutum about 2/3 abdominal length, sub-fusiform green-brown cardiac mark as long as scutum, two pairs of anteromedian sigilla; venter dark brown, with pair of dotted lines centrally.

Palp ( Fig. 1A–C View FIGURE 1 ): tibia slightly longer than wide, gradually widened from base to distal end; retrolateral tibial apophysis almost equal to tibia in length, tip acutely curved dorsally; cymbium about 2 times longer than wide; tegulum swollen; subtegulum subsquare, about 1.6 times longer than wide; embolus flat at base, coiled more than two full circles, with rather pointed end.

Female ( paratypes, TRU-TRC-0002, Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 , 4C, D View FIGURE 4 ; TRU-TRC-0003, Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). Total length 5.05. Carapace 2.19 long, 1.77 wide. Abdomen 2.84 long, 2.29 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.14, PME 0.13, PLE 0.14, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.19, PME–PLE 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.19. MOA 0.37 long, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: Ⅰ 5.94 (1.65, 0.75, 1.58, 1.28, 0.68), II 5.71 (1.60, 0.73, 1.45, 1.25, 0.68), III 4.31 (1.20, 0.58, 1.00, 1.10, 0.43), IV 5.74 (1.55, 0.63, 1.40, 1.63, 0.53).

Habitus ( Fig. 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ) similar to that of male except perimeter of dorsal abdomen dark brown.

Epigyne ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 , 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ): atrium large, about two times longer than wide, anterior 2/5 evenly separated by narrow septum, anterior rims horn-shaped, posterior rim arc-shaped; copulatory openings beneath end of anterior atrial rims; copulatory ducts slightly twisted, somewhat S-shaped, and connected to posterior of anterior bursal extensions; bursae not unified in shape, with posterior glandular particles, and oval anterior extensions connecting with anteroventral portion of bursae; connecting ducts almost tapered from posterior to anterior portions; spermathecae almost oval and nearly touching each other; fertilization ducts posterior to spermathecae.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality in Yunnan, China.