Diaea erji, Chen & Liu & Hu, 2025

Diaea erji sp. nov.

Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 , 7 View FIGURE 7

Type material. Holotype: ♀ ( QZMS01311 ), CHINA: Hubei Province: Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Xuan’en County, Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve , Chunmuying Town , Huoshaobao ; 30.02417°N, 109.75645°E; 1919 m; 13 July 2023; Changhao Hu and Mian Wei leg. GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific name is derived from Chinese Pinyin ěr jī (meaning “earphone”), referring to the earphone-shaped internal genitalia.

Diagnosis. Diaea erji sp. nov. is characterized by the unique earphone-shaped internal genitalia. Among Asian species, it resembles D. suspiciosa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885 (cf. Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 and figs 108A, B in Song & Zhu 1997) in having similar vulval structure, but can be recognized by: 1. epigynal hood small, almost as narrow as copulatory openings (vs. large, almost 1/3 width of epigynal field in D. suspiciosa ); 2. copulatory openings anteriorly situated (vs. posteriorly situated in D. suspiciosa ); and 3. copulatory ducts thinner than spermathecae (vs. almost as wide as spermathecae in D. suspiciosa ).

Description. Female: Total length 3.93. Carapace 1.81 long, 1.80 wide; opisthosoma 2.15 long, 1.44 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.14, PME 0.06, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.12, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.27, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.18. Leg measurements: I 7.10 (2.20, 0.75, 1.97, 1.44, 0.74); II 7.12 (2.06, 0.72, 1.99, 1.58, 0.77); III 3.89 (1.31, 0.41, 1.03, 0.71, 0.43); IV 3.96 (1.36, 0.58, 0.91, 0.66, 0.45). Leg formula: 2143.

Epigyne ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ). Epigyne membranous; copulatory openings located anteriorly; a small hood located between copulatory openings. Copulatory ducts simple, anterior part straight and posterior part slightly curved. Spermathecae oval, situated posteriorly. Fertilization ducts unobvious.

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 2C, D View FIGURE 2 ). Carapace, chelicerae, endites, labium, sternum, palps and legs yellow. Opisthosoma yellowish white, dorsum with a light brown longitudinal line and two pairs brown spots, venter with two rows of brown spots. Color of live specimen pale green ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ).

Male: Unknown.

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