Gongylidioides heimifengensis, Yan & Wu & Zhou & Peng, 2025

Gongylidioides heimifengensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4

Type material.

Holotype: • ♂ ( HNU -HMF 2303-01 ), China, Hunan Prov., Changsha City, Wangcheng District, Qiaoyi Town, Changsha Heimifeng National Forest Park, Heimifeng Village ; 28.46921 ° N, 113.00199 ° E; 98 m a. s. l.; 28 November 2023; X. J. Peng, S. L. Li, Z. Y. Liu, X. Y. Qin, G. Tang leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: • 4 ♀ 3 ♂ same data as for the holotype ( HNU -HMF 2303-02 ~ 03) GoogleMaps .

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Gongylidioides heimifengensis sp. nov. resembles that of G. cucullatus Oi, 1960 in having a similar paracymbium (Figs 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 ; Oi 1960, figs 140, 141), and epigyne with a similar morphology (Fig. 4 A, B View Figure 4 ; Oi 1960, fig. 142), but can be differentiated by (1) carapace slightly elevated in middle (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ; vs. strongly elevated to a hooded lobe); (2) embolus helical-shaped, forming a coil on distal end of palp (Figs 2 View Figure 2 , 3 B, C View Figure 3 ; vs. not coiled, extending to ventral of tegulum); (3) tip of retrolateral tibial apophysis bifurcated (Figs 2 B View Figure 2 , 3 A View Figure 3 ; vs. not bifurcated); (4) dorsal plate semicircular (Fig. 4 A View Figure 4 ; vs. posterior end narrow, tongue-shaped); (5) copulatory ducts helical (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ; vs. n-shaped); and (6) spermathecae located at apexes of copulatory ducts anteriorly (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ; vs. located dorso-laterally).

Description.

Male ( holotype, Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ). Total length 1.73. Carapace 0.81 long, 0.95 wide; abdomen 1.00 long, 0.68 wide. Carapace oval, slightly yellow; the elevated middle with one small cluster of setae; fovea extremely thin, radial groove absent; AER bent backwards, PER bent forwards; center of ocular area with dense black hairs. Chelicerae pale yellow, with five promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Endite and labium yellowish brown, sternum blackish brown. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07; AME - AME 0.05, AME - ALE 0.05, PME - PME 0.04, PME - PLE 0.05, ALE - PLE 0.00. MOA 0.17 long, anterior width 0.13, posterior width 0.16. Clypeus height 0.13. Legs light yellow. Leg measurements: I 2.20 (0.83, 0.65, 0.44, 0.28), II 2.37 (0.71, 0.78, 0.52, 0.36), III 2.07 (0.60, 0.62, 0.51, 0.34), IV 2.63 (0.77, 0.86, 0.62, 0.38). Leg formula: 4213. Abdomen oval and white; dorsum and venter with axisymmetric grey maculae; lateral with triangular black maculae surrounding spinnerets. Spinnerets white.

Palp (Figs 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 ). Patella as long as tibia. RTA finger-like, much longer than wide, with bifurcated tip; DTA short, wider than long, with blunt end. Paracymbium sclerotized, handgun-shaped, with long setae in the middle, hook-shaped apex bending to tibia. Tegulum large, with a triangular transparent protegulum; subtegulum longitudinal, with sclerotized margin; DSA stout. Radix sclerotized and strongly curved, triangular apex bent upward; lamella translucent. Embolus sclerotized, long and helical-shaped; base left-handed spiral and apex right-handed spiral.

Female ( paratype, Fig. 1 D – F View Figure 1 ). Total length 1.75. Carapace 0.74 long, 0.56 wide; abdomen 1.00 long, 0.65 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME - AME 0.02, AME - ALE 0.03, PME - PME 0.03, PME - PLE 0.04, ALE - PLE 0.01. MOA 0.20 long, anterior width 0.11, posterior width 0.15. Clypeus height 0.08. Leg measurements: leg I 2.45 (0.77, 0.87, 0.50, 0.31); II 2.40 (0.67, 0.82, 0.57, 0.34); III 1.90 (0.57, 0.52, 0.45, 0.36); IV 2.58 (0.77, 0.88, 0.59, 0.34). Leg formula: 4123. Carapace pyriform. Abdomen yellowish white, with two black striped maculae laterally. Other characters as in male.

Epigyne (Fig. 4 A, B View Figure 4 ). Plate about as long as wide. DP semicircular, extending beyond epigynal furrow; CO small. CD helical; helical coils close to each other; spermathecae finger-shaped, located at apexes of CD anteriorly; FD short and translucent.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 9 View Figure 9 ).

Variation.

Males ( N = 4): total length 1.69–1.75; females ( N = 4): total length 1.51–1.89.