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| Raveniola yangren Lin & Li, in Lin, Yan & Li, 2022. |
Abstract
Background:
Troglomorphism is rare known in Mygalomorphae. Only three troglomorphic mygalomorphs have been recorded in China: Raveniola beelzebub Lin & Li, 2020, R. lamia Yu & Zhang, 2021 and Sinopesa gollum Lin & Li, 2021.
New information:
A new troglobiontic species of the genus Raveniola is described from China: R. yangren sp. n. (female) from Hunan. Photos and morphological description of the new species are given. This new species has elongated appendages and degenerated eyes in order to adapt to the cave environment. It can be distinguished by the stubby, unbranched spermathecae from other Raveniola.
Keywords: Asia, diagnosis, taxonomy, type
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| Raveniola yangren sp. n., holotype female. A habitus, dorsal, B same, ventral, C labium and sternum, D spinnerets, E ocular area, F leg I. Arrow shows scopula on tibia. |
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| Raveniola yangren sp. n., live. A paratype, B holotype, in situ. |
Raveniola yangren Lin & Li, 2022, sp. n.
Diagnosis: The females of Raveniola yangren sp. n. resemble R. beelzebub Lin & Li, 2020 and R. lamia Yu & Zhang, 2021 by total reduction of eyes and the pale colouration (Fig. 2A, B and E). However, the new species can be distinguished by the spermathecae unbranched (vs. branched in R. beelzebub, other Raveniola spp. from China, see Fig. 3C) and the ratio of the length of spermathecae to the width is almost 2:1 (Fig. 3A and B) (vs. 8:1 in R. lamia, see Fig. 3C-6).
Etymology: The species is named after Yangren, a blind god who had hands with eyes in the palm in place of his normal eyes in Chinese traditional culture; noun in apposition.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality (China, Hunan).
Biology: Habitat under stones in the cave.
Ye-Jie Lin, Xunyou Yan and Shuqiang Li. 2022. Raveniola yangren sp. n., A New Troglobiontic Spider from Hunan, China (Araneae, Nemesiidae). Biodiversity Data Journal. 10: e85946. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e85946
