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| Macrothele washanensis Wu & Yang, in Wu, Li, Yang & Yang, 2022. |
Abstract
Background
The family Macrothelidae Simon, 1892 belongs to the infraorder Mygalomorphae, currently contains two genera and 47 described species, from South Europe, South, and East Southeast Asia, Central, West, and North Africa.
New information
Two new species of the funnel-web spider genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 from Yunnan Province, China are described: Macrothele washanensis Wu & Yang, sp. n. (♂♀), and M. wuliangensis Wu & Yang, sp. n. (♂♀). Detailed descriptions, diagnostic illustrations and distribution map are provided. All specimens are deposited in the Institute of Entomoceutics Research, Dali University (DUIER).
Keywords: mygalomorph, Macrothelidae, taxonomy, morphology, new species
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| Macrothele washanensis sp. n. A. Spider shelter and spiders; B. Living female; C. Female spider with eggs. |
Macrothele washanensis Wu & Yang, sp. n.
Diagnosis: Males of Macrothele washanensis sp. n. resemble M. arcuata Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020 by having similar bulb shape, but they can be distinguished by the BH no protrusion in prolateral view, embolus tapers from base to apex, and hook-shaped, the ratio of the length of the BH to the length of the E is almost 1 : 4 (Fig. 1B-E); the four tibial spines visible in prolateral view (Fig. 1G-I); tibia I with nine spines visible in ventral view, tibia II straight, with three ventral spines (Fig. 2) (vs tibia with three prolateral spines, and three ventral spines, embolus with visible protrusion, joint of embolus and bulb is strongly bent, embolus needle shaped, the ratio of the length of the BH to the length of the E is almost 1 : 5; tibia I with 26 spines, tibia II with retrolateral bend and 15 ventral spines in M. arcuata). Females of M. washanensis sp. n. can be differentiated from M. arcuata by the receptacula apically teardrop shaped, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 6 (Fig. 6) (vs copulatory duct long, shape of the English letter “G”; receptacula apically oval, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 8 in M. arcuata).
Etymology: The species epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.
Distribution: China, Yunnan Province (Cangyuan, Gengma) (Fig. 15)
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| Macrothele wuliangensis sp. n. A Microhabitat; B Spider shelter; C Web; D Living female. |
Macrothele wuliangensis Wu & Yang, sp. n.
Diagnosis: Males of Macrothele wuliangensis sp. n. resemble M. washanensis sp. n. by having similar palpal bulb morphology, but they can be distinguished by having spines in prolateral and dorsal views of palpal tibia and similar palpal bulb morphology, females of the new species are similar to others by the apically teardrop shaped receptacula bent inwards apically. Males of M. wuliangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. washanensis sp. n. having five tibial spines visible in prolateral view, two tibial spines visible in dorsal view (Fig. 8G-I); tibia I has 10 ventral spines with six arranged in three pairs, tibia II has 7 ventral spines (Fig. 9) (vs four tibial spines visible in prolateral view, 0 dorsal spines; tibia I with nine spines visible in ventral view, tibia II has 3 ventral spines in M. washanensis sp. n.). Females of M. wuliangensis sp. n. can be differentiated from M. washanensis sp. n. by the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1:5 (Fig. 13) (the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 6 in M. washanensis sp. n.).
Etymology: The specific name refers to the type locality and is a noun in apposition.
Distribution: China, Yunnan Province (Jingdong, Zhenyuan) (Fig. 15)
Ecology: These spiders usually live in the gap between high rocks and soil (Fig. 14A). They use the natural gap to form a web (Fig. 14B). The web is obvious, funnel shaped, and there are many gaps (Fig. 14C). The spiders usually stay at the hole and wait for the appearance of prey. Generally, the female is large (Fig. 14D).
Yaying Wu, Zhimin Li, Yan Yang and Zizhong Yang. 2022. Two New Species of the Genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae, Macrothelidae) from China. Biodiversity Data Journal. 10: e90967. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e90967
