Microneta acutalis Irfan, Zhang & Peng, sp. n.
Creators: name: Irfan, Muhammad
name: Zhou, Gu-Chun
name: Peng, Xian-Jin
name: Zhang, Zhi-Sheng
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Linyphiidae
Microneta
Microneta acutalis

description: Microneta acutalis Irfan, Zhang & Peng, sp. n.
(尖ạe)
Figures 139–141, 315
Types. Holotype ♂ (HNU–HN– IV–1759), CHINA, Hunan Prov.: Shaoyang City, Suining Co., Zhaishi Town, Tieshanlin Vill., Huangshan National Nature Reserve, 26.37646°N, 110.10573°E, 1129 m, 26.X.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. Paratypes: 2♀, with same data as for holotype female (HNU–HN– IV–1759).
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective “acutalis ” meaning “pointed” and referring to pointed pit hook in male palp.
Diagnosis. Microneta acutalis sp. n. resembles M. circumacta sp. n. and M. viaria in having the similar paracymbium (Figs 139A–D; Figs 142A–D; Wiehle 1956, figs 217–222, Zhang et al. 2022, figs 43E–G), but can be distinguished by the proximal cymbial apophysis almost as wide as proximal end of tibia in M. acutalis sp. n. (Fig. 139D; vs. about half the width of proximal end of tibia in M. circumacta sp. n. and about more than half the width of proximal end of tibia in M. viaria); the tip of embolus almost touches the tegulum, parallel to the distal arm of paracymbium in prolateral view in M. acutalis sp. n. (Figs 139A, B), vs. away from tip of tegulum, perpendicular to the distal arm of paracymbium in M. circumacta sp. n. and touches both the tip of tegulum and the distal arm of paracymbium in prolateral view in M. viaria). The female of M. circumacta sp. n. resembles those of M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and M. viaria in having the similar proximal part of scape in epigyne (Figs 140A–D; Figs 144A–C; Zhang et al. 2022, figs 43C, D), and can be distinguished by the spermathecae round in M. acutalis sp. n. (Fig. 140D; vs. oval both in M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and M. viaria); anterior part of the scape one and half times longer than the width of posterior median plate in M. acutalis sp. n. (Figs 140B, D; vs. three times longer than the width of posterior median plate in M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and almost as long as the width of posterior median plate in M. viaria).
Description: Male (holotype, Figs 141A, B): Total length: 2.41; carapace 1.02 long, 0.91 wide, yellowish, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.26 high. Chelicerae with two promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, pale with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE, 0.05, AME–PME, 0.07, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.02. Length of legs: I 3.25 (0.91, 1.07, 0.76, 0.51), II 2.99 (0.88, 0.94, 0.68, 0.49), III 2.70 (0.76, 0.91, 0.57, 0.46), IV 3.65 (0.99, 1.29, 0.88, 0.49). TmI and TmIV present. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Opisthosoma 1.39 long, 0.84 wide, oval, brown.
Palp (Figs 139A–D): Femur unmodified, almost longer than both patella and tibia. Patella as long as tibia, ventrally grooved. Tibia conic with one retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; cymbium truncated, retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at the base, proximal cymbial apophysis (PCA) somewhat rectangular with round margin; paracymbium (PC) apical pocket (appo) long, the basal part with spines. Pit hook (PH) longer than wide with pointed end. Radix (R) with a small projection at the base of embolus, with sclerotized curved tip; median membrane (MM) well-developed with serrated margin, lamella characteristica (LC) with 2 spikes and ending in a large prong; terminal apophysis (TA) flap-like, widened at distal end, tip with several teeth. Embolus (E) crescent shaped with finger-like tip; thumb protruding above to the embolus in prolateral view.
Female (paratype, Figs 141C, D): Total length: 1.92. Carapace 0.76 long, 0.66 wide, yellowish. Clypeus 0.16 high. Chelicerae with five promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, pale with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER procurved slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.24, PLE–PLE 0.26, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 2.94 (0.84, 1.03, 0.59, 0.48), II 2.65 (0.75, 0.89, 0.58, 0.43), III 2.36 (0.66, 0.77, 0.54, 0.39), IV 3.23 (0.89, 1.12, 0.71, 0.51). TmI and TmIV present. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Opisthosoma 1.16 long, 0.61 wide, oval, brown to dusky grey.
Epigyne (Figs 140A–D): Protruding; posterior part of scape (PPS) wider than long in ventral view with well-developed stretcher (ST);entrance groove(EG)inside lateral pockets; lateral pockets (LP) ear lobe shaped expanding laterally; posterior median plate (PMP) almost rectangular; spermathecae (S) globular, present anterolaterally.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality (Hunan Province, Fig. 315).
description: Published as part of Irfan, Muhammad, Zhou, Gu-Chun, Peng, Xian-Jin & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2025, Survey of Linyphiidae spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from some Oriental Regions of China, pp. 1-248 in Megataxa 15 (1) on pages 106-110, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.15.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14985176