Belisana luxi Zhang, Li & Yao 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Zhang, Ludan
name: Wu, Zheng
name: Li, Shuqiang
name: Yao, Zhiyuan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Pholcidae
Belisana
Belisana luxi

description: Belisana luxi Zhang, Li & Yao sp. nov.
Figs 8, 9, 18 G, H, 20 G, H
Type material.
Holotype ♂ (IZCAS - Ar 44964) and paratypes 1 ♂ (IZCAS - Ar 44965) 3 ♀ (IZCAS - Ar 44966–68), Xianfo Cave (24 ° 19.971 ' N, 98 ° 30.943 ' E, 1081 m), Mangliu Village, Luxi, Dehong, Yunnan, China, 03 / 08 / 2010, C Wang, Q Zhao & L Lin leg.
Etymology.
The specific name refers to the type locality, which is a noun in apposition.
Diagnosis.
The new species resembles B. lincang sp. nov. (Figs 6, 7, 18 E, F, 20 E, F) by having similar epigyne and pore plates (Figs 9 A, B, 20 G, H), but can be distinguished by differences in males: cheliceral distal apophyses pointing downwards (Fig. 9 D vs inwards), procursus without dorso-distal membranous lamella (Figs 8 C, 18 G vs present) and with angular ventro-subdistal membranous process (arrow 3 in Figs 8 C, 18 G vs distally pointed), bulbal apophysis distally blunt (Fig. 9 C vs distally angular); differences in females: epigynal pockets widely separated (Figs 9 A, B, 20 G, H vs closer to each other), vulva without sac-like structure (Figs 9 B, 20 H vs present), sclerotized part of anterior arch strongly curved (Figs 9 B, 20 H vs straight).
Description.
Male (holotype): Total length 2.25 (2.40 with clypeus), carapace 0.83 long, 0.84 wide, opisthosoma 1.42 long, 1.08 wide. Leg I: 15.92 (4.30, 0.33, 4.20, 5.75, 1.34), leg II: 9.31 (2.48, 0.31, 2.35, 3.40, 0.77), leg III: 6.39 (1.64, 0.29, 1.56, 2.25, 0.65), leg IV: 9.07 (2.56, 0.31, 2.35, 3.09, 0.76); tibia I L / d: 53. Eye inter-distances and diameters: PME – PME 0.11, PME 0.10, PME – ALE 0.04, AME absent. Sternum width / length: 0.65 / 0.63. Habitus as in Fig. 9 E, F. Carapace yellowish, with brown median band; sternum yellowish. Legs whitish, without darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, without spots. Thoracic furrow absent. Clypeus unmodified. Chelicerae (Fig. 9 D) with a pair of proximo-lateral apophyses and a pair of curved distal apophyses (distance between tips: 0.41). Palp as in Fig. 8 A, B; trochanter with ventral apophysis (as long as wide, arrow in Fig. 8 B); procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with prolatero-distal membranous process (arrow 1 in Figs 8 C, 18 G) bearing narrow lateral sclerite, sclerotized dorso-subdistal apophysis (arrow 2 in Figs 8 C, 18 G), and angular ventro-subdistal membranous process (arrow 3 in Figs 8 C, 18 G); bulb (Fig. 9 C) with distally blunt apophysis and simple embolus. Retrolateral trichobothria on tibia I at 14 % proximally; legs with short vertical setae on metatarsi; tarsus I with 20 distinct pseudosegments.
Female (paratype, IZCAS - Ar 44966): Similar to male, habitus as in Fig. 9 G, H. Total length 2.51 (2.65 with clypeus), carapace 0.89 long, 0.89 wide, opisthosoma 1.62 long, 1.36 wide; tibia I: 2.37; tibia I L / d: 30. Eye inter-distances and diameters: PME – PME 0.09, PME 0.08, PME – ALE 0.03, AME absent. Sternum width / length: 0.61 / 0.56. Epigyne (Figs 9 A, 20 G) simple and flat, with a pair of postero-lateral pockets 0.38 apart. Vulva (Figs 9 B, 20 H) with ridge-shaped, posteriorly sclerotized anterior arch and a pair of curved, long elliptic pore plates (6 × longer than wide).
Variation.
Tibia I in one male paratype (IZCAS - Ar 44965): 3.46. Tibia I in the other two female paratypes (IZCAS - Ar 44967 –68): 1.78, 2.82.
Habitat.
The species was found in the twilight zone (entrance ecotone) of the cave.
Distribution.
China (Yunnan, type locality; Fig. 1).
description: Published as part of Zhang, Ludan, Wu, Zheng, Li, Shuqiang & Yao, Zhiyuan, 2024, Eight new spider species of Belisana Thorell, 1898 (Araneae, Pholcidae), with an updated overview of Belisana species from Yunnan, China, pp. 255-286 in ZooKeys 1202 on pages 255-286, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.121633