Walckenaeria xingdouensis 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
Walckenaeria
Walckenaeria xingdouensis

description: Walckenaeria xingdouensis Irfan, Zhang & Peng, sp. n.
(gŭĩe)
Figures 283, 284, 310, 314, 315
Types. Holotype 1♀ (HNU–HB– IV–1712), CHINA, Hubei Prov.: Enshi Co., Xingdou MNNR, 30.04611°N, 109.13038°E, 1205 m, 18.V.2017, G.C. Zhou et al. leg. Paratypes: 2♀, with same data as for holotype female (HNU–HB IV–1712); 1♀, Enshi Co., Xingdou MNNR, 30.039022°N, 109.14274°E, 1114 m, 20.V.2017, G.C. Zhou et al. leg. (HNU–T20170520); 1♀, Enshi Co., Xingdou MNNR, 30.04166°N, 109.13377°E, 1253 m, 18.V.2017, G.C. Zhou et al. leg. (HNU–HB– IV–1710); Hunan Prov.: 1♀, Liuyang City, Mudu Vill., Daweishan NFP, 28.43567°N, 114.03376°E, 286 m, 14.I.2018, G.C. Zhou et al. leg. (HNU–HNDWS–18–04); Guizhou Prov.: 2♀, Tongren City, Songtao Co., Wuluo Town, Taohuayuan Vill., Fanjingshan NNR, 28.00130°N, 108.80578°E, 1160 m, 06.XI.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. (HNU–GZ– IV–1715).
Etymology. This specific species name derived from the type locality; adjective.
Diagnosis. Walckenaeria xingdouensis sp. n. resembles W. asymmetrica in having the similar lip-shaped dorsal plate and the spermathecae in epigyne (Figs 283A–C; Figs 269A–C, Song & Li 2011, figs 2E–G), but can be distinguished by the copulatory ducts from ventral side extending posteriorly from below the spermathecae and then turn back towards the anterior side to form spiral loop in W. xingdouensis sp. n. (Figs 283A–C; vs. directly turn toward the anteriorly on ventral side).
Description. Female (holotype, Figs 284A, B): Total length: 2.46. Carapace 1 long, 0.78 wide, orange, cephalic region slightly elevated; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.23 high. Chelicerae with two promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, yellow with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.03, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.32, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.58 (1.04, 1.25, 0.79, 0.50), II 3.44 (1.04, 1.19, 0.75, 0.46), III 3.01 (0.90, 1, 0.72, 0.39), IV 3.69 (1.11, 1.26, 0.86, 0.46). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-1-1. TmI and TmIV present. Opisthosoma 1.56 long, 1.17 wide, oval, grey, with two pairs of sigillae.
Epigyne (Figs 283A–C): Ventral plate (VP) wider than long, sclerotized; copuplatory openings (CO) situates at the junction of ventral and dorsal plates. Posterior margin of dorsal plate (DP) lip-shaped and totally exposed in ventral view; copulatory ducts (CD) enclosed in a strongly sclerotized capsule, from ventral side extending posteriorly from below the spermathecae and then turn back towards the anterior side to form spiral loop. Spermathecae (S) globular, present dorso-laterally, spaced by three diameters; fertilization ducts (FD) small, extending mesally.
Male. Unknown.
Distribution. Known only from the type localities (Guizhou, Hubei and Hunan Provinces, Figs 310, 314, 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 page 217, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.15.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14985176