Meta tangi Wang & Zhou & Irfan & Yang & Peng 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Wang, Luyu
name: Zhou, Guchun
name: Irfan, Muhammad
name: Yang, Sufang
name: Peng, Xianjin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Tetragnathidae
Meta
Meta tangi

description: Meta tangi sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 10D52C59-FE5E-4351-840F-33980B2AF94B
Figs 1 C–D, 7–9
Differential diagnosis
Meta tangi sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other Chinese Meta species by having a thin and long embolus, a dagger-shaped cymbial ectobasal process of the male palp (Figs 7, 9 A–C), and U-shaped spermathecae of its epigyne (Figs 8B, 9E). This new species resembles M. hamata sp. nov. (Figs 1 A–B, 2–4), but can be distinguished by the following characters. Cymbial ectobasal process longer than wide with pointed end in ventral view in M. tangi sp. nov. (Figs 7D, 9B), wider than long in M. hamata sp. nov. (Figs 2D, 4B). Distal part of embolus thin and proximally covered by the conductor in prolateral view in M. tangi sp. nov. (Figs 7A, 9A), thick and not covered by the conductor in M. hamata sp. nov. (Figs 2A, 4A). Metaine embolic apophysis narrow in ventral view in M. tangi sp. nov. (Figs 7D, 9B), tongue-like in M. hamata sp. nov. (Figs 2D, 4B). Spermathecae U-shaped in M. tangi sp. nov. (Figs 8B, 9E), boxing glove-like in M. hamata sp. nov. (Figs 3B, 4E).
Etymology
The specific name is a patronym dedicated to Mr. Guo Tang, one of the collectors of the type specimens.
Type material
Holotype CHINA • ♂; Yunnan Province, Baoshan City, Longyang District, Mangkuan Township, Baihualing; 25°18′13″ N, 98°48′01″ E; alt. 1624 m; 10 Oct. 2007; X.J. Peng leg.; HNU-20071010.
Paratypes (11 ♂♂ and 9 ♀♀) CHINA – Yunnan Province • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; HNU-20071010 • 2 ♀♀; Tengchong County, Jietou Township, Shaba Village, Lijiazai Group; 25°14′11″ N, 98°25′16″ E; alt. 1819 m; 23 Oct. 2003; G. Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031023 • 3 ♂♂; Baoshan City, Nankang Yakou (National 320 Road); 24°49′35″ N, 98°45′58″ E; alt. 2186 m; 26 Oct. 2003; G. Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031026 • 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Baoshan City, Nankang Yakou (National 320 Road); 24º49′35″ N, 98º45′58″ E; alt. 2186 m; 30 Oct. 2003; G. Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031030 • 3 ♂♂; Baoshan City, Nankang Yakou (National 320 Road); 24º49′35″ N, 98º45′58″ E; alt. 2186 m; 31 Oct. 2003; G. Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031031 • 1 ♀; Tengchong County, Jietou Township, No. 8 Boundary Post of Yakou; 25°48′32″ N, 98°37′15″ E; alt. 2890 m; 23 May 2006; X.J. Peng, X.P. Wang and P. Hu leg.; HNU-Wang060523 • 1 ♂; Longyang District, Mangkuan Township, Baihualing; 25°18′1″ N, 98°47′14″ E; alt. 1995 m; 11 Oct. 2007; X.J. Peng leg.; HNU-20071011.
Description
Male (holotype, Fig. 1C)
MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.33. Prosoma 2.52 long, 1.86 wide; opisthosoma 3.10 long, 2.02 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.15, PME 0.14, PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.18, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.41 long, front width 0.39, back width 0.44. Clypeus height 0.13.
CHELICERAE. Strong, yellowish brown, three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.
GNATHOCOXAE AND LABIUM. Brown, longer than wide. Sternum brown, scutellate, with sparse dark brown hairs.
LEGS. Yellowish brown, with annuli. Length of legs: I, 16.77 (4.45, 6.01, 4.70, 1.61); II, 12.07 (3.57, 4.26, 3.16, 1.08); III, 5.96 (1.92, 1.91, 1.47, 0.66); IV, 8.77 (2.73, 2.74, 2.46, 0.84). Leg formula: 1243.
OPISTHOSOMA. Oval.
DORSUM. With two pairs of sigillae, yellowish brown, proximally with a white band followed by irregular black markings posteriorly (Fig. 1C). Venter of opisthosoma yellowish brown, with black markings. Dorsum of prosoma yellowish brown, with longitudinal dark brown band. Cervical groove distinct, radial furrows indistinct (Fig. 1C).
PALP (FIGS 7, 9 A–C). Cymbial ectobasal process dagger-like. Paracymbium rod-like and curved, with sparse long, brown hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis long, narrow, finger-like.
EMBOLUS. Long, thin, most of proximal portion covered by conductor. Conductor arising mesoretrolaterally from bulb, extending clockwise, with a membranous end.
Female (Tang 031023, Fig. 1F)
MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.50. Prosoma 2.03 long, 1.59 wide; opisthosoma 3.73 long, 3.09 wide (Fig. 1D). Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.15, PME 0.15, PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.11, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.13, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.40 long, front width 0.34, back width 0.40. Clypeus 0.07 high.
LEGS. Length of legs: I, 10.26 (3.08, 3.48, 2.62, 1.08); II, 7.76 (2.30, 2.74, 1.80, 0.92); III, 4.28 (1.33, 1.33, 1.02, 0.60); IV, 6.28 (2.11, 1.97, 1.51, 0.69). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male.
EPIGYNE (Figs 8, 9 D–E). Spermathecae U-shaped. Fertilization ducts long, thick, sickle-shaped.
Variation
The total length in male specimens examined ranges from 4.82 to 5.33, in female specimens from 5.50 to 6.67.
Distribution
China, Yunnan Province (Baoshan, Tengchong) (Fig. 16).
description: Published as part of Wang, Luyu, Zhou, Guchun, Irfan, Muhammad, Yang, Sufang & Peng, Xianjin, 2020, Five new species of Meta Koch, 1836 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) from Gaoligong Mountains, China, pp. 1-25 in European Journal of Taxonomy 624 on pages 10-14, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.624, http://zenodo.org/record/3751145