Bolyphantes gladius 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
Bolyphantes
Bolyphantes gladius

description: Bolyphantes gladius Irfan, Zhang & Peng, sp. n.
(剑äù刺e)
Figures 33–35, 310, 315
Types. Holotype ♂ (HNU–HN– IV–1773), CHINA, Hunan Prov.: Shaoyang City, Chengbu Co., Rulin Town, Daqiao Vill., 26.34097°N, 110.27828°E, 168 m, 08.IX.2017, G.C. Zhou et al. leg.. Paratypes: 1♂ 14♀, with same data as for holotype male (HNU–HN– IV–1773); 1♀, Huaihua City, Huitong Co., Tuanhe Town, Xiangyan Vill., Yingzuijie NNR, 26.83700°N, 109.88804°E, 684 m, 28.X.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. (HNU–HN– IV–1764); 2♀, Huaihua City, Huitong Co., Tuanhe Town, Diaotang Vill., Yingzuijie NNR, 26.89206°N, 109.93273°E, 168 m, 30.X.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. (HNU–HN– IV–1770); 2♂ 17♀, Hengyang City, Nanyue District, Nanyue Town, Anle Chong, 27.23389°N, 112.71862°E, 145 m, 18.I.2018, G.C. Zhou & L.Y. Wang leg. (HNU–HNHS–18–07); 1♀, HuangzhuVill., NanyueTown, Nanyue District, Hengyang City, 27.26225°N, 112.73683°E, 160 m, 18.I.2018, G.C. Zhou & L.Y. Wang leg. (HNU–HNHS–18–08); Guizhou Prov.: 3♂ 8♀, Tongren City, Shiqian Co., Pingshan Town, Pingshan NNR, 27.33086°N, 108.15612°E, 655 m, 01.XI.2017 G.C. Zhou leg. (HNU–GZ– IV–1703); 2♂ 3♀, 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. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin noun “gladius ” meaning “sword” and referring to sword-shaped lamella charactristica in ventral view of male palp.
Diagnosis. The male of Bolyphantes gladius sp. n. resembles that of B. kolosvaryi in having similar patellar spine, thick, densely covered with denticles (Figs 33B– D, 34C; Helsdingen et al., 2001, figs 37–43), but can be distinguished by the lower proximal part of paracymbium with horn-shaped projection, extending above the tibia in B. gladius sp. n. (Figs 33B–D; vs. proximal part without any projection); retrolateral margin of tibia with small projection in B. gladius sp. n. (Figs 33B–D; vs. tibia without any projection); terminal apophysis half the length of embolus in B. gladius sp. n. (Figs 33B–D; vs. almost as long as embolus); lamella charactristica as long as radix, tapering towards tip in B. gladius sp. n. (Figs 33B–D; vs. two-third the length of radix, distal end broad with furcated tip); thumb rod-like, almost as long as embolus in B. gladius sp. n. (Figs 33B–D; vs. somewhat quadrate, half the length of embolus). The female can be distigushed from all other congeners by the stretcher absent in epigyne (Figs 35A–C).
Description. Male (holotype, Figs 36A–C): Total length: 2.23. Carapace 0.97 long, 0.82 wide, cephalic region slightly elevated, yellowish, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Chelicerae with two retromarginal and promarginal teeth absent. microsetae wider than long, dark grey, with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 6.87 (1.85, 2.19, 1.96, 1.96, 0.87), II 5.33 (1.47, 1.69, 1.49, 0.68), III 3.9 (1.14, 1.21, 1.05, 0.50), IV 5.29 (1.51, 1.69, 1.43, 0.66). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. TmI 0.64 and TmIV absent. Opisthosoma 1.26 long, 0.78 wide, oval, grey, dorsally with six cheverons extending posteriorly to the base of spinnerets and laterally, ventral side grey with a broad black band anteriorly.
Palp (Figs 33A–D, 34A–C): Femur unmodified, almost as long as patella and tibia. Patella half the length of tibia, dorsal spine almost equals to the length of both patella and tibia, patellar thick spine densely covered with several teeth from base to the tip. Tibia with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria, ventrally with outgrowth equipped with setae, retrolateral margin with small projection with blunt end. Cymbium unmodified, retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at the base; paracymbium (PC) U-shaped, proximal margin with strongly sclerotized projection with pointed end, paracymbium distal arm half the length of proximal projection, with blunt end; pithook curved, with broad tip. Radix bean-shaped (R), as long as terminal apophysis; median membrane (MM) originating from base of lamella charactristica and from dorsal margin of radix with frayed margin; terminal apophysis (TA) small, inconspicuous on undissected palp; lamella charactristica (LC) sword-shaped, tapering towards apex; embolus (E) spindle-shaped; thumb (TH) originating from ventral margin of embolus, extending above the tip of embolus.
Female (paratype, Figs 36D–F): Total length: 2.20. Carapace 0.85 long, 0.71 wide, cephalic region slightly elevated, yellowish, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.18 high. Chelicerae with five promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Sternum wider than long, dark gray, with microsetae. Eyes:AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.03, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.30, PLE–PLE 0.32 ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 4.36 (1.16, 1.44, 1.11, 0.65), II 3.68 (1, 1.19, 0.93, 0.56), III 2.92 (0.81, 0.91, 0.73, 0.47), IV 3.76 (1.06, 1.21, 0.96, 0.53). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. TmI 0.68 and TmIV absent. Opisthosoma 1.35 long, 0.96 wide, oval, dusky grey, dorsally with six cheverons extending posteriorly to the base of spinnerets and laterally; ventral side dusky grey.
Epigyne (Figs 35A–D): Protruding, pseudoscape (PS) wider than long; entrance groove (EG) present dorsally in pseudoscape; posterior median plate (PMP) globular, posterior margin round; spermathecae (S) complex, in the form of cluster.
Distribution. Known from type localities (Hunan and Guizhou Provinces, Figs 310, 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 31-34, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.15.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14985176