The males can be easily recognized from other coelotines by the strongly curved patellar apophyses, the absence of a dorsal apophysis of the conductor, and the slender, anteriorly extending conductor. (Fig. 1A–C). The females can be distinguished from other coelotines by the absence of epigynal teeth, the well-developed epigynal hoods and the long, strongly convoluted spermathecae (Fig. 2A–B).

Figure 1. 

Left palp of Spiricoelotes anshiensis sp. n., holotype. A Prolateral B Ventral C Retrolateral. Scale bar equal for A, B and C.

Figure 2. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes anshiensis sp. n., A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Male habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, dorsal E Female habitus, ventral. Scale bars equal for A and B, equal for D and E.

Holotype ♂: China: Jiangxi: Ji’an City: Shacun Town, Chayuan Village, Anshi Cave, N26°31'24", E115°06'48", elevation: 332 m, 3.V.2013, Y.F. Luo and J.C. Liu. Paratypes: 5♀, same data as holotype.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The male of the new species can be easily distinguished from all other Spiricoelotes by the long conductor (more than 1/2 length of cymbium, in previously known species subequal to or less than 1/2 length of cymbium) and looped conductor apex (with one loop, conductor of previously known species spiralled, rather than with looped apex), the long and broad outgrowth of the conductor (conductor of previously known species without outgrowth) (Fig. 1A–C). The female of the new species can be easily distinguished from all of the other Spiricoelotes by the bean-shaped atria (approximately 1/3 of epigynal plate, atria of previously known species obviously less than 1/3 of epigynal plate), the funnel-shaped copulatory ducts, the short spermathecae and the epigynal hoods close to each other (Fig. 2A–B).

Male (holotype): Total length 5.59. Carapace 2.78 long, 1.94 wide. Abdomen 2.81 long, 1.63 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.15, PME 0.13, PLE 0.11; AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08. Leg measurements: I 11.50 (3.35, 3.45, 2.75, 1.95); II 12.24 (3.20, 4.16, 3.12, 1.76); III 10.84 (2.88 3.28, 2.88, 1.80); IV 14.57 (3.92, 4.10, 4.23, 2.32). Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis longer than patella, with pointed tip, strongly curved; RTA with pointed tip, extending beyond the tibia; LTA short, approximately 1/4 length of RTA; cymbial furrow long, approximately 1/3 length of cymbium; conductor long, slender, anteriorly extending, and apex looped; with outgrowth, located at the base of conductor; embolus beginning at 5:30 to 6 o’clock position (Fig. 1A–C).

Female (one of the paratypes): Total length 7.68. Carapace 3.28 long, 2.50 wide. Abdomen 4.40 long, 3.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.25, PME 0.19, PLE 0.17; AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.08. Leg measurements: I 13.21 (3.60, 4.45, 3.12, 2.04); II 11.82 (3.50, 3.96, 2.60, 1.76); III 10.68 (3.04, 3.28, 2.76, 1.60); IV 14.88 (3.96, 4.85, 3.95, 2.12). Chelicerae as in male. Epigyne: atria bean-shaped, approximately 1/3 of epigynal plate, situated anteriorly and separated by septum (narrower than atria); hoods distinct, situated anteriorly, close to each other; spermathecae long and convoluted; copulatory ducts short, funnel-shaped (Fig. 2A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Holotype ♂: China: Jiangxi: Ganzhou City: Ningdu County: Huangguan Village, Chufeng Cave, N26°29'35", E115°55'45", elevation: 395 m, 29.IV.2013, Y.F. Luo and J. Liu. Paratypes: 6♀, same data as holotype.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The male of the new species has a uniquely shaped male palp and can be easily distinguished from all other Spiricoelotes by the more slender, needle-like conductor (conductor spiralled or with looped apex in other species) and the shorter cymbial furrow (approximately 1/4 length of cymbium, in other species approximately 1/2 length of cymbium) (Fig. 3A–C). The female of the new species can be easily distinguished from all of the other Spiricoelotes by the smaller (subequal to hoods) and posterolaterally situated epigynal atria, the bulb-shaped copulatory ducts and the broader spermathecae (Fig. 4A–B).

Figure 3. 

Left palp of Spiricoelotes chufengensis sp. n., holotype. A Prolateral B Ventral C Retrolateral. Scale bar equal for A, B and C.

Figure 4. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes chufengensis sp. n., A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Male habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, dorsal E Female habitus, ventral. Scale bars equal for A and B, equal for D and E.

Male (holotype): Total length 8.05. Carapace 4.25 long, 3.00 wide. Abdomen 3.80 long, 2.25 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.14, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18; AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.14, PME-PLE 0.13. Leg measurements: I 15.05 (4.23, 5.12, 3.45, 2.25); II 13.55 (3.85, 4.30, 3.35, 2.05); III 12.85 (3.75, 4.05, 3.25, 1.80); IV 16.80 (4.65, 4.95, 4.75, 2.45). Chelicerae with three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis long, subequal to width of patella, with pointed tip, strongly curved; RTA with pointed tip, extending slightly beyond the tibia; LTA short; cymbial furrow short, approximately 1/4 length of cymbium; conductor long, needle-like, anteriorly extending; embolus, beginning at 6 o’clock to 6:30 position (Fig. 3A–C).

Female (one of the paratypes): Total length 7.52. Carapace 3.60 long, 2.48 wide. Abdomen 3.92 long, 2.36 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.19, PME 0.14, PLE 0.18; AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.11, PME-PLE 0.09. Leg measurements: I 13.15 (3.75, 4.45, 3.03, 1.92); II 11.24 (3.23, 3.80, 2.49, 1.72); III 10.62 (2.85, 3.32, 2.60, 1.85); IV 14.05 (3.80, 4.54 , 3.80, 2.00). Chelicerae as in male. Epigyne: atria small, located posterolaterally; hoods distinct, located anterolaterally; spermathecae broad, convoluted; copulatory ducts bulb-shaped (Fig. 4A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Holotype ♂: China: Jiangxi: Yichun City: Wanzai County: Shuangqiao Town, Nanshe Cave, N28°10'8", E114°17'16", elevation: 195 m, 15.V.2013, Y.F. Luo and J.C. Liu. Paratypes: 1♂10♀, same data as holotype.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The male of the new species has uniquely shaped palps and can be easily recognized from all of the other Spiricoelotes species by the extremely modified conductor (with two outgrowths at the base, only one in S. anshiensis sp. n., and none in other species), the looped apex (Fig. 5A–C). The female of the new species is similar to S. chufengensis sp. n. but can be distinguished from it by the larger and anteriorly situated atria, the more slender and longer copulatory ducts, the longer, more slender spermathecae that are separated from each other by copulatory ducts (Fig. 6A–B).

Figure 5. 

Left palp of Spiricoelotes nansheensis sp. n., holotype. A Prolateral B Ventral C Retrolateral. Scale bar equal for A, B and C.

Figure 6. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes nansheensis sp. n., A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Male habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, dorsal E Female habitus, ventral. Scale bars equal for C, D and E.

Male (holotype): Total length 7.00. Carapace 3.40 long, 2.36 wide. Abdomen 3.60 long, 2.16 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.16, PME 0.15, PLE 0.08; AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.06. Leg measurements: I 14.05 (3.60, 4.60, 3.55, 2.30); II 13.06 (3.50, 4.00, 3.35, 2.21); III 12.30 (3.44, 3.56, 3.33, 1.97); IV 16.05 (4.20, 5.00, 4.85, 2.00). Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis long, subequal to patellar width, with pointed tip, strongly curved; RTA with blunt tip, extending beyond the tibia; LTA long, approximately 1/3 length of RTA; cymbial furrow short, approximately 1/5 length of cymbium; conductor broad, with looped apex, with two outgrowths at the base; embolus originates at 6 o’clock position (Fig. 5A–C).

Female (one of paratypes): Total length 7.16. Carapace 3.84 long, 2.48 wide. Abdomen 3.32 long, 2.08 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.15, PME 0.14, PLE 0.16; AME-AME 0.01, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.13. Leg measurements: I 13.80 (3.85, 4.10, 3.75, 2.10); II 13.08 (3.60, 4.08, 3.20, 2.20; III 12.68 (3.27, 3.96, 3.40, 2.05); IV 16.45 (4.15, 5.05, 4.80, 2.45); IV 16.66 (4.68, 5.00, 4.61, 2.37). Chelicerae as in male. Epigyne: atria small, located anteriorly, close to each other; hoods located anterolaterally; spermathecae long, convoluted; copulatory ducts slender, looped, located at center of vulva (Fig. 6A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Holotype ♂: China: Jiangxi: Ganzhou City: Ningdu County: Huangguan Village, Taiping Cave, N25°28'53", E115°54'35", elevation: 420 m, 29.IV.2013, Y.F. Luo and J.C. Liu. Paratypes: 10♀, same data as holotype.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The male of the new species can be easily recognized by the short, broad conductor without a looped apex, the short cymbial furrow (approximately 1/5 length of cymbium, approximately 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 length of cymbium in other species) and the strong patellar apophysis (twice as broad as in other species) (Fig. 7A–C). The female of the new species is similar to S. anshiensis sp. n. but can be distinguished by the larger atria (approximately 1/2 of epigynal plate), the epigynal hoods that are separated by twice their width, the slender and horizontally stretched copulatory ducts, the longer and helical spermathecae (Fig. 8A–B).

Figure 7. 

Left palp of Spiricoelotes taipingensis sp. n., holotype. A Prolateral B Ventral C Retrolateral. Scale bar equal for A, B and C.

Figure 8. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes taipingensis sp. n., A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Male habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, dorsal E Female habitus, ventral. Scale bars equal for A and B, equal for D and E.

Male (holotype): Total length 5.80. Carapace 2.60 long, 1.68 wide. Abdomen 3.20 long, 2.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.15, PME 0.16, PLE 0.15; AME-AME 0.02, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.04. Leg measurements: I 14.81 (3.76, 4.81, 3.84, 2.40); II 12.10 (2.82, 3.80, 3.52, 1.96); IV 16.81 (4.25, 5.00, 5.06, 2.50). Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis subequal to patellar width, strongly curved; RTA with blunt tip, extending slightly beyond distal margin of tibia; LTA long, about 1/2 length of RTA; cymbial furrow short, approximately 1/5 length of cymbium; conductor short, anteriorly extending; embolus beginning at 7 o’clock position; base of embolus wider than tibia, triangular, horizontally directed (Fig. 7A–C).

Female (one of the paratypes): Total length 7.16. Carapace 3.36 long, 2.56 wide. Abdomen 3.80 long, 2.80 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.19, PME 0.16, PLE 0.19; AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.09. Leg measurements: I 15.12 (4.17, 4.87, 3.20, 2.34); II 13.37 (3.72, 4.25, 3.25, 2.15); III 12.76 (3.44, 3.92, 3.4, 2.00); IV 16.66 (4.68, 5.00, 4.61, 2.37). Chelicerae as in male. Epigyne: atria large, occupying 1/2 of epigynal plate, located anteromedially; hoods distinct, located anterolaterally; spermathecae spiraled; copulatory ducts long and almost horizontally stretched (Fig. 8A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Holotype ♂: China: Jiangxi: Ganzhou City: Chongyi County: Niedu Village, Xianhe Cave, N25°28'40", E114°06'56", elevation: 402 m, 23.IV.2013, Y.F. Luo and J.C. Liu. Paratypes: 1♂1♀, same data as holotype.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The male of the new species is similar to S. anshiensis sp. n. and S. nansheensis sp. n. but can be distinguished from them by the less modified conductor (conductor without outgrowth at base in this species, with one outgrowth in S. anshiensis sp. n. and 2 outgrowths in S. nansheensis sp. n.) and having more loops in conductor (2 loops in this species, 1 loop in S. anshiensis sp. n. and S. nansheensis sp. n.) (Fig. 9A–C). The female of the new species has a uniquely shaped epigyne and can be distinguished from all of the other Spiricoelotes species by the medially situated and U-shaped atrium and the copulatory ducts that are looped around the spermathecal heads (Fig. 10A–B).

Figure 9. 

Left palp of Spiricoelotes xianheensis sp. n., holotype. A Prolateral B Ventral C Retrolateral. Scale bar equal for A, B and C.

Figure 10. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes xianheensis sp. n., A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Male habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, dorsal E Female habitus, ventral. Scale bars equal for A and B, equal for D and E.

Male (holotype): Total length 6.90. Carapace 3.20 long, 2.25 wide. Abdomen 3.70 long, 2.13 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.14, PME 0.15, PLE 0.17; AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.06. Leg measurements: I 14.76 (3.96, 4.95, 3.55, 2.30); II 14.23 (3.88, 4.80, 3.40, 2.15); III 13.08 (3.60, 3.80, 3.40, 2.28); IV 17.32 (4.50, 5.13, 5.13, 2.56). Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Palp: patellar apophysis shorter than patellar width, strongly curved; RTA with blunt tip, extending beyond tibia; LTA short, about 1/4 length of RTA; cymbial furrow long, approximately 1/3 length of cymbium; conductor long, anteriorly extending, with looped apex; embolus beginning at 6 o’clock position; base of embolus rather small, ovoid, almost vertically directed (Fig. 9A–C).

Female (one of paratypes): Total length 7.87. Carapace 3.32 long, 2.28 wide. Abdomen 4.55 long, 3.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.14, PME 0.13, PLE 0.12; AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.11. Leg measurements: I 14.12 (3.60, 4.60, 3.68, 2.24); II 12.32 (3.40, 3.92, 3.00, 2.00); III 12.38 (3.32, 3.76, 3.20, 2.10); IV 15.32 (4.17, 4.68, 4.17, 2.30). Chelicerae as in male. Epigyne: atrium small, situated medially, U-shaped; hoods distinct, located anterolaterally; spermathecae long, convoluted; spermathecal heads small; copulatory ducts broad, looped around spermathecal heads (Fig. 10A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Holotype ♀: China: Jiangxi: Pingxiang City: Shangli County: Futian Town, Zhanshan Village, Xiongxin Cave, N27°44'08", E113°49'10", elevation: 115 m, 9.V.2013, Y.F. Luo and J.C. Liu.

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

The female of the new species has a uniquely shaped epigyne and can be easily distinguished from all of the other Spiricoelotes species by the small and anteriorly situated epigynal atria, the broad epigynal hoods, the long and convoluted spermathecae and by the short copulatory ducts (Fig. 11A–B).

Figure 11. 

Epigyne and habitus of Spiricoelotes xiongxinensis sp. n., holotype. A Epigyne, ventral B Vulva, dorsal C Female habitus, dorsal D Female habitus, ventral E Female habitus, lateral. Scale bars: equal for A and B, equal for C, D and E.

Female (holotype): Total length 8.08. Carapace 3.85 long, 2.69 wide. Abdomen 4.23 long, 2.69 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.19, ALE 0.20, PME 0.19, PLE 0.18; AME-AME 0.11, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.14. Leg measurements: I 13.76 (3.72, 4.56, 3.36, 2.12); II 12.08 (3.44, 4.08, 3.00, 1.56); III 11.68 (3.20, 3.88, 3.04, 1.56); IV 15.66 (4.20, 4.75, 4.5, 2.21). Chelicerae with five promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Epigyne: atria small, located anterolaterally, distantly separated by septum; hoods distinct, located at anterior atrial margin; spermathecae long, convoluted; copulatory ducts broad and short, located anteriorly and horizontally directed (Fig. 11A–B).

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 12).

Figure 12. 

Localities of new Spiricoelotes species from China. 1 S. anshiensis sp. n. 2 S. chufengensis sp. n. 3 S. nansheensis sp. n. 4 S. taipingensis sp. n. 5 S. xianheensis sp. n. 6 S. xiongxinensis sp. n.