Corresponding author: Shuqiang Li (
Academic editor: Yuri Marusik
A new genus and five new species belonging to the family Tetrablemmidae are described from caves in Southwest China, i.e.,
Lin Y, Li S (2014) New cave-dwelling armored spiders (Araneae, Tetrablemmidae) from Southwest China. ZooKeys 388: 35–67. doi:
Tetrablemmids are medium-sized (
Chinese tetrablemmids have been studied recently. Five species belonging to four genera from Hainan Province were reported by
In the period of October 2010 to August 2011 we found several new and interesting species of the family
Specimens were examined and measured under an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope. Further details were studied under an Olympus BX43 compound microscope. All drawings were made using a drawing tube attached to an Olympus BX43 compound microscope, and then hand inked on ink jet plotter paper. Photographs were taken with a Canon EOS 60D wide zoom digital camera (8.5 megapixels). The images were combined using Helicon Focus 3.10 software. Male palp and female genitalia were examined and illustrated after they were dissected and detached from the spiders’ bodies. Vulvae were removed and treated in KOH solution before examination and illustration. To reveal the course of the sperm duct, the bulbs were treated in lactic acid and mounted in Hoyer’s Solution before examination and illustration. Left palp is illustrated unless missing, in which case the right palp is illustrated.
All measurements are provided in millimeters. Height of carapace is measured with tubercle. Leg measurements are given as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The terminology mostly follows – central process – epigynal pit – epigynal fold – inner vulval plate – lateral horn – preanal scutum – perigenital scutum – postepigastral scutum – seminal receptaculum – vulval duct – vulval stem
All specimens are acquired from caves by manual collection and preserved in 85% ethanol solution. All specimens are deposited in the Sichuan University Museum (SCUM) in Chengdu and in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing.
The generic name derives from the Latin word “
Small (1.2–1.6), six eyes compact in a group, male carapace usually with cephalic tubercle (present or absent in female). Male leg I robust, with tubercles at tibia and metatarsus. Cheliceral horn present (absent in female), much longer than in
Bulb long pyriform, embolus simple, needle-shaped; epigynal fold narrow; postepigastral scutum exceptionally narrow; central process absent, inner vulval plate well developed, vulval stem transverse.
The new genus
China (Guangxi, Hainan).
Holotype ♂ and paratypes 2♀ (IZCAS), CHINA, Guangxi: Chongzuo City, Longzhou County, Shanglong Town, Xinlian Village, Gengyitun, Longmolai Cave,
The specific name derives from the Greek word “
Males of
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Palp (
Measurements: total length 1.59; carapace 0.68 long, 0.53 wide, 0.41 high; abdomen 1.02 long, 0.84 wide, 0.88 high; clypeus 0.23 high; sternum 0.40 long, 0.39 wide. Length of legs: I 1.89 (0.61, 0.18, 0.46, 0.31, 0.34); II 1.73 (0.55, 0.16, 0.41, 0.29, 0.32); III 1.61 (0.46, 0.15, 0.39, 0.29, 0.31); IV 2.13 (0.64, 0.17, 0.55, 0.39, 0.37).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Genitalia (
Known only from the type locality (
Distinguished from other tetrablemmids by the swollen palpal tibia, the egg-shaped bulb, the originating position of embolus in male, and by the oval epigynal pit, the central process larger than inner vulval plate in female.
Four species are known from China, Singapore and Vietnam before the current study.
Holotype ♂, paratypes 5♂ and 10♀ (IZCAS), CHINA, Guangxi: Pingxiang City, Xiashi Town, Xinming Village, Banxiaotun, Banxiao Cave,
The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.
This new species is similar to
Measurements: total length 1.02; carapace 0.45 long, 0.36 wide, 0.21 high; abdomen 0.64 long, 0.55 wide, 0.55 high; clypeus 0.16 high; sternum 0.28 long, 0.29 wide. Length of legs: I 1.15 (0.38, 0.12, 0.27, 0.20, 0.20); II 1.13 (0.36, 0.11, 0.27, 0.20, 0.20); III 1.04 (0.30, 0.11, 0.23, 0.20, 0.20); IV 1.35 (0.43, 0.12, 0.34, 0.23, 0.23).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Palp (
Measurements: total length 1.11; carapace 0.47 long, 0.38 wide, 0.22 high; abdomen 0.68 long, 0.64 wide, 0.64 high; clypeus 0.14 high; sternum 0.29 long, 0.29 wide. Lengths of legs: I 1.22 (0.41, 0.13, 0.28, 0.20, 0.21); II 1.15 (0.38, 0.12, 0.27, 0.20, 0.20); III 1.06 (0.32, 0.12, 0.24, 0.20, 0.19); IV 1.41 (0.45, 0.13, 0.36, 0.25, 0.23).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Genitalia (
Total length from 1.00 to 1.07 in males (n = 6) and from 1.05 to 1.14 in females (n = 10).
Known only from the type locality (
Holotype ♂, paratypes 8♂ and 20♀ (SCUM), CHINA, Chongqing: Wulong County, Tudi Town, Tiansheng Village, Xiaodong Cave,
The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.
This new species is similar to
Measurements: total length 1.21; carapace 0.53 long, 0.45 wide, 0.44 high; abdomen 0.79 long, 0.60 wide, 0.54 high; clypeus 0.18 high; sternum 0.32 long, 0.32 wide. Length of legs: I 1.29 (0.41, 0.13, 0.30, 0.21, 0.23); II 1.16 (0.36, 0.13, 0.27, 0.20, 0.21); III 1.07 (0.32, 0.13, 0.23, 0.19, 0.21); IV 1.43 (0.43, 0.13, 0.36, 0.25, 0.26).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Palp (
Measurement: total length 1.23; carapace 0.54 long, 0.43 wide, 0.41 high; abdomen 0.80 long, 0.63 wide, 0.59 high; clypeus 0.17 high; sternum 0.30 long, 0.31 wide. Length of legs: I 1.21 (0.38, 0.13, 0.29, 0.20, 0.21); II 1.11 (0.34, 0.13, 0.25, 0.18, 0.21); III 1.03 (0.30, 0.12, 0.22, 0.18, 0.21); IV 1.38 (0.42, 0.13, 0.34, 0.23, 0.25).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Genitalia (
Total length from 1.14 to 1.25 in males (n = 9) and from 1.16 to 1.30 in females (n = 20).
Known only from the type locality (
Twenty five species have previously been described from Angola, Western Australia, China, Flores, India, Laos, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, St. Helena, Queensland, Samoa, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Trinidad, Victoria, and Vietnam, collected mainly from forest litter or caves.
Holotype ♂, paratypes 2♀ (SCUM), CHINA, Yunnan: Mengla County, Mengyuan Town, Chengzi Village, Yeniudong Scenery Spot, Yeniu 2# Cave,
The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.
The male of this new species is similar to
Measurements: total length 1.18; carapace 0.54 long, 0.46 wide, 0.36 high; abdomen 0.98 long, 0.63 wide, 0.52 high; clypeus 0.27 high. Sternum 0.31 long, 0.34 wide. Length of legs: I 1.27 (0.38, 0.14, 0.30, 0.21, 0.23); II 1.21 (0.38, 0.13, 0.29, 0.21, 0.22); III 1.11 (0.34, 0.11, 0.25, 0.20, 0.21); IV 1.40 (0.43, 0.11, 0.36, 0.26, 0.25).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Palp (
Measurements: total length 1.27; carapace 0.58 long, 0.45 wide, 0.28 high; clypeus 0.19 high; sternum 0.32 long, 0.34 wide; abdomen 0.91 long, 0.68 wide, 0.50 high. Length of legs: I 1.29 (0.41, 0.13, 0.31, 0.21, 0.23); II 1.21 (0.38, 0.13, 0.29, 0.21, 0.22); III 1.12 (0.34, 0.12, 0.25, 0.20, 0.21); IV 1.47 (0.46, 0.13, 0.38, 0.27, 0.24).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Genitalia (
Known only from the type locality (
Holotype ♂, paratypes 1♂ and 1♀ (IZCAS), CHINA, Guangxi: Chongzuo City, Fusui County, Dongmen Town, Ziyao Village, Yinhe Cave,
The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.
This new species is similar to
Measurements: total length 1.13; carapace 0.50 long, 0.39 wide, 0.26 high; abdomen 0.75 long, 0.55 wide, 0.44 high; clypeus 0.26 high; sternum 0.29 long, 0.30 wide. Length of legs: I 1.29 (0.41, 0.13, 0.30, 0.22, 0.23); II 1.18 (0.38, 0.11, 0.27, 0.21, 0.22); III 1.07 (0.32, 0.11, 0.23, 0.20, 0.21); IV 1.47 (0.45, 0.13, 0.38, 0.29, 0.24).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Palp (
Measurements: total length 1.21; carapace 0.54 long, 0.41 wide, 0.23 high; abdomen 0.84 long, 0.63 wide, 0.45 high; clypeus 0.16 high; sternum 0.30 long, 0.31 wide. Length of legs: I 1.36 (0.45, 0.13, 0.30, 0.23, 0.25); II 1.25 (0.39, 0.12, 0.28, 0.22, 0.24); III 1.13 (0.32, 0.13, 0.23, 0.21, 0.23); IV 1.54 (0.47, 0.13, 0.39, 0.29, 0.25).
Carapace (
Abdomen (
Genitalia (
Known only from the type locality (
Distribution records of five new tetrablemmid species from China.
The manuscript benefited greatly from comments by Yuri M. Marusik (Magadan, Russia) and two anonymous reviewers. David J. Court kindly checked the English. This study was supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists-31025023 and NSFC-30870271, 31000946), and by the New Teacher Fund for Doctor Station of Ministry of Education of China (20100181120049).