Chthonopes jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011 from Bolikhansay, Laos, by original designation.

Chthonopes species can be recognised by the copulatory organs: In males, the cymbium apically-ventrally bearing several setae or hairs; median apophysis large and flat, located at the basal or subbasal portion of the tegulum, distally bearing a horn; bulb with an erect distal apophysis located on the apical part of the tegulum; embolus long, accompanied by a tubular conductor, embolic distal end forked. In females, the epigynal plate possesses a scape; vulval center with a V-shaped medial structure; copulatory ducts long, proximally thin but thick-walled, extending anteriorly along flanks of the V-shaped structure, the latter half wide and forming two egg-shaped bursae, surface membranous, wrinkled and ribbed, then connecting with main spermathecae at the central axis of the vulva; main spermathecae small, strongly sclerotized, globular or reniform, separated by about 0.1 – 1.2× their width; hyaline accessory spermathecae located laterally or anterolaterally to main spermathecae, usually claviform or tubular.

See Wunderlich (2011).

Chthonopes cavernicola Wunderlich, 2011 (♂), C. jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011 (♂♀) and C. thakekensis Lin, Li & Jäger, 2014 (♀) from Laos, C. bifidum sp. nov. (♂♀) and C. jimudeng sp. nov. (♀) endemic to China.

Holotype : ♂, China: Yunnan Province: Xishuangbanna: Mengla County: Menglun Town: Shenmi cave, 21.97°N, 101.24°E, elevation 776 m, 3.X.2017, Y. Lin and Y. Li leg. Paratypes: 15♀11juv., same data as holotype.

1♂ 24♀ 1juv., China: Yunnan Province: Dehong: Luxi City: Mangliu village: Xianfo cave, 24.33°N, 98.52°E, elevation 1081 m, 25.VIII.2010, C. Wang leg.

The species epithet is taken from the Latin adjective “bifidus” and refers to the forked distal horn of median apophysis.

The males of C. bifidum sp. nov. easily differentiated from those of all other congeners by the bifurcate distal horn of median apophysis, the partly membranous or hyaline, whisker-shaped distal apophysis of tegulum, and by the paracymbium with a spine-like tip, vs. distal horn on median apophysis represented by a small needle or spine, not forked, distal apophysis on tegulum relatively sclerotized, lamina-shaped, paracymbium without spine-like tip in C. jaegeri and C. cavernicola (cf. Fig. 2A–D and Wunderlich 2011: 433, figs 13–17, 18b, Fig. 4A–D). The females of C. bifidum sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other congeners except C. jimudeng sp. nov. by the short and smooth scape, about 1/5 of epigyne length (Figs 1E–G, 5C–E) (vs. scape rugose, longer than 1/2 of epigyne length in all other congeners, including C. jaegeri and C. thakekensis; Fig. 3E–G; Lin et al. 2014: figs 17B–E, 18A–C), but differ from the latter by the: (1) scape triangular, translucent, extending from posterior margin of epigynal plate (Fig. 1E–G) (vs. digitiform, relatively sclerotized, originating from dorsal side of posterior margin of epigynal plate; Fig. 5C–E); (2) accessory spermathecae located anterolaterally to main spermathecae, nearly claviform or tubular (Fig. 1G) (vs. located laterally to main spermathecae, consisting of tubular stalk and globular head; Fig. 5E).

Male (holotype) (Fig. 1A, B): Carapace nearly pyriform, yellowish brown, without distinct pattern, slightly darker marginally. Anterior eye row recurved, posterior eye row distinctly procurved. Sternum heart-shaped, dark brown, with sparse setae. Mouthparts coloured as sternum. Legs uniformly brown, femora slightly darker. Abdomen round, dorsum centrally beige, marginally coffee coloured with sparse long hairs, weakly ossified at hair base; venter slightly darker than dorsum, posteriorly clothed with short setae. Measurements: Total length 2.1. Carapace 0.8 long, 0.9 wide. Clypeus 0.2 high. Sternum 0.5 long, 0.5 wide. Abdomen 1.4 long, 1.3 wide. Length of legs: I 4.0 (1.3, 0.4, 1.0, 0.9, 0.4); II 3.0 (0.9, 0.3, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4); III 2.4 (0.6, 0.2, 0.7, 0.6, 0.3); IV 3.0 (0.9, 0.3, 0.8, 0.7, 0.3).

Figure 1. 

Chthonopes bifidum sp. nov., male holotype and female paratype, male habitus (A, B), female habitus (C, D) and epigyne (E–G) A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view D ventral view E intact, ventral view F cleared, ventral view G cleared, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Asp = accessory spermathecae; CD = copulatory duct; FD = fertilization duct; Sc = scape; SP = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A–D); 0.2 mm (E, F, G).

Palp (Fig. 2A–D): Tibia small, about 1/5–1/6 length of cymbium, dorsally bears a short trichobothium (TTr). Cymbium narrow, about 2.6 × longer than width, with long setae. Paracymbium (Pc) small, about 1/5–1/6 length of cymbium, with a nearly triangular base and spine-like tip. Tegulum (Te) capacious, 1.5 × longer than wide; sperm duct distinct in ventral view, running a V-shaped course along posterior part of the tegulum. Median apophysis (MA) originating from subbasal portion of tegulum, consisting of broad base and biforked distal horn (DH); base nearly triangular; distal horn heavily sclerotized, tip curved and bifurcate, lateral ramus short claw-shaped, mesal ramus filiform and ca. 2 × longer than lateral ramus. Distal apophysis (DA) located at distal-retrolateral position of tegulum, base partly membranous, and tip hyaline with a truncated apex. Embolus (Em) long and thick, hidden behind conductor, arising at approximately the 9–10 o’clock position, terminating at ca. 2 o’clock position, embolic distal end forked. Conductor (Co) tubular, covering almost whole embolus, apex translucent and pointing retrolaterally.

Figure 2. 

Male palp of the holotype of Chthonopes bifidum sp. nov. A prolateral view B retrolateral view C ventral view D dorsal view. Abbreviations: Co = conductor; CL = cymbial lobe; DA = distal apophysis on tegulum; DH = distal horn on median apophysis; ED = embolic distal end; Em = embolus; MA = median apophysis; Pc = paracymbium; St = subtegulum; Te = tegulum; TTr = tibial trichobothium. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–D).

Female (one paratype). Somatic features as in Fig. 1C, D and coloration slightly lighter than in male. Measurements: Total length 2.5. Carapace 0.8 long, 1.1 wide. Clypeus 0.2 high. Sternum 0.6 long, 0.5 wide. Abdomen 1.9 long, 1.3 wide. Length of legs: I 4.0 (1.4, 0.4, 1.1, 0.7, 0.4); II 3.5 (1.0, 0.4, 1.0, 0.7, 0.4); III 2.6 (0.7, 0.3, 0.7, 0.6, 0.3); IV 3.1 (0.9, 0.3, 0.9, 0.7, 0.4).

Epigyne (Fig. 1C–E). Epigynal plate large, slightly wider than long, with long setae in midline, the arrangement of the various parts of the vulva are indistinctly visible through the tegument; scape (Sc) short, triangular, translucent, extending from posterior margin of epigynal plate, less than 1/5 of epigyne length, apex blunt. The distal part of copulatory ducts (CD) wide, forming two egg-shaped bursae, then connecting with later margin of main spermathecae; the two bursae base closely spaced but anterior surface widely separated by ca. 2× of bursae width. Main spermathecae (Sp) small, reniform, strongly sclerotized, separated by about 1/10 of their width; accessory spermathecae (Asp) located anterolaterally to main spermathecae, translucent, nearly claviform or tubular, about 1/2 of epigyne length. Fertilization ducts (FD), short, ribbon-shaped, strongly sclerotized, located on dorsal-basal surface of main spermathecae; apical parts separated by about 2.5× of FD width, apex curved and sharp.

Known from Mengla County and Luxi City, Yunnan, China (Fig. 6).

Not examined.

See diagnosis for C. jaegeri.

See Wunderlich (2011).

Laos (Fig. 6).

2♀, Laos: Khammouan Province: Thakek area, Ban Phôungam-Mai, 17.55°N, 104.81°E, elevation 495 m, 25.XI.2012, S. Li leg; 7♀, Bolikhamxay Province: Khamkeut area, 18.22°N, 104.81°E, elevation 495 m, 27.XI.2012, Z. Yao leg; 1♂ 2♀, Bolikhamxay Province: Lak Sao, 17.22°N, 104.81°E, elevation 501 m, 3.III.2010, H. Steiner leg.

Figure 3. 

Chthonopes jaegeri, male habitus (A, B), female habitus (C, D) and epigyne (E–G) A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view D ventral view E intact, ventral view F cleared, ventral view G cleared, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Asp = accessory spermathecae; CD = copulatory duct; FD = fertilization duct; Sc = scape; SP = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A–D); 0.2 mm (E, F, G).

The male of C. jaegeri resembles those of C. cavernicola (Wunderlich, 2011: 433, figs 8–18) in having a large and flat, laminar median apophysis which bears a tiny needle-shaped distal horn (Fig. 4A–C) (vs. median apophysis relatively small, consisting of triangular base and biforked distal horn in C. bifidum sp. nov.; Fig. 2C), but differs in the combination of genitalic and somatic characters: distal apophysis of the tegulum is erect, apex relatively sharp, pointing distally (Fig. 4C; Wunderlich 2011: 435, fig. 18b) (vs. curved, apex truncated, pointing proximally; Wunderlich 2011: 433, fig. 17); cymbium apically-ventrally with a pair of long and bristle-shaped hairs on a hump (Fig. 4C; Wunderlich 2011: 435, fig. 18b) (vs. cymbium bearing apically four tiny hairs which are not situated on a hump; Wunderlich 2011: 433, fig. 17); both anterior and posterior eye rows with 4 eyes (Fig. 3A) (vs. anterior eye row with 6 eyes, posterior eye row with 2 eyes; Wunderlich 2011: 433, figs 8–10). Females of C. jaegeri are similar to those of C. thakekensis (Lin et al. 2014: 98, figs 17A–E, 18A–C) by the epigynal plate with a long, rugose scape, and by the similar configurations of vulva, but they can be differentiated by the circular main spermathecae separated by about 1/3 of their diameter (Fig. 3G) (vs. semi-circular main spermathecae separated by about 1.2 × their width; Lin et al. 2014: 98, figs 17C, E, 18C), the accessory spermathecae consisting of a tubular stalk and globular head (vs. accessory spermathecae claviform, not subdivided; Lin et al. 2014: 98, figs 17C, E, 18C), and by the strongly sclerotized fertilization ducts (Fig. 3G) (vs. membranous FDs; Lin et al. 2014: 98, figs 17C, E, 18C).

Figure 4. 

Male palp of Chthonopes jaegeri A prolateral view B retrolateral view C ventral view D dorsal view. Abbreviations: Co = conductor; CL = cymbial lobe; DA = distal apophysis on tegulum; DH = distal horn on median apophysis; ED = embolic distal end; Em = embolus; MA = median apophysis; Pc = paracymbium; St = subtegulum; Te = tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–D).

See Wunderlich (2011). Habitus as in Fig. 3A–D, male palp as in Fig. 4A–D, epigyne as in Fig. 3E–G.

Laos (Fig. 6).

Holotype : ♀, China: Yunnan Province: Gongshan County: Dulongjiang Town: Jimudeng village, 27.79°N, 98.33°E, elevation 1410 m, 15.VIII.2018, Y. Lin and Y. Li leg. Paratypes: 1♀ 2juv., same data as holotype.

6juv., China: Yunnan Province: Gongshan County: Dulongjiang Town: Maku village, 27.68°N, 98.30°E, elevation 1939 m, 14.VIII.2018, Y. Lin and Y. Li leg.

This specific name is taken from type locality; noun in apposition.

The new species is similar to C. bifidum sp. nov. (Fig. 1E–G) in the general appearance of the epigyne (also see above diagnosis for C. bifidum sp. nov.). From C. bifidum sp. nov., the female of C. jimudeng sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the shape of the scape and accessory spermathecae, as well as the arrangement of the various parts of the vulva: (1) scape digitiform, relatively sclerotized (Fig. 5C–E) (vs. triangular, translucent; Fig. 1E–G); and (2) accessory spermathecae located laterally to the main spermathecae, consisting of a tubular stalk and globular head (Fig. 5C–E) (vs. located anterolaterally to the main spermathecae, nearly claviform or tubular; Fig. 1E–G).

Figure 5. 

Holotype female of Chthonopes jimudeng sp. nov., habitus (A, B) and epigyne (C–E) A dorsal view B ventral view C intact, ventral view D cleared, ventral view E cleared, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Asp = accessory spermathecae; CD = copulatory duct; FD = fertilization duct; Sc = scape; SP = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, F, G).

Female (holotype) (Fig. 5A, B): Carapace nearly triangular, marginally dark, with a dark, wide V-shaped paramedian stripe starting from behind PLE, almost reaching the indistinct cervical groove. Anterior eye row recurved, posterior eye row almost straight in dorsal view. Sternum heart-shaped, centrally dark brown, marginally dark, with sparse setae. Mouthparts coloured as sternum. Legs dark brown, all legs with conspicuous dark annuli in the distal parts of femur, and patella. Abdomen spherical, covered with sparse long setae, setal base sclerotized; dorsum basically black, centrally with three longitudinal white bands, the medial band relatively long, about 1/2 of abdomen length, the bilateral bands short, about 1/2 length of medial band; venter black, without pattern. Measurements: total length 2.3. Carapace 1.0 long, 0.9 wide. Clypeus 0.1 high. Sternum 0.4 long, 0.5 wide. Abdomen 1.6 long, 1.2 wide. Length of legs: I 3.1 (1.0, 0.3, 0.9, 0.6, 0.3); II 2.7 (0.9, 0.3, 0.6, 0.6, 0.3); III 1.8 (0.6, 0.2, 0.4, 0.4, 0.2); IV 2.4 (0.7, 0.3, 0.6, 0.5, 0.3).

Epigyne (Fig. 5C–E). Epigynal plate large, about 1.35× wider than long, with long setae in midline, through which spermathecae and copulatory ducts are indistinctly apparent; scape (Sc) distinctly short, about 1/5 of epigyne length, digitiform, relatively sclerotized, originating from dorsal side of posterior margin of epigynal plate, its tip slightly overpasses the posterior margin, apex blunt. The distal part of copulatory ducts (CD) wide, forming two egg-shaped bursae, then connecting with posterolateral surface of main spermathecae; the two bursae widely separated by one width. Main spermathecae (Sp) small, oval, strongly sclerotized, separated by about 1/3 of their diameter; accessory spermathecae (Asp) located laterally to main spermathecae, consisting of tubular stalk and globular head, translucent, about 1/4 of epigyne length. Fertilization ducts (FD) short, ribbon-shaped or lamellar, heavily sclerotized, located on posterior surface of main spermathecae, curved tips separated by about 3.6× FD width.

Unknown.

Known only from Gongshan County, Yunnan, China (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. 

Distribution records of five species of the genus Chthonopes: C. bifidum sp. nov. (scarlet circle: 1. China, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Shenmi cave; 2. China, Yunnan Province, Dehong, Luxi City, Mangliu village, Xianfo cave); C. jimudeng sp. nov. (yellow circle: 1. China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Town, Jimudeng village; 2. China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Town, Maku village); C. jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011 (carmine circle: 1, 2. Laos, Bolikhansay Province,, Lak Sao, Tham Mang Kone; 3. Laos, Khammouan Province, Thakek area, Ban Phôungam-Mai; 4. Laos, Bolikhamxay Province: Khamkeut area); C. cavernicola Wunderlich, 2011 (light blue circle: Laos, Khammouan Province, Tham Boumlou, inside cave); C. thakekensis Lin, Li & Jäger, 2014 (green circle: Laos, Khammouan Province, Thakek area, Ban Phôungam-Mai, Tham Phayat, limestone cave).

None.

See diagnosis for C. jaegeri.

See Lin et al. (2014).

Laos (Fig. 6).