Bifurcia cochlearis Irfan, Zhang & Peng

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhou, Gu-Chun, Peng, Xian-Jin & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2025, Survey of Linyphiidae spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from some Oriental Regions of China, Megataxa 15 (1), pp. 1-248 : 21-23

Bifurcia cochlearis Irfan, Zhang & Peng , sp. n.

(匙叉e)

Figures 20 , 21 , 312

Types. Holotype ♂ ( HNU–20160426 ), CHINA, Hubei Prov.: Badong Co., Yanduhe Town, Songziyuan Vill. , 31.3406°N, 110.4131°E, 1320 m, 08.XI.2017, W. Liu et al. leg.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective “cochlearis ” meaning “spoon” and referring to the spoon-like paracymbium in male palp.

Diagnosis. The male of Bifurcia cochlearis sp. n. can be distinguished from those of all other congeners by the paracymbium spoon-like, 2/3 length of cymbium, proximal end ventrally with three small projections; embolus thumb-shaped ( Figs 20B–D ).

Description. Male (holotype, Figs 21A, B ): Total length: 2.22. Carapace 1.02 long, 0.87 wide, light green, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.12 high. Chelicerae with one promarginal and one retromarginal tooth. Sternum wider than long, greenish, with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.07, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.02, AME–ALE, 0.06, PME–PLE 0.06, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.35, PLE–PLE 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.02. Legs long and with alternative light and green patches. Length of legs: I 6.56 (1.84, 2.31, 1.58, 0.83), II 5.71 (1.49, 1.89, 1.55, 0.78), III 4.11 (1.19, 1.27, 1.24, 0.41), IV 5.33 (1.63, 1.65, 1.4, 0.65). Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. TmI 0.69, TmIV absent. Opisthosoma 1.19 long, 0.73 wide, oval, dorsally with distinct pattern of alternative transverse dark and grey patches starting from the proximal part of opisthosoma to extending to base of spinnerets, grey patches laterally with white markings; ventral side greenish.

Palp ( Figs 20A–D ): Femur unmodified, almost longer than patella, tibia and cymbium. Patella almost as long as tibia, ventrally grooved. Tibia conic, with one retrolateral trichobothria; cymbium retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at the base, retrolateral margin with a broad outgrowth extending towards subtegulum, prolateral margin proximally somewhat triangular with blunt end, dorsally with tail-like proximal cymbial apophysis (PCA), with blunt tip; paracymbium (PC) sclerotized, elongated, proximal end slightly curved inward with two small projections and with additional median branch, gradually tapering towards distal end with blunt tip. Median membrane (MM) extending out through the base of embolic plate; radix (R) longer than wide with Fickert’s gland (fg); pseudolamella (PL) distally membranous, almost half the length of paracymbium; terminal apophysis (TA) sclerotized, longer than wide, extending forward; embolus (E) short, slightly curved.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Hunan Province, Fig. 312 ).

Remarks. After carefully comparing Bifurcia cochlearis sp. n. with both genera Arcuphantes (Ma, Marusik & Tu, 2016) and Bifurcia ( Saaristo, Tu & Li, 2006) , we determined that, based on the characteristics of the male palp, it belongs to the genus Bifurcia . The discovery of a female specimen in the future will provide further clarity on its status. For now, the B. cochlearis sp. n. is classified under the genus Bifurcia .

Figures

FIGURE 21. Bifurcia cochlearis sp. n., male holotype. A Habitus, dorsal view; B Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 312. Distribution of Linyphiidae species in Hubei Prov.: 2. Asiagone xingdouensis sp. n.; 3. Bathyphantes paracymbialis Tanasevitch, 2014; 4. Bifurcia cochlearis sp. n.; 5. Capsulia tianmushana (Chen & Song, 1987); 6. Dicristatus cordatus sp. n.; 7. Diplocephalus circularis sp. n.; 8. Erigone prominens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906; 9. Frontinella zhui Li & Song, 1993; 10. Gnathonarium dentatum (Wider, 1834); 11. Gongylidioides ensis sp. n.; 12. Gongylidioides microdontus sp. n.; 13. Gongylidium dawolongense sp. n.; 14. Gongylidium minutum sp. n.; 15. Gongylidium uncatum sp. n.; 16. Houshenzinus rimosus Tanasevitch, 2006; 17. Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall, 1830); 18. Indophantes wushanensis Irfan, Wang & Zhang, 2023; 1. Microneta maliuxiensis sp. n..

FIGURE 20. Bifurcia cochlearis sp. n., male holotype. A Palp, prolateral view; B Palp, retrolateral view; C Palp, dorsal view; D Palp, ventral view. Abbreviations: ARP—anterior radical process; E—embolus; fg—Fickert’s gland; LC—lamella characteristica; MM—median membrane; PC—paracymbium; PCA—proximal cymbial apophysis; PL—pseudolamella; R—radix; TA—terminal apophysis.