Brevitubus subellipticus, Zhu & Liao & Yin & Xu, 2025

Zhu, Shixiong, Liao, Rongrong, Yin, Haiqiang & Xu, Xiang, 2025, Brevitubus gen. nov. (Araneae, Phrurolithidae), a new guardstone spider genus from southern China, with descriptions of four new species and proposal of four new combinations, Zootaxa 5637 (3), pp. 450-468 : 459-461

Brevitubus subellipticus sp. nov. (ża圆Sŝe)

Figs 5 , 8

Type material. China • ♀ holotype; Guangxi, Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Imperial Robe Mountain , Songbai Station , Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve ; 21°57'15"N, 108°02'25"E; 234 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2021; A.L. He, J.X. Liu, Y. Liang, R.R. Liao, Q. Li, H.Q. Zhang, S.X. Zhu, Z.Q. Zhao, and Y. Liu leg.; HUN602 .

Paratypes. China • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; HUN603 to 604 .

Etymology. This specific epithet is the combination of the Latin prefix “ sub ” and “ ellipticus ”, meaning that this new species is similar to Brevitubus ellipticus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Female of the new species is similar to that of B. ellipticus sp. nov. in having similar bursae and spermathecae, but can be distinguished by the nonparallel CT and hole-like atria in this new species (versus parallel CT and slit-like atria in B. ellipticus sp. nov.) (compare Fig.5C–D with Fig. 3C–D ).

Description. Female (holotype): total length 3.79; carapace 1.62 long, 1.44wide; abdomen 1.94 long, 1.17 wide. Carapace yellowish-brown, with a conspicuous chrysanthemum-petal-shaped pattern ( Fig. 5A ). Cervical groove radial furrow integrated into carapace pattern still recognizable. Fovea dark red, longitudinal. AER and PER recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10, AME−AME 0.03, AME−ALE 0.01, PME−PME 0.11, PME−PLE 0.04, ALE−PLE 0.07, AME−PME 0.06, ALE−ALE 0.46, PLE−PLE 0.56. CH 0.06. Chelicera with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. MOA 0.24 long, anterior width 0.25, posterior width 0.32. Leg measurements: I 6.79 (1.85, 0.51, 2.08, 1.47, 0.88); II 5.49 (1.36, 0.42, 1.69, 1.15, 0.87); III 4.89 (1.23, 0.39, 1.20, 1.28, 0.79); IV 7.05 (1.91, 0.48, 1.82, 1.88, 0.96); Leg formula: 4123. Leg spination: Femur I pv1-1-1- 1, II pv1-1-1; Tibia I pv1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, rv1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, II pv1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, rv1-1-1-1-1-1-1; Metatarsus I v2-2-2-2, II pv1-1-1-1, rv1-1-1. Abdomen oval. Dorsum brown, with a sightly wide transverse band almost close to the posterior end ( Fig. 5A ). Venter light yellow, with three black longitudinal stripes (the middle one wider than the other two) joining the black patch which surrounds the spinnerets ( Fig. 5B ).

Epigyne. Two atria like two holes, with highly sclerotized margins ( Fig. 5C ). Copulatory ducts highly sclerotized, sac-shaped ( Fig. 5C ); Connecting tubes short, with the parts connecting the bursae separated from each other and the parts connecting the spermathecae close to each other ( Fig. 5D ). Spermathecae bean-shaped. Fertilization ducts originating the anterior margins of spermathecae ( Fig. 5D ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Guangxi, China ( Fig. 8 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Brevitubus ellipticus sp. nov., female paratype (HUN600). A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: Bu—bursa, CD— copulatory duct, CO—copulatory opening, CT—connecting tube, FD—fertilization duct, Sp—spermatheca.

FIGURE 5. Brevitubus subellipticus sp. nov., female paratype (HUN604). A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: At—atrium, Bu—bursa, CO—copulatory opening, CT—connecting tube, FD—fertilization duct, MS—median septum, Sp—spermatheca.

FIGURE 8. Distribution records of Brevitubus gen. nov.