Brevitubus subpinglong, 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 : 461-464

Brevitubus subpinglong sp. nov (żīDzSŝe)

Figs 6–8

Type material. China • ♀ holotype; Guangxi, Laibin City, Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Yinshan Park ; 24°24'00"N, 110°14'37"E; 1148 m a.s.l.; 8 Oct. 2021; A.L. He, J.X. Liu, Z.G. Huang, R.R. Liao, Q. Li, X.M. Yang, Y.L. Wen, Z. Ye, and Y. Liu leg.; HUN592 .

Paratypes. China • 5 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; HUN593 to 597 .

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

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Brevitubus pinglong ( Liang, Li, Yin, Li & Xu, 2021) comb. nov. in having similar spermathecae and copulatory ducts in female but can be distinguished by the globet-shaped median septum in the new species (versus rectangular-shaped in B. pinglong ) (compare Fig. 6C, 6D with fig. 2C, 2D in Liang et al. 2021). This new species is similar to Brevitubus haitun ( Liu, Xu & Yin, 2023) comb. nov. in having similar femoral apophysis in male, but can be distinguished by the RTA modified forming a about three-quarter circle, with a long and sharp distal end (in dorsal view) in the new species (versus RTA modified to form a half circle, with a short and flat distal end and an additional triangular apophysis at the base in B. haitun ) (compare Fig. 7C with fig. 8D in Liu et al. 2023).

Description. Female (holotype): total length 3.84; carapace 1.68 long, 1.49 wide; abdomen 2.04 long, 1.18wide. Carapace yellowish-brown, with a very conspicuous chrysanthemum-petal-shaped pattern ( Fig. 6A , 7A ). Cervical groove and radial furrow integrating into the pattern of carapace. Fovea dark red, longitudinal. AER and PER slightly recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.08, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09, AME−AME 0.04, AME−ALE 0.02, PME−PME 0.10, PME−PLE 0.05, ALE−PLE 0.09, AME−PME 0.07, ALE−ALE 0.44, PLE−PLE 0.56. CH 0.06. Chelicera with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. MOA 0.24 long, anterior width 0.23, posterior width 0.31. Leg measurements: I 6.92 (1.56, 0.42, 2.07, 1.82, 1.05); II 5.67 (1.32, 0.48, 1.63, 1.34, 0.90); III 4.78 (1.15, 0.40, 1.30, 1.23, 0.70); IV 7.29 (1.83, 0.41, 1.87, 2.12, 1.06); Leg formula: 4123. Leg spination: Femur I pv1-1-1-1, II pv1-1-1; Tibia I v2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2, II v2-2-2-2-2-2-2; Metatarsus I v2-2-2-2, II pv1-1-1-1, rv1-1-1. Abdomen oval, dorsally with 1 short transverse white strip close to the posterior end ( Figs 6A , 7A ), ventrally with 2 longitudinally light brown stripes and 1 brown patch anterior to spinnerets ( Figs 6B , 7B ).

Epigyne. Two atria sac-like, with highly sclerotized margins ( Fig. 6C ). Copulatory ducts highly sclerotized and short ( Fig. 6D ); Connecting tubes short and close to the bean-shaped spermathecae ( Fig. 6C ). Spermathecae separated from each other by approximately the width of one spermatheca. Fertilization ducts originating from the anterior margins of the spermathecae, with the distal end not sharp, giving a false impression of being cut off ( Fig. 6D ).

Male (paratype): total length 3.58, carapace 1.5 long, 1.31 wide; abdomen 1.84 long, 1.15 wide. Carapace with a conspicuous chrysanthemum-petal-shaped pattern ( Fig. 7A ). Cervical groove and radial furrow not evident. Fovea dark red, longitudinal. AER and PER recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09 ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07, AME−AME 0.04, AME−ALE 0.02, PME−PME 0.10, PME−PLE 0.04, ALE−PLE 0.08, AME−PME 0.07, ALE−ALE 0.41, PLE−PLE 0.51. CH 0.06. Chelicera with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. MOA 0.20 long, anterior width 0.24, posterior width 0.31. Leg measurements: I 6.87 (1.72, 0.40, 2.11, 1.71, 0.93); II 5.18 (1.22, 0.36, 1.65, 1.19, 0.76); III 4.36 (1.21, 0.37, 0.98, 1.12, 0.68); IV 7.27 (1.94, 0.50, 1.78, 2.09, 0.96); Leg formula: 4123. Leg spination: Femur I pv1-1-1-1, II pv1-1-1; Tibia I v2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2, II v2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2; Metatarsus I v2-2-2- 2, II pv1-1-1-1, rv1-1-1. Other characteristics resemble those of female.

Palp. Femur with a distinct apophysis ( Fig. 7D ). RTA present, strongly modified into a large hook (about a three quarters circle) and with a reddish-brown sharp distal end in dorsal view ( Fig. 7C ). Tegular apophysis triangular, located on the tegular anteriorly. Sperm duct distinct, U-shaped (forming almost a three-quarter circle), occupying ~1/3 length of tegulum. Embolus short, slightly twisting, with a needle-like end. Conductor membranous, longitudinally elongated and supporting the base of the embolus ( Fig. 7E ).

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

Figures

FIGURE 6. Brevitubus subpinglong sp. nov., female paratype (HUN593). 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, CD—copulatory duct, CO—copulatory opening, CT—connecting tube, FD—fertilization duct, MS—median septum, Sp— spermatheca.

FIGURE 7. Brevitubus subpinglong sp. nov., male holotype. A. Habitus, dorsal view B. Same, ventral view C. Palp, dorsal view; D. Same, prolateral view; E. Same, ventral view; F. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 1mm (A, B); 0.25 mm (C–F). Abbreviations: C—conductor, E—embolus, FA—femoral apophysis, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, SD—sperm duct, TA—tegulum apophysis.

FIGURE 8. Distribution records of Brevitubus gen. nov.