﻿Altimella gen. nov., a new genus of Cicurinidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Xizang, China, with description of two new species

﻿Abstract Altimella Wang & Zhang, gen. nov., a new genus belonging to Cicurinidae, is established, and two new species are described, Altimellanedong Wang & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀, type species) and A.ngamring Wang & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), from Xizang, China. Detailed descriptions of somatic features and genital characteristics, photos of the habitus, photos and drawings of the copulatory organs, and a distribution map are provided.


Introduction
The spider family Cicurinidae F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 was restored and three genera (Cicurina Menge, 1871, Brommella Tullgren, 1948, and Chorizomma Simon, 1872) were confirmed by Gorneau et al. (2023).Currently, the type genus, Cicurina, comprises 144 species, most of which are distributed in North America and Asia, but with a few recorded from Europe.The genus Brommella includes 22 species, of which 17 have been reported from China, one from South Korea and Japan, three from the USA, and two from Europe.The third genus, Chorizomma, found in Spain and France, is monotypic and was once considered a subgenus of Cicurina (WSC 2024).Gorneau et al. (2023) proposed synapomorphies for Cicurinidae: the absence of a cribellum, replaced by a reduced colulus with several setae; three tarsal claws, and legs without scopulae or claw tufts; the male palp with a variable retroventral tibial apophysis (RvTA); and the RTA enlarged (in some cases as long as the cymbium length), usually with an RTA-conductor.However, some Chinese Brommella species like B. baiseensis Li, 2017 andB. casseabri Li, 2017 possess obvious cribella (Li and Wang 2017: figs 6D, 8D).
We describe a new genus to accommodate two new species of Cicurinidae from Xizang, China, which also possess a cribellum like Brommella species, but they differ from Brommella by having a longer retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Materials and methods
All specimens are preserved in 75% ethanol and were examined, illustrated, photographed, and measured using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a drawing tube, a Leica DFC450 Camera, and LAS v. 4.6 software.Male palps and epigynes were examined and illustrated after they were dissected.Epigynes were cleared by immersing them in pancreatin for about 1 h (Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga 2007).Eye sizes were measured as the maximum dorsal diameter.Leg measurements are shown as: total length (femur, patella and tibia, metatarsus, tarsus  3E, 4C,  5E), a tibial apophysis (spur) arising from the base of the tibia retro-ventrally, a long and filiform embolus, and long and complexly winding copulatory ducts, but they differ from Brommella by the long retrolateral tibial apophysis, as long as the cymbium (Figs 2B, C, 3D, E, 4B, C, 5D, E; vs shorter than the cymbium), the simple distal part of the conductor (Figs 2B, 3D, 4B, 5D; vs complex, spiral-shaped, or with three branches), and the obvious spermathecae (Figs 2E, 3G, 4E, 5G; vs inconspicuous).
Etymology.The generic name is composed of the prefix "alti-" (high) and the suffix "-mella" (from Brommella), referring to the high-altitude type locality and similarity to Brommella.The gender is feminine.
Male palp (Figs 2A-C, 3C-E, 4A-C, 5C-E): tibia with two apophyses, ventral (TA) and retrolateral (RTA): ventral lobe originates from base of tibia, longer than tibia, slightly bent near tip; retrolateral apophysis as long cymbium, with fold along entire apophysis.Bulb longer than wide.Anterior part of tegulum rounded, posterior part hidden by conductor (C), sperm duct (Sd) narrow, running along margin of tegulum; conductor with two arms, posterior claw-like (CP) and anterior spine-like (CA); embolus with large base (Eb), long and filiform, originating at 6-7 o'clock position, its anterior part resting in a long groove of anterior part of conductor.
Copulatory ducts long and complex, winding.Spermathecae convoluted or kidney-shaped.Biology.Found in high altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Xizang).They construct sheet webs under stones.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Altimella nedong Wang & Zhang, sp.nov.B, D, F holotype male A, C, E, G paratype female A male eyes and chelicerae, frontal view B, C metatarsus of Leg I, lateral view D, E eyes, front view F, G cribellum ventral view.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Altimella nedong Wang & Zhang, sp.nov.A, C-E holotype male B, F, G paratype female A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, ventral view D same, retrolateral view E same, dorsal view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Altimella ngamring Wang & Zhang, sp.nov.A, C-E holotype male B, F, G paratype female A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, ventral view D same, retrolateral view E same, dorsal view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Taxonomy Family Cicurinidae F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 Altimella Wang & Zhang, gen. nov.
).All measurements are in millimeters.Specimens examined here are deposited in the Collection of Spiders, School of Life Sciences, Fertilization ducts hook-like.Composition.Comprises two new species, A. nedong Wang & Zhang, sp.nov.and A. ngamring Wang & Zhang, sp.nov.