Long-legged cave spiders (Araneae, Telemidae) from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwestern China

Abstract

Ten new species of the genus Telema, occurring in caves of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau of southwestern China, are described and illustrated. Nine of these, T. bifida sp. nov., T. strentarsi sp. nov., T. spirae sp. nov., T. tortutheca sp. nov., T. spinafemora sp. nov., T. pedati sp. nov., T. conglobare sp. nov., T. guihua sp. nov. and T. vesiculata sp. nov., have the typical troglobiotic characters, i.e., no eyes, long legs and setae, pale somatic coloration, and without pigment pattern. Another species, T. auricoma sp. nov., found in several caves, may be a troglomorphic species, has relatively short legs, six eyes, and brightly pigmented body. Nine known Telema species occurring in caves of this region are also briefly reported. The key to species was provided. Diversity of cave-dwelling telemid spiders in this region was discussed.