Meta bowo sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 791783C1-74A5-4987-AC31-4A0C3BEDB30F Figs 1A–B, 2–4, 22 Differential diagnosis This new species resembles M. yani Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 (Wang et al. 2020a: figs 1ef, 10a–d, 11a–b, 12a–e) in having the similar conductor of male palp and the similar oval outline of female epigynal plate, but can be distinguished by the following characters: cymbial ectobasal process oval with a depression on distal margin in ventral view, a small tooth medially in retrolateral view in M. bowo sp. nov. (Figs 2B–C, 3B–D), whereas Y-shaped, with a small tooth laterally in retrolateral view in M. yani (Wang et al. 2020a: figs 10b–c, 12b); lower outgrowth of metaine embolic apophysis thumb-shaped with blunt end in ventral view in M. bowo sp. nov. (Fig. 3E), whereas narrow with sharp pointed end in M. yani (Wang et al. 2020a: figs 10c, 12b); spermathecae kidney-shaped in M. bowo sp. nov. (Figs 2D–E, 4B), boxing glove-shaped in M. yani (Wang et al. 2020a: figs 11b, 12e); a pair of conspicuous sclerotized corners in M. bowo sp. nov. (Fig. 4A) whereas smooth, rounded margin posteriorly in M. yani (Wang et al. 2020a: fig 11a). Etymology The epithet refers to the type locality. Type material Holotype CHINA • ♂; Tibet, Bowo County, 29°52′11.10″ N, 95°45′22.67″ E; alt. 2720 m; 15 Jul. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-02-01. Paratypes CHINA • 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-TEg-02-02–05 • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SWUC-T-TEg-02-06–08 • 2 ♂♂; Bowo County, Gu Township, Gu Village; 29°54′38.58″ N, 95°27′47.94″ E; alt. 2597 m; 16 Jul. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-02-09–10 • 1 ♂; Bowo County; 29°52′20.17″ N, 95°45′18.29″ E; alt. 2719 m; 16 Jul. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-02-11 • 2 ♂♂; Bowo County; 29°52′7.60″ N, 95°45′19.06″ E; alt. 2700 m; 8 Aug. 2020; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and Y.M. Hou leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-02-12–13 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SWUC-T-TEg-02-14 • 1 ♂; Bowo County; 29°51.956′ N, 95°45.381′ E; alt. 2810 m; 18 May 2019; L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and H. Wang leg.; SWUC-T-TEg-02-15. Description Male (holotype, Fig. 1A) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.94. Prosoma 2.47 long, 1.91 wide; opisthosoma 2.55 long, 1.87 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.10, AME– ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.41 long, front width 0.37, back width 0.45. Clypeus height 0.13. CHELICERAE. Strong, with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 12.96 (3.45, 4.53, 3.56, 1.42); II = 9.90 (2.81, 3.38, 2.50, 1.21); III = 5.29 (1.67, 1.61, 1.28, 0.73); IV = 7.12 (2.36, 2.19, 1.86, 0.71). Leg formula: 1243. OPISTHOSOMA. Oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Both dorsum and venter white, with black markings. PALP (Figs 2A–C, 3A–E). Cymbial ectobasal process simple, oval, with a deep depression on distal end and a sharp conspicuous tooth in retrolateral view. Paracymbium finger-like, widest medially, with sparse long hairs. Metaine embolic apophysis longer than wide, bifurcated, extending forward; lower outgrowth thumb-shaped with blunt end. EMBOLUS. Short, abruptly thin with very fine tip. Conductor strong, arising meso-retrolaterally from bulb and extending clockwise, longer than wide, with membranous end. Female (paratype SWUC-T-TEg-02-06, Fig. 1B) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 8.82. Prosoma 3.09 long, 2.45 wide; opisthosoma 5.72 long, 4.95 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.23, PME 0.20, PLE 0.21; AME–AME 0.10, AME– ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.22, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.53 long, front width 0.54, back width 0.56. Clypeus height 0.33. LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 13.94 (3.88, 4.88, 3.55, 1.63); II = 11.17 (3.29, 3.85, 2.68, 1.35); III = 6.47 (2.00, 2.16, 1.54, 0.77); IV = 8.72 (2.97, 2.94, 1.95, 0.86). Leg formula: 1243. Other morphological characteristics same as in male except opisthosoma light brownish with black markings. EPIGYNE (Figs 2D–E, 4A–B). Posterior margin of epigynal plate wave-like, posterior margin corners sclerotized with a pair of small protrusions. VULVA (Figs 2D–E, 4A–B). Spermathecae kidney-shaped. Fertilization ducts thick, S-shaped. Distribution China, Tibet (Bowo) (Fig. 22).

Published as part of Wang, Lu-Yu, Irfan, Muhammad, Chen, Hui-Ming & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2022, Seven new species of Meta C. L. Koch, 1836 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from Southwest China, pp. 117-147 in European Journal of Taxonomy 834 on pages 119-124, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.834.1905, http://zenodo.org/record/7017596