Two new species of the spider genus Songthela (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae) from Hunan Province, China

Two new species of the primitively segmented spider genus <i>Songthela</i> Ono, 2000, which were collected from Hunan Province, China, are described based on specimens of both sexes: <i>S.dongta</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (♂♀), and <i>S.lixi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (♂♀). <i>Songtheladongta</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is assigned to the <i>bispina</i>-group, while <i>S.lixi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> belongs to the <i>unispina</i>-group, based on the morphology of male palps and female genitalia. We also provide mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences for species identification and calculate the intra- and interspecific genetic distance among these two new species and 26 known <i>Songthela</i> species. These molecular data highlight distinct genetic divergence between the two new species and their congeners, facilitating future species delimitation. This study not only expands the known diversity of <i>Songthela</i>, but also contributes to a growing framework for understanding biogeographic patterns and evolutionary processes in ancient spider lineages.