Gaiziapis zhizhuba Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009

Miller, Jeremy, Griswold, Charles & Yin, Chang, 2009, The symphytognathoid spiders of the Gaoligongshan, Yunnan, China (Araneae: Araneoidea): Systematics and diversity of micro-orbweavers, ZooKeys 11 (11), pp. 9-195 : 60-61

Gaiziapis zhizhuba Miller, Griswold & Yin , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A5F26A49-0CFA-4787-9533-5E048DD68BCA

Figs 50I , 59-64 , 99

Material Examined. Holotype: CHINA: Yunnan: Longyang Co., Bawan Dist, Nankang Yakou , 24.83178°N, 98.76472°E, 2180 m, 22-25 May 2005, understory of good forest on E-facing slope, dusting webs near forest floor, C. Griswold, CGY115 (CASENT 9022379, HNU), 1 ♁.

Paratypes: [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022380, CAS), 2 ♁, 5 ♀ ; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9029301, HNU), 1 ♁, 6 ♀, 1 juv ; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022381, HNU), 2 ♁, 6 ♀ ; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022389, CAS), 2 ♁; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9029299, CAS), 2 ♀, 1 juv ; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9029300, CAS), 1 ♁; Longyang Co., Bawan Township, forest below Dasheyao Forestry Station in Hunan He valley , 24.92597°N, 98.75806°E, 2272 m, 3 June 2005, disturbed forest, beating understory vegetation, C. Griswold, CGY136 (CASENT 9022391, HNU), 1 ♁; Baoshan Prefecture, pass over Gaoligongshan, Nankang , 36 air km SE Teng Chong , 24.83333°N, 98.78333°E, 2100 m, 4-7 November 1998, native forest, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, C.L. Long (CASENT 9029302, CAS), 1 ♁; Lushui Co., Yaojiaping, at Pianma Road km 44.7, 25.97479°N, 98.71027°E, 2516 m, 19-20 May 2005, disturbed forest, dusting webs in understory, C. Griswold, CGY111 (CASENT 9029298, CAS), 1 ♁, 1 ♀, 1 juv ; [same data] (CASENT 9022366, CAS), 1 ♁, 3 ♀ ; [same data] (CASENT 9022365, HNU), 1 ♁, 3 ♀ ; [same data] (CASENT 9022364, HNU), 1 ♁, 3 ♀ .

Etymology. Formed from the Chinese words for spider (zhī zhū) and eight (bā), referring to the double-hubbed web ( Fig. 64 ).

Diagnosis. Monotypic genus; see diagnosis for genus.

Description. Carapace reddish brown, thoracic region and clypeus with rugose texture. Sternum dusky red with rugose texture. Legs reddish brown, tarsal organ near proximal margin. Abdomen tan with many small red setal bases and a smaller number of larger red sigillae (without setae); with sclerotized ring around spinnerets; male with red dorsal scutum deeply invaginated anteriorly ( Fig. 59 ). Book lung covers present ( Figs 50I , 63 E-F). Labrum swollen, without distinct apophysis ( Fig. 62 D-E).

Male palp: Palpal patella with anteriorly-directed apophysis on retrolateral side (Fig. 61E). Cymbium covers much of retrolateral face of bulb ( Figs 60B , 61B). Ventral-prolateral region of bulb a complex group of apophyses, membranes, and invaginations ( Figs 60A , 61A, C-D).

Vulva: Genital region covered by red sclerotized epigynum-like plate ( Fig. 59E ). Spermathecae round, copulatory duct leads from spermathecae to bursa ( Fig. 50I ). Fertilization ducts inconspicuous.

Male (CASENT 9022380): Total length 1.06, carapace 0.49 long, 0.44 wide, clypeus 0.25, sternum 0.29 long, 0.29 wide, coxa IV separated by 2.19 times their width. Leg I: patella d1, tibia d1, p1; Leg II: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg III: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg IV: patella d1, tibia d1. Metatarsal trichobothria: TmI: 0.47; TmII: 0.44; TmIII: 0.40. Leg measurements: see Appendix A. Epiandrum sclerotized resembling female epigynum, epiandrous gland spigots absent ( Fig. 62F ). Posterior lateral spinnerets with complete sticky silk triplet (one flagelliform and two aggregate gland spigots; Fig. 63D ).

Female (CASENT 9022380): Total length 1.18, carapace 0.48 long, 0.46 wide, clypeus 0.22, sternum 0.31 long, 0.31 wide, coxa IV separated by 2.11 times their width. Palp absent. Leg I: patella d1, tibia d1, p1; Leg II: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg III: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg IV: patella d1, tibia d1. Metatarsal trichobothria: TmI: 0.45; TmII: 0.42; TmIII: 0.43. Leg measurements: see Appendix A. Spinnerets ( Fig. 63 A-C).

Natural History. This species builds a double-hubbed orb web ( Fig. 64 ). The phenomenon of a single spider with a double hubbed web has been observed previously in Tasmanapis (Ramírez, pers. comm.), which shares with Gaiziapis the deeply invaginated male scutum. Possibly, the double hub architecture is typical for a clade of anapid spiders.

Figures

Figure 50. A-C, Chanea suukyii sp. n. from Maku ridge; D-F, Maymena paquini sp. n. from Wayala Ku cave; G, H; Maymena kehen sp. n. from Lishadi, unlabeled arrow indicates diagnostic notch in scape; I, Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou.A, D, G, epigynum, ventral veiw; B, F, H, I, cleared vulva, dorsal view; C, male palp, cleared and expanded. BC: booklung cover; BH: basal hematodocha; CD: copulatory duct; FD: fertilization duct; S: spermatheca.

Figure 59. Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou. A, male, lateral; B, male, dorsal; C, female, lateral; D, female, dorsal; E, female, ventral; F, female, posterior.

Figure 60. Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou, male palp. A, prolateral; B, retrolateral. CB: cymbium; E: embolus; PAA: patella apophysis; T: tegulum.

Figure 62. Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou, SEM of male. A, prosoma, lateral; B, prosoma, anterolateral margin; C, labrum, anterior view; D, labrum, lateral view, dorsal to the left; E, chelicera, labrum, endites, ventral view; F, epiandrous region. Arrows in C and D indicate maximum extension of labrum.

Figure 63. Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou, SEM. A, female spinnerets; B, female ALS; C, female PLS; D, male PLS; E, epiandrous region, booklung covers, and pedicel insertion; F, epigynum, booklung covers, and pedicel insertion. AC: aciniform gland spigot; AG: aggregate gland spigot; ALS: anterior lateral spinneret; BC: booklung cover; CY: cylindrical gland spigot; FL: flagelliform gland spigot; MAP: major ampullate gland spigot; mAP: minor ampullate gland spigot; n: nubbin; PI: piriform gland spigot; PLS: posterior lateral spinneret; PMS: posterior median spinneret; t: tartipore.

Figure 64. Webs of Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n. from Nankang Yakou. A, B, web of male; C, web of female.

Figure 99. Distribution map, inset map shows study area. White: Maymena paquini sp. n.; purple: Maymena kehen sp. n.; red: Gaiziapis zhizhuba sp. n.; yellow: Patu qiqi sp. n.; blue: Patu xiaoxiao sp. n.