Araneus shiwandashan Mi & Wang, 2023

Wu, Yibei, Wang, Cheng, Wu, Nanfei, Zhang, Mengfei & Mi, Xiaoqi, 2023, On four new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) from southern China, ZooKeys 1160, pp. 169-190 : 169

Araneus shiwandashan Mi & Wang sp. nov.

Figs 5 , 6 , 9I-L , 10

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -162), China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve (21°52.97'N, 107°54.88'E, ca 720 m), 6.X.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratype: 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -163), same data as for holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles Araneus floriformis Liu, Li, Mi & Peng, 2022 in somatic morphology and pedipalp structures, but differs in having 1) the median apophysis bifurcated vs uniramous ( Liu et al. 2022: fig. 4A-C); 2) the embolic lamella covering the embolus medially in prolateral view vs not covering the embolus medially ( Liu et al. 2022: fig. 4A, D); 3) copulatory openings at the posterior surface vs laterally ( Liu et al. 2022: fig. 4G, H); and 4) the epigyne scape triangular vs spoon-shaped ( Liu et al. 2022: fig. 4G, H).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 5G, H , 6 , 9I-L ). Total length 4.70. Carapace 2.50 long, 2.05 wide. Abdomen 2.80 long, 1.75 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.13, PME 0.15, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.28, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.33, MOA length 0.38, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.35. Leg measurements: I 9.35 (2.80, 3.40, 2.30, 0.85), II 8.60 (2.60, 3.10, 2.10, 0.80), III 4.90 (1.60, 1.65, 1.05, 0.60), IV 6.95 (2.15, 2.40, 1.70, 0.70). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow, with dark setae on sides of cephalic region. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow; four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites yellow with very narrow, dark anterior edge, with tooth-like process laterally. Labium triangular, yellow, paler at tip. Sternum cordiform, yellow with dark setae. Legs yellow with indistinct, yellowish-brown annuli; femur I with seven macrosetae; tibia I with 10 macrosetae; tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with eight macrosetae; and tibia IV with 11 macrosetae. Abdomen oval, ~1.6 × longer than wide, covered with pale setae; dorsum whitish yellow with six pairs of lateral patches; posterior patches darker; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets brown.

Pedipalp (Fig. 6 ) with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis prominent, bifurcate, dorsal ramus long, curved, ventral ramus short, straight; embolus strongly sclerotized, with basal tooth, distally semicircular, embolic lamella long, covering part of embolus; conductor membranous, subquadrate in ventral view; terminal apophysis flattened, heavily sclerotized distally.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -163, Fig. 5A-F ). Total length 7.25. Carapace 2.45 long, 2.00 wide. Abdomen 5.10 long, 4.55 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.13, PME 0.15, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.33, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.40, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.33. Leg measurements: I 7.85 (2.30, 2.85, 1.90, 0.80), II 7.10 (2.15, 2.50, 1.70, 0.75), III 4.30 (1.45, 1.40, 0.90, 0.55), IV 6.35 (2.10, 2.10, 1.50, 0.65). Femur I with a distinct macroseta prolaterally, tibia I with three distinct macrosetae prolaterally. Habitus similar to that of male.

Epigyne (Fig. 5A-D ) ~1.9 × wider than long; scape triangular, ~1.8 × longer than wide, directed posteriorly; copulatory openings concave, located at posterolaterally; copulatory ducts twisted into an S-shape, longer than spermatheca; spermathecae elliptical, touching each other.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Guangxi).

Comments.

The oval abdomen and the male pedipalp with a bifurcated median apophysis and arched terminal apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group, although the scape is not twisted or widened distally. Based on the somatic morphology and genitalia, the new species is most similar to A. breviscapus , A. floriformis , and A. pianmaensis .

Figures

Figure 5. Araneus shiwandashan sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae - 163 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-H).

Figure 6. Araneus shiwandashan sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E expanded bulb, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 9. Legs of Araneus spp., male holotypes, prolateral view A-D A. fenzhi sp. nov. E-H A. mayanghe sp. nov. I-L A. shiwandashan sp. nov. M-P A. zhoui sp. nov. A, E, I, M legs I; B, F, J, N legs II; C, G, K, O legs III; D, H, L, P legs IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 10. Distribution map of the species.