Araneus shii, Mi & Wang & Gan, 2023

Mi, Xiaoqi, Wang, Cheng & Gan, Jiahui, 2023, Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, ZooKeys 1173, pp. 243-273 : 243

Araneus shii sp. nov.

Figs 7 , 8 , 15M-P , 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -197), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Muhuang Township, Jinchang Village, Maxi’ao (28°1.37'N, 108°45.00'E, ca 1340 m), 10.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratypes: 4♀ (TRU- Araneidae -198-201), same data as for holotype; 3♂6♀ (TRU- Araneidae -202-210), same locality, 26.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -211), Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Huguosi (27°54.54'N, 108°46.57'E, ca 1660 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -212), Mianxüling (27°54.89'N, 108°40.17'E, ca 1790 m), 23.VII.2021, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.

Diagnosis.

Females of the new species resembles A. flagelliformis Zhu & Yin, 1998 in appearance, but can be distinguished as follows: 1) scape with nearly parallel sides in ventral view (Fig. 7A ) vs twisted in an S-shape ( Yin et al. 1997: fig. 84c); 2) scape slightly beyond epigastric furrow in ventral view (Fig. 7A ) vs far exceeding epigastric furrow ( Yin et al. 1997: fig. 84c); 3) anterolateral humps on dorsal abdomen very low (Fig. 7E ) vs humps obvious ( Yin et al. 1997: fig. 84a); and 4) total length less than 6 vs total length longer than 16. Males of the new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following combination of characters: 1) terminal apophysis weakly sclerotized with a fine tip (Fig. 8A, C, E ); 2) subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, arched (Fig. 8A-E ); 3) median apophysis large, bifurcated, dorsal ramus long, curved, pointed at tip, ventral ramus very short with serrated tip (Fig. 8A-D ); 4) rather long embolus with a wide base (Fig. 8A, C, E ); and 5) tibia I slightly curved (Fig. 15M ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 7G, H , 8 , 15M-P ). Total length 3.60. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.70 wide. Abdomen 2.20 long, 1.75 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.33, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 6.70 (2.05, 2.55, 1.45, 0.65), II 5.80 (1.85, 2.20, 1.30, 0.45), III 3.70 (1.30, 1.25, 0.75, 0.40), IV 5.05 (1.65, 1.75, 1.15, 0.50). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with inconspicuous grayish brown radial patches in thoracic region, with pale setae. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites somewhat square, yellow with pale tip, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, grayish yellow with paler tip. Sternum cordiform, yellow with pale and grayish brown setae. Legs yellow with yellowish brown annuli, tibia I slightly curved, with nine macrosetae, tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with seven macrosetae, and tibia IV with nine macrosetae. Abdomen wide oval, ~ 1.25 × longer than wide, dorsum yellow to grayish brown, with dense, long, pale setae anteriorly and short, dark setae posteriorly; venter grayish brown with a pair of longitudinal white patches laterally. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Pedipalp (Fig. 8 ): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, bifurcated, dorsal ramus long, pointed at tip, ventral ramus very short with serrated tip; embolus prominent, slightly curved at tip in prolateral view; conductor somewhat square, widest at base in ventral view; terminal apophysis weakly sclerotized, with a pointed tip; subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, arched and covering most part of the embolus.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -198, Fig. 7A-F ). Total length 5.25. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 3.60 long, 3.45 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.35, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.43, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 5.70 (1.85, 2.00, 1.25, 0.60), II 5.20 (1.60, 1.90, 1.10, 0.60), III 3.30 (1.10, 1.10, 0.65, 0.45), IV 4.85 (1.60, 1.70, 1.05, 0.50). Habitus similar to that of male but abdomen a little paler.

Epigyne (Fig. 7A-D ): with a long base; scape long, extending forward first, then reflected to posterior, with nearly parallel sides and spoon shaped distal tip; copulatory openings wide and deeply concaved, at posterior surface; copulatory ducts curved about 90°; spermathecae elliptical, less than 1/4 of the spermatheca width apart.

Variation.

Total length: ♂♂ 3.45-3.80 (n = 4), ♀♀ 4.45-5.25 (n = 12).

Distribution.

Known only from type locality.

Comments.

The wide oval abdomen, long and ridged scape, and the male pedipalp with a bifurcated median apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group.

Etymology.

The specific name is a patronym of Mr. Lei Shi (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who helped us greatly with specimen collection on this research; noun in genitive case.

Figures

Figure 7. Araneus shii sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae - 198 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, anterior 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). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sc scape, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 8. Araneus shii sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E part of expanded bulb. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis, ST subterminal apophysis, TA terminal apophysis.

Figure 15. Legs of Araneus spp., male, prolateral view A-D A. chenjingi sp. nov., holotype E-H Araneus colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 TRU- Araneidae - 182 I-L A. lihaiboi sp. nov., holotype M-P A. shii sp. nov., holotype 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 17. Distribution map of the species.