Hotwheels sisyphus, Liu & Zhang, 2024

Liu, Bo & Zhang, Feng, 2024, Hotwheels gen. nov., a new ground spider genus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from southwest China, ZooKeys 1189, pp. 337-347 : 337

Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 西西弗斯火轮蛛

Type material.

Holotype ♂, China: Guizhou Prov., Bijie City, Hezhang Co., Yemachuan Town, Dayan Cave, 27.132997°N, 104.818279°E, 1392 m elev., 2.X. 2019, leg. Z. Feng & L. Zhao. Paratype: 1♀1♂, same data as holotype; 1♂1♀, China: Guizhou Prov., Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Pref., Xingren City, Xinlongchang Town, Lianzhuang Vil., Daxiao Cave, 25.438033°N, 105.116197°E, 1473 m elev., 5.VIII.2022, leg. Y. Hou & L. Zhang; 1♂, China: Sichuan Prov., Leshan City, Emei Mt, Jiulinggang, 29.558433°N, 103.347167°E, 1811 m elev., 13.IV.2018, leg. Z. Zhang & L. Wang; 1♂1♀, China: Yunnan Prov., Honghe Autonomous Pref., Mile Co., Hongxi Town, Bailong Cave, 1.IV.2018, leg. H. Wang.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from Sisyphus, a king in Greek mythology who offended Zeus and whose punishment was to repeatedly roll a huge stone up a hill only to have it roll back down, because the circular copulatory ducts are like Sisyphus’s cyclic mission; noun in apposition.

Description.

Male. Holotype (Fig. 1A, B ): total length 5.08; carapace 2.56 long, 1.95 wide; abdomen 2.52 long, 1.70 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.16, PME 0.10, PLE 0.13; AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.02, ALE-PLE 0.03. Leg measurements: I 7.28 (2.11, 0.92, 1.76, 1.39, 1.10), II 6.18 (1.83, 0.80, 1.48, 1.13, 0.94), III 5.62 (1.62, 0.65, 1.18, 1.26, 0.91), IV 7.89 (1.97, 0.81, 1.91, 2.06, 1.14). Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with 4 teeth (Fig. 1C ).

Palp in regular state (Fig. 2 ). Femur and patella unmodified. Tibia with long retrolateral apophysis, nearly 2 × longer than tibia, with prolateral curved tip. Cymbium pear shaped, without apical spines. Median apophysis on retrolateral apex of tegulum, nearly 2 × wider than tegulum, pointed, curved. Conductor weakly sclerotized, folded and covered on tegulum and subtegulum, posterior part hidden behind median apophysis. Distal tubular membrane connects radix to tegulum. Embolus long, originates at about 7-8 o’clock, basal half rotated anticlockwise, with terminal membrane and two embolar processes (EP1, EP2), posterior half usually hidden behind conductor. Ejaculatory duct distinct.

Expanded palp (Fig. 3A-E ). Basal haematodocha large, well developed. Subtegulum smaller than tegulum. Median haematodocha small. Conductor originates at tegulum prolaterally, expanded, crescent shaped with thickened border. Distal tubular membrane expanded, spherical. Terminal membrane inflated.

Female. Paratype (Fig. 4 ): total length 5.77; carapace 2.83 long, 2.02 wide; abdomen 2.94 long, 2.05 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.16, ALE 0.15, PME 0.11, PLE 0.13; AME-AME 0.03, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.06, ALE-PLE 0.04. Leg measurements: I 7.15 (2.16, 0.98, 1.68, 1.22, 1.11), II 6.17 (1.84, 0.90, 1.39, 1.12, 0.92), III 5.98 (1.62, 0.67, 1.24, 1.38, 1.07), IV 8.34 (2.37, 0.80, 1.80, 2.25, 1.12). Cheliceral promargin with 5 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth (Fig. 1D ).

Epigyne (Fig. 5 ). Epigynal plate elongated oval. Anterior folds form hood. Copulatory openings large, distinct, located mediolaterally. Copulatory ducts long, wide anteriorly, almost twice as wide as primary spermathecae, circular anteriorly and medially, membranous medially. Primary spermathecae small and globular. Secondary spermathecae small, with long ducts. Fertilization ducts extend laterally.

Distribution.

China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan) (Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov., male (A-C, F) and female (D, E) A, B habitus, dorsal and ventral view C, D left chelicera, retrolateral view E, F spigots on anterior lateral spinneret. Abbreviations: MaAm = major ampullate gland spigot, Pi = piriform gland spigot.

Figure 2. Male left palp of Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view C prolateral view D retrolateral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor, DTM = distal tubular membrane, E = embolus, ED = ejaculatory duct, EP 1 = embolar process, MA = median apophysis, R = embolar radix, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum, TM = terminal membrane.

Figure 3. Expanded male left palp of Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov. (A-E), Synaphosus palearcticus Ovtsharenko, Levy & Platnick, 1994 (F) and S. cangshanus Yang, Yang & Zhang, 2013 (G). A prolateral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D frontal view E embolar processes F retrolateral view G anterior view. Abbreviations: C = conductor, CA 1 - 3 = apophysis of conductor, BH = basal haematodocha, DTM = distal tubular membrane, E = embolus, ED = ejaculatory duct, EP 1 - 2 = embolar process, MA = median apophysis, MH = median haematodocha, R = embolar radix, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, SD = sperm duct, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum, TM = terminal membrane.

Figure 4. Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov., female A, B habitus, dorsal and ventral view C, D right tarsus and metatarsus IV, preening brush, in prolateral (C) and ventral view (D).

Figure 5. Epigyne of Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov., intact (A-C, E, G) or macerated in clove oil (D, F), in ventral (A, D), frontal (C) and dorsal (B, E, F) view G CD path. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct, CO = copulatory opening, DSS = duct of secondary spermatheca, FD = fertilization duct, H = hood, PS = primary spermatheca, SS = secondary spermatheca.

Figure 6. Map showing type locality and other records of Hotwheels sisyphus sp. nov.