Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022

Liu, Bo, Wang, Luyu & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Revision of the genus Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022, with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 5346 (4), pp. 443-468 : 444-446

Genus Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022

Xizangia Song et al. 2004: 243 , 336.

Xizangiana, Sherwood et al. 2022: 64 .

Type species: Callilepis linzhiensis Hu, 2001 , by subsequent designation ( Song et al. 2004).

Diagnosis. Xizangiana can be recognized by the following combination of characters: 1) abdomen with a pair of anterolateral and medial white markings, several chevron-like posterior white stripes, and two longitudinal ventral black stripes ( Figs 1C , 4A–D , 7 , 9 , 13A–B , 15 , 18 , 21 ); 2) presence of preening brush on metatarsi III and IV ( Fig. 4E ); 3) presence of three to six promarginal and two or three retromarginal cheliceral teeth ( Fig. 2 ); and 4) trochanters without notch. Males can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: 1) presence of a membranous projection arising basally to the dorsal side of retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Fig. 3 ); 2) presence of an embolar base projection; 3) presence of a basally broad and distally curved median apophysis; 4) the embolar radix that fused with embolar base (except in X. xiangbi sp. nov.); 5) and the absence of a conductor ( Figs 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 19 , 22 ). Females can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: 1) presence of a scape with a distal dent; 2) the triangular or trapezoidal atrium with transversal folds; 3) the presence of anterior fold and lateral folds; 4) the contiguous, large and globular primary spermathecae with Bennett’s gland anteriorly; 5) and the presence of small secondary spermathecae ( Figs 6 , 12 , 17 , 20 ).

Xizangiana resembles Urozelotes Mello-Leit „o, 1938 in genitalic structures, but can be distinguished by: 1) the presence of preening brush on metatarsi III and IV ( Fig. 4E ; vs. preening comb on metatarsi III and IV, see Rodrigues & Rheims 2020: fig. 13D); 2) abdomen with a pair of anterolateral and medial white markings, several chevron-like posterior white stripes, and two longitudinal ventral black stripes ( Figs 1C , 4A–D , 7 , 9 , 13A–B , 15 , 18 , 21 ; vs. abdomen without markings or stripes, see Zhang et al. 2022: fig. 181A–B); 3) presence of a membranous projection arising basally to the dorsal side of retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Fig. 3 ; vs. membranous projection absent, see Platnick & Murphy 1984: fig. 56; Zhang et al. 2022: fig. 181G).

Redescription. Total length 2.95–6.85. Carapace elongate-ovoid in dorsal view, highest at central part between eye area and fovea, widest at coxae II and III. From above, anterior eye row slightly recurved ( Figs 4G–H ); posterior eye row straight ( Figs 4G–H ); PMEs oblique and flat ( Fig. 4H ). Fovea distinct, longitudinal. Cheliceral promargin with three to six teeth, retromargin with two to three teeth, fang shaft with serrula ( Fig. 2 ). Leg formula in males: 4123 or 1423 or 1432, Leg formula in females: 4123 or 1432. Trochanters of legs not notched. Metatarsi III and IV with preening brush ( Fig. 4E ). Abdomen with an anterior dorsal scutum. Color in alcohol ( Figs 4 , 7 , 9 , 13A–B , 15 , 18 , 21 ): carapace dark brown; cephalic groove and radial furrow black grey; Legs yellow-brown. Abdomen black grey with two white markings anterolaterally (sometimes absent in X. xiangbi sp. n.), two white markings medially, several chevron-like white stripes posteriorly, and two longitudinal black stripes ventrally.

Male palp. Retrolateral tibial apophysis wide at base, with a membranous projection dorsally; terminal membrane present (absent in X. xiangbi sp. n.); embolar radix fused with embolar base (except in X. xiangbi sp. n.); embolar base with a projection; ejaculatory duct and sperm duct visible; embolus tilt to median apophysis, with membranous tip; median apophysis curved, with broad base, narrowest at median part, distal part with blunt apex.

Epigyne. Epigynal plate long oval; atrium almost triangular or trapezoidal, with transversal folds; scape with a dent distally; anterior fold and lateral folds present, posterior parts of the lateral folds chevron-like; secondary spermathecae small, globular or oval; primary spermathecae globular, large and contiguous, with Bennett’s gland anteriorly; fertilization ducts leaf-shaped, laterally directed.

Remarks. Murphy (2007) thought that Xizangiana might be a synonym of Cladothela Kishida, 1928 judged by the illustrations in Song et al. (2004). However, by comparing with Cladothela defined by Kamura (1991), Xizangiana can be easily distinguished by the presence of two or three retromarginal cheliceral teeth ( Fig. 2 ; vs. absent in Cladothela , see Kamura 1991: figs 15, 22–24), and the absence of an apophysis on male palpal femur (vs. presence of a retrolateral hook-like femoral apophysis in Cladothela , see Kamura 1991: figs 8, 28–29).

Natural history. Xizangiana are found under stones and in leaf litter ( Fig. 1A–B, D–E ).

Distribution. China (Xizang, Yunnan), India ( Fig. 23 ).

Key to the Chinese Xizangiana species

Males

1. TM absent ( Fig. 11 )....................................................................... X. xiangbi sp. n.

- TM present.......................................................................................... 2

2. RTA with an arc-shaped MP ( Fig. 3A )........................................................... X. linzhiensis

- RTA with an angular MP............................................................................... 3

3. EP present ( Fig. 22B–C, F )................................................................ X. shenxian sp. n.

- EP absent........................................................................................... 4

4. RP present ( Fig. 8D–E ).............................................................. X. namchabarwa sp. n.

- RP absent........................................................................................... 5

5. Embolus relatively long, almost the length of tegulum ( Fig. 14A–B )....................................... X. rigaze

- Embolus relatively short, approximately 1/3 length of tegulum................................................. 6

6. EBP nail-shaped ( Fig. 19 )................................................................... X. benae sp. n.

- EBP broom-shaped ( Fig. 16A–B )............................................................ X. longlin sp. n.

Females

1. Atrium almost triangular ( Fig. 6A–B )........................................................... X. linzhiensis

- Atrium almost trapezoidal.............................................................................. 2

2. TF less than five ( Fig. 12A–B )............................................................... X. xiangbi sp. n.

- TF more than five..................................................................................... 3

3. Scape with a ratio of length to width less than 1.5 ( Fig. 6C–D )............................... X. namchabarwa sp. n.

- Scape with a ratio of length to width more than 1.5........................................................... 4

4. AF weakly sclerotized anteriorly ( Fig. 20A–B )................................................. X. shenxian sp. n.

- AF strongly sclerotized anteriorly........................................................................ 5

5. CD curved twice anteriorly ( Fig. 20C–D )....................................................... X. benae sp. n.

- CD curved once anteriorly ( Fig. 17A–B )....................................................... X. longlin sp. n.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitats and living spiders of Xizangiana spp., with arrows pointing to where the specimens were collected. A. X. namcharbawa sp. n. in Pai Town, Mainling County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China; B. X. longlin sp. n. in Quyu Village, Dazi District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China; C–D. X. benae sp. n., junior (C) and female (D); E. X. benae sp. n. in Drepung Monastery, Niangre Village, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China.

FIGURE 2. Chelicerae, ventral view. A–B. X. linzhiensis, female (A) and male (B); C–D. X. namchabarwa sp. n., female (C) and male (D); E. X. rigaze, male. F–H. X. shenxian sp. n., female (F–G) and male (H); I–J. X. benae sp. n., female (I) and male (J); K–L. X. xiangbi sp. n., female (K) and male (L); M–O. X. longlin sp. n., male (M–N) and female (O); Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. RTA, retrolateral view. A. X. linzhiensis; B. X. xiangbi sp. n.; C. X. namchabarwa sp. n.; D. X. shenxian sp. n.; E. X. longlin sp. n.; F. X. rigaze; G. X. benae sp. n.. Scale bars = 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 4. Xizangiana linzhiensis. A–B. Female, habitus, in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view; C–D. Male, habitus, in dorsal (C) and ventral (D) view; E. Female, metatarsus IV, preening brush, ventral view; F. Female, carapace, frontal view; G–H. Female, eye region, in frontal (G) and dorsal (H) view.

FIGURE 5. Palp of Xizangiana linzhiensis, in prolateral (A), ventral (B) and retrolateral (C) view. D. RTA, retrolateral view; E–F. Expanded palp, in prolateral (E) and retrolateral (F) view.

FIGURE 6. Female genitalia, in ventral (A, C) and dorsal (B, D) view. A–B. Xizangiana linzhiensis; C–D. X. namchabarwa sp. n..

FIGURE 7. Xizangiana namchabarwa sp. n., male (A–B) and female (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Xizangiana namchabarwa sp. n.. A–B. Palp, in ventral (A) and retrolateral (B) view; C. RTA, retrolateral view; D–F. Bulb, in prolateral (D), ventral (E) and retrolateral (F) view.

FIGURE 9. Xizangiana xiangbi sp. n., female (A–B) and male (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 10. Xizangiana xiangbi sp. n.. A–B. Palp, in ventral (A) and retrolateral (B) view; C. RTA, retrolateral view; D–F. Bulb, in prolateral (D), ventral (E) and retrolateral (F) view.

FIGURE 11. Expanded palp of Xizangiana xiangbi sp. n., in prolateral (A) and retrolateral (B) view.

FIGURE 12. Female genitalia of Xizangiana xiangbi sp. n., in ventral (A) and dorsal (B) view.

FIGURE 13. Xizangiana rigaze, male. A–B. Habitus, in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view; C. Chelicerae, ventral view; D. RTA, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 14. Palp of Xizangiana rigaze, in prolateral (A), ventral (B) and retrolateral (C) view.

FIGURE 15. Xizangiana longlin sp. n., male (A–B) and female (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 16. Xizangiana longlin sp. n.. A–C. Palp, in prolateral (A), ventral (B) and retrolateral (C) view; D. Expanded palp, prolateral view; E. RTA, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 17. Female genitalia of Xizangiana longlin sp. n., in ventral (A) and dorsal (B) view.

FIGURE 18. Xizangiana benae sp. n., female (A–B) and male (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 19. Xizangiana benae sp. n.. A. Bulb, prolateral view; B. RTA, retrolateral view; C–D. Palp, in ventral (C) and retrolateral (D) view.

FIGURE 20. Female genitalia, in ventral (A, C) and dorsal (B, D) view. A–B. Xizangiana shenxian sp. n.; C–D. X. benae sp. n..

FIGURE 21. Xizangiana shenxian sp. n., female (A–B) and male (C–D). Habitus, in dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 22. Xizangiana shenxian sp. n.. A–C. Palp, in prolateral (A), ventral (B) and retrolateral (C) view; D. RTA, retrolateral view; E–F. Details of the bulb, in prolateral-dorsal (E) and dorsal (F) view.

FIGURE 23. Records of Xizangiana species: 1 X. pawani comb. n.; 2 X. sedula comb. n.; 3 X. shenxian sp. n.; 4 X. rigaze; 5 X. benae sp. n.; 6 X. longlin sp. n.; 7 X. linzhiensis; 8 X. namchabarwa sp. n.. 9 X. xiangbi sp. n..