Pronoides sutaiensis, Zhang & Zhang & Zhu, 2010

Zhang, Xiao-Xiao, Zhang, Feng & Zhu, Ming-Sheng, 2010, A review of the Asian orb weaving spider genus Pronoides (Araneae: Araneidae), Zootaxa 2642 (1), pp. 59-67 : 63-66

Pronoides sutaiensis new species

( Figs 10–16 )

Type material. Holotype ♀, CHINA: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Liupanshan National Natural Reserve (N 35°29ʹ, E 106°18ʹ), Sutai Forest Farm , 2 July 2008, C. Zhang leg. ( MHBU) . Paratypes: 4♀ 5♂, same data as holotype ( MHBU) ; 1♀, Guizhou Province, Leigong County (N 26°22ʹ, E 108°04ʹ), 4 June 2005, H. M. Chen leg. ( MHBU) ; 1♂, Shanxi Province, Yangcheng County, Manghe Town (N 35°22ʹ, E 112°26ʹ), 2 June 2006, S. C. Li leg. ( MHBU) .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles P. brunneus in the epigynal morphology, as both have spherical spermathecae and ligulate scapes, but the former, P. sutaiensis , can be distinguished from the latter by: (1) female abdominal humps extending laterally, while extending anteriorly in P. brunneus ; (2) the width of epigynum is 2.3 times greater than the length, while 1.9 times less than the length in P. brunneus ; (3) embolus tip tapering to a single point, while broadly bifurcated in P. brunneus ; (4) male femora I with 13–14 long prolateral macrosetae, while with 6–7 long prolateral macrosetae in P. brunneus .

Description. Female (holotype). Total length 4.23: cephalothorax 1.68 long, 1.38 wide; abdomen 3.16 long, 3.11 wide. Carapace ( Fig. 10 ) yellow brown, pear-shaped in dorsal view. Cervical groove dark brown, radial grooves inconspicuous. Cephalic region raised, with white thin setae. Clypeal height 0.13. Both eye rows recurved, posterior eye row wider than anterior one; PMEs slightly projecting. Eye diameters: AME 0.08, ALE 0.05, PME 0.13, PLE 0.05; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.25, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.30. MOA trapezoidal, wider than long (0.45: 0.28), narrower in front than in back (0.28: 0.45). Chelicerae yellow brown, with three promarginal teeth (middle the largest) and three retromarginal teeth. Labium dark brown, distal part yellow, wider than long (0.35: 0.25). Endites brown, inner margins yellowish, with some thin setae. Sternum yellow brown, longer than wide. Legs strong; femora I–IV yellow brown, other segments yellow. Leg measurements: I 4.89 (1.53 + 1.83 + 1.02 + 0.51), II 4.59 (1.53 + 1.63 + 0.92 + 0.51), III 2.51 (0.77 + 0.87 + 0.51 + 0.36), IV 3.48 (1.12 + 1.28 + 0.77 + 0.31). Leg formula: 1243.

Abdomen ( Fig. 10 ) relatively broad, with a pair of anterior humps extending laterally. Dorsum with milky-white patches centrally and laterally, posterior part with a blackish-brown rectanglular pattern. Venter yellow brown, with 3 pairs of brown spots centrally.

Epigynum with a heart-shaped depression on each lateral side. Scape ligulate; epigynal plate oval; copulatory openings situated along prolateral margin of the depressions; copulatory ducts short and thick; spermathecae spherical ( Figs. 11–12 ).

Male (based on one of the paratypes from Liupanshan National Natural Reserve, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region). Total length 3.42: cephalothorax 1.78 long, 1.48 wide; abdomen 2.04 long, 1.58 wide. Carapace yellow. Fovea longitudinal. Clypeal height 0.13. Eye diameters: AME 0.08, ALE 0.05, PME 0.13, PLE 0.05; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.23, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.25. MOA trapezoidal, wider than long (0.38: 0.28), narrower in front than in back (0.28: 0.38). Chelicerae yellow, with four promarginal teeth (third the largest) and three retromarginal teeth. Legs yellow. Coxa I with a small hook and femur II with opposing groove; femur I ( Fig. 16 ) with 13 long prolateral macrosetae. Leg measurements: I 6.38 (2.19 + 2.30 + 1.28 + 0.61), II 5.61 (1.79 + 1.99 + 1.22 + 0.61), III 3.36 (1.12 + 1.17 + 0.61 + 0.46), IV 4.54 (1.53 + 1.63 + 0.97 + 0.41). Leg formula:1243. Abdomen blackish-brown, lacking a pair of anterior humps.

Palp with two long patellar macrosetae. Terminal apophysis with an abruptly thinning finger-shaped end; conductor membranous; embolus curved and L-shaped in prolateral view, embolus tip tapering; median apophysis proximally wide, with a distal hook ( Figs.13–15 ).

Variation. Body lengths range from 3.47 to 4.23 in females (N=6) and from 3.16 to 3.57 in males (N=6). Femora I with 14 prolateral macrosetae in two males.

Distribution. China (Ningxia, Shanxi, Guizhou).

Discussion. The genus Pronoides has a close relationship with the genus Gasteracantha , according to Yin et al. (1997), and they placed both genera in the subfamily Gasteracanthinae . However, the phylogenetic position of Pronoides currently remains unclear ( Tanikawa 2007). We agree with Tanikawa’s opinion and here provide accurate illustrations and detailed character descriptions of two Pronoides species to advance the phylogenetic studies of this family.

Figures

FIGURES 10–16. Pronoides sutaiensis n. sp., 10–12, female. 10. Body, dorsal; 11. Epigynum, ventral; 12. Vulva, dorsal; 13–16, male. 13. Left male palp, prolateral; 14. Same, expanded; 15. Same, retrolateral; 16. Femur I, prolateral. C = conductor; E = embolus; M = median apophysis; TA = terminal apophysis. Scale bars: 10, 1.0mm; 11–15, 0.2mm; 16, 0.5mm.