Utivarachna Kishida, 1940

Liu, Keke, Yin, Haiqiang, Haddad, Charles R., Xu, Xiang & Ma, Zhining, 2020, Two new species of Utivarachna Kishida, 1940 from southern China, with an updated key to the Chinese species (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 4803 (1), pp. 87-102 : 88-89

Genus Utivarachna Kishida, 1940

Utivarachna Kishida, 1940: 142 ; Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 369.

Type species: Utivarachna fukasawana Kishida, 1940

Diagnosis. Utivarachna is similar to Thysanina Simon, 1910 (see Lyle & Haddad 2006: 97, fig. 1), Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (see Jin et al. 2017 a: 25, figs 1A−C, 2A, B, 5A, B, 6A, B, 10A, B, E, F, 17A, B) and Trachelopachys Simon, 1897 (see Platnick & Ewing 1995: 3, fig. 1) in having dense fine granules on a broad carapace, but can be easily distinguished from them (see also Deeleman-Reinhold 2001 for a generic diagnosis, and Chami-Kranon & Likhitrakarn 2007, Zhao & Peng 2014, Jin et al. 2015 and this paper for species descriptions) by the broad and strongly convex, granulated caput with an undulating posterior margin ( Figs 1A , 2A , 7A ) (relatively narrow, tapering convex caput in Thysanina , Trachelas and Trachelopachys ); embolus with transverse folded part ( Figs 2 I−K, 3D) (without transverse folded part in Thysanina , Trachelas and Trachelopachys ); and epigyne usually with large posterior atrium ( Figs 5I, J ) (without notable posterior atrium in Thysanina , Trachelas and Trachelopachys ).

Description. Total length 4.5−8.5 mm, body color orange to dark. Carapace ( Figs 1A , 4A , 7E ) laterally invagi- nated behind the cephalic region, pars cephalica elevated in lateral view, orange to deep red-brown or maroon, with numerous black or white hairs; usually with dense fine granules, cervical groove and fovea on posterior part. Eyes ( Figs 1C , 4C , 7C ): AER procurved, PER recurved and much wider than AER, anterior medians usually round, ALE, PME and PLE slightly oval; eye group occupies between 2/3 and full width of caput. Chelicerae ( Figs 1D , 4D , 7D ): robust, most species enlarged basally, some flattened in frontal view; with 3−6 teeth on promargin and retromargin; usually with row of setae in front of promarginal teeth. Maxillae ( Figs 1E , 4E , 7E ): straight or slightly depressed laterally, with transverse groove, enlarged anteriorly, rebordered along mesal margin; serrula present, maxillar hair tuft well developed. Labium ( Figs 1E , 4E , 7E ): hexagonal or trapezoidal, usually longer than wide, with tuft of setae on anterior margin; located at distinct notch in anterior margin of sternum. Sternum ( Figs 1E , 4E , 7E ): heart-shaped or shield-shaped, distinctly elevated medially from margins, covered by numerous black setae with pitted bases; intercoxal sclerites large, distinct, fused to sternum, between all pairs, also protruding between coxae IV; pleural bars continuous, extending between coxae, almost touching intercoxal sclerites. Pedicel collar ( Figs 1E , 4E , 7E ): long or short, usually separated and not fused to carapace or abdomen, in some species fused to carapace. Legs ( Figs 2 A−H, 5A−H, 8A−H): with abundant short straight setae on each segment; femora usually enlarged in proximal half, legs III and IV usually slightly thinner; leg spines absent; conical ventral cusps sometimes present on femora, tibiae, metatarsi and/or tarsi I and II, often absent; metatarsi III and IV with ventral preening comb distally ( Figs 2E , 3A , 5G , 6E, H ); claws with few small teeth, claw tufts distinct. Abdomen oval in dorsal view ( Figs 1A, B , 4A, B , 7A, B ), with abundant short straight setae and distinct markings on anteromedian part dorsally.

Male palp ( Figs 2 I−L, 3C−E): femur and patella unmodified; tibia relatively long, slightly shorter or longer than cymbium; retrolateral tibial apophysis usually elongate, often bearing distal hook or strongly sclerotized spine on dorsal surface; cymbium usually ovoid; sperm duct U-shaped or S-shaped in ventral view; tegulum usually longer than wide, swollen or flattened, partly membranous; subtegulum well-developed; embolus filiform, long or short, anticlockwise, its base located dorsally and hidden between tegulum and cymbium, inserted distally.

Epigyne ( Figs 5I, J , 8J, K ): copulatory openings located in anterior, median or posterior part of genitalic plate, connected to anterior bursae by thin ducts; relatively large atrium located posteriorly; bursae diverse in structure, large or small, usually located laterally; copulatory ducts complex or simple, convoluted, slightly curved or straight; spermathecae diverse in structure, usually well-developed, located at lateral or anterior borders of atrium; fertilization ducts broad or thin, close to posterior border of atrium.

Figures

FIGURE 1A–E. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov., male holotype. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Eyes, dorsal view. D. Chelicera, retrolateral view. E. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, E = 0.5 mm; C, D = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2A–G. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov., male holotype, legs and palp. A. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia I, retrolateral view. B. Patella and femur I, retrolateral view. C. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia II, retrolateral view. D. Patella and femur II, retrolateral view. E. Tarsus and metatarsus III, retrolateral view. F. Tibia, patella and femur III, retrolateral view. G. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia IV, retrolateral view. H. Patella and femur IV, retrolateral view. I. Palp, prolateral view. J. Same, ventral view. K. Same, retrolateral view. L. Same, dorsolateral view. Scale bars: A–H = 0.5 mm; I–L = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3A–G. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov., male paratype, SEMs of leg IV and palp. A. Joint between tarsus and metatarsus, ventral view. B. Tarsus, ventrolateral view. C. Palp, ventral view. D. Same, detail showing embolus, ventral view. E. Same, detail showing the apex of RTA, ventral view.

FIGURE 4A–E. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov., female paratype. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Eyes, dorsal view. D. Chelicera, retrolateral view. E. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, E = 0.5 mm; C, D = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 5A–J. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov., female paratype, legs and genitalia.A. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia I, retrolateral view. B. Patella and femur I, retrolateral view. C. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia II, retrolateral view. D. Patella and femur II, retrolateral view. E. Tarsus and metatarsus III, retrolateral view. F. Tibia, patella and femur III, retrolateral view. G. Tarsus and metatarsus IV, retrolateral view. H. Tibia, patella and femur IV, retrolateral view. I. Epigyne, ventral view. J. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–H = 0.5 mm; I, J = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 6A–F. Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov. male palp and female genitalia. A. Male palp, prolateral view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Same, retrolateral view. D. Same, dorsolateral view. E. Epigyne, ventral view. F. Vulva, dorsal view.Abbreviations: A, atrium; B, Bulb; BU, bursae; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory openings; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; GP, glandular particles; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD, sperm duct; SP, spermathecae; ST, subtegulum; T, tegulum. Scale bars: A–F = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 7A–E. Utivarachna tangi sp. nov., female holotype. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, dorsal view. C. Eyes, ventral view. D. Chelicerae, ventral view. E. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, E = 0.5 mm; C, D = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 8A–K. Utivarachna tangi sp. nov., female holotype, legs and genitalia. A. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia I, retrolateral view. B. Patella and femur I, retrolateral view. C. Tarsus, metatarsus and tibia II, retrolateral view. D. Patella and femur II, retrolateral view. E. Tarsus III, retrolateral view. F. Metatarsus, tibia, patella and femur III, retrolateral view. G. Tarsus IV, retrolateral view. H. Metatarsus and tibia IV, retrolateral view. I. Patella and femur IV, retrolateral view. J. Epigyne, ventral view. K. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–I = 0.5 mm; J, K = 0.1 mm.