Araneus tetracanthus, Mi & Li, 2022

Mi, Xiaoqi & Li, Shuqiang, 2022, On eleven new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, ZooKeys 1137, pp. 75-108 : 75

Araneus tetracanthus sp. nov.

Figs 16 , 17 , 19K-N

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43130), China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Township, Menglun Nature Reserve, Lüshilin Forest Park (21°53.84'N, 101°16.84'E, ca 550 m), 10.V.2019, Z.L. Bai leg. Paratypes: 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43131), G213 roadside (21°54.39'N, 101°16.80'E, ca 630 m), 22.XI.2009, G. Tang leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43131), G213 roadside (21°53.67'N, 101°16.98'E, ca 590 m), 26.XI.2009, G. Tang leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43133), G213 roadside (21°54.09'N, 101°17.02'E, ca 570 m), 28.XI.2009, G. Tang leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43134), G213 roadside, bamboo plantation (21°53.64'N, 101°16.94'E, ca 580 m), 3.XII.2009, G. Tang leg.; 1♂1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43135-43136), Masuoxing Village (21°54.02'N, 101°16.90'E, ca 560 m), 27.IV.2019, Y.F. Tong leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43137), #1 site in Mafengzhai Village (21°53.44'N, 101°17.40'E, ca 540 m), 29.IV.2019, Y.F. Tong leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43138), Lüshilin, secondary tropical seasonal moist forest (21°54.39'N, 101°16.72'E, ca 690 m), 6.VIII.2011, G. Zheng leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43139), Mohan Township, Shanggang Village, Xiaolongha, seasonal rainforest (21°24.19'N, 101°37.03'E, ca 660 m), 29.VI.2012, Q.Y. Zhao & Z.G. Chen leg.

Etymology.

The specific name comes from the Latin word “tetracanthus”, meaning "four spines", referring to the four protuberances on the median apophysis.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. arcuatus sp. nov., but it can be distinguished by the following: 1) epigyne with a scape vs scape lacking (Fig. 1A, B ); 2) copulatory openings on the posterior surface vs on the ventral surface (Fig. 1A, B ); 3) median apophysis with 4 tapered tips vs 2 tapered tips (Fig. 2A, C, D ); 4) tegular extension present vs lacking (Fig. 2 ); and 5) embolus longer than half the bulb diameter vs shorter than half the bulb diameter (Fig. 2D ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 16E, F , 17 , 19K-N ). Total length 2.40. Carapace 1.50 long, 1.25 wide. Abdomen 1.70 long, 1.30 wide. Clypeus 0.15 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.18, MOA length 0.30, anterior width 0.30, posterior width 0.28. Leg measurements: I 5.40 (1.70, 2.00, 1.25, 0.45), II 4.90 (1.50, 1.75, 1.20, 0.45), III 2.60 (0.85, 0.90, 0.50, 0.35), IV 3.85 (1.20, 1.30, 0.95, 0.40). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow, with sparse setae, cervical groove slightly distinct, inner base of PMEs brown. Chelicerae yellow, with 3 teeth on both margins. Endites yellow, tooth on anterior lateral edge, labium yellow. Sternum yellow, with sparse, dark setae. Legs yellow without annulus, tibia I with 9 macrosetae, tibia II with 10 macrosetae, tibia III with 6 macrosetae, tibia IV with 8 macrosetae. Abdomen slightly pointed anteriorly, blunt posteriorly, about 1.3 times longer than wide, dorsum whitish yellow with irregular grayish-yellow patch; venter grayish yellow, with sparse, dark setae. Spinnerets yellow.

Palp (Fig. 17 ): with 1 patellar bristle; tegulum with tapered, apically pointed extension anterior to embolus; median apophysis prominent, with 4 protuberances; embolus thick at base, distal half slender and covered by edge of conductor; conductor longer than half of the bulb diameter, distally tapered into pointed tip.

Female (paratype IZCAS-Ar43135, Fig. 16A-D, G-H ). Total length 3.50. Carapace 1.95 long, 1.35 wide. Abdomen 2.45 long, 1.95 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.18, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.25, MOA length 0.30, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.30. Leg measurements: I 6.50 (2.00, 2.40, 1.55, 0.55), II 5.00 (1.80, 1.90, 0.85, 0.45), III 3.25 (1.20, 1.10, 0.60, 0.35), IV 4.40 (1.40, 1.50, 1.05, 0.45). Habitus similar to that of male except anterior abdomen much wider.

Epigyne (Fig. 16A-D ): slightly wider than long, with distally rimmed scape; copulatory openings depressed, posteriorly located; copulatory ducts slender, long, revolved about 360°; spermathecae spherical, touching each other.

Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 2.15-3.00; ♀♀ 3.15-4.00.

Distribution.

Known only from type localities (Yunnan, China).

Figures

Figure 1. Araneus arcuatus sp. nov. A, B, E, F female paratype IZCAS-Ar 43085 C, D male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B vulva, ventral view C habitus, dorsal view D ibid., lateral view E ibid., dorsal view G ibid., ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C-F).

Figure 2. Araneus arcuatus sp. nov. male holotype A male palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 16. Araneus tetracanthus sp. nov. A-D, G, H female paratype IZCAS-Ar 43135 E, F male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., lateral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-H).

Figure 17. Araneus tetracanthus sp. nov. male holotype A male palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 19. Legs of Araneus spp. A, B A. minisculus sp. nov., male holotype A leg I B leg II C, D A. ovoideus sp. nov., female holotype C leg I D leg II E-H A. pseudodigitatus sp. nov., male holotype E leg I F leg II G leg III H leg IV I, J Araneus semiorbiculatus sp. nov., female holotype I leg I J leg II K-N A. tetracanthus sp. nov., male holotype K leg I L leg II M leg III N leg IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.