Araneus bidentatus, 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 bidentatus sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 4 , 18E-H

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43097), China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Menghai County, Menghai Township, Mengweng Village, Wengnan, secondary forest (22°4.94'N, 100°22.03'E, ca 1150 m), 2.VII.2013, Q.Y. Zhao & Z.G. Chen leg. Paratypes: 1♂1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43098-43099), same data as holotype; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar43100), Mengla County, Mohan Township, Shanggang Village, Xiaolongha, valley rainforest (21°24.25'N, 101°36.32'E, ca 760 m), 15.VI.2013, Q.Y. Zhao & Z.G. Chen leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is a combination of the Latin prefix “bi-” and “dentatus” (two toothed), referring to the two heavily sclerotized denticulate protuberances on the tibia of the male palp.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. bidentatoides sp. nov. in appearance, but differs in the following: 1) copulatory openings located at lateral ends of the scape groove vs at anterolateral base of the scape (Fig. 5A ); 2) copulatory ducts not expanded vs expanded at their origin (Fig. 5C ); 3) embolus slender, a bit more slender than the patellar bristle vs embolus stout, several times bigger than the patellar bristle (Fig. 6A, C, D ); 4) distal end of the terminal apophysis not tapered to a long tip vs tapered (Fig. 6 ); 5) median apophysis slightly curved vs curved about 90° (Fig. 6A ); 6) tibia with 2 heavily sclerotized denticulate protuberances vs protuberances absent (Fig. 6A, B ); and 7) fovea region and sides of thoracic region paler than thoracic region vs unicolor (Fig. 5D-G ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 3E, F , 4 , 18E-H ). Total length 2.70. Carapace 1.60 long, 1.20 wide. Abdomen 1.50 long, 0.95 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.10, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.20, MOA length 0.23, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.35. Leg measurements: I 5.45 (1.65, 2.00, 1.15, 0.65), II 4.50 (1.45, 1.55, 0.95, 0.55), III 3.05 (1.00, 1.05, 0.55, 0.45), IV 4.15 (1.40, 1.40, 0.85, 0.50). Carapace pear-shaped, grayish black with yellow patches around fovea and on lateral edges of thoracic region, ALEs, PMEs and PLEs with black base, with pale setae, cervical groove inconspicuous. Chelicerae yellowish brown, 5 promarginal teeth, 3 retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium dark brown at base, paler distally, endites square, labium triangular. Sternum cordiform, dark brown with dark setae. Legs yellow with grayish brown annuli, tibia I with 9 macrosetae, tibia II with 11 macrosetae, tibia III with 7 macrosetae, tibia IV with 8 macrosetae. Abdomen elliptical, about 1.25 times longer than wide, covered with gray setae, dorsum yellow with white spot anteriorly and irregular black markings; venter yellow with dark brown patches. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Palp (Fig. 4 ): patella with 2 bristles; tibia with 2 heavily sclerotized denticulate protuberances (fig. 4B, E); paracymbium widened at base, with a finger-like tip; median apophysis shorter than the conductor, tapered to a pointed tip; embolus slender, slightly curved; conductor very wide, semicircular in prolateral view; terminal apophysis extremely large, heavily sclerotized, with 2 widely separated protuberances in apical view.

Female (paratype IZCAS-Ar43098, Fig. 3A-D, G, H ). Total length 3.25. Carapace 1.55 long, 1.15 wide. Abdomen 2.35 long, 1.90 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.18, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.25, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.33. Habitus similar to that of male but with a pair of low anterolateral humps and a little paler.

Epigyne (Fig. 3A-D ): about 1.5 times wider than long; scape triangular, very short, about 5 times wider than long, distally with transverse groove; copulatory openings on the ends of the groove; copulatory ducts longer than the spermatheca diameter, curved; spermathecae globular, touching each other.

Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 2.70-3.25.

Distribution.

Known only from type localities (Yunnan, China).

Figures

Figure 3. Araneus bidentatus sp. nov. A-D, G, H female paratype IZCAS-Ar 43098 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 4. Araneus bidentatus sp. nov. male holotype A male palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E tibia of left male palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 5. Araneus bidentatoides sp. nov. A-C, F, G female paratype IZCAS-Ar 43102 D, E male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., posterior view C vulva, posterior view D habitus, dorsal view E ibid., lateral view F ibid., dorsal view G ibid., ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-C); 1 mm (D-G).

Figure 6. Araneus bidentatoides 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 18. Legs of Araneus spp. A-D A. arcuatus sp. nov., male holotype A leg I B leg II C leg III D leg IV E-H A. bidentatus sp. nov., male holotype E leg I F leg II G leg III H leg IV I, J A. complanatus sp. nov., female paratype Ar 43106 I leg I J leg II K, L A. cucullatus sp. nov., female paratype Ar 43110 K leg I L leg II. Scale bars: 1 mm.