Araneus cucullatus, 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 cucullatus sp. nov.

Figs 10 , 18K, L

Type material.

Holotype ♀ (IZCAS-Ar43109), China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Township, Menglun Nature Reserve, Lüshilin Forest Park, limestone seasonal rainforest (21°54.56'N, 101°16.86'E, ca 610 m), 29.XI.2009, G. Tang leg. Paratype: 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43110), Lüshilin Forest Park (21°54.71'N, 101°16.90'E, ca 660 m), 13.XI.2009, G. Tang leg.

Etymology.

The specific name comes from the Latin word “cucullatus”, meaning “hooded”, referring to the hood on the ventral surface of the epigyne.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. arcuatus sp. nov. in appearance, but it can be distinguished from the latter by the following: 1) epigyne about 2 times wider than long vs about 1.65 times wider than long (Fig. 1A, B ); 2) copulatory openings situated on posterior surface vs ventral surface (Fig. 1A, B ); 3) spermathecae separated vs touching each other (Fig. 1B ); and 4) abdomen with sparse, long setae vs lacking sparse, long setae (Fig. 1E ).

Description.

Female (holotype, Fig. 10 , paratype Ar43110, Fig. 18K, L ). Total length 4.80. Carapace 1.90 long, 1.50 wide. Abdomen 3.30 long, 2.90 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.23, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.20, MOA length 0.38, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 5.10 (1.40, 1.80, 1.30, 0.60), II 4.90 (1.40, 1.70, 1.20, 0.60), III 3.60 (1.10, 1.10, 0.90, 0.50), IV 4.80 (1.40, 1.70, 1.20, 0.50). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow, cervical groove distinct. Chelicerae yellow, 4 promarginal teeth, 3 retromarginal teeth. Endites almost rectangular, yellow with dark anterior edge, labium triangular, yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow, with dark setae. Legs yellow without annulus, distal tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus of legs I and II with a cluster of dense macrosetae. Abdomen elliptical, whitish yellow, with sparse dark setae; venter grayish yellow with white scaly spots. Spinnerets grayish yellow.

Epigyne (Fig. 10A-C ): about 2 times wider than long, with a hood; copulatory openings concave, at middle part of posterior surface; copulatory ducts slender, twisted at origin; spermathecae nearly globular, half the diameter apart.

Variation. Total length: ♀♀ 4.30-4.80.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (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 10. Araneus cucullatus sp. nov. female holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., posterior view C vulva, dorsal view D habitus, dorsal view E ibid., ventral view F ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-C); 1 mm (D-F).

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.