Cheiracanthium xinjiangense, Zhang, 2023

Li, Zhaoyi & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Five new species of the long-legged sac spider genus Cheiracanthium C. L. Koch, 1839 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) from China, European Journal of Taxonomy 900, pp. 81-105 : 99-102

Cheiracanthium xinjiangense sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:894AEFBF-0080-4C96-9CDD-4DD637260AC7

Figs 9–10 , 11

Diagnosis

The male of this new species ( Fig. 10C–E ) is similar to C. pennyi O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873 ( Zhang et al. 2022: 180, fig. 133e–g) and C. punctorium (Villers, 1789) ( Almquist 2006: 356, fig. 309b–c) in having a biforked RTA, a circular-shaped embolus, a similar conductor and cymbial furrow, but can be distinguished by: (1) the longer cymbial spur and median apophysis; (2) the prolateral apex of RTA shorter than the retrolateral one (vs. nearly equal in other two species). The female ( Fig. 10A–B ) is similar to C. punctorium (Villers, 1789) ( Almquist 2006: 356, fig. 309d–e) and C. brevispinum Song, Feng & Shang, 1982 ( Zhang et al. 2022: 180, fig. 132c–d) in having similar shaped spermathecae, but can be distinguished by: (1) the broader anterior atrial margin; (2) the thinner copulatory ducts.

Etymology

The species epithet is an adjective derived from the type locality.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Xinjiang Uyger Autonomous Region, Shihezi City ; 12 Apr. 1982; MHBU-ARA-1013 .

Paratype CHINA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MHBU-ARA-1014 .

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.01. Carapace 2.57 long, 1.98 wide; abdomen 3.44 long, 1.82 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.12, PME 0.10, PLE 0.12; AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.27. MOA 0.38 long, front width 0.34, back width 0.40. Clypeus height 0.06. Sternum 1.37 long, 1.17 wide. Leg measurements: I 14.14 (4.06, 0.91, 4.18, 3.13, 1.86), II 10.05 (2.91, 0.87, 2.71, 2.55, 1.01), III 7.52 (2.16, 0.86, 1.65, 2.11, 0.74), IV 12.32 (3.62, 0.91, 3.10, 3.63, 1.06).

BODY ( Fig. 9A ). Prosoma yellowish brown, with indistinct radial striae. AER slightly recurved in frontal view; PER slightly procurved, and wider than AER in dorsal view. Chelicerae reddish brown, with 1 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Sternum yellow. Labium and endites same as carapace in color. Legs pale yellow, without distinct markings. Leg spines: I 1p-0-0, 0-1p1r-1v, 1v-0-1p; II 1p-0-0, 1p-2v-2v, 1v-1p-2v; III 1p1r-0-0, 1p1r-0-1p1r, 1p1r1v-1p-1p1r; IV 1p1r-0-0, 1p1r1v-1p1v-1d1v, 1p1r2v-2v-1p2r1v. Opisthosoma elongate-oval, dorsum with two pairs of muscular impressions and numerous white freckles, narrow longitudinal band in middle, enclosed by light spots; venter brown, with scattered white spots. Spinnerets coniform, ALS larger, PMS smallest, and PLS with two segments, distal segment very short.

PALP ( Fig. 10C–E ). Tibia long, ca ¾ of cymbium’s length; RTA long, ca ½ of tibia’s length, thornshaped, distally bifurcated, with prolateral apophysis blunt distally, slightly shorter than distally sharp retrolateral one; cymbium almost 2 × as long as wide; distal cymbium long, ca ⅓ of cymbium’ s length; cymbial furrow strongly developed, about ⅔ of cymbium’ s length; cymbial spur filiform, slightly shorter than tibia; tegulum oval, ca 1.2 × as long as wide; median apophysis long, more than ½ of tegulum’s length, sickle-shaped in ventral view; embolus located on distal side of tegulum, at about 11–12 o’clock position, extending clockwise along tegular margin, curving to distal conductor; conductor large, membranous, gradually tapering toward apex, lying at tegular tip; sperm duct semicircular.

Female (paratype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.19. Carapace 2.83 long, 2.20 wide; abdomen 3.36 long, 2.68 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.10, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.26, PME–PME 0.30, PME–PLE 0.32. MOA 0.32 long, front width 0.45, back width 0.53. Clypeus height 0.08. Sternum 1.45 long, 1.18 wide. Leg measurements: I 12.97 (3.42, 1.22, 3.18, 3.38, 1.77), II 8.01 (2.31, 0.92, 1.81, 2.10, 0.87), III 6.03 (1.79, 0.70, 1.19, 1.77, 0.63), IV 9.70 (2.93, 1.10, 2.34, 2.61, 0.72).

BODY ( Fig. 9B ). Prosoma orange, without distinct markings. Legs pale yellow. Leg spines: I 1p-0-0, 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v-0-1r1v; II 1p-0-0, 1p-1v-1v, 2v-1p-2v; III 1p1r-0-0, 1p1r-0-1p, 1p1r2v-1p1r-1v; IV 1p-0-0, 1p1r-1p1r-d, 1p1r2v-2p1r-1p2v. Opisthosoma oval, with numerous pale white spots.

EPIGYNE ( Fig. 10A–B ). Atrium ca 2 × as wide as long, atrial anterior margin arch-shaped and heavily sclerotized, posterior and lateral margins inconspicuous; two copulatory openings located at postero-lateral margins of epigynal plate; part of dark copulatory duct and spermathecae visible through tegument of epigynal plate in ventral view; spermathecae elongated, ca 3 × longer than wide; copulatory ducts short, forming one entwined loop, then upward folding and ascending into spermathecae.

Distribution

China, Xinjiang (localities in Fig. 11 ).

Figures

Fig. 9. Cheiracanthium xinjiangense sp. nov. A. ♂, holotype (MHBU-ARA-1013), habitus, dorsal view. B. ♀, paratype (MHBU-ARA-1014), habitus, dorsal view.

Fig. 10. Cheiracanthium xinjiangense sp. nov. A–B. ♀, paratype (MHBU-ARA-1014). C–E. ♂, holotype (MHBU-ARA-1013). A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. C. Left palp, prolateral view. D. Same, ventral view. E. Same, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 11. Distribution records of the five new species of Cheiracanthium in China.