Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004

Cruz Da Silva, Estevam L., Gibbons, Anne & Sierwald, Petra, 2015, Description of the male of Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 (Araneae: Lycosoidea: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 3946 (1), pp. 139-145 : 140-144

Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004

Figs 2–11

Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004: 374 , figs 35–37, female holotype from Yunnan, Menglun, China [21°55’N, 101°15’E], 06.VII.2001, C. Zhang (MHU) (not examined).

Diagnosis. Females of D. raptoroides resemble D. raptor , especially in shape of the epigynym. However, the trajectory of the copulatory ducts differ significantly, being tightly coiled in D. raptoroides and positioned at the posterior edge of the vulva. Males of D. raptoroides resemble those of D. raptor Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (Figs 12, 13) by the slender shape of the median apophysis (MA) (Fig. 12) and by the acute apex of the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) with short projections (Fig. 13), but can be distinguished from the latter by the narrower base of the basal apophysis of the cymbium (BAC) ( Figs 7 , 10 ), by the larger and rounded ventral tibial apophysis (VTA) ( Figs 7 , 10 ), by the rounded apex of conductor (C) with a retrolateral triangular projection ( Fig. 7 ) and by the four acute projections on the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) ( Figs 9 , 11 ).

Description. Male (Yunnan Province, China, Southwest University, GSLD-11-16). Total length: 10.9, Carapace 5.6 long, 4.8 wide, brown, with two parallel irregular very light brown bands ( Fig. 2 ). Laterals of carapace dark brown ( Fig. 3 ). Clypeus, 0.40 long, dark brown ( Fig. 5 ). Anterior eye row straight, 1.16 wide ( Fig. 5 ); posterior recurved, 1.84 wide ( Fig. 5 ). Eye diameters, interdistances, and median ocular quadrangle: AME 0.18, ALE 0.20, PME 0.32, PLE 0.40; AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.20, PLE-PME 0.38, OQA 0.52, OQP 0.86, OQH 0.74. Sternum 4.25 long, 4.37 wide; light brown with long dark brown bristles ( Fig. 4 ). Labium 1.87 long, 1.75 wide, dark brown ( Fig. 4 ). Legs light brown, leg formula: I-II-III-IV, leg lengths: I-femur 10.25/ patella-tibia 15.0/ metatarsus 10.00/ tarsus 6.87/ total 42.12; II-9.75/ 13.75/ 9.62/ 6.00/ 39.12; III- 9.37/ 12.50/ 9.00/ 5.62/ 36.5; IV- 9.37/ 14.25/ 11.25/ 7.125/ 42.00. Abdomen 5 long, dark brown with an anterior patch of bristles ( Fig. 2 ). Conductor with a rounded apex and a retrolateral triangular projection ( Figs 6, 7 , 10 ). Median apophysis with elongated and thin base ( Figs 6, 7 , 10 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) with four acute projections, with the anterior being the largest ( Fig. 8, 9 , 11 ).

Variation. D. raptoroides males (N= 9) range in carapace length from 3.7–6. Males appear to be generally smaller than males of D. raptor (carapace length 4.5–7.4, N=5). Most males of D. raptoroides have a pair of at best faint light brown lateral stripes along the carapace. In contrast, the examined D. raptor males possess distinctly light-colored parallel lateral stripes alongside their carapace. Both D. raptor and D. raptoroides share the short, conical palpal tibia, with an apical large protuberance covered with a dense brush of strong bristles ( Figs 10 –13). Judging from the illustrations of male palps by Zhang et al. (2004) of Chinese Dolomedes species, this feature appears to be unique to D. raptor and D. raptoroides . The retrolateral apophysis, especially the apical prongs, was found to be somewhat variable among the examined specimens of both species.

Female. The epigynum and vulva of the female D. raptoroides specimen examined here matches the epigynum and vulva of the type specimen (compare Figs 14–15 and Zhang et al. 2004: figs 36, 37). Size ranges: carapace length for D. raptoroides females is given as 11.93 ( Zhang et al. 2004), the specimen examined here features a carapace length of 10. Females of D. raptor appear to be in a similar size range (N=4, 5.7–12.5 carapace length; Paik 1969 reports carapace length from 8–10, N=3). Sexual size dimorphism seems to be more pronounced in D. raptoroides than D. raptor .

Natural history. Unknown.

Distribution. China ( Fig. 1 ).

Material examined. CHINA, Shanxi Province: Hanzhong City, Lveyang County [33°36’N, 106°18’E], 2 ♂, 01.VI.2013, M. X. Liu, X. W. Meng (Southwest University, SXWLD-13-16); Hanzhong City, Shenba County, Qingshui Town, Renhe Village, Baitianhe Natural Reserve [32°46’N, 107°42’E, elevation 1048 m], 3 ♂, 26.V.2013, M. X. Liu, X. W. Meng (Southwest University, SXBTH-13-08); Yunnan Province: Liangdang County, Pingfeng Village [33°41’N, 106°24’E, elevation 1347 m], 1 ♂, 04.VI. 2011, L. Y. Wang (Southwest University, GSLD-11-16); Chongqing City: Simian Mountain, Feilong Temple [28°36’N, 106°22’E, elevation 990 m], 1 ♂, 19.VII. 2011, L. Y. Wang, M. X. Liu (Southwest University, CQSMS-11-12); Sichuan: Baoxing County, Longdong town [30°28’N, 102°42’E, elevation 1171 m], 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 28.VI.2004, P. Jäger (♂, SMF 62832, ♀ SMF 62830); Luding County, Liang Hekon [29°27’N, 102°10’E, elevation 1061 m], 1 ♂, 21.VII.2004, P. Jäger ( SMF 62831).

D. raptor Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 : CHINA, Chongqing City: Nanchuang, [29°31’N, 108°46’E], 1 ♂, 2–3.VII. 2011, Z. S. Zhang (Southwest University, CQSMS without number); Chongqing City: Jiangiin District [28°39’N, 106°24’E, elevation 923 m], 1 ♂, 16.VII. 2011, L. Y. Wang, M. X. Liu (Southwest University, CQSMS-11-10); Sichuan: Bazhong City, Nanjiang County, Guangwu Mountain, Taoyuan Village [32°41’N, 106°47’E, elevation 1703 m], 1 ♀, 14.V.2013, X.K. Jiang, D. Wang (Southwest University, SCNJ-13-04). TAIWAN, Taichung City, Dongshi, [24°17’06.78”N, 120°52’03.96”E]; 1 ♂, III. 2012, Tai-Shen Lin ( FMNH 103042); same data: 1♂, ( FMNH 103043); 1♀, ( FMNH 103044); 1 ♀, ( FMNH 103045). JAPAN, Kanagawa Pref., Hadano-shi, Okura, [35°22’N, 139°13’E], 1 ♀, 21.VII.1988, A. Tanikawa ( FMNH 103036); Tokyo, Hachioji Castle ruin, Hachioji-shi, [35°39’N, 139°15’E], 1 ♂, 21.V.1989, A. Tanikawa ( FMNH 103037).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 in China.

FIGURES 2 – 5. Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 (SMF 62832). 2 – 5 male habitus (2 dorsal, 3 detail of carapace, 4 ventral, 5 frontal).

FIGURES 6 – 9. Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 (SMF 62832). 6, 7 male left palpus (6 ventral, 7 detail of bulbus); 8, 9 right palpus (8 retrolateral, 9 detail of RTA) (BAC = basal apophysis of cymbium, C = conductor, DTP = distal tegular projection, E = embolus, FUL = fulcrum, MA = median apophysis, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, SAD = saddle, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum, VTA = ventral tibial apophysis).

FIGURES 10 – 11. Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 (SXWLD- 13 - 16), male left palpus (10 ventral, 11 retrolateral). FIGURES 12 – 13. Dolomedes raptor Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (FMNH 103042), male left palpus (12 ventral, 13 retrolateral) (BAC = basal apophysis of cymbium, C = conductor, DTP = distal tegular projection, E = embolus, FUL = fulcrum, MA = median apophysis, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, SAD = saddle, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum, VTA = ventral tibial apophysis).

FIGURES 14 – 15. Dolomedes raptoroides Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2004 (SMF 62830). 14 epigynum, 15 vulva (LL = lateral lobes, CD = copulatory duct).