Araneus yangchuandongi sp. nov.

Figs 11, 12, 16E-H, 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -241), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Huguosi (27°54.72'N, 108°28.62'E, ca 1500 m), 24.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg. Paratypes: 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -242), same locality as for holotype, 25.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -243-244), same locality as holotype, 8.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -245), same locality as holotype, 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -246), Dayuanzhi Village, Wanjuanshu (27°55.07'N, 108°37.67'E, ca 1200 m), 25.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -247), Huguosi (27°54.54'N, 108°46.57'E, ca 1660 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -248), Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Wuluo Township, Taohuayuan Village (27°59.10'N, 108°46.15'E, ca 1230 m), 4.IV.2022, C. Wang & X. Chen leg.

Other material examined.

1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -249), China: Guizhou Province, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Leishan County, Danjiang Township, Xiannütang, Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (26°22.38'N, 108°11.87'E, ca 1550 m), 29.IV.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -250), same locality (26°22.86'N, 108°11.79'E, ca 1790 m), 30.IV.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -251), Danjiang Township, Xiangshuiyan, Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (26°21.73'N, 108°9.59'E, ca 1200 m), 1.V.2018, G.J. Tian & H. Liu leg. ; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -252), Fangxiang Township, Queniao Village, Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (26°25.01'N, 108°13.78'E, ca 1150 m), 2.V.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -253), Tongren City, Shiqian County, Ganxi Township, Fuyan Village, Jiuchashu, Fodingshan National Nature Reserve (27°20.62'N, 108°3.56'E, ca 1410 m), 7.VI.2019 , C. Wang et al. leg.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 in appearance, but differs in: 1) copulatory openings slit-shaped (Fig. 11A) vs deeply concaved (Fig. 3A); 2) scape with nearly parallel sides (Fig. 11A) vs twisted into an S-shape (Fig. 3A); 3) carapace with ten macrosetae anterior to fovea (Fig. 11E, G) vs lacking (Fig. 3E, H); 4) embolus tapered (Fig. 12C-E) vs threadlike (Fig. 4A-E); 5) terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized pointed at tip (Fig. 12A-E) vs membranous and lamellar (Fig. 4A-E); and 6) conductor not much longer than wide (Fig. 12A-D) vs ~ 3.6 × longer than wide in retrolateral view (Fig. 4B).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 11G, H, 12, 16E-H). Total length 4.00. Carapace 2.15 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 2.70 long, 1.95 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 8.40 (2.45, 3.05, 2.10, 0.80), II 7.60 (2.15, 2.60, 2.10, 0.75), III 4.60 (1.55, 1.55, 0.95, 0.55), IV 5.95 (1.85, 2.10, 1.40, 0.60). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with pale setae, with ten macrosetae anterior to fovea, cervical groove slightly obvious. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth. Endites almost square, yellow, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, grayish yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow with inconspicuous dark patches and dark setae. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, without annulus, tibia I with 17 macrosetae, distally with constriction (see arrow in Fig. 16E), tibia II with 15 macrosetae, tibia III with nine macrosetae, tibia IV with ten macrosetae. Abdomen oval, pointed anteriorly and blunt posteriorly, ~ 1.38 × longer than wide, covered with dense setae, dorsum whitish yellow with a triangular gray patch anteriorly and four pairs of arcuate gray patches posteriorly; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Pedipalp (Fig. 12): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis bifurcated, with a large prolateral spur and four retrolateral teeth; embolus slender and straight, shorter than the conductor, bearing a tooth and a node, the embolic base about equal width to bulb diameter; conductor weakly sclerotized, not much longer than wide; terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized and pointed at tip, subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, somewhat flattened.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -242, Fig. 11A-F). Total length 4.35. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.80 wide. Abdomen 3.30 long, 2.95 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.40, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.45, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 6.75 (2.00, 2.50, 1.50, 0.75), II 5.60 (1.65, 2.00, 1.25, 0.70), III 3.70 (1.20, 1.25, 0.75, 0.50), IV 5.10 (1.55, 1.85, 1.15, 0.55). Habitus similar to that of male but the macrosetae anterior to fovea stronger, and anterior abdomen a little blunt.

Epigyne (Fig. 11A-D): scape with nearly parallel sides, distal end spoon shaped; copulatory openings slit-like, on the ventral surface; copulatory ducts longer than spermatheca, curved to an S-shape; spermathecae round, nearly touching.

Variation.

Total length: ♂♂ 3.90-4.00 (n = 2); ♀♀ 4.10-6.20 (n = 12).

Distribution.

Guizhou (Yinjiang, Songtao, Leishan, Shiqian).

Comments.

The oval abdomen and the long, ridged, distally spoon-shaped scape indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group. The somatic morphology and genitalia indicate that the new species is most similar to A. colubrinus, A. conexus, and A. zhoui .

Etymology.

The species is named after Mr. Chuandong Yang (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who has been committed to biodiversity conservation of Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve for the past 40 years; noun in genitive case.