Araneus floriformis new species

Figures 3, 4, 7

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Township: Longyuan Village, 28.00917°N, 98.32217°E, 1676 m, 31.X – 3.XI.2004, Guo Tang leg. (Tang-04-06) . Paratypes: 1♂ 3♀, same data as holotype (Tang-04-06); 1♂, Xianjiudang Village, 27.93914°N, 98.33214°E, 1634 m, 4–5.XI.2004, Guo Tang leg. (Tang-04-07) ; 1♀, Mokewang bridge, 27.83827°N, 98.32103°E, 1455 m, 6–7.XI.2004, Guo Tang leg. (Tang-04-08) ; 1♂ 1♀, Kongdang Village, 27.87961°N, 98.33878°E, 1527 m, 25.X.2004, Guo Tang leg. (Tang-04- 04) ; 1♂ 2♀, 2.3–3.3 air km south of Longyuan Village along Dulongjiang River, 28.00532°N, 98.32145°E, 1685 m to 28.01347°N, 98.32117°E, 1720 m, 2.XI.2004, D. H. Kavanaugh leg. (DHK-2004-068) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is the combination of the Latin “ floris ” (flower, blossom) and “ formis ” (form), referring to the flower-like scape; adjective.

Diagnosis. The new species resembles A. zhaoi Zhang & Zhang, 2002 (Zhang & Zhang 2002, fig. 1), but can be distinguished by: 1) anterior rim of tegular rounded in ventral view in A. floriformis n. sp. (Fig. 4B) vs. waved in A. zhaoi (Zhang & Zhang 2002: fig. 1D); 2) median apophysis uniramous in prolateral view in A. floriformis n. sp. (Fig. 4A) vs. with two rami in A. zhaoi (Zhang & Zhang 2002: fig. 1E); 3) distal portion of terminal apophysis sligntly curved in prolateral view in A. floriformis n. sp. (Fig. 4A) vs. hook-shaped in A. zhaoi (Zhang & Zhang 2002: fig. 1E); 4) scape straight, slightly wider than long, almost flower-like in A. floriformis n. sp. (Fig. 4G) vs. Sshaped, much longer than wide in A. zhaoi (Zhang & Zhang 2002: fig. 1B); 5) copulatory openings located laterally in A. floriformis n. sp. (Fig. 4G) vs. located posteriorly in A. zhaoi (Zhang & Zhang 2002: fig. 1C).

Description. Mal e (holotype, Fig. 3A, B, E): total length 3.70. Carapace 1.76 long, 1.49 wide, brown; fovea, cervical, and radial grooves distinct. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME, 0.11; ALE, 0.09; PME, 0.12; PLE, 0.11; AME–AME, 0.14; AME–ALE, 0.21; PME–PME, 0.07; PME–PLE, 0.32; MOL, 0.33; MOA, 0.33; MOP, 0.27. Sternum brown. Chelicerae brown, with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites brown with pale distal end. Labium brown, distal part pale. Legs yellow, with wide brown annuli. Tibia I with several strong spines: 2d, 5p, 1r. Leg lengths: I, 6.89 (2.11, 2.45, 1.68, 0.65); II, 5.97 (1.85, 2.16, 1.37, 0.59); III, 3.59 (1.26, 1.16, 0.71, 0.46); IV, 4.79 (1.63, 1.59, 1.14, 0.43). Abdomen 1.94 long, 1.65 wide, oval, grayish brown, with five pairs of white crescentic markings laterally and four pairs of sigillae; ventral median band greyish brown, lateral sides grayish. Spinnerets greyish brown.

Palp (Fig. 4A–F). Cymbium longer than wide, paracymbium hook-shaped with blunt tip. Tegulum wider than long. Median apophysis uniramous, curved with pointed tip. Conductor membranous, with swollen tip. Subterminal apophysis wider than long, sclerotized, with sharp distal end in ventral view, invisible on unexpanded palp. Terminal apophysis wide, sclerotized, with rounded tip. Embolus thin and curved, with pointed tip, embolic lamella membranous, almost suborbicular.

Female (one paratype of Tang-04-06, Fig. 3C, D, F): total length 4.27. Carapace 1.78 long, 1.49 wide; fovea concave. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME, 0.11; ALE, 0.10; PME, 0.13; PLE, 0.10; AME–AME, 0.15; AME– ALE, 0.25; PME–PME, 0.09; PME–PLE, 0.33; MOL, 0.32; MOA, 0.28; MOP, 0.28. Spines of tibia I: 2d, 2p, 1r. Leg lengths: I, 5.57 (1.73, 2.01, 1.22, 0.61); II, 5.08 (1.60, 1.84, 1.10, 0.54); III, 3.22 (1.07, 1.07, 0.59, 0.49); IV, 4.52 (1.46, 1.59, 0.97, 0.50). Abdomen 2.96 long, 2.41 wide, pale yellow; ventral median band pale brown. Spinnerets brown. Other color and pattern as in male.

Epigynum (Fig. 4G, H). About two times wider than long; scape straight, flower-like, slightly longer than epigynum, tip expanded distinctly; lateral plates depressed laterally; median plate slightly wider than long; basal lamellae absent. Copulatory openings located on the lateral sides of the epigynum. Copulatory ducts twisted. Spermathecae oval, almost touching each other.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 7).