Araneus eugenei, Mi & Li & Pham, 2023

Mi, Xiaoqi, Li, Shuqiang & Pham, Dinh-Sac, 2023, On five new species of the genera Araneus and Hypsosinga (Araneae, Araneidae) from Vietnam, ZooKeys 1161, pp. 69-87 : 69

Araneus eugenei sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 9A-D

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar44127), Vietnam: Vinh Phuc Province, Tam Dao National Park (21°31.56'N, 105°33.15'E), 10.V.2005, Dinh-Sac Pham leg. Paratypes: 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar44128), same locality and collector as holotype, 9.V.2005; 1 ♂ (IZCAS-Ar44129), same locality and collector as holotype, 12.V.2005; 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar44130), Ninh Binh Province, Cuc Phuong National Park (20°15.30'N, 105°42.55'E, ca 250 m), 18.VIII.2007, Dinh-Sac Pham leg.; 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar44131) Hai Phong Province, Cat Ba National Park, acacia plantation (20°47.27'N, 105°59.35'E, ca 40 m), 14.VII.2008, Dinh-Sac Pham leg.

Etymology.

The species name is a boy’s name from Vietnam; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis.

The female of the new species resembles that of A. ethani sp. nov. in appearance, but it can be distinguished in having 1) a triangular scape (Fig. 1B, D ) vs truncated (Fig. 3B-D ); 2) the copulatory openings situated on the posterior surface of the epigyne (Fig. 1B, D ) vs on the ventral surface (Fig. 3A ); and 3) the spermathecae separated by a distance of approximately one radius (Fig. 1C, D ) vs one diameter apart (Fig. 3D ). The male of the new species resembles that of A. liami sp. nov. in appearance, but differs in: 1) lacking heavily sclerotized denticulate protuberances on the palpal tibia (Fig. 2A-C ) vs with three heavily sclerotized denticulate protuberances (Fig. 5A, E ); 2) having the terminal apophysis distally pointed (Fig. 2A-D ) vs bifurcated (Fig. 5C, D ); 3) having the embolus tapered (Fig. 2A, D ) vs thread-like (Fig. 5A, C, D ); and 4) bearing a pair of low humps on the posterior part of abdomen (Fig. 1H, I ) vs lacking humps (Fig. 4G, H ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 1H, I , 2 , 9A-D ). Total length 3.85. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.55 wide. Abdomen 2.45 long, 1.45 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.30, MOA length 0.38, anterior width 0.45, posterior width 0.25. Leg measurements: I 6.25 (1.95, 2.20, 1.40, 0.70), II 5.50 (1.75, 1.85, 1.25, 0.65), III 3.70 (1.25, 1.20, 0.70, 0.55), IV 5.20 (1.75, 1.75, 1.05, 0.65). Carapace yellowish brown, with a V-shaped paler patch anteriorly to fovea; cervical groove slightly distinct. Chelicerae yellowish brown with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium yellowish brown, with yellow edge. Sternum yellowish brown, with gray setae. Legs yellow, with brown annuli; tibia I with 11 macrosetae; tibia II with seven macrosetae; tibia III with seven macrosetae; tibia IV with six macrosetae. Abdomen elliptical, ~1.7 × longer than wide, with two pairs of very low, lateral humps; dorsal abdomen with a longitudinal patch; venter grayish brown medially and with white patches laterally. Spinnerets yellow.

Palp (Fig. 2 ): two patellar bristles; tibia ~2 × wider than long; cymbium with projection on prolateral base (see arrow in Fig. 2A ); paracymbium finger-like; tegulum smoothly rounded in retrolateral; median apophysis ~1.4 × wider than long, heavily sclerotized, tapered end pointed to tip of cymbium; embolus ~0.5 × length of bulb diameter in prolateral view, tapered distally; conductor membranous, longer than wide; terminal apophysis about half bulb diameter width at base, tapered and curved distally.

Female (paratype IZCAS-Ar44131, Fig. 1A-G ). Total length 4.75. Carapace 2.25 long, 1.50 wide. Abdomen 3.65 long, 2.25 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.18, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.38, MOA length 0.43, anterior width 0.48, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 6.05 (1.85, 2.15, 1.35, 0.70), II 5.40 (1.65, 1.90, 1.20, 0.65), III 3.85 (1.25, 1.30, 0.75, 0.55), IV 5.70 (1.85, 2.00, 1.25, 0.60). Habitus similar to that of male, but much darker, and the two pairs of humps are more obvious.

Epigyne (Fig. 1A-D ): ~2.2 × wider than long in ventral view, scape triangular, ~3.0 × wider than long in posterior view; copulatory openings arcuated, situated on posterior surface; copulatory ducts also arcuated; spermathecae spherical, spaced by about one radius.

Variation.

Total length: ♂♂ 3.60-3.85; ♀♀ 4.25-4.75.

Distribution.

Vietnam (Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh and Hai Phong Provinces).

Figures

Figure 1. Araneus eugenei sp. nov. A-G female paratype IZCAS-Ar 44131 H, I male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., posterior view C vulva, dorsal view D ibid., posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., lateral view H ibid., dorsal view I ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-I).

Figure 2. Araneus eugenei sp. nov., male holotype A left palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 3. Araneus ethani sp. nov., female holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-G).

Figure 4. Araneus liami sp. nov. A-F female paratype IZCAS-Ar 44147 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C vulva, anterior view D ibid., posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-H).

Figure 5. Araneus liami sp. nov., male holotype A left palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E tibia of left palp, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 9. Legs of the new species, holotypes, prolateral view A-D Araneus eugenei sp. nov. E-H Araneus ethani sp. nov. I-L Araneus liami sp. nov. A, E, I legs I B, F, J legs II C, G, K legs III D, H, L legs IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.