Sinopoda muyuensis, Zhong & Zeng & Gu & Yu & Yang, 2022

Zhong, Yang, Zeng, Meng-Yun, Gu, Chao-Lan, Yu, Hui-Liang & Yang, Jing-Yuan, 2022, A new species of Sinopoda from China, with first description of the male of S. wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (Araneae, Sparassidae), ZooKeys 1116, pp. 121-132 : 121

Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 4A, B, E-H , 5A, B , 6

Type material.

Holotype: ♂ (HUST 0003), China: Hubei: Shennongjia Forestry District, Muyu Town, Guanmenshan Scenic Area; 31.45°N, 110.40°E; alt. 1200 m; 10.XII.2021; Y. Zhong leg. Paratypes (HUST): 2♂, 3♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology.

‘Muyu’ refers to the type locality of this species, Muyu Town.

Diagnosis.

The male of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. resembles S. angulata Jäger, Gao & Fei, 2002 ( Zhu et al. 2020: figs 1A-C, 2A-C) and S. yichangensis Zhu, Zhong & Yang, 2020 ( Zhu et al. 2020: figs 4A-C, 5A-C; Gong and Zhong 2021: figs 2A-C) in having the embolus distally filiform, as long as the embolic apophysis, and RTA arising subdistally from tibia, but the new species can be separated from S. angulata by the posterior margins of the embolic apophysis being distinctly humped (smooth in S. angulata ); from S. yichangensis by the tip of embolic apophysis with a pointed end (blunt in S. yichangensis ). Females are similar to those of S. angulata ( Zhu et al. 2020: fig. 2D, E) in having the epigyne with a lobal septum ~ 1/4 of the epigynal width, posterior part of the spermathecae considerably larger than the glandular projection, and the angle of the diverging internal duct system ~ 80°, but distinguished by the vulva with its internal duct system not touching (touching along the median line in S. angulata ); glandular appendages extending into the median half of the internal duct system (anterior half in S. angulata ); ends of internal duct system nearly straight in dorsal view (bent at 180° in S. angulata ) (Figs 1 , 2 ).

Description.

Male. PL 5.3, PW 4.7, AW 2.5, OL 5.8, OW 3.9. Eyes: AME 0.19, ALE 0.31, PME 0.22, PLE 0.32, AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.36, AME-PME 0.38, ALE-PLE 0.25, CHAME 0.19, CHALE 0.26. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 1100; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 101; Ti: I-IV 2326; Mt: I-II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.8 (2.4, 1.3, 1.3, -, 1.8), I 17.6 (4.4, 1.4, 5.5, 4.9, 1.4), II 19.1 (5.6, 1.7, 6.5, 3.9, 1.4), III 15.7 (4.9, 1.5, 4.8, 3.3, 1.2), IV 15.9 (5.3, 1.5, 4.8, 3.3, 1.0). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 36 denticles (Fig. 4A ). Carapace yellowish brown dorsally, with yellow transversal stripe posteriorly, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellow with brown margin. Endites and labium deep yellowish brown, with margin deep brown. Legs yellowish brown, covered by short spines. Opisthosoma yellowish brown dorsally, with three pairs of dark patches laterally. Opisthosoma uniformly yellowish brown with some brown patches ventrally (Fig. 4E, F ).

Palp as in Fig. 1 . Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia. Embolus S-shaped, arising from tegulum at nearly the 6- o’ clock-position in ventral view. Conductor arising at 12- to 1- o’ clock-position from tegulum. RTA arising mesially to distally from tibia, with distinct brush of stiff setae. dRTA slender, finger-shaped, vRTA roughly rectangular in retrolateral view.

Female. PL 5.7, PW 4.8, AW 3.1, OL 5.9, OW 3.9. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.25, PME 0.18, PLE 0.25, AME-AME 0.27, AME-ALE 0.09, PME-PME 0.33, PME-PLE 0.35, AME-PME 0.32, ALE-PLE 0.28, CHAME 0.20, CHALE 0.25. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2026, 1014; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 000; Ti: I-III 2026, IV 2024; Mt: I-II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.8 (1.9, 0.8, 1.3, -, 1.8), I 14.6 (4.5, 2.4, 4.1, 2.3, 1.3), II 16.9 (5.2, 2.4, 4.1, 3.8, 1.4), III 13.2 (4.4, 2.0, 3.0, 2.6, 1.2), IV 14.2 (4.7, 1.8, 3.4, 3.0, 1.3). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 45 denticles (Fig. 4B ).

Copulatory organ as in Fig. 2 . Epigynal field wider than long, with short anterior bands and one slit sensillum on each side close to the epigynal field. Lateral lobes fused, with some fusion bubbles along median line. Fertilisation ducts arising posterolaterally. Membranous sac between fertilisation ducts almost rectangular.

Colouration in ethanol as in males, but generally slightly darker, Opisthosoma brown dorsally (Fig. 4G, H ).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov., holotype male A-C palp, left (A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view). Abbreviations: C - conductor, dRTA - dorsal branch of RTA, E - embolus, EA - embolic apophysis, SP - spermophore, T - tegulum, vRTA - ventral branch of RTA. Red arrow: embolic apophysis projection. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov., paratype female A epigyne B vulva (A ventral view B dorsal view). Abbreviations: AB - anterior bands, FD - fertilisation duct, GA - glandular appendage, LL - lateral lobes, LS - lobal septum, MS - membranous sac, PP - posterior part of spermathecae, SS - slit sensillum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 4. A, B cheliceral dentition of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. C, D cheliceral dentition of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 E-H habitus of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. I-L habitus of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (A, C, F, J male, ventral view E, I male, dorsal view B, D, H, L female, ventral view G, K female, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 5 mm (E-L).

Figure 5. A, B Photograph of living Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. C photograph of living Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 A male B, C female.

Figure 6. Distribution records of Sinopoda species in China 1 Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. 2 Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021.