Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004

Meng, Ze-Yuan, Luo, Hui-Pu, Xiao, Yong-Hong, Xu, Xiang & Liu, Ke-Ke, 2019, Redescription of Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004 (Araneae, Thomisidae), with the first description of the male, ZooKeys 870, pp. 137-148 : 140-147

Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004 Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6

Borboropactus jiangyong Yin et al., 2004b: 27, figs 1-5; Yin et al., 2012: 1259, fig. 676 a–e. Holotype not examined (see below in Remarks)

Material examined.

1 ♀, 1 ♂ (JGSU), China: Jiangxi Province, Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City, Luofu Town, Xiangzhou Village, Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, 26°36'10.31"N, 114°15'15.52"E, 360 m, leaf litter, 5.X.2018, Ke-ke Liu and Hui-pu Luo leg.; as previous, 1 ♀ (JGSU), 26°36'10.8"N, 114°15'28.8"E, 375 m, leaf litter, 5 July 2017, Ke-ke Liu, Zhi-wu Chen, Ze-yuan Meng and Wen-jun Xie leg.; as previous, 1 ♀ (JGSU), 26°37'19.20"N, 114°15'54"E, 460 m, leaf litter, 6 August 2015, Ke-ke Liu, Sha Wu, Ze-yuan Meng, Ce Xu and Shi-cong He leg.; 1 ♀ (HNU), Yunnan Province, Baoshan City, Tengchong Town, Shangying Village, Chuanlong, 25°0'8.65"N, 098°25'24.85"E, 2000 m, 4 June 2006, Chang-min Yin, Jia-fang Hu and Xiao-hua Yang leg.; 1 ♀ (HNU), Guangdong Province, Shaoguan City, Ruyuan Town, Nanling National Nature Reserve, Qinshuigu, 24°55'07.89"N, 113°02'30.58"E, 830 m, 25 July 2016, Hai-qiang Yin, Tie-yang Zhou, Gu-chun Zhou, Chao-min Li, Ai-lan He, Wang Liu, Jin-xin Liu, Zhuo-er Chen and Chen Zeng leg.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species resembles both B. biprocessus Tang, Yin & Peng, 2012 and B. bituberculatus by the ear-shaped median apophysis on the tegulum, but can be separated by cheliceral teeth number, 4 promarginal and 3 retromarginal, instead of 4 and 4 in species B. biprocessus and 4 and 5 in species B. bituberculatus ; a strong RTA extending dorsally on palp cymbium, instead of relative thinner in species B. biprocessus and stouter in species B. bituberculatus , and the relatively narrowed membranous conductor, which is broad in species B. biprocessus and B. bituberculatus ( Figs 1C, D, F–H , 4 C–G , 5 ) (see also Yin et al. 2012: 1258, fig. 675 A–C; Tang and Li 2010: 18-20, figs 12 A–D, 14A, B). Females are separated from similar species of B. bituberculatus Simon, 1884 and B. brevidens Tang & Li, 2010 by the shape of the broad, cruciform median field (tongue-shaped in B. bituberculatus ; triangular in B. brevidens ), chelicerae with four promarginal teeth and 4 or 3 retromarginal teeth (4 pro- and 5 retromarginal teeth in B. bituberculatus ; 5 pro- and 4 retromarginal teeth in B. brevidens ), longer epigynal teeth (relative shorter in B. bituberculatus and B. brevidens ), and the enlarged, strongly twisted copulatory duct ( Figs 2C, D, F, G , 3 , 4A, B ) (see also Tang and Li 2010: 8-20, figs 3 A–C, 6C, D, 13 A–D, 14C, D).

Description.

Male. Habitus as in Fig. 1A, B . Total length 6.64. Prosoma ( Fig. 1A ) length 3.31, width 2.71. Eye ( Fig. 1A ) sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17; ALE 0.17; PME 0.17; PLE 0.20; AME–AME 0.08; AME–ALE 0.10; PME–PME 0.11; ALE–ALE 0.54; PME–PLE 0.19; PLE–PLE 0.73; ALE−PLE 0.10, AME−PME 0.08; AME–PLE 0.33. MOA: 0.39 long; 0.41 front width, 0.46 back width, anterior and posterior eye row recurved, anteriorly located on prosoma. Chelicerae ( Fig. 1C, D ) with four promarginal teeth and four retromarginal teeth and including a vestige tooth, and two small denticles in-between teeth. Endites ( Fig. 1B ) nearly quadrilateral. Labium ( Fig. 1B ) rectangular, anteriorly with 6-10 strong setae. Sternum ( Fig. 1B ) shield-shaped, with abundant setae around margin. Leg ( Fig. 1A, B, E ) measurements: I 11.33 (3.50, 1.19, 3.61, 2.06, 0.97); II 7.88 (2.19, 0.93, 2.24, 1.59, 0.93); III 7.27 (2.18, 0.78, 1.90, 1.60, 0.81); IV 8.93 (2.86, 0.97, 2.14, 1.87, 1.09). Leg formula 1423. Spination: I fe 120, pa 001, ti 055, met 033, ta 000; II fe 000, pa 000, ti 044, met 033, ta 000. Fe I with six ventral cusps. Opisthosoma length 3.17, width 2.37, hardened, with abundant particles and two pairs of rugose sigillae, posteriorly with many clavate hairs on dorsal view.

Colouration and pattern. Prosoma pyriform, yellow brown, densely covered white feathery setae, with a longitudinal dark stripe, clustered short hairs at back of the PLE and near the posterior of the stripe, and four paired radial striae around fovea. Chelicerae, endites, and labium yellow brown. Sternum from yellow brown to orange. Legs from yellow to orange. Opisthosoma from orange to greyish black, with light longitudinal stripe and abundant dark and light spots.

Palp ( Figs 1 F–H , 4 C–G , 5 ). Palp with a relative long and strong RTA, extending dorsally; cymbium laterally protruded near the RTA; tegulum with an ear-shaped median apophysis; embolus twisted, apex slender; conductor translucent with wrinkled base.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 2A, B . Total length 13.35. Prosoma ( Fig. 2A ) length 6.64, width 5.87. Eye ( Fig. 2A ) sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22; ALE 0.24; PME 0.24; PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.25; AME–ALE 0.33; PME–PME 0.23; ALE–ALE 1.28; PME–PLE 0.60; PLE–PLE 1.79; ALE−PLE 0.26, AME−PME 0.29; AME–PLE 0.75. MOA: 0.67 long; 0.62 front width, 0.69 back width. Chelicerae ( Fig. 2C, D ) with four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth and including a vestige tooth, and six small denticles in-between teeth. Endites ( Fig. 2B ) nearly quadrilateral. Labium ( Fig. 2B ) rectangular, anteriorly with 8 strong setae. Sternum ( Fig. 2B ) shield-shaped, with abundant setae around margin. Leg ( Fig. 2A, B, E ) measurements: I 16.68 (5.64, 2.51, 4.68, 2.58, 1.27); II 11.54 (3.77, 1.69, 3.02, 2.04, 1.02); III 11.40 (3.29, 1.66, 3.24, 2.30, 0.91); IV 12.26 (4.22, 1.53, 3.07, 2.45, 0.99). Leg formula 1423. Spination: I fe 220, pa 000, ti 055, met 033, ta 000; II fe 000, pa 000, ti 044, met 033, ta 000. Fe I with fourteen ventral cusps. Opisthosoma length 6.71, width 5.87.

Colouration and pattern. Prosoma orange or red-brown, without stripe. Opithosoma without clear stripe.

Epigynum ( Fig. 2F, G ). Median field cruciform, broad, delimited by furrows; epigynal lateral lobe long, arising from antero-lateral part of median field; epigynal teeth well advanced, situated anteriorly, arising bilaterally, sharp, slightly shorter than 1/2 median field length; copulatory ducts broad, wider than spermathecae, both ends swollen, C-shaped, located at anterior of vulva, anterior and posterior part are approaching each other; spermathecae curved laterally, tube-shaped, anterior part not have a constriction, median part C-shaped, both ends slightly swollen, a pair of wrinkled chitinous lamellae covered the posterior part of spermathecae.

Distribution.

Known from Hunan, Yunnan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces ( Fig. 6 ). Specimens were collected from an area approaching 26°N in China ( Fig. 6 ). It is possible that this species is also distributed in Guizhou, Fujian, and Sichuan provinces. This will have to be confirmed by future collecting and further research.

Variability.

We conducted a survey of Borboropactus jiangyong female specimens from Hunan, Yunnan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces in China available in muse ums. The detailed study of these specimens ( Figs 2F, G , 3C, D, G, H , 4A, B ) revealed that they all differ in the number of cheliceral denticles depending upon locality.Specimens from Yunnan bore four small denticles close to promarginal teeth and two close to retromarginal teeth; specimens from Jiangxi bore four small denticles close to promarginal teeth and four close to retromarginal teeth; or one small denticle close to promarginal teeth, three close to retromarginal teeth; or one small denticle close to promarginal teeth, four close to retromarginal teeth; from Guangdong one small denticle near promarginal teeth, one near retromarginal teeth. Similarly, specimens from different provinces also differed in the number of ventral cusps on their fe I: fourteen from Yunnan; twelve from Jiangxi; twenty-three from Jiangxi; fourteen from Jiangxi; and ten from Guangdong. Meanwhile, their body sizes, eye sizes and eye interdistances are also in the range such as total length 9.48-14.37; prosoma length 5.50-6.65, width 4.74-5.87; opisthosoma length 3.98-8.04, width 3.48-5.87; AME 0.16-0.22; ALE 0.17-0.24; PME 0.17-0.24; PLE 0.17-0.26; AME–AME 0.24-0.33; AME–ALE 0.24-0.33; PME–PME 0.20-0.30; ALE–ALE 1.01-1.38; PME–PLE 0.46-0.60; PLE–PLE 1.56-1.83; ALE−PLE 0.22-0.39, AME−PME 0.22-0.45; AME–PLE 0.59-0.86; MOA 0.59-0.76 long, 0.53-0.65 front width, 0.64-0.71 back width; leg I 14.77-18.12; II 10.20-12.30; III 10.22-11.99; IV 11.23-13.28. Finally, variability was also observed in the epigynal teeth, which may either have a sharp tip or a blunt tip; and the anterior part of spermathecae, which may or may not have a constriction. The regional variability observed across the distribution of Borboropactus jiangyong may be the result of the influence of environmental factors, such as temperature, elevation or habitat.

Remarks.

Unfortunately, the holotype of this species stored at the College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University (HNU), could not be studied because it was destroyed by slime moulds. However, the female holotype had been examined by Dr Guo Tang who contributed with many papers on crab spider taxonomy in China. Based on a comparative morphology analysis, he suggested that the female from Baoshan City in Yunnan Province was conspecific with the female holotype described in Tang’s PhD dissertation in 2008.

Figures

Figure 1. Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004, male. A Habitus, dorsal view B habitus, ventral view C left chelicera, dorsolateral view D same, ventral view E left leg I and II, ventral view F left palp, prolateral view G left palp, ventral view H left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, E), 0.1 mm (C, D, F-H).

Figure 2. Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004, female. A Habitus, dorsal view B habitus, ventral view C left chelicera, dorsolateral view D same, ventral view E left leg I, prolateral view F epigyne, ventral view G vulva, dorsal view. Scale bar: 1 mm (A, B, E), 0.1 mm (C, D, F, G).

Figure 3. Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004, female chelicera and genitalia. A Left chelicera, dorsolateral view B same, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view, black arrow shows anterior part of spermathecae with a constriction E left chelicera, dorsolateral view F same, ventral view G epigyne, ventral view H vulva, dorsal view; black arrow shows anterior part of spermathecae with a constriction. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-H).

Figure 4. Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004, SEMs of female and male genitalia. A Epigyne, ventral view B vulva, dorsal view, black arrow shows anterior part of spermathecae with a constriction C left palp, ventral view D detail of embolus and conductor E left palp, retrolateral view F detail of RTA, retrolateral view G left palp, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C - conductor, CD - copulatory duct, CO - copulatory opening, E - embolus, ET - epigynal teeth, LL - epigynal lateral lobe, MA - median apophysis, MF - median field, RTA - retrolateral tibial apophysis, S - spermathecae.

Figure 5. Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004, male palp. A Left palp, prolateral view B left palp, ventral view C left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-C). Abbreviations: C - conductor, E - embolus, MA - median apophysis, RTA - retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figure 6. Collection localities of Borboropactus jiangyong Yin, Peng, Yan & Kim, 2004 in China.