Oxyopes, Latreille, 1804

Lo, Ying-Yuan, Cheng, Ren-Chung & Lin, Chung-Ping, 2021, Species delimitation and taxonomic revision of Oxyopes (Araneae: Oxyopidae) of Taiwan, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4927 (1), pp. 58-86 : 67-69

Oxyopes hasta sp. nov.

Figs 4–5 , 11 b–d

Material examined. All specimens from Taiwan.

Holotype. 1 male (TESRI Ar2822), 17 May 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg., Jiufenershan, Nantou County (23°57′37.9′′N, 120°50′59.2′′E; 730 m elevation).

Paratype. 1 female (TESRI Ar 0532), 14 Jan. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Maolin Ecological Park , Kaohsiung City (22°53′14.6′′N, 120°39′47.3′′E; 290 m elevation) ; 2 females (TESRI Ar 2881–2882), 17 May 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Jiufenershan , Nantou County (23°57′37.9′′N, 120°50′59.2′′E; 730 m elevation) ; 1 male (TESRI B03-1701026), 15 Apr. 2017, 1 female (TESRI B03-1702001), 25 Jun. 2017, Chen-Yao Lin leg., Chukou Nature Center, Jiayi County (23°27′11.3′′N, 120°33′34.4′′E; 193 m elevation) .

Other material examined. 1 female (TESRI Ar 0845), 26 Mar. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 male (TESRI Ar 0841), 28 May 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Jinlun Forest Road, Taitung County (22°31′57.7′′N, 120°56′33.0′′E; 70 m eleva- tion) ; 2 females (TESRI Ar 1290/1294), 31 May 2015, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Juzishan , Taitung County (23°06′23.1′′N, 121°21′36.4′′E, 135 m elevation) ; 1 male (TESRI Ar 2434), 23 Jun. 2017, Chung-Sheng Huang leg. ; 1 female (TESRI Ar 2769), Apr. 27 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 male (TESRI Ar 2880), Jun. 21 2018, Xiao-Tian Chang leg. , Jiufenershan , Nantou County (23°57′37.9′′N, 120°50′59.2′′E; 730 m elevation) ; 2 males (TESRI CX016–CX017), 11 May 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg., 2 females (TESRI CX040/046) and 4 males (TESRI CX041/047/050/059), 26 Jul. 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg., Zhongliao , Nantou County (23°51′59.3′′N, 120°46′59.3′′E, 200 m elevation) ; 1 male (TESRI Ar 1430), 18 Jul. 2015, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 female (TESRI Ar 1557), 22 Jan. 2016, Hui-Ling Chen leg. , 1 female (TESRI Ar 1753), 4 Mar. 2016, Hui-Ling Chen leg. , Jiji , Nantou County (23°49′38.9′′N, 120°48′04.0′′E; 250 m elevation) ; 1 female (TESRI Ar 0948) and 1 male (TESRI Ar 0964), 25 Jun. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 female (TESRI Ar 0971) and 1 male (TESRI Ar 0970), 4 Jul. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 male (TESRI Ar 0999), 3 Sep. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , 1 female (TESRI Ar 1084), 27 Nov. 2014, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Qipan Village , Yunlin County (23°40′49.9′′N, 120°36′49.4′′E; 140 m elevation) ; 1 male (TESRI Ar 2726), 28 Jan. 2018, Ying-Yuan Lo leg. , Yuan- shan, Yilan Country (24°43′22.6′′N, 121°43′19.0′′E, 20 m elevation)

Diagnosis. Oxyopes hasta is similar to O. sertatus and O. taiwanensis in body shape and coloration, as well as epigyne morphology. However, it can be distinguished from the latter two species by the following characters: (1) the cymbium possesses a slight retrolateral triangular expansion in the ventral view; (2) the dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis of the male palp is spearhead-shaped; and (3) the pair of female copulatory ducts are more separated and more curved than those of O. sertatus and O. taiwanensis ( Figs 6 a-e).

Etymology. The specific name ‘ hasta ’ is an adjective, referring to the spearhead-shaped dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Description. Female (TESRI Ar0532, Paratype). Total length 7.9; carapace length 3.1, width 2.3; abdomen length 4.8, width 2.5. Carapace greenish-orange, pear shaped with pair of brown lines extending from PME to posterior margin, pair of distinctive, larger dark patches on submargin. Fovea longitudinal. In dorsal view, eyes arranged in four rows with AER strongly recurved and PER strongly procurved. Clypeus high with two black stripes from AME margin to front of each chelicera. Eye diameters and inter-distances: AME 0.1, ALE 0.22, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, eye sizes ALE> PME = PLE> AME; MOA-L 0.98, MOA-AW 0.38, MOA-PW 0.64; AME-I 0.18, PME- I 0.30, AML-I 0.10, PML-I 0.34; clypeus height 0.62. Chelicerae downward with two promarginal teeth, first larger than second, one retromarginal tooth. Endite and labium longer than wide. Sternum with scattered irregular markings and several pairs of black flecks on margin. Two dark stripes visible from post-margin of sternum extending to middle of coxae IV. Abdomen fusiform with distinct cardiac mark, ivory, longitudinal, central band. Lateral region black-brown with three slant, ivory stripes connecting with central band. In ventral view, broad dark longitudinal band extends from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Legs clothed with many conspicuous long spines with deep black stripe and light stripe on venter of femur. Proximal margin of coxae black. Three claws. Pedipalps bear apical claw. Measurements of pedipalps and legs: pedipalp 3.14 (1.00, 0.36, 0.68, 1.10), leg I 11.6 (3.2, 4.1, 3.0, 1.3), leg II 10.7 (3.0, 3.8, 2.8, 1.1), leg III 8.9 (2.7, 2.9, 2.4, 0.9), leg IV 10.4 (3.0, 3.4, 3.0, 1.0). Leg formula: I> II ≒ IV> III. Epigyne with central depression. Posterior edge sclerotized, incrassate. Copulatory ducts thick, curved intensely ( Fig. 5b ). Spermathecae rounded. Fertilization ducts slender, elongate backward with hook-like terminal.

Male (TESRI Ar2822, Holotype). Body shape and color pattern similar to that of female, but markings more variegated and abdomen thinner. Total length 6.5; carapace length 3.3, width 2.4; abdomen length 3.2, width 1.6. Eye diameters and inter-distances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.22, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, eye sizes ALE > PME = PLE > AME; MOA-L 0.94, MOA-AW 0.38, MOA-PW 0.64; AME-I 0.12, PME-I 0.32, AML-I 0.06, PML-I 0.34; clypeus height 0.64. Measurements of pedipalps and legs: pedipalp 3.8 (1.2, 0.4, 0.6, 1.6), leg I 13.8 (3.5, 1.1, 3.6, 3.8, 1.8), leg II 12.6 (3.2, 1.1, 3.3, 3.6, 1.4), leg III 10.8 (3.0, 1.0, 2.5, 3.2, 1.1), leg IV 12.3 (3.4, 1.0, 2.8, 3.8, 1.3). Leg formula: I> II ≒ IV > III. Palp tibia with distinct retrolateral depression, two adjacent apophyses: dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis large and spearhead-shaped; ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis smaller, ridge-shaped, with two irregular protrusions ( Fig. 5d ). Cymbium with slight triangular extension on retrolateral side in ventral view. Conductor black, sclerotized with bent apex and large incision. Embolus slender, originating at 7 o’clock position and encompassing prolateral side of genital bulb to 1 o’clock position, apex covered by conductor. Median apophysis white, laminar .

Size Variation. Three female and five male specimens were measured to quantify the morphological variations. Values are mean ± SD of females (with the male in parentheses). Total length 8.3 ± 0.6 (6.0 ± 0.3); cephalothorax length 3.1 ± 0.1 (2.9 ± 0.3), width 2.4 ± 0.1 (2.2 ± 0.1); abdomen length 5.2 ± 0.5 (3.1 ± 0.1), width 3.0 ± 0.6 (1.5 ± 0.1). Diameters of AME 0.11 ± 0.01 (0.12 ± 0.01), ALE 0.23 ± 0.01 (0.22 ± 0.01), PME 0.19 ± 0.01 (0.18 ± 0.02), PLE 0.19 ± 0.01 (0.18 ± 0.02). MOA-L 0.97 ± 0.03 (0.86 ± 0.05), MOA-AW 0.38 ± 0.02 (0.36 ± 0.02), MOA-PW 0.67 ± 0.03 (0.59 ± 0.04); AME-I 0.17 ± 0.04 (0.12 ± 0.01), PME-I 0.29 ± 0.01 (0.25 ± 0.04), AML-I 0.09 ± 0.01 (0.06 ± 0.00), PML-I 0.30 ± 0.05 (0.28 ± 0.04). Clypeus height 0.61 ± 0.01 (0.58 ± 0.06). Pedipalp 3.1 ± 0.1 (3.4 ± 0.3), leg I 11.4 ± 0.3 (12.0 ± 1.3), leg II 10.5 ± 0.2 (11.1 ± 1.0), leg III 8.9 ± 0.3 (9.2 ± 1.1); leg IV 10.4 ± 0.2 (10.6 ± 1.1).

Distribution. Endemic to Taiwan.

Remark. Oxyopes hasta is similar to O. sertatus in body size and color pattern and usually inhabits the same habitats, such as grasslands and bush fallows, in Taiwan. However, O. hasta occurs almost exclusively in southwestern and southeastern Taiwan and its coloration is deeper, while O. sertatus is widespread on the island and its coloration is lighter. We surveyed the literature on Oxyopes from adjacent region of Taiwan, and did not find described species that could be confounded with O. hasta.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Oxyopes hasta sp. nov. (a–b) Epigyne (TESRI Ar0532): (a) ventral; (b) dorsal. (c–e) Palp (TESRI Ar2434): (c) prolateral; (d) ventral; (e) retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Oxyopes hasta sp. nov. (a–b) Epigyne (TESRI Ar0532): (a) ventral; (b) dorsal. (c–e) Palp (TESRI Ar2822): (c) prolateral; (d) ventral; (e) retrolateral. C: conductor; CD: copulatory duct; dRTA: dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; Em: embolus; MA: median apophysis; FD: fertilization duct; S: spermatheca; SE: sclerotized edge; vRTA: ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 6. Oxyopes macilentus L. Koch, 1878. (a–b) Epigyne (TESRI CS041): (a) ventral; (b) dorsal. (c–e) Palp (TESRI Ar2762): (c) prolateral; (d) ventral; (e) retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 11. Habitus of Oxyopes jujianicus Song & Zhu, 1993 and Oxyopes hasta sp. nov. (a) O. fujianicus, female; (b) O. hasta, female; (c) O. hasta, female (TESRI Ar2824); (d) O. hasta, male (TESRI Ar2822). Scale bars (c–d): 2 mm.