Clubiona bifurcata, Zhang & Yu & Zhong, 2018

Zhang, Jianshuang, Yu, Hao & Zhong, Yang, 2018, Two new species of the Clubiona corticalis - group from Guizhou Province, China (Araneae: Clubionidae), Zootaxa 4415 (2), pp. 393-400 : 393-396

Clubiona bifurcata sp. nov. ( Figs 1–2 , 5 )

Type material. Holotype ♂ (MGEU-CLU-15-007) from Fangxiang Township (26°26'15.36"N, 108°17'0.64"E, 1825 m), Mt. Leigong, Guizhou Province, China, 16 June 2015, Hao Yu leg. ; Paratypes: 3 ♂, 1 ♀ (MGEU-CLU-15-008~011), same data as holotype ; 3 ♂, 2 ♀ (MGEU-CLU-15-012~016) from Leigongping Township (26°27'54.52"N, 108°14'41.11"E, 2050 m), Mt. Leigong, Guizhou Province, China, 17 June 2015, Changjiang Li and Yuhe Li leg.

Etymology. The species epithet is taken from the Latin adjective “bifurcatus” and refers to the forked conductor.

Diagnosis. Males of C. bifurcata sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of other species of the Clubiona corticalis -group by the bifurcated, snake tongue-shaped conductor, the broad, trapezoidal VTA and by the flat, semicircular RTA ( Fig 2A–C ). The female appears to be closely related to C. pterogona Yang, Song & Zhu, 2003 ( Yang, Song & Zhu, 2003: figs 3A–C) in having similarly ovoid bursae and tubercular spermathecal head, but differs by: (1) atrium with two spherical cavities ( Fig. 2D ) (wing-shaped median plate in C. pterogona ); (2) distal part of spermathecae digitiform ( Fig. 2E ) (small papilla in C. pterogona ); (3) lager spermathecae ( Fig. 2E ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.03. prosoma 1.99 long, 1.40 wide; opisthosoma 2.64 long, 1.48 wide. Prosoma ( Fig. 1D ). Oval in dorsal view, narrowed in pars cephalica, widest between coxae II and III; in profile, slightly higher between ocular area and longitudinal fovea, gradually sloping posteriorly; integument smooth, clothed with short fine hairs. Carapace yellowish brown, without distinctive color pattern; fovea reddish. Chelicerae brown, promarginal and retromarginal both with 4 teeth. Labium and endites light brown. Sternum oval and yellowish brown, margin with brown extensions fitting intercoxal concavities. Eyes. AER slightly recurved, PER slightly wider than AER and procurved when seen from above. AME dark, other eyes light; with black rings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.11, PME 0.12, PLE 0.11. AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.10, MOQL 0.27, MOQA 0.24, MOQP 0.40. Legs. Yellowish, without distinct color markings. Leg formula: IV, II, I, III; leg measurements: I 5.01 (1.34, 1.99, 1.06, 0.63), II 5.74 (1.60, 2.23, 1.23, 0.70), III 4.57 (1.31, 1.47, 1.24, 0.54), IV 6.29 (1.79, 2.06, 1.85, 0.59). Opisthosoma ( Fig. 1D ). Elongate-oval, yellowish, with conspicuous anterior tufts of hairs, dorsum with two pairs of muscular depressions; venter pale yellow. Palp ( Figs 1A–C , 2A–C ). Tibia of palp short, with two apophyses, VTA large, tip straight, trapezoidal; RTA broad, flat and with a semicircular flange; genital bulb elongated, sperm duct sinuated; embolic base represented by enlarged tubercle, gradually tapering toward its apex; conductor originating from retrolateral side of tegulum, membranous tip bifurcated, covering embolar apex.

Female (paratype: MGEU-CLU-15-008): Total length 7.02. Prosoma 2.03 long, 1.54 wide; opisthosoma 3.80 long, 1.95 wide. General characters as in male. ( Fig. 1E ). Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.12, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07. AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.11, MOQL 0.24, MOQP 0.48, MOQA 0.34. Leg formula: IV, II, I, III. Leg measurements: I 4.48 (1.41, 1.62, 0.88, 0.58), II 4.94 (1.49, 1.88, 0.97, 0.61), III 4.01 (1.30, 1.33, 1.06, 0.40), IV 6.31 (1.81, 2.01, 1.79, 0.62). Epigyne ( Figs 1F–G , 2D–E ). Epigynal plate slightly shorter than wide, margin not rebordered; atrium large, with two symmetrical, spherical cavities; copulatory openings small, located on posterior part of atrium. Copulatory ducts dark, descending posteriorly to connect with spermathecae; spermathecae situated anteriorly, with bean-shaped proximal part and digitiform distal part; bursae ovoid, situated posteriorly, translucent, with ribbed and wrinkled surfaces; fertilization ducts short, acicular.

Natural history. Clubiona bifurcata sp. nov. inhabits forest ranging between 1,800–2,100 m in elevation on Mt. Leigong. The male holotype was collected by beating twigs and branches of willow trees and female paratypes were obtained from shrubs of Hydrangea .

Distribution. Know only from the type locality, Mt. Leigong, Guizhou, China ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Clubiona bifurcata sp. nov.: A male left palp, prolateral view; B same, ventral view; C same, retrolateral view; D male habitus, dorsalview; Efemale habitus,dorsalview;F epigyne,ventralview; Gsame,dorsalview.Scale bars:0.20mm (A–C,F–G); 2 mm (D–E).

FIGURES 2. Clubiona bifurcata sp. nov.: A male left palp, prolateral view; B same, ventral view; C same, retrolateral view; D epigyne, ventral view; E same, dorsal view. Abbreviatures: A, epigynal atrium; BS, bursa; C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; SH spermatheca head; SP, spermatheca; VTA,ventral tibial apophysis.Scale bars:0.20 mm (A–E).

FIGURE 5. Locality recordsof Clubiona bifurcata sp.nov. and C. lamellaris sp. nov.