Eriovixia Archer, 1951

Mi, Xiao-Qi, Peng, Xian-Jin & Yin, Chang-Min, 2010, The orb-weaving spider genus Eriovixia (Araneae: Araneidae) in the Gaoligong Mountains, China, Zootaxa 2488, pp. 39-51 : 40

Genus Eriovixia Archer, 1951

Eriovixia Archer, 1951a: 18

Simonarachne Archer, 1951b: 28 (Synonymy by Grasshoff, 1986: 118, contra Yaginuma & Archer, 1959: 36)

Type species: Araneus rhinura Pocock, 1899 (removed from the synonymy of Neoscona Simon, 1864 by Grasshoff, 1986: 4)

Diagnosis. Representatives of the genus Eriovixia are small to medium-sized orb-weaving spiders. This genus differs from all other araneid genera by the following combination of characters: absence of macroseta in the male pedipalp patella; absence of male coxa I hook; epigyna nearly triangular, with copulatory openings wide and opening dorsally; and by the female abdomen which extends beyond the spinnerets, and appears as a “tail”.

Description. Total length: 3.00–5.70 (females), 2.60–3.90 (males). Carapace piriform, slightly longer than wide, narrow in eye region, covered with white seta, cervical groove deep in females and inconspicuous in males, cephalic region slightly elevated in females ( Figs 1 , 9 , 17 , 25 ). Legs yellowish with dark annuli ( Figs 1–2 , 9–10 , 17–18 , 25–26 ). Abdomen triangular, pointed posteriorly ( Figs 1–2 , 9–10 , 17–18 , 25–26 ). Epigyna subtriangular, with rimmed scape ( Figs 3–4 , 11–12 , 19–20 , 27–28 ); copulatory openings situated on the dorsal surface of the scape, copulatory ducts twisted; spermathecae touching ( Figs 5 , 13 , 21 , 29–30 ). Pedipalpal of male with small paracymbium, median apophysis large, with one or two pointed spurs; conductor usually wide; embolus slender and short ( Figs 6–7 , 14–15 , 22–23 , 30–31 ); terminal apophysis present ( Figs 14 , 31 ) or fused with embolus ( Figs 6 , 22 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Eriovixia excelsa (Simon, 1889). 1, female habitus, dorsal view; 2, male habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 10. Eriovixia pseudocentrodes (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906). 9, female habitus, dorsal view; 10, male habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Eriovixia sticta n. sp. 17, female habitus, dorsal view; 18, male habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 26. Eriovixia yunnanensis (Yin et al., 1990). 25, female habitus, dorsal view; 26, male habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 3 – 8. Eriovixia excelsa (Simon, 1889). 3, epigynum, ventral view; 4, epigynum, lateral view; 5, vulva, dorsal view; 6, left palp, prolateral view; 7, left palp, ventral view; 8, median apophysis. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 11 – 16. Eriovixia pseudocentrodes (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906). 11, epigynum, ventral view; 12, epigynum, lateral view; 13, vulva, dorsal view; 14, left palp, prolateral view; 15, left palp, ventral view; 16, median apophysis. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Eriovixia sticta n. sp. 19, epigynum, ventral view; 20, epigynum lateral view; 21, vulva, dorsal view; 22, left palp, prolateral view; 23, left palp, ventral view; 24, median apophysis. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 33. Eriovixia yunnanensis (Yin et al., 1990). 27, epigynum, ventral view; 28, epigynum, lateral view; 29, vulva, dorsal view; 30, vulva, lateral view; 31, left palp, prolateral view; 32, left palp, ventral view; 33, median apophysis. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.