Araneus pseudodigitatus sp. nov.

Figs 13, 14, 19E-H

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43119), China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Township, Menglun Nature Reserve, XTBG, #6 site around the dump (21°54.33'N, 101°16.79'E, ca 620 m), 7.V.2019, Y.F. Tong leg. Paratypes: 1♂1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43120-Ar43121), Masuoxing Village (21°54.02'N, 101°16.90'E, ca 560 m), 27.IV.2019, Y.F. Tong leg.; 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43122), #4 site around the dump (21°54.34'N, 101°16.79'E, ca 620 m), 2.V.2019, Y.F. Tong leg.; 1♂1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43123-Ar43124), #2 site in Mafengzhai Village (21°55.83'N, 101°14.93'E, ca 540 m), 4.V.2019, Y.F. Tong leg.; 2 ♀ (IZCAS-Ar43125-Ar43126) Lüshilin Forest Park (21°53.84'N, 101°16.84'E, ca 550 m), 10.V.2019, Z.L. Bai leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is a combination of the Latin words “pseudo” and “digitatus”, referring to the resemblance of this species with A. digitatus Liu, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2019; adjective.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. digitatus in appearance, but it differs by the following: 1) copulatory openings on the posterior surface vs on the ventral surface (Liu et al. 2019: fig. 8A, B); 2) embolus curved clockwise about 135° in prolateral view vs curved <90° (Liu et al. 2019: fig. 7A, C); and 3) abdomen posteriorly pointed in both sexes vs blunt (Liu et al. 2019: fig. 6A, C).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 13A-F, 19E-H). Total length 3.15. Carapace 1.70 long, 1.40 wide. Abdomen 1.75 long, 1.40 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.18, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.28. Leg measurements: I 5.50 (1.75, 2.05, 1.15, 0.55), II 5.10 (1.60, 1.85, 1.10, 0.55), III 3.05 (1.05, 1.00, 0.60, 0.40), IV 4.35 (1.45, 1.45, 1.00, 0.45). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with brown eye bases, with pale setae, cervical groove slightly distinct, fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, 4 promarginal teeth, 3 retromarginal teeth. Endites yellow, labium yellowish brown, paler distally. Sternum cordiform, yellow. Legs yellow to brown without annulus, tibia I with 10 macrosetae, tibia II with 8 macrosetae, tibia III with 8 macrosetae, tibia IV with 9 macrosetae. Abdomen somewhat long, triangular, about 1.25 times longer than wide, with pale setae, dorsum with a longitudinal grayish-yellow patch anteriorly, and a triangular grayish-brown patch posteriorly; venter grayish brown, with a pair of whitish-yellow longitudinal patches, laterally yellow with irregular gray patches. Spinnerets grayish brown.

Palp (Fig. 13A-D): with 2 patellar bristles; median apophysis large, bifurcated, 1 long, 1 short with serrated tip; embolus large, curved about 135° at middle, tapered distally; conductor somewhat rectangular, with a spur at base; terminal apophysis extremely large, about as long as the bulb diameter.

Female (paratype IZCAS-Ar43125, Figs 13G, H, 14A, C-F, paratype IZCAS-Ar43125, Fig. 14B). Total length 5.10. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.50 wide. Abdomen 3.60 long, 2.70 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.30, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.30. Leg measurements: I 5.50 (1.70, 2.00, 1.20, 0.60), II 5.10 (1.60, 1.90, 1.00, 0.60), III 3.30 (1.10, 1.10, 0.70, 0.40), IV 4.90 (1.50, 1.80, 1.10, 0.50). Habitus similar to that of male but a little pale.

Epigyne (Fig. 14): with long, tortuous scape, spoon-shaped, rimmed at tip; copulatory openings deeply concave, at posterior surface; copulatory ducts curved, extremely expanded at origin; spermathecae kidney-shaped, touching each other.

Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 3.10-3.40; ♀♀ 3.90-6.10.

Distribution.

known only from type localities (Yunnan, China).