Eusparassus potanini (Simon, 1895)

(Figure 17)

Sparassus potanini Simon, 1895: 340–341 (description of male; holotype, male, examined).

Eusparassus potanini Reimoser, 1919: 200 .

Heteropoda nanjiangensis Hu and Fu, 1985: 92–93, figs 1–7. [description and illustration of male and female; female holotype, male paratype, label: Tulufan (Putaogou), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 5.7. 1982, by J. L. Hu) IOZB, examined] – Hu and Wu, 1989: 310, figs 248, 1–7. New synonymy

Sparassus nanjianensis – Levy, 1989: 134 (suspected synonymy).

Eusparassus nanjianensis – Song et al., 1999: 467, fig. 268H, K.

Eusparassus nanjiangensis – Jäger and Yin, 2001: 132.

Type material

Holotype: male, CHINA: Nan-Shan-Kou, Tjan-Shan, 10 June 1877, M.G. Potanin leg. (ZIP 164).

Additional material examined

CHINA: Xinjiang Uyghur: 1 ♀, Kashi (Kashgar), 5 July 1975 (IOZB) ; 1 ♀, Kashi (Kashgar), 15 July 1996. (IOZB 107); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ and 2 juveniles, Jarkend, 1909, G. Raquelle leg. (NRM); 1 ♀, Turpan, Jh. Basfus leg. (ZMB); 2♀♀, (Label: Turkestan): Kashgar. (SMF 6085); 1 ♂, 1 immature ♀, Kashgar, E. Turkestan D. Lamsdell leg. (NHM 1889.4.25.2-3) .

Diagnosis

Males of E. potanini are characterized by a combination of characters including beaklike dRTA, a deep retro-lateral incision at proximal part of cymbium (Figure 17C) and a broad retrolatero-distad embolus tip (Figure 17E); in female epigyne, EFB present but distinctly separated from AMLL, approximately as long as MS length (Figure 17F).

Redescription

Male (n = 4) [Holotype first]. Males medium-sized. Total length: 14.2–17.3, prosoma length 7.4–7.8, prosoma width 6.2–6.6, anterior width of prosoma 3.1–3.3, opisthosoma length 6.8–9.5, opisthosoma width 4.4–5.1. Eyes of holotype: AME 0.47, ALE 0.44, PME 0.36, PLE 0.45; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.22, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.42, PME–PLE 0.46, AME–PME 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.21, clypeus height at AME 0.37, clypeus height at ALE 0.42.

Chelicerae with two anterior and four or five posterior teeth. Cheliceral furrow without denticles (Figure 17B). Leg formula: 2 4 1 3. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 10.3 [3.2, 1.5, 1.7, 3.9], I 35.6 [10.0, 3.4, 9.5, 9.3, 2.4], II 38.9 [10.6, 4.1, 10.7, 10.8, 2.7], III 31.6 [9.6, 3.4, 8.8, 8.5, 2.3], IV 36.6 [10.5, 3.4, 10.0, 10.3, 2.4].

Spination. Palp 131, 001, 1111; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 322 / 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–IV 2024; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3034.

Palp. As in diagnosis with dRTA proximally wide and pointed distally, vRTA is triangular in ventral view (Figure 17C).

Female (n = 6). Total length: 15.7–19.6, prosoma length 7.3–8.1, prosoma width 6.0–7.0, anterior width of prosoma 3.5–4.0, opisthosoma length 8.4–11.5, opisthosoma width 6.0–8.1. Eyes: AME 0.48, ALE 0.40, PME 0.38, PLE 0.43; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.47, PME–PLE 0.50, AME–PME 0.36, ALE–PLE 0.23, clypeus height at AME 0.38, clypeus height at ALE 0.43.

Chelicerae as in males. Cheliceral furrow without denticles. Leg formula: 2 4 1 3. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.4 [2.8, 1.3, 1.7, 3.6], I 31.6[9.0, 3.8, 8.4, 8.3, 2.1], II 33.7 [9.8, 3.8, 9.2, 8.5, 2.4], III 28.4 [8.6, 3.4, 7.5, 6.7, 2.2], IV 32.2 [9.7, 3.2, 8.6, 8.3, 2.3].

Spination. Palp 131, 001, 1111, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 322; Patella I–IV 000; Tibia I–IV 2024; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3034.

Epigyne / vulva. As in diagnosis with EF longer than wide, AMLL well developed anteriorly but not encircling MS entirely, EFB distinctly separated from AMLL (Figure 17F); glandular pores located on a globular process of vulva (Figure 17G).

Colouration [in ethanol]. Cream to dark yellow, ventral opisthosoma pale.

Remarks

The description and illustration of E. nanjiangensis (sub Heteropoda nanjiangensis) by Hu and Fu (1985) as well as examination of the type series match fully with holotype male of E. potanini . Further females (along with sympatric males) examined from around the type locality, revealed conspecifity of them with the holotype female of E. nanjiangensis . Therefore, this species is proposed as a junior synonym of E. potanini .

Known geographical distribution

Autonomous region in Xinjiang Uyghur, China, the most northeastern distribution range of Eusparassus species.