Araneus chenjingi, Mi & Wang & Gan, 2023

Mi, Xiaoqi, Wang, Cheng & Gan, Jiahui, 2023, Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, ZooKeys 1173, pp. 243-273 : 243

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.106315

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B0A11BAC-B9DA-4DC2-9BC5-F50CE6268CA0

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A395AE89-B28B-4CCB-A80C-DC4D853081C0

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:A395AE89-B28B-4CCB-A80C-DC4D853081C0

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Araneus chenjingi
status

sp. nov.

Araneus chenjingi sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 15A-D View Figure 15 , 17 View Figure 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -178), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Wuluo Township, Taohuayuan Village, Yangaoping (27°58.71'N, 108°45.86'E, ca 1620 m), 2.IV.2022, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratypes: 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -179-181), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. seminiger (L. Koch, 1878) in coloration of abdomen, but differs in: 1) conductor membranous, without pointed tip (Fig. 2A-D View Figure 2 ) vs heavily sclerotized with a pointed tip ( Tanikawa 2007: fig. 644); 2) embolus visible in prolateral view (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ) vs completely hidden ( Tanikawa 2007: fig. 644); 3) median apophysis about equal width to length in prolateral view (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ) vs ~ 2 × longer than wide ( Tanikawa 2007: fig. 644); and 4) scape short, distal end slightly beyond epigastric furrow (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ) vs long, far exceeding epigastric furrow ( Tanikawa 2007: fig. 643).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 1I, J View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 15A-D View Figure 15 ). Total length 4.10. Carapace 2.15 long, 1.85 wide. Abdomen 2.85 long, 2.45 wide. Clypeus 0.03 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.28, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.40, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.33. Leg measurements: I 7.95 (2.35, 2.85, 2.00, 0.75), II 6.70 (2.00, 2.35, 1.65, 0.70), III 4.35 (1.50, 1.40, 0.95, 0.50), IV 5.90 (1.95, 1.95, 1.45, 0.55). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow to pale green, cervical groove obvious, fovea depressed. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth. Endites almost square, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, both yellow to pale green. Sternum cordiform, yellow to pale green, with dark setae. Legs yellow to pale green with dark green annuli, tibia I with 15 macrosetae, tibia II with 13 macrosetae, tibia III with eight macrosetae, tibia IV with 11 macrosetae. Abdomen oval, ~ 1.15 × longer than wide, with a pair of very low humps, dorsum pale green with a whitish green spot surrounding by dark markings anteriorly and a triangular dark patch posteriorly; venter grayish brown. Spinnerets yellowish green.

Pedipalp (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ): with a basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis about equal length to width, with two-pointed tip on opposite sides; embolus slender, almost transversal in prolateral view, curved sharply distally; conductor membranous, widest at base in ventral view; terminal apophysis wide at base, pointed distally, curved into a C-shape in apical view; subterminal apophysis blunt at tip.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -179, Fig. 1A-H View Figure 1 ). Total length 5.15. Carapace 2.25 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 3.45 long, 3.25 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.09, PME 0.11, PLE 0.09, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.38, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.50, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 7.60 (2.45, 2.70, 1.70, 0.75), II 6.70 (2.15, 2.35, 1.50, 0.70), III 4.00 (1.30, 1.30, 0.85, 0.55), IV 5.95 (1.95, 2.05, 1.35, 0.60). Habitus similar to that of male but the humps on dorsal abdomen a bit higher, and carapace yellow with dark thoracic bilateral sub-margin, endites, labium, sternum, and spinnerets much darker.

Epigyne (Fig. 1A-E View Figure 1 ): base of epigyne heavily sclerotized, scape with nearly parallel sides, distal end spoon shaped; copulatory openings arcuated, on the posterior surface; copulatory ducts longer than the spermatheca, twisted into a C-shape; spermathecae oval, about half the spermatheca width apart.

Variation.

Total length: ♀♀ 4.15-5.20 (n = 3).

Distribution.

Known only from type locality.

Comments.

The wide oval female abdomen with a pair of anterior lateral humps, and the long, ridged scape indicate that the new species belongs to the A. diadenmatus group.

Etymology.

The species is named after Mr. Jing Chen (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who offered help with specimen collection for this research; noun in genitive case.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Araneidae

Genus

Araneus