Pholcus ankang, Yang & He & Yao, 2024

Yang, Lan, He, Qiaoqiao & Yao, Zhiyuan, 2024, Taxonomic study of four closely-related species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from China's Qinling Mountains: An integrated morphological and molecular approach, Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (1), pp. 279-289 : 279

Pholcus ankang sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 4

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (SYNU-Ar00398) and Paratypes 2♂ (SYNU-Ar00399-400) 2♀ (SYNU-Ar00401-02), China, Shaanxi, Ankang, Shiquan County, Chengguan Town, Guiguling Scenic Spot (33°12.32'N, 108°20.15'E, 1585 m elev.), 24 July 2022, Z. Yao, L. Yang & L. Zhang leg.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the type locality and is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The species resembles P. baoji sp. nov. with similar male chelicerae and uncus (Fig. 4C, D ), but it can be distinguished by raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge of procursus laterally angular (arrow 3 in Fig. 3D ; laterally rectangular in P. baoji sp. nov., arrow 3 in Fig. 5D ), by appendix with angular median branch (arrow 2 in Fig. 4C ; slender median branch, same length as appendix in P. baoji sp. nov., arrow 2 in Fig. 6C ), by epigynal plate posteriorly strongly curved (Fig. 4A ; posteriorly straight and epigynal plate nearly triangular in P. baoji sp. nov., Fig. 6A ) and by vulval pore plates widely separated (Fig. 4B ; relatively close to each other in P. baoji sp. nov., Fig. 6B ).

Description.

Male (holotype): Total length 5.17 (5.26 with clypeus), carapace 1.53 long, 1.62 wide, opisthosoma 3.64 long, 1.58 wide. Leg I: 39.46 (10.13, 0.66, 9.94, 16.54, 2.19), leg II: 26.96 (7.50, 0.63, 6.79, 10.57, 1.47), leg III: 18.30 (5.38, 0.60, 4.45, 6.79, 1.08), leg IV: 24.35 (7.24, 0.61, 6.03, 9.29, 1.18); tibia I L/d: 70. Eye interdistances and diameters: PME-PME 0.25, PME 0.19, PME-ALE 0.06, AME-AME 0.06, AME 0.15. Sternum width/length: 1.12/0.94. Habitus as in Fig. 4E, F . Carapace yellowish, with brown radiating marks and marginal brown bands; ocular area yellowish, with anterior brown marks; clypeus brown; sternum yellowish, with brown marks. Legs yellowish, but dark brown on patellae and whitish on distal parts of femora and tibiae, with darker rings on subdistal parts of femora and proximal and subdistal parts of tibiae. Opisthosoma yellowish, with dorsal and lateral spots. Chelicerae (Fig. 4D ) with pair of proximo-lateral apophyses, pair of distal apophyses with two teeth each and pair of frontal apophyses. Pedipalp as in Fig. 3A, B ; trochanter with long (longer than wide), retrolaterally strongly bulged ventral apophysis; femur with small retrolatero-proximal apophysis and distinct ventral protuberance; tibia with prolatero-ventral projection; procursus simple proximally, but complex distally, with raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge bearing distal membranous process (arrow 1 in Fig. 3C ), sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis (arrow 2 in Fig. 3C ) and two strong dorsal spines (arrows 1 and 2 in Fig. 3D ); uncus latero-medially protruding (arrow 1 in Fig. 4C ), with proximal apophysis and distal scaly edge; appendix curved, with angular median branch (arrow 2 in Fig. 4C ); embolus weakly sclerotised, with some transparent distal projections (Fig. 4C ). Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 7% proximally; legs with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; tarsus I with 38 distinct pseudosegments.

Female (paratype, SYNU-Ar00401): Similar to male, habitus as in Fig. 4G, H . Total length 4.60 (4.75 with clypeus), carapace 1.31 long, 1.44 wide, opisthosoma 3.29 long, 1.22 wide; tibia I: 7.18; tibia I L/d: 51. Eye interdistances and diameters: PME-PME 0.23, PME 0.16, PME-ALE 0.05, AME-AME 0.05, AME 0.13. Sternum width/length: 0.90/0.76. Epigyne (Fig. 4A ) posteriorly strongly curved, laterally and medially strongly sclerotised, with column-shaped knob. Vulva (Fig. 4B ) with laterally strongly curved, sclerotised anterior arch and pair of nearly elliptic pore plates.

Variation.

Tibia I in two paratype males (SYNU-Ar00399-400): 9.04, 9.36. Tibia I in another paratype female (SYNU-Ar00402): 7.12.

Natural history.

The species was found on the underside of an overhang on rocky cliffs.

Distribution.

China (Shaanxi, type locality; Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution records of four closely-related species of Pholcus from the Qinling Mountains, China. 1. Pholcus ankang sp. nov.; 2. P. baoji sp. nov.; 3. P. ovatus; 4. P. taibaiensis.

Figure 3. Pholcus ankang sp. nov., holotype male A, B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C, D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view, arrow 1 indicates distal membranous process, arrow 2 indicates sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis; D. Dorsal view, arrows 1, 2 indicate dorsal spines, arrow 3 indicates angular part of raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge, arrow 4 indicates latero-distal part of sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis). Abbreviations: a = appendix, b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 mm (A, B); 0.10 mm (C, D).

Figure 4. Pholcus ankang sp. nov., holotype male (C-F) and paratype female (A, B, G, H) A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view, arrow 1 indicates latero-median protrusion, arrow 2 indicates angular median branch; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E-H. Habitus (E, G. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). Abbreviations: a = appendix, b = bulb, da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal apophysis, pa = proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 mm (A-D); 1.00 mm (E-H).

Figure 5. Pholcus baoji sp. nov., holotype male A, B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C, D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view, arrow 1 indicates distal membranous process, arrow 2 indicates sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis; D. Dorsal view, arrows 1, 2 indicate dorsal spines, arrow 3 indicates rectangular part of raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge, arrow 4 indicates latero-distal part of sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis). Abbreviations: a = appendix, b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 mm (A, B); 0.10 mm (C, D).

Figure 6. Pholcus baoji sp. nov., holotype male (C-F) and paratype female (A, B, G, H) A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view, arrow 1 indicates latero-median protrusion, arrow 2 indicates slender median branch; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E-H. Habitus (E, G. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). Abbreviations: a = appendix, b = bulb, da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal apophysis, pa = proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 mm (A-D); 1.00 mm (E-H).