Deione Thorell, 1898

Mi, Xiao-Qi, Peng, Xian-Jin & Yin, Chang-Min, 2010, Two new species of the rare orb weaving spider genus Deione (Araneae: Araneidae) from China, Zootaxa 2491, pp. 34-40 : 35

Genus Deione Thorell, 1898

Type species: Deione thoracica Thorell, 1898

Diagnosis. The genus Deione is most similar to Chorizopes in coloration, but it differs from the latter by the following features: cephalic region narrower than thoracic region and slightly elevated (wider and extremely elevated in Chorizopes ); abdomen having two pairs of vertically arranged posterior lateral humps (one pair of lateral humps and one pair of median humps in Chorizopes ); male tibia II extremely enlarged, with several large macrosetae (unmodified in Chorizopes ); chelicerae with pro- and retromaginal teeth (only on promargin in Chorizopes ); and absence of paramedian apophysis (present in Chorizopes ).

Description. Total length: 3.95-6.25 (female), 3.45-4.00 (male). Carapace longer than wide, dark brown, covered with thin setae, cervical groove obvious, cephalic region slightly elevated ( Figs 1, 2 , 10, 11 ). Legs yellowish with dark annuli, tibia II of males expanded with several macrosetae ( Figs 3 , 12 ). Abdomen longer than wide, with pairs of macrosetae anteriorly and two pairs of vertically arranged lateral humps posteriorly ( Figs 1, 2 , 10, 11 ). Epigynum with grooved scape ( Figs 4-7 ) or scape absent ( Fig. 13 ); copulatory ducts long and twisted; spermathecae kidney-shaped ( Figs 6, 7 ) or ovoid ( Fig. 14 ). Male palp with two patellar macrosetae; paracymbium small, basally located ( Figs 9 , 16 ); median apophysis foliiform ( Fig. 8 ) or hooked ( Fig. 15 ); conductor membranous ( Figs 8, 9 , 15, 16 ); embolus slender and long ( Figs 8 , 15 ); terminal apophysis obvious ( Figs 8 , 15 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Deione renaria n. sp. 1, female habitus, dorsal view; 2, male habitus, dorsal view; 3, left male tibia II, ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 10 – 12. Deione ovata n. sp. 10, female habitus, dorsal view; 11, male habitus, dorsal view; 12, left tibia II of male, ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 4 – 9. Deione renaria n. sp. 4, epigynum, ventral view; 5, epigynum, lateral view; 6, vulva, dorsal view; 7, vulva, dorsal view (cleared in lactic acid); 8, left palp, prolateral view; 9, left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Deione ovata n. sp. 13, epigynum, ventral view; 14, vulva, dorsal view; 15, left palp, prolateral view; 16, left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.