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Research Article
Two new species of the Clubiona corticalis-group from Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Clubionidae)
expand article infoPanlong Wu, Feng Zhang, Guo Zheng§
‡ Hebei University, Baoding, China
§ Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
Open Access

Abstract

The present paper describes two new Clubiona corticalis-group species collected from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province of China: Clubiona submoralis sp. n. (♀♂) and C. pollicaris sp. n. (♀♂).

Keywords

Sac spiders, Paraclubiona , Atalia , taxonomy, South-East Asia

Introduction

Clubiona Latreille, 1804, the largest genus of the Clubionidae, currently includes 468 species (Platnick 2014) widely distributed around the world (except South America). Because of its high species diversity, several revisions have been published by Simon (1932) for the French species, Lohmander (1944) for Swedish species, Wiehle (1965) for German species, Wunderlich (2011) for European species, Edwards (1958) for the North American species, Dondale and Redner (1982) for Canadian and Alaskan species, Mikhailov (1990, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2012) for Palaearctic species, and Deeleman-Reinhold (2001) for southeast Asian species.

Clubiona corticalis-group was first recognized by Simon (1932). Atalia Thorell, 1887 (type species A. concinna Thorell, 1887, belongs to the corticalis-group) and subgenus Paraclubiona Lohmander, 1944 (with type species C. corticalis) are currently considered as junior synonyms of Clubiona. Species of this group can be recognized by the following characters: inflated tegulum; long filiform, spiniform, or short embolus; simple and weakly developed retrolateral tibial apophysis; the anterior position of copulatory openings (Mikhailov 1995).

Currently, the corticalis-group includes 48 species mainly distributed in Eurasia and Australia (Mikhailov 1995, Deeleman-Reinhold 2001, Liu et al. 2007). Among these, at least 18 species have been recorded from China (see Table 1).

Table 1.

A list of Clubiona corticalis-group species in China.

Species name Known sex Distribution
1 C. altissimoides Liu et al., 2007 ♂♀ Yunnan
2 C. applanata Liu et al., 2007 ♂♀ Yunnan
3 C. brachyptera Zhu, Ren & Chen, 2012 ♂♀ Hainan
4 C. cordata Zhang & Zhu, 2009 ♂♀ Sichuan, Xizang
5 C. cylindrata Liu et al., 2007 ♂♀ Yunnan
6 C. didentata Zhang & Yin, 1998 Yunnan
7 C. kurosawai Ono, 1986 ♂♀ Taiwan
8 C. lamina Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2007 Yunnan
9 C. lyriformis Song & Zhu, 1991 Hubei
10 C. moralis Song & Zhu, 1991 ♂♀ Hubei
11 C. parallela Hu & Li, 1987 ♂♀ Xizang
12 C. pyrifera Schenkel, 1936 ♂♀ Gansu
13 C. qiyunensis Xu, Yang & Song, 2003 ♂♀ Fujian, Anhui
14 C. taiwanica Ono, 1994 ♂♀ Yunnan, Taiwan
15 C. tengchong Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2007 Yunnan
16 C. yaginumai Hayashi, 1989 ♂♀ Taiwan
17 C. submoralis sp. n. ♂♀ Yunnan
18 C. pollicaris sp. n. ♂♀ Yunnan

While examining Clubiona specimens collected from Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China, we found two new species belonging to the corticalis-group, which are described in this paper.

Material and methods

All specimens studied are stored in 75% ethanol and deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing (IZCAS). All specimens were examined under a Tech XTL-II stereomicroscope. The photos, drawings and measurements were prepared using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a DFC450 CCD camera and a drawing tube. Carapace length was measured from the anterior margin to the posterior margin of the carapace medially. The eyes were measured as the maximum diameter of the lens in dorsal or frontal view. The measurements of legs are shown as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The epigyne was cleared in a solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and transferred to 75% ethanol for taking photos, drawing and measuring. All measurements are in millimeters.

The following abbreviations are used: ALE, anterior lateral eyes; AME, anterior median eyes; B, bursae; C, conductor; CO, copulatory openings; E, embolus; FD, fertilization ducts; MOA, median ocular area; PLE, posterior lateral eyes; PME, posterior median eyes; PPA, prolateral patellar apophysis; RFA, retrolateral femoral apophysis; RPA, retrolateral patellar apophysis; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae.

Taxonomy

Clubiona submoralis sp. n.

Figs 1–7, 8–12

Type material

Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Mengla County, Menglun Town, XTBG (Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden), Yunnan Rubber Plantation (575 m; 21°54.46'N, 101°15.98'E), 21 July 2007, Guo Zheng leg. Paratypes: 9 ♂, 10 ♀, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis

Among the Chinese species of the corticalis-group, this new species resembles C. moralis, but differs by: a wider and triangular embolus (filiform and coiled in C. moralis), presence of only one round, black marking on tegulum (several fan-shaped markings in C. moralis); fertilization ducts opening in the medio-ventral side of the spermathecae (anteriorly in C. moralis); and the spermathecae almost as large as the bursae (the bursae twice longer than the spermathecae in C. moralis) (Figs 312).

Figures 1–7. 

Clubiona submoralis sp. n. 1 male habitus, dorsal view 2 female habitus, dorsal view 3 epigyne, ventral view 4 vulva 5 left male palp, ventral view 6 same, dorsal view, showing tibial apophysis 7 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (1–2); 0.2 mm (3–7).

Figures 8–12. 

Clubiona submoralis sp. n. 8 epigyne, ventral view 9 vulva 10 left male palp, ventral view 11 tibial apophysis, dorsal view 12 left male palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (8–12).

Etymology

The species name refers to a close resemblance between the new species and C. moralis.

Description

Male. Total length 4.36–4.86. Holotype (Fig. 1): body 4.73 long; carapace 2.14 long, 1.96 wide; abdomen 2.49 long, 1.30 wide. Carapace brown. Median furrow longitudinal. In dorsal view, anterior eye row recurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.11, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.27, PME–PLE 0.15. MOA 0.31 long, front 0.30 wide, back 0.48 wide. Chelicerae dark brown, promargin with six teeth, retromargin with three teeth. Endites brown, longer than wide. Labium dark brown, longer than wide. Sternum 1.19 long, 0.80 wide. Abdomen oval, brown, with conspicuous anterior tufts of hairs, dorsum with fine brown hairs. Legs yellow, both tibia I and II with two pairs of ventral spines, both metatarsi I and II with one pair of ventral spines. Measurements of legs: I 5.50 (1.55, 0.75, 1.57, 1.07, 0.56), II 6.02 (1.65, 0.80, 1.80, 1.21, 0.56), III 4.73 (1.26, 0.61, 1.13, 1.30, 0.43), IV 6.73 (1.78, 0.71, 1.65, 2.01, 0.58).

Palp (Figs 5–7, 10–12). Femur unmodified; patella swollen, almost globular, twice wider than tibia, and 1.5 wider than femur, with short and rounded pro- and retrolateral apophyses, retrolateral side with short modified spines near the base; tibia with small retro-ventral membranous apophysis. Cymbium longer than tegulum. Tegulum inflated, with a round, black marking medially; embolus short, wide, almost triangular in ventral view; conductor membranous, folded in the middle position, and almost threefold longer than wide.

Female. Total length 4.45–4.92. One paratype (Fig. 2) measured, body 4.47 long; carapace 1.87 long, 1.43 wide; abdomen 2.49 long, 1.39 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.11, PME 0.09, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.14. MOA 0.22 long, front 0.23 wide, back 0.41 wide. Sternum 0.96 long, 0.70 wide. Measurements of legs: I 4.53 (1.31, 0.66, 1.21, 0.84, 0.51), II 5.14 (1.48, 0.74, 1.41, 0.97, 0.54), III 4.22 (1.25, 0.57, 0.90, 1.13, 0.37), IV 6.14 (1.66, 0.70, 1.40, 1.89, 0.49). Coloration lighter than in male. Other characters as in male.

Epigyne (Figs 3–4, 8–9). Copulatory openings located anteriorly; in ventral view, the anterior part of copulatory ducts well visible and extending posteriorly, then connecting to bursae; spermathecae located anterior to bursae, both of them almost spherical, and with the same size as bursae.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Clubiona pollicaris sp. n.

Figs 13–16, 17–19, 23–27

Type material

Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Mengla County, Menglun Nature Reserve (710 m; 21°57.70'N, 101°11.89'E), 7 August 2007, Guo Zheng leg. Paratypes: 6 ♂, 6 ♀, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis

The new species differs from all other Clubiona species by a very long retrolateral femoral apophysis (almost as long as femur) and resembles C. qiyunensis (Figs 20–22; also see Wu and Zhang (2014): 211, f. 13–23), but differs by: a smaller and inconspicuous embolus; the much longer femoral apophysis (in C. qiyunensis, femoral apophysis is short, less than diameter of femur); a thumb-shaped prolateral patellar apophysis; anteriorly situated spermathecae; and rectangular bursae (Figs 1519, 23–27).

Figures 13–16. 

Clubiona pollicaris sp. n. 13 male habitus, dorsal view 14 female habitus, dorsal view 15 left male palp, ventral view 16 same, dorsal view, showing patellar apophysis. Scale bars: 1 mm (13–14); 0.2 mm (15, 16).

Figures 17–22. 

17–19 Clubiona pollicaris sp. n. 17 epigyne, ventral view 18 vulva 19 left male palp, retrolateral view; 20–22 Clubiona qiyunensis Xu, Yang & Song, 2003. 20 epigyne, ventral view 21 vulva 22 left male palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (17, 18) 0.2 mm (19–22).

Figures 23–27. 

Clubiona pollicaris sp. n. 23 epigyne, ventral view 24 vulva 25 left male palp, ventral view 26 patellar apophysis, dorsal view 27 left male palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (23–27).

Etymology

The species name is derived from the Latin word “pollicaris”, and refers to the prolateral patellar apophysis, which in ventral view is thumb-shaped.

Description

Male. Total length 3.20–3.49. Holotype (Fig. 13) body 3.27 long; carapace 1.51 long, 1.45 wide; abdomen 1.61 long, 0.90 wide. Carapace brown. Median furrow longitudinal. Both anterior and posterior eye row recurved in dorsal view. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.19, PME–PLE 0.08. MOA 0.21 long, front 0.19 wide, back 0.37 wide. Chelicerae brown, promargin with five teeth, retromargin with four teeth. Both endites and labium brown, longer than wide. Sternum 0.83 long, 0.56 wide. Abdomen oval, brown, with conspicuous anterior tufts of hairs, dorsum with fine yellow hairs. Legs brown, both tibia I and II with two pairs of ventral spines, both metatarsi I and II with one pair of ventral spines. Measurements of legs: I 3.09 (0.84, 0.47, 0.83, 0.62, 0.33), II 3.46 (0.90, 0.50, 1.02, 0.69, 0.35), III 2.92 (0.84, 0.43, 0.63, 0.76, 0.26), IV 4.11 (1.18, 0.50, 0.96, 1.15, 0.32).

Palp (Figs 15–16, 19, 25–27). Femur modified, with long and thin retrolateral apophysis originating from median part, apophysis longer than tibia and subequal in length to femur; patella twice longer and 1.5 wider than tibia, with a round apophysis and thumb-shaped prolateral apophysis; tibia without apophyses; cymbium shorter than tegulum; tegulum inflated; sperm duct obvious, almost straight in retrolateral view; embolus short, originating from the apical tegulum prolaterally, directed almost horizontally.

Female. Total length 3.12–3.92. One paratype (Fig. 14) measured: body 3.90 long, carapace 1.52 long, 1.13 wide; abdomen 2.09 long, 1.18 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.12. MOA 0.21 long, front 0.20 wide, back 0.35 wide. Sternum 0.85 long, 0.57 wide. Measurements of legs: I 2.69 (0.84, 0.38, 0.64, 0.51, 0.32), II 3.09 (0.90, 0.46, 0.79, 0.60, 0.34), III 2.63 (0.80, 0.35, 0.55, 0.67, 0.26), IV 3.92 (1.02, 0.50, 0.93, 1.10, 0.37). Coloration slightly lighter than in male; other characters as in male.

Epigyne (Figs 17–18, 23–24). Copulatory openings small, located almost in the centre of the epigynal plate; in ventral view copulatory ducts inconspicuous; spermathecae long, tubular and sinuous; bursae large, membranous, almost rectangular.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Comments

Retrolateral femoral apophysis is known only in three species of Clubionidae: Clubiona pollicaris, C. qiyunensis and C. brachyptera.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Shuqiang Li (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) for providing valuable specimens. We are grateful to Dr. K.G. Mikhailov and Dr. R. Bosmans for reviewing the manuscript. Prof. Victor Fet kindly helped reviewing the English of the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31372154, 31172121, 31372224).

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