﻿On nine ground spiders from Xishuangbanna, China (Araneae, Gnaphosidae), including two new genera and seven new species

﻿Abstract Species of the family Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892 were surveyed in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, and nine species were found including two new genera and seven new species. The new monotypic genera are Meizhelangen. nov., with the type species Meizhelanmuhongsp. nov. (♂♀) and Yuqilingen. nov., with the type species Y.lujunyisp. nov. (♂♀). Five additional new species are described: Allomicythussuochaosp. nov. (♂♀); Hongkongialiutangsp. nov. (♂♀); Sernokorbaruanxiaoersp. nov. (♂♀), Synaphosusleihengsp. nov. (♂♀) and Sy.lijunsp. nov. (♂♀). The unknown male of A.kamurai Ono, 2009 and unknown female of H.wuae Song & Zhu, 1998 are described for the first time.


Introduction
Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892 or ground spiders, are the fifth largest spider family, with 2443 species in 147 genera worldwide (WSC 2023). Of the 6208 species of spiders described from China, 219 are gnaphosid spiders (pers. obs., cf. Li 2020). Since the publication of a monograph on Gnaphosidae in 2004 , research in China has come to a standstill, with only 28 new species having been published after 2004. Considering the extreme richness of spider biodiversity in China, an enormous number of new species remain undiscovered, especially in the Gnaphosidae.
The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG, 1125-hectare area) is considered one of the most significant tropical rainforest nature reserves, located on Hulu Island in Menglun Township, Mengla County, at the triple borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Research on Gnaphosidae in these three countries is relatively weak, with only 20 species known from Myanmar, two species known from Laos, and nine species known from Thailand, so studies on gnaphosid spiders at the XTBG will help us to understand the biodiversity in neighboring countries. From 2006 to 2023, more than 800 spider species have been reported from XTBG (Li 2021;Yao and Li 2021). From our long-term study, we expect to find more than 1000 spider species from XTBG.
Diagnosis. The male can be distinguished from Allomicythus suochao sp. nov. by the absence of tegular apophysis and conductor (Fig. 1B,C) [vs present (Fig. 2B, C)]. The female can be distinguished from A. suochao sp. nov. by the absence of a pair of lateral pockets of epigyne and spermatheca as long as the diameter of the bursa (see Ono 2009: figs 18, 19) [vs lateral pockets present and spermatheca almost twice as long as the diameter of bursa ( Fig. 3)]. and unobvious in ventral view. Tegulum teardrop-shaped. Sperm duct (SD) with S-shaped turn in retrolateral view. Tegular apophysis (TA) membranous. Conductor (C) almost spherical. Embolus (E) helically twisted, coiled almost 2.5 turns.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species is named after Suo Chao, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species is named after Liu Tang, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition.  Diagnosis. Females of this species can be easily distinguished from the congeners by the absence of epigynal hood and presence of a long, obvious glandular appendage of spermatheca (Fig. 7A, B). Diagnosis of males see Zhang et al. (2009).
Etymology. The genus is named after Meizhelan, nickname for one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; masculine in gender.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species is named after Mu Hong, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese literature 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition. Genus Sernokorba Kamura, 1992 Type species. Prosthesima pallidipatellis Bösenberg & Strand, 1906, from Japan.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality.  Etymology. The species is named after Ruan Xiaoer, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition. Diagnosis. See Marusik and Omelko (2018).
Comments. This genus remains unassigned to any subfamily or tribe of Gnaphosidae, belonging only to the informal Echemus group of genera, includes 37 species, see World Spider Catalog, 2023.
Species groups. Five species groups: the syntheticus group, the gracillimus group, the kakamega group and the femininis group. Here, we report a new group: the dubius-group with two species: Synaphosus dubius Marusik &  Ovtsharenko, Levy & Platnick, 1994 by the male with a retrolateral tibial hood (Fig. 16B) and lake of retrolateral tibial apophysis (Fig. 16B) and females by the deep, separated, anterior copulatory opening (Fig. 17A). However, the new species can be distinguished by the hook-shaped conductor (Fig. 16B) [vs conductor long and slender (see Marusik and Omelko 2018: fig. 42)], an apophysis at the base of embolus (Fig. 16A) (vs absent) and only one apophysis on conductor (Fig. 16B) [vs two apophyses (see Marusik and Omelko 2018: fig. 42)]. The female can be distinguished by the absence of anterior pockets (Fig. 17A) [vs present (see Ovtsharenko et al. 1994: fig. 51)] and the copulatory ducts connected directly to the anterior part of spermatheca (Fig. 17B) [vs copulatory ducts wrap around spermatheca and then connect to the middle of spermatheca (see Ovtsharenko et al. 1994: fig. 52)].
Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species is named after Lei Heng, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition.  Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species is named after Li Jun, one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; noun in apposition.  Platnick and Shadab 1982: figs 9, 17) morphologically by the epigynal plate with a large scape anteriorly (Fig. 23A), wide copulatory ducts subparallel (Fig. 23B) and spermathecae subglobular, located posteriorly (Fig. 23B), but it differs in the following: epigynal plate without atrium (Fig. 23A) (vs present) and copulatory ducts with anterior incision (Fig. 23B) (vs absent). Males can be distinguished by the following characters: embolus as wide as bulb, wider than tegulum, with few apophyses, retro-proximal cymbial outgrowth present and condoctor absent (Figs 21B, 22A).   (Fig. 24A, C, E, G, I). Total length 3.96-5.21 (n = 6). Carapace red brown, with dark brown pattern, covered with few brown setae. Fovea longitudinal. Clypeus brown, covered with several setae. Chelicerae red-brown, with four promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Endites pale brown. Labium pale brown, covered with brown setae. Sternum colored as endites, covered with brown setae. Legs brown, with a preening brush on metatarsi III and IV. Opisthosoma oval, venter brown with setae, dorsal scutum almost 1/3 the length of the opisthosoma. Spinnerets yellow brown.
Etymology. The genus is named after Yuqilin, nickname for one of the 108 outlaws in the classical Chinese novel 'Outlaws of the Marsh'; masculine in gender.
Composition. The new genus currently includes only one species: Yuqilin lujunyi sp. nov.