Sarotes forcipatus Karsch, 1881 from China and Japan.

See Jäger (1999), Liu et al. (2008), Zhang et al. (2015) and Grall and Jäger (2020).

See WSC (2023) and Zhang et al. (2021).

Holotype ♂ (YHSPA001), China: Guizhou Province: Guiyang City: Xinpu Town, Xiangzhigou, Nanjing temple, 26.75°N, 106.93°E, c. 1092 m, by hand, 14.VI.2017, H. Yu et al. leg. Paratypes: 2♂3♀ (YHSPA002–006), same data as holotype.

The species name is derived from the name of the type locality; noun in apposition.

The males of new species resemble those of S. ovata Zhong, Jäger, Chen & Liu, 2019 and S. triangula Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008 in having a short vRTA with rough apex, and a long, finger-like dRTA (Fig. 1A, B, D; Zhong et al. 2019: figs 43B, C, 44B, C; Liu et al. 2008: fig. 7B, C), but differ by: (1) subdistal embolus without triangular projection (vs. with a triangular projection) (cf. Figs 1A, D, 2A–C and Zhong et al. 2019: figs 43A, B, 44A, B and Liu et al. 2008: fig. 7A, B, D–F); (2) embolus whip-like or filiform, distinctly thin (vs. relatively thicker, distally wide) (cf. Figs 1A, D, 2A–C and Zhong et al. 2019: figs 43A, B, 44A, B and Liu et al. 2008: fig. 7A, B, D–F); (3) apex of vRTA with four ridges (vs. without ridges) (cf. Fig. 1D and Zhong et al. 2019: figs 43C, 44C and Liu et al. 2008: fig. 7C). Females also resemble those of S. ovata and S. triangula by the general shape of vulva but can be recognized by the thumb-like glandular appendages extend transversally (vs. finger-like and descend obliquely) (cf. Fig. 3C and Zhong et al. 2019: figs 43E, 45B and Liu et al. 2008: fig. 7H).

Figure 1. 

Male palp of the holotype of Sinopoda guiyang sp. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view C prolateral view D retrolateral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; EA = embolic apophysis; EB = embolic base; Sp = spermophor; St = subtegulum; T = tegulum; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale bar: 0.5 mm (equal for A–D).

Male (YHSPA001). Total length 8.4. Prosoma 4.0 long, 3.4 wide, anterior width of prosoma 2.6. Opisthosoma 4.4 long, 2.6 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.26, PME 0.18, PLE 0.27, AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.35, AME–PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.28, CH AME 0.21, CH ALE 0.23. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 1021; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I 2024, II–III 2126, IV 2226; Mt: I–II 2024, III–IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.3 (2.2, 1.3, 1.1, 1.7), I 15.5 (3.8, 1.9, 4.4, 4.0, 1.4), II 17.5 (4.8, 1.9, 4.7, 4.5, 1.6), III 14.1 (4.4, 1.5, 3.6, 3.3, 1.3), IV 15.4 (4.4, 1.7, 3.6, 4.1, 1.6). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 35 denticles.

Colouration in ethanol (Fig. 2D, E). Prosoma yellowish-brown, anteriorly and medially yellowish, lateral and posterior margin dark brown, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae light brown. Sternum yellowish-white, margin yellowish. Endites and labium uniformly yellowish-white. Legs dark yellowish-brown, covered by short spines. Opisthosoma oval, dorsum brown, marginally with two longitudinal and dark brown bands reaching posterior half, median part with four pairs of inconspicuous purplish dots; venter uniformly gray.

Figure 2. 

Sinopoda guiyang sp. nov., male holotype, palpal bulb (A–C) and habitus (D, E) A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view D dorsal view E ventral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; E = embolus; EA = embolic apophysis; EB = embolic base; Sp = spermophor; St = subtegulum; T = tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (equal for A–C); 2 mm (equal for D, E).

Palp (Figs 1, 2A–C). Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia. Embolus filiform, Ƨ-shaped in ventral view, arising at approximately the 8–9 o’clock position, terminating at c. 12 o’clock position. Conductor long, membranous, c. 2/3 of the tegulum length, originating at 12–1 o’clock position portion of tegulum. Tegulum oval, slightly bulged, medially with distinct and slightly curved spermophore, proximally covering embolic base. RTA arising mesially to distally from tibia, ventrally with distinct brush of stiff setae. dRTA slender, finger-shaped; vRTA round, apex with four ridges.

Female (YHSPA002). Total length 10.3. Prosoma 4.2 long, 3.6 wide, anterior width of prosoma 2.8. Opisthosoma 6.1 long, 4.6 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.24, PME 0.20, PLE 0.29, AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.27, PME–PLE 0.39, AME–PME 0.39, ALE–PLE 0.34, CH AME 0.23, CH ALE 0.26. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2026, 1014; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 000; Ti: I–III 2026, IV 2126; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.0 (1.5, 0.9, 1.0, 1.6), I 12.2 (3.3, 1.5, 3.0, 3.2, 1.2), II 12.7 (3.8, 1.8, 3.2, 2.8, 1.1), III 10.3 (3.0, 1.6, 2.7, 2.1, 0.9), IV 11.9 (3.5, 1.7, 2.9, 2.7, 1.1). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 42 denticles. Colouration in ethanol as in males, but generally slightly darker (Fig. 3D, E).

Figure 3. 

Sinopoda guiyang sp. nov., female paratype, epigyne (A–C) and habitus (D, E) A intact, ventral view B cleared and macerated, ventral view C cleared and macerated, dorsal view D dorsal view E ventral view. AB = anterior band; FD = fertilization duct; GA = glandular appendage; ID = internal duct; LL = lateral lobe; LS = lobal septum; MS = membranous sac; PP = posterior part of spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (equal for A–C); 2 mm (equal for D, E).

Copulatory organ (Fig. 3A–C). Epigynal field wider than long, with short and indistinct anterior bands, slit sensillum absent. Lobal septum wide, anterior part about 1/10 width of epigynal plate, gradually wider to the posterior. Lateral lobes fused, with small median incision and posterior margin slightly bilobed. Internal ducts running parallel along median line. Glandular appendages thumb-like, extend transversally. Posterior part of spermathecae balloon-shaped, relatively large, c. 1.6 times longer than wide; the two PP separated by about 0.8 width. Fertilization ducts acicular, membranous, located on dorsal-basal surface of spermathecae. Membranous sac between fertilization ducts, more or less triangular.

Known only from the type locality, Guiyang City, Guizhou, China (Fig. 9).

Sinopoda guiyang sp. nov. possesses several characters associated with the globosa-group (currently comprises six species, see Zhang et al. 2021: 15, fig. 4) and resembles S. ovata and S. triangula (the core species of the globosa-group) for their characteristic genital organs (for a detailed diagnosis, see above), but can be distinguished from all members of the globosa-group by the absence of triangular projection in the embolus. Because the embolus of all S. globosa-group species has a subdistally triangular projection, there remains considerable uncertainty about placing this new species into the globosa-group.

Figure 4. 

Male palp of the topotype of Sinopoda horizontalis A ventral view B dorsal view C prolateral view D retrolateral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; EA = embolic apophysis; EB = embolic base; Sp = spermophor; St = subtegulum; T = tegulum; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale bar: 1 mm (equal for A–D).

♀ (ZY-2013-SPA007), China: Fujian Province: Wuyishan City, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, 27.35°N, 117.29°E, c. 1152 m, by hand, 16 VI 2013, Y. Zhong and X.W. Cao leg.

3♂, 1♀ (ZY-2021-SPA011–014). Same locality as holotype, by hand, 16.VI.2021, Y. Zhong leg.

Males of S. horizontalis resemble those of S. hamata (Fox, 1937) and S. liui Zhong, Cao & Liu, 2017 in the general shape of the male palp. The palps of the three species share the similarly shaped conductor and embolus, and the distinctly long, ribbon-shaped dRTA which with lumpy margins, but differ in the following: the vRTA digitiform, distinctly longer than wide, apex blunt in S. horizontalis (vs. laminar, distinctly wider than long in S. hamata, thumb-shaped, apex beak-shaped and relatively sharper in S. liui) (cf. Fig. 4A, B, D and Zhong et al. 2018: figs 6C, 7C and Zhong et al. 2019: figs 31C, 32C). Females also resemble those of S. hamata and S. liui in having the strongly narrow lobal septum anteriorly, and the distinctly bilobed posterior margin of epigynal plate, but can be recognised from S. hamata by the internal ducts running parallel along median line (vs. convergent anteriorly but distinctly oblique posteriorly) (cf. Fig. 6C–F and Zhong et al. 2018: figs 6D, E, 7D, E); and from S. liui can be recognised by the posterior part of spermathecae are proportionately longer, nearly 2/5 length of internal ducts (vs. proportionately much shorter, no more than 1/4 length of internal ducts) (cf. Fig. 6C–F and Zhong et al. 2019: fig. 33B and Zhong et al. 2017: figs 5D, 6D).

Male (ZY-2021-SPA011). Total length 14.8. Prosoma 7.0 long, 6.7 wide, anterior width of prosoma 3.4. Opisthosoma 7.8 long, 5.2 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.24, ALE 0.45, PME 0.22, PLE 0.50, AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.41, PME–PLE 0.38, AME–PME 0.48, ALE–PLE 0.40, CH AME 0.29, CH ALE 0.35. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 1021; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–IV 2226; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.7 (2.8, 2.0, 2.1, 2.8), I 34.0 (9.9, 3.8, 8.4, 8.9, 3.0), II 35.8 (10.6, 3.8, 9.0, 9.5, 2.9), III 27.7 (7.8, 3.6, 7.2, 7.0, 2.1), IV 28.9 (8.6, 3.1, 7.0, 7.7, 2.5). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 32 denticles.

Colouration in ethanol (Fig. 5D, E). Prosoma dark yellowish to brown, with yellow submarginal transversal band at posterior part. Median band of prosoma bright yellowish-brown, lateral bands brown and not distinctly delimited to median band. Fovea and radial furrows distinctly marked. Chelicerae dark reddish-brown. Sternum light yellow, margin slightly darker. Endites and labium yellowish, both with distal parts brighter. Legs dark yellowish-brown, covered by short spines. Dorsal opisthosoma brown, with an irregular yellow media band, reaching 2/3 of abdomen length, with five pairs of inconspicuous black dots on each side; ventral opisthosoma yellowish-brown with irregular pattern and two longitudinal yellow lines between epigastric furrow and spinnerets.

Figure 5. 

Sinopoda horizontalis, male topotype, palpal bulb (A–C) and habitus (D, E) A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view D dorsal view E ventral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; E = embolus; EA = embolic apophysis; EB = embolic base; Sp = spermophor; St = subtegulum; T = tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (equal for A–C); 5 mm (equal for D, E).

Palp (Figs 4, 5A–C). Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia. Embolus filiform, Ƨ-shaped, arising from tegulum at nearly the 7–8 o’clock position in ventral view, terminating at c. 12 o’clock position. Conductor long, c. 2/3 of the tegulum length, curving medially, arising at 12- 1o’clock position from tegulum. Tegulum oval, slightly bulged, medially with distinct spermophore, proximally covering embolic base; spermophore <-shaped in ventral view. RTA arising mesially to distally from tibia, ventrally with distinct brush of stiff setae. dRTA ribbon-shaped, distinctly long, curved and tapering, almost extending media part of cymbium; vRTA digitiform, relatively short, about 1/2 of tibia length, apex round.

Female (ZY-2021-SPA014). Total length 14.9. Prosoma 7.6 long, 7.3 wide, anterior width of prosoma 4.5. Opisthosoma 9.3 long, 5.8 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.48, PME 0.36, PLE 0.58, AME–AME 0.25, AME–ALE 0.17, PME–PME 0.45, PME–PLE 0.61, AME–PME 0.62, ALE–PLE 0.66, CH AME 0.31, CH ALE 0.45. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–III 2024, IV 2124; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.6 (2.8, 1.4, 2.2, 3.2), I 24.3 (6.3, 2.6, 6.3, 6.6, 2.5), II 25.9 (8.3, 3.3, 7.1, 5.2, 2.0), III 20.2 (7.7, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 1.7), IV 22.2 (7.1, 2.5, 5.8, 4.9, 1.9). Leg formula: II-IV-III-I. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 40 denticles. Colouration in ethanol as in males, but body slightly darker (Fig. 6A, B; see Zhong et al. (2017) for others described). Copulatory organ as in Fig. 6C, D (topotype) and Fig. 6E, F (holotype).

Figure 6. 

Sinopoda horizontalis, habitus (A, B) and epigyne (C, D) of female topotype, and epigyne (E, F) of female holotype A dorsal view B ventral view C, E cleared and macerated, ventral view D, F cleared and macerated, dorsal view. AB = anterior band; FD = fertilization duct; GA = glandular appendage; ID = internal duct; LL = lateral lobe; LS = lobal septum; MS = membranous sac; PP = posterior part of spermathecae. Scale bars: 5 mm (equal for A, B); 0.5 mm (equal for C, D, equal for E, F).

Known only from the type locality, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Fujian, China (Fig. 9).

Holotype ♀ (YHSPA007), China: Guizhou Province: Zunyi City: Xishui County, Xishui National Nature Reserve, Sanchahe Town, Hongyangou Village, 28.50°N, 106.40°E, c. 934 m, by hand, 23.V.2022, H. Yu et al. leg. Paratype: 1♀, same data as holotype.

The species name is derived from the name of the type locality; noun in apposition.

Females of this new species resembles those of S. yaanensis Zhong, Jäger, Chen & Liu, 2019 in having similar vulva with swollen, globular glandular appendages, and oval shaped posterior part of spermathecae, but can be distinguished by: (1) lobal septum distinctly wider, its anterior part about 1/5 width of epigynal plate (Fig. 7A, B) (vs. relatively narrower, its anterior part about 1/8–1/9 width of epigynal plate; Zhang et al. 2015: figs 40, 46; Zhong et al. 2019: fig. 57E); and (2) the anterior part of internal ducts far from the anterior margin of epigynal plate (Fig. 7C) (vs. reach the anterior margin of epigynal plate; Zhang et al. 2015: fig. 41; Zhong et al. 2019: fig. 57J).

Figure 7. 

Sinopoda xishui sp. nov., female holotype, epigyne (A–C) and habitus (D, E) A macerated, ventral view B cleared and macerated, ventral view C cleared and macerated, dorsal view D dorsal view E ventral view. FD = fertilization duct; GA = glandular appendage; ID = internal duct; LL = lateral lobe; LS = lobal septum; MS = membranous sac; PP = posterior part of spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (equal for A–C); 3 mm (equal for D, E).

Female (YHSPA007). Total length 16.4. Prosoma 7.7 long, 6.8 wide, anterior width of prosoma 4.2. Opisthosoma 8.7 long, 6.1 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.35, ALE 0.44, PME 0.38, PLE 0.48, AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.44, PME–PLE 0.53, AME–PME 0.52, ALE–PLE 1.44, CH AME 0.32, CH ALE 0.37. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–III 2026, IV 2126; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.8 (3.0, 1.6, 2.1, 3.1), I 26.8 (7.8, 2.4, 7.8, 6.5, 2.3), II 29.1 (8.9, 2.8, 8.2, 7.1, 2.1), III 24.2 (7.6, 3.1, 6.3, 5.1, 2.1), IV 24.7 (6.7, 2.4, 7.3, 6.1, 2.2). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with two anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 38 denticles.

Colour of the living holotype female was uniformly dark except brown femur (Fig. 8A). Colouration in ethanol (Fig. 7D, E): Prosoma dark yellowish to brown, with bright yellow submarginal transversal band at posterior part. Median band of prosoma bright yellowish, anteriorly as wide as PER, gradually narrowing posteriorly; lateral bands brown, distinctly delimited to median band, starting from PLE, reaching dark reddish submarginal transversal band. Fovea and radial furrows distinctly marked. Chelicerae yellowish-brown. Sternum bright yellow, margin slightly darker. Endites and labium yellowish. Legs yellowish-brown, covered by short spines. Dorsal opisthosoma dark brown, anteriorly with a small ‘)(‘-shaped yellow pattern, with three pairs of inconspicuous dots on each side; ventral opisthosoma dark, with several transversal folds.

Figure 8. 

Sinopoda xishui sp. nov., female holotype (A) and paratype (B), live specimens. Photographs by Qianle Lu (Shenzhen, Guangdong).

Copulatory organ (Fig. 7A–C). Epigynal field wider than long, anterior bands nearly invisible indistinct, slit sensillum absent. Lobal septum wide, anterior part about 1/5 width of epigynal plate, gradually wider to the posterior. Lateral lobes fused, posterior margin slightly bilobed, medially with small incision. Internal ducts running parallel along the middle line. Glandular appendages distinctly inflated, globular; the two GA widely separated by about 3× diameters. Posterior part of spermathecae more or less bean-shaped, c. 1.9 times longer than wide; the two PP separated by about 2.3 width. Fertilization ducts acicular, membranous, located on posterior surface of spermathecae. Membranous sac between fertilization ducts, nearly trapezoidal.

Male. Unknown.

Known only from the type locality, Xishui National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China (Fig. 9).

Figure 9. 

Distribution records of the Sinopoda species treated in this paper: S. horizontalis Zhong, Cao & Liu, 2017 (orange circle: Fujian Province: Wuyishan City, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve), S. guiyang sp. nov. (blue circle: Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Xinpu Town, Xiangzhigou), S. xishui sp. nov. (red circle: Guizhou Province, Zunyi City, Xishui National Nature Reserve).

The females of S. xishui sp. nov. exhibit typical globosa-group features (internal ducts running parallel along median line, and with ovate posterior parts of spermathecae, as diagnosed in Zhang et al. (2021)), and resembles S. yaanensis (the core species of the globosa-group) (for a detailed diagnosis, see above). However, this species is not readily assignable to the globosa-group due to the lack of an available male specimen.