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Research Article
Two new species of Amaurobius C.L. Koch, 1837 from China (Araneae, Amaurobiidae)
expand article infoLu-Yu Wang‡, Muhammad Irfan‡, Huan Zhou‡, Zhi-Sheng Zhang‡
‡ Southwest University, Chongqing, China

Corresponding author: Zhi-Sheng Zhang ( zhangzs327@qq.com )

Academic editor: Ingi Agnarsson
© 2023 Lu-Yu Wang, Muhammad Irfan, Huan Zhou, Zhi-Sheng Zhang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Wang L-Y, Irfan M, Zhou H, Zhang Z-S (2023) Two new species of Amaurobius C.L. Koch, 1837 from China (Araneae, Amaurobiidae). ZooKeys 1169: 307-315. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1169.102581
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0D298638-F6F1-47C6-817E-D31B80C42C36
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Amaurobius are described from China: A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Sichuan and A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Shaanxi. With the addition of two new species, the number of Amaurobius species endemic to China now reaches four. Morphological descriptions, photos, and illustrations of copulatory organs, as well as a map of distribution records, are provided.

Key words

Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov., Amaurobius wulongdongensis sp. nov., description, illustration, morphology, taxonomy

Introduction

Amaurobius is the most species-rich genus in the spider family Amaurobiidae Thorell, 1869, comprising 65 species mainly distributed in North America and Europe (WSC 2023). Three European species [A. erberi (Keyserling, 1863), A. fenestralis (Ström, 1768) and A. jugorum L. Koch, 1868] were spread or introduced into west, central, or south Asia. Two Asian endemic species (A. songi Zhang, Wang & Zhang, 2018 and A. spinatus Zhang, Wang & Zhang, 2018) were described from the northern parts of Chongqing and Sichuan, China (Zhang et al. 2018), suggesting that there should be more local undescribed Amaurobius species from China.

Our recent exploration revealed two more new Amaurobius species from Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces of China. The four currently known endemic species of Amaurobius in China are distributed on the south slope of the Qinling Mountains and the eastern extension of the Hengduan Mountains. Most likely, the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau influenced the origin and expansion of this spider group.

Materials and methods

All specimens were examined, illustrated, photographed and measured using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a drawing tube, a Leica DFC420 camera, and LAS (Leica Application Suite) software (version 4.6). Epigynes were cleared immersing them in pancreatin (Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga 2007). Leg measurements are rendered here as: total length (femur, patella and tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). All measurements are in millimeters. Morphological terminology follows Zhang et al. (2008). All specimens examined here are deposited in the School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China (SWUC).

The following abbreviations are used in the text:

Somatic characters: ALE–anterior lateral eye; AME–anterior median eye; DTA–dorsal tibial apophysis; MOA–median ocular area; PLE–posterior lateral eye; PME–posterior median eye; RTA–retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Male palp: Co–conductor; DTA–dorsal tibial apophysis; eDTA–exterior branch of DTA; E–embolus; iDTA–interior branch of DTA; MA–median apophysis; RTA–retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA–tegular apophysis.

Epigyne: CD–copulatory ducts; FD–fertilization duct; LT–lateral teeth; ML–median lobe; S–spermathecae.

Taxonomy

Family Amaurobiidae Thorell,1869

Genus Amaurobius C. L. Koch, 1837 (暗蛛属)

Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov. (光雾山暗蛛)

https://zoobank.org/73040AE8-D0AB-47FE-8390-23A719420954
Figs 1, 2, 5

Type material

Holotype ♂: China, Sichuan Province: Nanjiang County, Guangwu Mountain, Taoyuan, Sandaoguan, 32°41′15″N, 106°47'45″E, elev. 1377 m, 3.XI.2018, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, L. Yuan & P. Liu leg.; Paratypes (2♂♂12♀♀): 2♀♀, same data as holotype; 2♂♂3♀♀, Guangwu Mountain, Taoyuan, Lianghekou, 32°40′31″N, 106°46′08″E, elev. 1002 m, 3.XI.2018, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, L. Yuan & P. Liu leg.; 7♀♀, Guangwu Mountain, Taoyuan, 32°41′24″N, 106°47′39″E, elev. 1703 m, 16.V.2013, X.K. Jiang & D. Wang leg.

Etymology

The epithet refers to the type locality (Mt. Guangwu is read as Guangwushan in Chinese); adjective.

Diagnosis

Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov. resembles A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. and A. spinatus in having a similar embolus in the male [Figs 1A, 2C; see Zhang et al. (2018), figs 4C, 5E, 6A], but can be differentiated by the thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis in ventral view (Figs 1B, 2D) [vs. somewhat rectangular in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4D, 5F); semicircular in A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3B, C, 4D, E)]; interior branch of dorsal tibial apophysis somewhat triangular with a sharp pointed end in prolateral view in A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1D, 2C) and A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3A, 4C) [vs. about thumb-shaped with blunt tip in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4C, 5E, 6C); tegular apophysis apex bifurcated in ventral view in A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1B, 2D) [vs. broad with small depression at the center in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4D, 5F; somewhat rectangular in A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3B, 4D)]; median apophysis doorknob-shaped, tip slightly curved in ventral view in A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1B, 2D) [vs. hook-shaped in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4D, 5F); doorknob-like, tip strongly curved in A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3B, 4D)]; conductor apex narrow, apical margin about half the length of the embolus in retrolateral view in A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1C, 2E) [vs. broad, apical margin as long as embolus both in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4E, 5G) and A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3C, 4E)]. The epigyne can be differentiated from the related species by the lateral teeth wider than long with round margin (Figs 1A, 2F) (vs. longer than wide with pointed tip in A. spinatus Zhang, Wang & Zhang, 2018, figs 4A, 5C, 6B); median lobe somewhat sheet-like in A. guangwushanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1A, 2F) [vs. oval in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4A, 5C, 6B); round in A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3D, 4F)], lateral teeth c. 1/4 length of median lobe with round tip (Figs 1A, 2F) [vs. about half the length of median lobe, horn-like with tapering tip in A. spinatus (see Zhang et al. 2018, figs 4A, 5C, 6B); broad, semicircular, almost two times larger than median lobe in A. wulongdongensis sp. nov. (Figs 3D, 4F)].

Figure 1. 

Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov., male holotype (A–C) and female paratype (D–E). A left male palp, prolateral view B same, ventral view C same, retrolateral view D epigyne, ventral view E same, dorsal view.

Figure 2. 

Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov., male holotype (A, C–E) and female paratype (B, F–G). A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same, retrolateral view F epigyne, ventral view; G same, dorsal view.

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 2A). Total length 3.12–3.52. Holotype (Fig. 2A) total length 3.52. Carapace 1.77 long, 1.26 wide; opisthosoma 1.59 long, 1.14 wide. Carapace yellowish. Cervical groove indistinct, radial furrows distinct. Eye measurements and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.10, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.31 long, front width 0.14, back width 0.29. Clypeus height 0.11. Chelicerae brown, with 4 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium yellowish brown, longer than wide. Sternum yellowish brown, with brown setae. Legs yellowish. Leg measurements: I 5.88 (1.62, 2.04, 1.35, 0.87); II 4.55 (1.30, 1.50, 1.05, 0.70); III 3.83 (1.11, 1.23, 0.93, 0.56); IV 5.00 (1.42, 1.66, 1.29, 0.63). Opisthosoma oval, dorsum yellowish, with six brown chevrons extending posteriorly, venter yellowish brown.

Palp (Figs 1A–C, 2C–E). Femur almost as long as cymbium. Patella with strong dorso-apical short spine. Tibia with large thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis, originating near the base of tibia. Dorsal tibial apophysis large, exterior branch of dorsal tibial apophysis longer than wide, c. 1/3 length of tibia, with wavey tip in retrolateral view, interior branch of dorsal tibial apophysis short, somewhat triangular with pointed end in prolateral view. Cymbium longer than both tibia and patellae, with retrolateral angular projection. Bulb oval, slightly longer than wide. Tegulum widest in middle part, tegular apophysis with bifurcated apex. Conductor membranous, sheet-like. Median apophysis sclerotized, doorknob-like, about more than half-length of embolus, present at the center of bulb. Sperm duct visible in prolateral and retrolateral view. Embolus originating prolaterally, short, flat, with a round tip.

Female (Fig. 2B). Total length 4.29–4.36. One of paratypes (Fig. 2B) total length 3.84. Carapace 1.52 long, 1.05 wide; opisthosoma 2.40 long, 1.67 wide. Eye measurements and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.12, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.30 long, front width 0.15, back width 0.28. Clypeus height 0.12. Legs yellowish brown. Leg measurements: I 4.14 (1.20, 1.46, 0.88, 0.60); II 3.90 (1.05, 1.14, 0.76, 0.50); III 3.09 (0.93, 1.07, 0.68, 0.41); IV 4.06 (1.21, 1.38, 0.97, 0.50). Opisthosoma color pattern as in male.

Epigyne (Figs 1D, E, 2F, G). Median lobe wider than long; lateral teeth with round margin. Copulatory ducts transverse, located between spermathecae. Spermethecae globular, spaced by about half of radius. Fertilization ducts originating posteriorly, slightly curved, directed laterally.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Sichuan, China (Fig. 5).

Amaurobius wulongdongensis sp. nov. (五龙洞暗蛛)

https://zoobank.org/A9F7F1B9-0D48-4895-85A6-32603A937A21
Figs 3, 4, 5

Type material

Holotype ♂: China, Shaanxi Province: Lueyang County, Wulongdong Forest Park, 33°36′17″N, 106°18′34″E, elev. 1786 m, 17 October 2018, L.Y. Wang leg.; Paratypes: 3♀♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis

See diagnosis of Amaurobius guangwushanensis sp. nov.

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 4A) total length 3.99. Carapace 2.12 long, 1.43 wide; opisthosoma 1.83 long, 1.34 wide. Carapace yellowish brown. Cervical groove and radial furrows distinct. Eye measurements and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.13, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.36 long, front width 0.17, back width 0.34. Clypeus height 0.11. Chelicerae dark, with 4 promarginal and 4 or 5 retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium yellowish brown, longer than wide. Sternum yellowish, with brown setae. Legs yellow brown. Leg measurements: I 7.40 (2.01, 2.50,1.87, 1.02); II 5.19 (1.37, 1.85, 1.23, 0.74); III 4.70 (1.40, 1.55, 1.16, 0.59); IV 5.83 (1.74, 2.02, 1.49,0.58). Opisthosoma oval, dorsum yellowish brown, with six brown chevrons, extending posteriorly, venter yellowish brown.

Palp (Figs 3A–C, 4C–E). Femur almost as long as cymbium. Patella with strong dorso-apically short spine. Tibia with large semicircular retrolateral tibial apophysis, originating near the base of tibia. Dorsal tibial apophysis large, exterior branch of dorsal tibial apophysis large, longer than wide, interior branch of dorsal tibial apophysis short, somewhat triangular. Cymbium longer than both tibia and patellae, with retrolateral angular projection. Bulb oval, slightly longer than wide. Tegulum widest in middle part. Conductor membranous, sheet-like. Median apophysis sclerotized, doorknob-like, about more than half-length of embolus, present at the center of bulb. Sperm duct visible in prolateral and retrolateral view. Embolus originating prolaterally, short, flat, with bifurcate tip.

Figure 3. 

Amaurobius wulongdongensis sp. nov., male holotype (A–C) and female paratype (D–E). A left male palp, prolateral view B same, ventral view C. same, retrolateral view D epigyne, ventral view E same, dorsal view.

Female (Fig. 4B). Total length 4.29–4.36. One of paratypes (Fig. 4B) total length 4.36. Carapace 2.05 long, 1.36 wide; opisthosoma 2.40 long, 1.75 wide. Eye measurements and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.13, PME 0.12, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.06. MOA 0.37 long, front width 0.20, back width 0.35. Clypeus height 0.14. Leg measurements: I 5.39 (1.55, 1.84, 1.20, 0.80); II 4.23 (1.24, 1.45, 0.95, 0.59); III 3.60 (1.13, 1.03, 0.91, 0.53); IV 4.79 (1.46, 1.59, 1.19, 0.55). Opisthosoma color pattern as in male.

Figure 4. 

Amaurobius wulongdongensis sp. nov., male holotype (A, C–E) and female paratype (B, F–G). A male habitus, dorsal view B female habitus, dorsal view C left male palp, prolateral view D same, ventral view E same, retrolateral view F epigyne, ventral view G same, dorsal view.

Epigyne (Figs 3D, E, 4F, G). Median lobe reduced, somewhat round, with lateral teeth large, semicircular. Copulatory ducts V-shaped, located between spermathecae. Spermathecae semiglobular, almost touching each other. Fertilization ducts originating postero-laterally.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Shaanxi, China (Fig. 5).

Figure 5. 

Distribution records of four Amaurobius species in China.

Acknowledgements

The manuscript benefited greatly from comments by Ingi Agnarsson, Feng Zhang, Lina Maria Almeida-Silva, and Yuri Marusik. We thank Dong Wang, Xuan-Kong Jiang, Li Yuan, Tao Yuan and Piao Liu (SWUC formerly) for their assistance during the field work.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This study was supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2022FY202100), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU120051), the Chongqing Provincial Funding for Postdoc (cstc2021jcyj-bsh0196), Foreign Youth Talent Program Funding (QN2022168002L), the Investigation Project of Basic Science and Technology (2018FY100305), the fund on survey of spiders and insects from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities to Zhou Huan (XDJK2017D097).

Author contributions

LY Wang and ZS Zhang collected spider individuals. LY Wang and M Irfan performed the experiments. LY Wang, M Irfan, and ZS Zhang wrote the paper.

Author ORCIDs

Lu-Yu Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5250-3473

Muhammad Irfan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0445-9612

Huan Zhou https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4507-6241

Zhi-Sheng Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9304-1789

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

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