Research Article |
Corresponding author: Ke-ke Liu ( liukeke_1986@126.com ) Academic editor: Miquel A. Arnedo
© 2023 Cong-zheng Li, Yan-bin Yao, Yong-hong Xiao, Ke-ke Liu.
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:
Li C-z, Yao Y-b, Xiao Y-h, Liu K-k (2023) Two new thomisid species (Arachnida, Araneae, Thomisidae) from China and Vietnam, with the first descriptions of the males of Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010 and Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022. ZooKeys 1159: 169-187. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1159.102601
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Collections of thomisid spiders by amateur and professional arachnologists in China have led to the discovery of some interesting crab spiders (Thomisidae). Two new species in two genera of thomisid spiders are described and illustrated with photographs and SEMs: Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, sp. nov. (♀) and Stephanopis qiong Liu & Yao, sp. nov. (♀). The previously unknown males of Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010 and Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022 were also collected and are described for the first time. The genus Borboropactus Simon, 1884 is reported for the first time from Vietnam. The new Stephanopis species is also recorded for only the second time from the Asian mainland. Distributions of all these species are mapped.
Crab spider, distribution, new species, single sex, taxonomy
The family Thomisidae, the crab spiders, is the seventh largest spider family with a global distribution, comprising 2165 extant species belonging to 171 genera (
In the past five years, specimens have been collected by spider enthusiasts and colleagues. When examining these spider specimens collected from Tibet, Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan provinces, two new thomisid species were identified, two males of Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010 and Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022 were found for the first time. The aims of the present paper are (1) to provide detailed descriptions of two new species, (2) to provide descriptions of previously unknown males of these two species and (3) to provide the second record of the genus Stephanopis from the Asian mainland.
Specimens were examined using a SZ6100 stereomicroscope. Both male and female copulatory organs were dissected and examined in 95% ethanol using an Olympus CX43 compound microscope with a KUY NICE CCD camera. The epigynes were cleared with pancreatin solution (
All morphological measurements were taken using a Zeiss Stereo Discovery V12 stereomicroscope with Zoom Microscope System (Software: AxioVision SE64 Version 4.8.3) and are given in millimetres. The body length of all specimens was taken from the anterior margin of the clypeus to the posterior end of the abdomen, excluding the spinnerets. Terminology of the male and female genitalia follows
The abbreviations used in the figures and text are as follows:
ALE anterior lateral eye;
AME anterior median eye;
At atrium;
CD copulatory duct;
CO copulatory opening;
Con conductor;
d dorsal;
Em embolus;
ET epigynal tooth;
FD fertilization duct;
GA glandular appendage;
MA median apophysis;
MF median field;
MOA median ocular area;
MS membranous sac;
p prolateral;
PLE posterior lateral eye;
PME posterior median eye;
r retrolateral;
RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis;
Sp spermatheca;
St subtegulum;
TR transverse ridge of copulatory opening;
v ventral;
VTA ventral tibial apophysis.
Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833
This genus includes 17 species, all of which are distributed in tropical Africa and Asia (
Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010: 21, figs 15A−D, 16A, B (♀).
1 ♂, 1 ♀, China, Hainan, Ledong County, Jianfengling National Natural Reserve, Mingfenggu Scenic Spot, 18°44'25.87"N, 108°50'47.83"E, 1–31 May 2021, Yunhu Mo leg. (Tho-293, ASM-JGSU); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Vietnam, Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam Natural Forest, 21°29.55'N, 105°37.42'E, 1063 m, 12 September. 2007, Pham Dinh Sac leg. (
The male of this species resembles that of Borboropactus edentatus Tang & Li, 2010 (see
Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010, male A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C eyes, dorsal view D chelicera, dorsolateral view E same, ventral view F leg I, ventral view G palp, ventro-prolateral view H same, ventral view I same, ventro-retrolateral view J same, retro-dorsal view. Abbreviations: Con – conductor, Em – embolus, MA – median apophysis, RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C); 0.1 mm (D–J).
Male. Habitus as in Fig.
Colouration
(Fig.
Palp
(Figs
SEM micrographs of Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010, male palp A retrolateral view B same, details of retrolateral tibial apophysis C same, details of conductor and embolus D same, details of embolic tip E ventral view F same, detail of conductor and embolus G same, details of conductor and embolic tip. Abbreviations: Con – conductor, Em – embolus, MA – median apophysis, RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis.
Female. Habitus as in Fig.
Borboropactus longidens Tang & Li, 2010, female A prosoma, dorsal view B same, ventral view C opisthosoma, dorsal view D same, ventral view E eyes, dorsal view F chelicera, dorsal view G same, ventral view H leg I, ventral view I epigyne, dorsal view J same, ventral view. Abbreviations: CD – copulatory duct, CO – copulatory opening, ET – epigynal tooth, MF – median field, Sp – spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A–D); 0.2 (E); 0.1 mm (F–J).
Colouration
(Fig.
Epigyne
(Fig.
Known from China (Hainan) and Vietnam (Fig.
This genus includes ten species distributed in Asia (
Holotype ♀: China, Tibet, Linzhi City, Motuo County, near Lianhua Hotel, 29°19'31.07"N, 95°19'59.51"E, 1101 m, 17 July 2017, Jian Chen, Jie Liu, Man Fang, Zengtao Zhang and Fengxiang Liu leg. (Tho-296, ASM-JGSU).
The specific name derived from the Chinese Pinyin for Tibet; noun in apposition.
The male of this new species resembles Pharta tengchong (Tang, Griswold & Yin, 2009) (see
Pharta xizang sp. nov., female holotype, preserved A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C eyes, dorsal view D chelicera, ventrolateral view E leg I, ventro-retrolateral view F epigyne, dorsal view G same, ventral view. Abbreviations: At – atrium, CO – copulatory opening, FD – fertilisation duct, Sp – spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C); 0.1 mm (D–G).
Female. Habitus as in Fig.
Colouration
(Fig.
Epigyne
(Fig.
Known only from the type locality in Tibet, China (Fig.
This genus includes 24 species mainly distributed in Australasia, South America, and Asian mainland (
Holotype ♀: China, Hainan, Ledong County, Jianfengling National Natural Reserve, Mingfenggu Scenic Spot, 18°44'25.87"N, 108°50'47.83"E, 4 April 2021, Yunhu Mo leg. (Tho-292, ASM-JGSU).
The specific name refers to the Chinese abbreviation for Hainan Province; noun in apposition.
The female of this new species resembles Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022 (see
Stephanopis qiong sp. nov., female holotype, preserved A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C eyes, dorsal view D chelicera, ventrolateral view E same, dorsolateral view F leg I, dorso-prolateral view G epigyne, dorsal view H same, ventral view. Abbreviations: At – atrium, CO – copulatory opening, FD – fertilisation duct, GA – glandular appendage, MS – membranous sac, Sp – spermatheca, TR – transverse ridge of copulatory openings. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C); 0.1 mm (D–H).
Female (holotype). Habitus as in Figs
Colouration
(Fig.
Epigyne
(Fig.
Male. Unknown.
Known only from the type locality in Hainan Province, China (Fig.
Stephanopis xiangzhouica
Liu, in
1 ♂, 1 ♀, China, Guangdong, Ruyuan County, Nanling National Natural Reserve, Waterfalls Scenic Spot, 24°54'52.11"N, 113°2'28.67"E, 779 m, 6 September 2020, Qingbo Huo leg. (Tho-295, ASM-JGSU).
The male of this species resembles S. nigra O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869 (see
Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022, male, preserved A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C eyes, dorsal view D chelicera, ventral view E leg I, retrolateral view F palp, prolateral view G same, ventral view H same, ventro-retrolateral view I same, retro-dorsal view. Abbreviations: Em – embolus, RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C); 0.1 mm (D–I).
Male. Habitus as in Fig.
Colouration
(Fig.
Palp
(Figs
Female. Description in
Stephanopis xiangzhouica Liu, 2022, female, preserved A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C eyes, dorsal view D chelicera, ventral view E leg I, prolateral view F epigyne, dorsal view G same, ventral view. Abbreviations: At – atrium, CO – copulatory opening, FD – fertilisation duct, GA – glandular appendage, MS – membranous sac, Sp – spermatheca, TR – transverse ridge of copulatory openings. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C); 0.1 mm (D–G).
We thank Yunhu Mo, Pham Dinh Sac, Qingbo Huo, Jian Chen, Jie Liu, Man Fang, Zengtao Zhang and Fengxiang Liu for their assistance in collecting the specimens. We also thank Yejie Lin for reviewing the Borboropactus specimens collected from Vietnam which are deposited in Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and Qianle Lu for providing exquisite photographs of living specimens. We are also grateful to Dr Suresh Benjamin, Dr Miguel Machado and subject editor Miquel A. Arnedo for their helpful suggestions and comments on the manuscript, and Dr Nathalie Yonow for improving the English of the manuscript. This research was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of China (32000301/32160243) and the Science and Technology Innovation Project for College Students.