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Research Article
Two new species of crab spiders from Xiaolong Mountains in Gansu Province, China (Araneae, Thomisidae)
expand article infoRui Zhang‡, Feng Zhang‡
‡ Hebei University, Baoding, China

Corresponding author: Feng Zhang ( dudu06042001@163.com )

Academic editor: Shuqiang Li
© 2023 Rui Zhang, Feng 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: Zhang R, Zhang F (2023) Two new species of crab spiders from Xiaolong Mountains in Gansu Province, China (Araneae, Thomisidae). ZooKeys 1160: 75-87. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1160.103644
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9F9C145E-8272-4FB9-8B06-06E66E55B364
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of crab spider are described from the Xiaolong Mountains in Gansu Province, China: Ebelingia spirala sp. nov. (♂♀) and Lysiteles longensis sp. nov. (♂♀). Detailed morphological characters, a distribution map, photographs, and illustrations of the habitus and copulatory organs are given for each species.

Keywords

Ebelingia, Lysiteles, new species, taxonomy

Introduction

As the seventh largest family of spiders worldwide, Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833 currently contains 171 genera and 2710 species from all over the world (WSC 2023). It has undergone regional revisions in Canada (Dondale and Redner 1978), Japan (Ono 2009), and China (Song et al. 1999; Tang et al. 2007, 2008; Tang and Li 2010a, b). Although crab spiders have been revised, species reassigned, and unknown sexes described in recent decades, there are still many species needing in-depth study (Liu et al. 2022).

The genus Ebelingia Lehtinen, 2004 and Lysiteles Simon, 1895 are mainly distributed in eastern and southern Asia. Currently, only three species of Ebelingia are known (WSC 2023): E. forcipata Song & Zhu, 1993, E. hubeiensis Song & Zhao, 1994, and E. kumadai Ono, 1985. All three species are distributed in China. E. forcipata and E. hubeiensis are endemic to China, mainly distributed in Fujian, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. There are no reports of this genus in Gansu Province. There are 63 Lysiteles species worldwide. The Chinese Lysiteles fauna is extraordinarily rich with 45 species (WSC 2023). More than half of the species are distributed in southern China, such as Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hubei Provinces, and Hainan Island. Only three species were reported in Gansu Province.

To enrich the diversity of Ebelingia and Lysiteles in Gansu Province, a survey from Xiaolong Mountains was carried out by colleagues of Hebei University. After a careful examination of thomisid materials, two new species, Ebelingia spirala sp. nov. and Lysiteles longensis sp. nov., were recognized. Illustrations of diagnostic structures and a distribution map are presented.

Materials and methods

All specimens are preserved in 95% ethanol. Specimens were examined and measured under a Leica M205A stereomicroscope. Photographs were taken using an Olympus BX51 microscope equipped with a Kuy Nice CCD and were imported into Helicon Focus v. 7 for image stacking. Final figures were retouched using Adobe Photoshop 2020. Eye sizes were measured as the maximum diameter in dorsal view. Leg measurements are shown as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus). All measurements are given in millimetres. The holotypes of the new species are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU), Baoding, China. The paratypes are in the Museum of Baoding University.

Abbreviations used: AME, anterior median eyes; ALE, anterior lateral eyes; AME–ALE, distance between AME and ALE; AME–AME, distance between AMEs; PME, posterior median eyes; PME–PLE, distance between PME and PLE; PME–PME, distance between PMEs; PLE, posterior lateral eyes.

Taxonomy

Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833

Ebelingia Lehtinen, 2004

Type species

Misumenops kumadai Ono, 1985 from Japan.

Diagnosis

See Lehtinen (2004).

Comments

This genus includes only three species, all of which are distributed in East Asia. Among them, E. forcipata and E. hubeiensis are endemic to China and recorded from Fujian, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. No species were recorded from Gansu Province.

Distribution

China, Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East).

Ebelingia spirala sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/95C67764-CC97-4FE4-87BE-29FC005D40C4
Figs 1–4, 5, 6, 7–8

Type material

Holotype : ♂, China: Gansu Province, Maiji district, Liqiao town, Baihua Forest Farm, 34°19.93'N, 106°23.18'E, 1844 m, 23 May 2021, Rui Zhang leg. Paratypes: 1♂3♀, with same data as holotype; 2♀, Niangniangba town, Baiyin village, 34°17.2'N, 105°55.97'E, 1524 m, 31 May 2021, Rui Zhang leg; 1♀, Hui County, Jialing town, Xiaolongshan National Nature Reserve, 33°40.52'N, 106°18.67'E, 1647 m, 7 June 2021, Zhaoyi Li leg.; 1♂, Qingshui County, Shanmen Town, Shanmen Village, 34°41.4'N, 106°21.72'E, 1630 m, 24 June 2022, Zhaoyi Li leg.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin “spira” (meaning “a coil”), referring to the shape of RTA in ventral view, adjective.

Diagnosis

Male of this new species resembles those of E. forcipata Song & Zhu, 1993 (see Liu et al. 2022: 51, figs 4A–E, 5A–F) and E. hubeiensis Song & Zhao, 1994 (see Song and Zhao 1994: 115, fig. 4E, F) in having short embolus, flat tegulum, and a bifurcated RTA, but can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: (1) RTA about half the length of tibia (vs almost as long as tibia); (2) the presence of spiral thread on dorsal branch of RTA (vs smooth RTA). Female of E. spirala sp. nov. is similar to that of E. hubeiensis in having central concavity on anterior hood but can be distinguished by the L-shaped, long spermathecae (vs same length and width in E. hubeiensis).

Figures 1–4. 

Ebelingia spirala sp. nov. 1, 2 male habitus (1 dorsal view 2 ventral view) 3, 4 female habitus (3 dorsal 4 ventral). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Description

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 1, 2. Total length 2.88. Carapace 1.27 long, 1.21 wide, opisthosoma 1.60 long, 1.22 wide, the whole dorsum of body with dense setae. Carapace chestnut-coloured, medially with yellowish band. Ocular area white. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.05, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.22, AME–PME 0.15, ALE–PLE 0.16. MOA 0.18 long, front width 0.27, back width 0.50. Sternum slightly longer than wide. Chelicerae, endites, and labium yellow. Femora and patellae of legs I–II and legs III–IV reddish brown, other segments of legs I–II dark brown. Leg measurements: I 5.73 (1.59, 0.62, 1.52, 1.43, 0.57); II 5.63 (1.68, 0.56, 1.32, 1.38, 0.69); III 2.34 (0.74, 0.30, 0.48, 0.49, 0.32); IV 2.52 (0.66, 0.36, 0.54, 0.62, 0.34). Leg spination: I Fe: p2; II Fe: d2; III Fe: d2; Ti: d1; IV: Pa: d1; Ti: d2. Opisthosoma dorsum yellowish, with cardiac pattern, posterior with irregular stripes; venter yellow, with black stripes.

Palp (Figs 5, 6). Tibia with two apophyses, short ventral and bifurcated retrolateral: ventral part blunt and longer than ventral tibial apophysis in retrolateral view, dorsal one with spirals. Ventral tibial apophysis short, with blunt apex. Cymbium 1.25× longer than wide. Tegulum oval 1.25× longer than wide, tegular ridge at 11 o’clock position. Spermophore wide, encircling almost whole tegulum. Embolus short, originating from ~11 o’clock position and terminating at 1 o’clock position.

Figures 5, 6. 

Ebelingia spirala sp. nov. 5, 6 left male palp (5 ventral view 6 retrolateral view). E = embolus; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; SP = spermophore; T = tegulum; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 3, 4. Total length 4.38. Prosoma 1.53 long, 1.57 wide. Opisthosoma 2.85 long, 2.88 wide. Carapace chestnut-coloured, medially with yellowish band, laterally with black spots. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.05, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.17, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.26, AME–PME 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.17. MOA 0.27 long, front width 0.31, back width 0.39. Chelicerae, sternum, and labium yellow. Endites and legs chestnut-coloured. Venter of leg I and II with numerous reddish-brown spots. Leg measurements: I 5.58 (1.77, 0.74, 1.30, 1.12, 0.65); II 5.14 (1.24, 0.75, 1.37, 1.09, 0.69); III 2.60 (0.78, 0.43, 0.70, 0.39, 0.30); IV 2.86 (0.89, 0.45, 0.58, 0.53, 0.41). Leg spination: I Fe: d1, p4; Pa: d2; Ti: v3; Mt: p4, r4; II Fe: d1; Pa: d1; Ti: p2, r3; Mt: d3, p5, r5; III Fe: d1; Pa: d1; Ti: d3, v4; IV: Fe: d2; Pa: d2; Ti: d2, v2. Opisthosomal dorsum yellow, with white spots at the sides and brown symmetrical patches in the middle; venter with a few white spots at the sides.

Epigyne (Figs 7, 8). Epigyne almost 2× wider than long, with a deep Ո-shaped anterior hood, about 2× longer than wide. Copulatory openings (Fig. 7) located at posterolateral part of anterior hood. Spermathecae L-shaped, separated by more than width of anterior hood. Fertilization ducts short.

Figures 7, 8. 

Ebelingia spirala sp. nov. 7, 8 epigyne/vulva (7 ventral view 8 dorsal view). AH = anterior hood; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; GA = glandular appendage; S = spermatheca. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Gansu Province, China (Fig. 17).

Lysiteles Simon, 1895

Type species

Lysiteles catulus Simon, 1895 from Tamil Nadu, India.

Diagnosis

See Tang et al. (2007) and Tang and Li (2010a, b).

Comments

This genus includes 63 species mainly distributed in eastern Asia. It has never been revised in full, although new species have been described now and then in various papers. Most of the 44 Lysiteles species have been recorded from China, and three species have been recorded from Gansu Province.

Distribution

Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Vietnam.

Lysiteles longensis sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/873582B1-1E1F-48AC-91F7-76FE3C658BE6
Figs 9–12, 13, 14, 15–16

Type material

Holotype : ♂, China: Gansu Province, Qingshui County, Shanmen town, Shanmen village, 34°40.72'N, 106°23.98'E, 1735 m, 22 May 2021, Rui Zhang leg. Paratypes: 2♂6♀, with same data as holotype; 2♂9♀, Dangchuan town, 34°19.73'N, 105°15.77'E, 1711 m, 24 May 2021, Zhaoyi Li leg.; 1♂3♀, Qingshui County, Shanmen town, Shanmen village, 34°42.32'N, 106°25.1'E, 1635 m, 3 August 2021, Rui Zhang leg.; 3♂6♀, Qingshui County, Shanmen town, Daji village, 34°37.45'N, 106°20.25'E, 1784 m, 23 June 2022, Xinyuan Bai leg.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality. “Long” is a short name for Gansu, adjective.

Diagnosis

Male L. longensis sp. nov. is similar to that of L. silvanus Ono, 1980 (see Ono 1980: 212, figs 28–30) in having a long RTA and twisted embolus, but it differs by the following combination of characters: (1) tegulum large and reniform, ca 3/4 of cymbium cavity (vs small, semicircular, and ca 1/2 of cymbium cavity); (2) the lowest point of embolus above the tegulum (vs the lowest point at 1/2 of the tegulum); (3) RTA straight, pointing dorsally (vs RTA flexed, pointing ventrally). Female is similar to that of L. silvanus (see Ono 1980: 212, figs 25–27) in having a broad atrium with a sclerotized, transversally extending plate and widely separated copulatory openings, but it can be easily distinguished by the short, thick, and spherical copulatory duct (vs slender and strongly twisted).

Description

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 9, 10. Total length 2.89. Carapace 1.31 long, 1.19 wide. Opisthosoma 1.58 long, 1.19 wide. Carapace reddish brown. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.04, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.24, AME–PME 0.25, ALE–PLE 0.23. MOA 0.24 long, front width 0.26, back width 0.33. Chelicerae, labium and maxillae blackish brown. Legs yellowish and spinous. Leg measurements: I 4.83 (1.37, 0.46, 1.18, 1.06, 0.76); II 5.06 (1.41, 0.55, 1.28, 1.04, 0.78); III 2.88 (0.86, 0.40, 0.79, 0.45, 0.38); IV 2.93 (0.84, 0.39, 0.82, 0.49, 0.39). Leg spination: I Fe: d3, p3; Ti: d3, p1, r1, v4; Mt: p3, r3, v1; II Fe: d3, p2; Pa: d2, p1, r1; Ti: d1, p3, r2, v3; Mt: p3, r3, v4; III Fe: d3; Pa: d1, r1; Ti: d1, p2, r1; Mt: p2, r1; IV: Fe: d4; Pa: d1, r1; Ti: d2, p2, r2; Mt: p1, r1. Opisthosoma dorsum blackish brown, anterior with longitudinal reddish-brown stripe, posterior part with 3 transverse, reddish-brown stripes, and lateral with many small, scattered, brown spots; venter with 4 pairs of longitudinal yellow spots in the middle; spinnerets brown.

Figures 9–12. 

Lysiteles longensis sp. nov. 9, 10 male habitus (9 dorsal view 10 ventral view) 11, 12 female habitus (11 dorsal view 12 ventral view). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Palp (Figs 13, 14). Retrolateral tibial apophysis longer than tibia, with small, basal protuberance (Fig. 14), apically pointed; ventral tibia apophysis digitiform, 1.5× longer than wide, short and broad, apically curved; extending along tegular margin. Embolus with thick base and a strong, dorsally bent apical end. Tip lopped and in counterclockwise direction, base at about 10 o’clock, tip at about 2 o’clock; tegulum as long as wide.

Figures 13, 14. 

Lysiteles longensis sp. nov., left male palp (13 ventral view 14 retrolateral view). E = embolus; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; T = tegulum; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 11, 12. Total length 3.27. Prosoma 1.38 long, 1.17 wide. Opisthosoma 1.89 long, 1.60 wide. Carapace blackish brown. Other characteristics as those of males. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.05, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.17, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.26, AME–PME 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.17. MOA 0.27 long, front width 0.31, back width 0.39. Sternum, chelicerae, labium, and maxillae blackish brown. Legs yellowish and spinous. Leg measurements: I 4.26 (1.32, 0.38, 0.99, 0.96, 0.61); II 4.20 (1.31, 0.41, 1.00, 0.91, 0.57); III 2.49 (0.58, 0.33, 0.68, 0.50, 0.40); IV 2.71 (0.65, 0.40, 0.68, 0.55, 0.43). Leg spination: I Fe: d1, p3; Pa: d1; Ti: d3, p2, r3, v1; Mt: p4, r4; II Fe: d2; Ti: d2, p2, r2, v1; Mt: p3, r3, v2; III Fe: d2; Pa: d1; Ti: d2, p2, r2; Mt: p2, r2, v1; IV: Fe: d1; Pa: d1; Ti: d1, p2, r1; Mt: p1, r1. Opisthosoma dorsum with symmetrical, longitudinal, reddish-brown stripes and lateral with scattered patches. Venter yellow in the middle and black at the sides.

Epigyne (Figs 15, 16). Epigyne ca 1.7× wider than long. Atrium large, sclerotized plate oval, copulatory openings originate medially; sclerotic fold well developed. Copulatory ducts thick, as wide as spermathecae; spermathecae suboval, 1.4× wider than long, spaced by about 0.5 diameters of the vulva.

Figures 15, 16. 

Lysiteles longensis sp. nov., epigyne/vulva (15 ventral view 16 dorsal view). CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; S = spermatheca. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Gansu Province, China (Fig. 17).

Figure 17. 

Records of the new species from the Xiaolong Mountains in Gansu Province, China.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the subject editor Dr. Shuqiang Li and the reviewer Dr. Yuri Marusik for providing significant comments on the manuscript. We are also grateful to Dr. Xinping Wang (University of Florida) for improving the English of the manuscript, and to Ph.D. Zhaoyi Li and Mr. Xinyuan Bai (Hebei University) for collecting specimens. Thanks are given to Mr. Qi Liu and Ms. Shuqin Huo for their assistance during the fieldwork. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 32170468).

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