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Research Article
Three new species of Grandilithus Liu & Li, 2022 (Araneae, Phrurolithidae) from southern China
expand article infoMengjiao Xu, Yannan Mu, Chao Zhang, Feng Zhang
‡ Hebei University, Baoding, China
Open Access

Abstract

Three new species of Grandilithus Liu & Li, 2022 are described from southern China on the basis of both sexes: G. chongzuo sp. nov. from Guangxi, G. xiaohuangshan sp. nov. from Guangdong and G. lanxi sp. nov. from Jiangxi. A distribution map of these three species is provided.

Key words

Diagnosis, morphology, spider, taxonomy

Introduction

Phrurolithidae Banks, 1892 is a spider family comprising 26 genera and 388 species from most parts of the world, with 17 genera and 202 species reported from China (WSC 2023). Among them, seven newly established and three newly recorded genera have been reported from China in recent years (Liu et al. 2020; Jin et al. 2022; Liu et al. 2022; Mu and Zhang 2022; Mu et al. 2022; Mu and Zhang 2023a, 2023b).

The genus Grandilithus Liu & Li, 2022 was established based on the type species G. anyuan Liu & Li, 2022. There are 29 species known from China, and two each have been reported from Vietnam and Japan (WSC 2023). Species of Grandilithus can be recognized by the straight posterior eye row and the narrow dorsal scutum less than 1/2 of the abdomen length. Males of this genus can be distinguished by the presence of a strong, well-developed extension on the distal palpal femur (femoral apophysis), a small tubercle on the ventral tibia, a retrolateral tibial apophysis with a curved tip, the thin embolus curved as a semicircle, and the absence of a conductor. The females of this genus can be distinguished by the broad median septum and the elongated spermathecae (Liu et al. 2022).

While examining specimens from southern China, three new Grandilithus species were discovered, which are described in this paper.

Materials and methods

All measurements are given in millimeters. The leg measurements are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The epigynes were removed and cleared in a pancreatin solution (Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga 2007) and then transferred to 95% ethanol. All specimens are preserved in 95% alcohol. Photographs were taken using the Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a DFC 550 CCD. Final figures were retouched using Adobe Photoshop. All specimens are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU), Baoding, China.

The following abbreviations are used: AER, anterior eye row; ALE, anterior lateral eye; AME, anterior median eye; CH, clypeal height; CRW, cephalic region width; CW, carapace width; EAW, eye area width; MOA, median ocular area; PLE, posterior lateral eye; PME, posterior median eye; Spination: d, dorsal; pl, prolateral; pv, proventral; rv, retroventral.

Taxonomy

Family Phrurolithidae Banks, 1892

Grandilithus Liu & Li, 2022

Type species

Grandilithus anyuan Liu & Li, 2022.

Grandilithus chongzuo sp. nov.

Figs 1, 2 Chinese name: 崇左大斑蛛

Type material

Holotype ♂ (GXCZ-16-46): China: Pairu Village, Zuozhou Town, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (22°34.40'N, 107°25.36'E; 203 m a.s.l.), 4 November 2016, leg. Guiqiang Huang. Paratype: 2♀, with same data as holotype.

Figure 1. 

Habitus of Grandilithus chongzuo sp. nov. A male holotype, dorsal view B same, ventral view C female paratype, dorsal view D same, ventral view.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis

This species resembles G. nonggang (Liu, Xu, Xiao, Yin & Peng, 2019) in having a similarly shaped embolus and sperm duct, but can be recognized by: 1) the long RTA, with thin base and coracoid-shaped tip (vs RTA short, base wide, cf. Fig. 2B–D with fig. 11B–D in Liu et al. 2019); 2) the oval tegulum and the slightly curved tegular apophysis without an expanded tip (vs tegulum nearly circular, tegular apophysis straight with an expanded tip, cf. Fig. 2B–D with fig. 11C in Liu et al. 2019); 3) the short copulatory duct (vs long, cf. Fig. 2E, F with fig. 12B, C in Liu et al. 2019); 4) the small, thin glandular appendage (vs thick, cf. Fig. 2E, F with fig. 12B, C in Liu et al. 2019); and 5) the small spermathecae, with thin connecting tubes (vs connecting tubes strong and thick, spermathecae large, cf. Fig. 2E, F with fig. 12B, C in Liu et al. 2019).

Figure 2. 

Copulatory organs of Grandilithus chongzuo sp. nov. A male left palp, prolateral view B same, retrolateral view C same, ventral view D same, dorsal view E epigyne, ventral view F same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CT—connecting tube; E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; MS—median septum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; SD—sperm duct; TA—tegular apophysis; Tu—tubercle.

Description

Male (holotype): total length 3.27, carapace 1.56 long, 1.34 wide; abdomen 1.71 long, 1.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PME 0.09, PLE 0.11; AMEAME 0.05, AMEALE 0.02, ALEALE 0.33, PMEPME 0.10, PMEPLE 0.04, PLEPLE 0.37, ALEPLE 0.08. EAW 0.52, CRW 0.68, EAW/CRW 0.76, CRW/CW 0.51. MOA 0.34 long, anterior width 0.32, posterior width 0.29. CH 0.13. CH/AME 0.93. Labium 0.14 long, 0.23 wide. Sternum 0.89 long, 0.77 wide. Leg measurements: I 8.41 (2.07, 0.56, 2.36, 1.92, 1.50), II 6.58 (1.73, 0.51, 1.70, 1.44, 1.20), III 5.42 (1.44, 0.47, 1.16, 1.42, 0.93), IV 8.79 (2.37, 0.57, 2.04, 2.44, 1.37), leg pattern: 4123. Spination: femur I–IV d 1, femur I pl 5, femur II pl 3, tibia I pv 9 rv 9, tibia II pv 9 rv 8, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace yellowish, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen gray, with a small, fawn dorsal scutum anteriorly and several lighter colored transverse stripes posteriorly. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg light yellow.

Palp as in Fig. 2A–D. Femoral apophysis protruding. Tubercle distinct. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, tip curved, coracoid-shaped. Tegulum oval, thinner than cymbium; tegular apophysis slightly curved, tip not expanded. Sperm duct distinct, tapering from retrolateral of tegulum to base of embolus. Embolus curved, tip sharp.

Female (paratype): total length 4.18, carapace 1.51 long, 1.30 wide; abdomen 2.67 long, 1.61 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.12, PME 0.08, PLE 0.10; AMEAME 0.05, AMEALE 0.01, ALEALE 0.32, PMEPME 0.09, PMEPLE 0.04, PLEPLE 0.35, ALEPLE 0.06. EAW 0.51, CRW 0.66, EAW/CRW 0.77, CRW/CW 0.51. MOA 0.30 long, anterior width 0.30, posterior width 0.27. CH 0.11, CH/AME 0.85. Labium 0.13 long, 0.24 wide. Sternum 0.85 long, 0.77 wide. Leg measurements: I 7.75 (1.94, 0.56, 2.30, 1.70, 1.25), II 6.15 (1.55, 0.48, 1.77, 1.23, 1.12), III 4.99 (1.32, 0.45, 1.11, 1.32, 0.79), IV 7.97 (2.15, 0.54, 1.86, 2.27, 1.15), leg pattern: 4123. Spination: femur I–IV d 1, femur I pl 6, femur II pl 4, tibia I pv 10 rv 10, tibia II pv 9 rv 9, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace yellow-brown, darker than male, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen dark gray without dorsal scutum. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg yellow-brown.

Epigyne as in Fig. 2E, F. Epigynal plate slightly sclerotized. Median septum broad. Copulatory openings small, separated by median septum. Copulatory ducts bent. Bursa nearly rectangular. Glandular appendages thin, short, cylindrical. Connecting tubes curved, thinner than copulatory ducts. Spermathecae small, oval, slanted, separated. Fertilization ducts located at posterior of spermathecae.

Distribution

China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Fig. 7).

Grandilithus xiaohuangshan sp. nov.

Figs 3, 4 Chinese name: 小黄山大斑蛛

Type material

Holotype ♂ (HBUARA#2021-63): China: Xiaohuangshan Scenic Spot, the Nanling Mountain National Forest Park, Ruyuan County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province (24°53.72'N, 113°1.24'E; 1338 m a.s.l.), 23 May 2021, leg. Yannan Mu. Paratype: 2♀, with same data as holotype.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis

This new species resembles G. florifer (Fu, He & Zhang, 2015) in having a similarly shaped embolus, but can be recognized by: 1) the different color pattern and lighter color (vs darker color, cf. Fig. 3 with figs 21, 22 in Fu et al. 2015); 2) the broad tegulum (wider than cymbium), the small, arch-shaped tegular apophysis (vs tegulum thinner than cymbium, tegular apophysis long, straight, cf. Fig. 4B, C with figs 25, 26 in Fu et al. 2015); 3) the thin median septum (vs wide, cf. Fig. 4E with figs 27, 28 in Fu et al. 2015); 4) the thick and strong copulatory ducts (vs thin and small, cf. Fig. 4E, F with figs 27, 28 in Fu et al. 2015); and 5) the long, straight spermathecae, with thin connecting tubes (vs connecting tubes thick, spermathecae short and curved, cf. Fig. 4F with figs 27, 28 in Fu et al. 2015).

Figure 3. 

Habitus of Grandilithus xiaohuangshan sp. nov. A male holotype, dorsal view B same, ventral view C female paratype, dorsal view D same, ventral view.

Figure 4. 

Copulatory organs of Grandilithus xiaohuangshan sp. nov. A male left palp, prolateral view B same, retrolateral view C same, ventral view D same, dorsal view E epigyne, ventral view F same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CT—connecting tube; E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; MS—median septum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; SD—sperm duct; TA—tegular apophysis; Tu—tubercle.

Description

Male (holotype): total length 3.70, carapace 1.67 long, 1.48 wide; abdomen 2.03 long, 1.18 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.10, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09; AMEAME 0.06, AMEALE 0.01, ALEALE 0.32, PMEPME 0.10, PMEPLE 0.06, PLEPLE 0.40, ALEPLE 0.10. EAW 0.54, CRW 0.75, EAW/CRW 0.72, CRW/CW 0.51. MOA 0.29 long, anterior width 0.30, posterior width 0.27. CH 0.12. CH/AME 1.00. Labium 0.16 long, 0.24 wide. Sternum 0.98 long, 0.80 wide. Leg measurements: I 9.10 (2.14, 0.62, 2.66, 2.20, 1.48), II 7.14 (1.82, 0.57, 1.90, 1.68, 1.17), III 5.95 (1.57, 0.49, 1.34, 1.58, 0.97), IV 8.94 (2.41, 0.56, 2.19, 2.49, 1.29), leg pattern: 1423. Spination: femur II–IV d 1, femur I pl 5, femur II pl 3, tibia I pv 8 rv 9, tibia II pv 8 rv 8, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace yellow-brown, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen fawn, with a small, yellow dorsal scutum anteriorly and black pattern posteriorly. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg yellow-brown.

Palp as in Fig. 4A–D. Femoral apophysis protruding. Tubercle indistinct. Retrolateral tibial apophysis with broad base, curved, with coracoid-shaped tip. Tegulum nearly circular, wider than cymbium; tegular apophysis small. Sperm duct distinct, tapering from retrolateral of tegulum to base of embolus. Embolus thin, curved, tip sharp.

Female (paratype): total length 4.78, carapace 2.03 long, 1.75 wide; abdomen 2.75 long, 2.17 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AMEAME 0.07, AMEALE 0.01, ALEALE 0.34, PMEPME 0.11, PMEPLE 0.08, PLEPLE 0.46, ALEPLE 0.13. EAW 0.61, CRW 0.82, EAW/CRW 0.74, CRW/CW 0.95. MOA 0.32 long, anterior width 0.31, posterior width 0.30. CH 0.13, CH/AME 1.08. Labium 0.22 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 1.18 long, 0.96 wide. Leg measurements: I 10.98 (2.52, 0.69, 3.06, 2.13, 2.58), II 8.31 (2.21, 0.66, 2.38, 1.79, 1.27), III 6.67 (1.81, 0.61, 1.46, 1.77, 1.02), IV 10.42 (2.87, 0.67, 2.50, 2.94, 1.44), leg pattern: 1 4 2 3. Spination: femur I pl 5, femur II d 1 pl 5, femur IV d 1, tibia I pv 9 rv 10, tibia II pv 9 rv 8, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 3.

Coloration. Carapace darker than male, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen black, with a small, white inverted triangular mark anteriorly. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg yellow-brown.

Epigyne as in Fig. 4E, F. Epigynal plate slightly sclerotized. Median septum narrow, inverted goblet-shaped. Copulatory openings distinct, separated by median septum. Copulatory ducts thick and strong, bent, J-shaped. Bursa medium, balloon-shaped, the right one larger than left in dorsal view. Glandular appendages large. Connecting tubes short, curved, thinner than copulatory ducts. Spermathecae long, clavate, separated from each other. Fertilization ducts located at posterior of spermathecae.

Distribution

China: Guangdong Province (Fig. 7).

Grandilithus lanxi sp. nov.

Figs 5, 6 Chinese name: 兰溪大斑蛛

Type material

Holotype ♂ (HBUARA#2021-68): China: Yangmingshan Park, Chongyi County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, Lanxi Valley (25°39.22'N, 114°18.99'E; 506 m a.s.l.), 28 May 2021, leg. Yannan Mu. Paratype: 3 ♀, with same data as holotype.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis

This species resembles G. fengshan Liu & Li, 2022 in having a similarly shaped embolus and tegular apophysis, but can be recognized by: 1) the long, distally sharp, nearly ensiform-shaped RTA (vs RTA short, tip curved, coracoid-shaped, cf. Fig. 6C, D with fig. 45D–F in Liu et al. 2022); 2) the narrow tegulum (thinner than cymbium) (vs tegulum wider than cymbium, cf. Fig. 6C, D with fig. 45D in Liu et al. 2022); 3) the wide median septum (vs narrower, cf. Fig. 6E, F with fig. 15D, E in Mu and Zhang 2023b), 4) the long, cylindrical glandular appendage (vs short, discoidal, cf. Fig. 6E, F with fig. 15D, E in Mu and Zhang 2023b); and 5) the large spermathecae, connecting tubes thick with broad base (vs connecting tubes thin without broad base, spermathecae small, cf. Fig. 6E, F with fig. 15D, E in Mu and Zhang 2023b).

Figure 5. 

Habitus of Grandilithus lanxi sp. nov. A male holotype, dorsal view B same, ventral view C female paratype, dorsal view D same, ventral view.

Figure 6. 

Copulatory organs of Grandilithus lanxi sp. nov. A male left palp, prolateral view B same, retrolateral view C same, ventral view D same, dorsal view E epigyne, ventral view F same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: B—bursa; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CT—connecting tube; E—embolus; FA—femoral apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; GA—glandular appendage; MS—median septum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; SD—sperm duct; TA—tegular apophysis; Tu—tubercle.

Description

Male (holotype): total length 3.68, carapace 1.70 long, 1.44 wide; abdomen 1.98 long, 1.12 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.10, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09; AMEAME 0.05, AMEALE 0.01, ALEALE 0.29, PMEPME 0.11, PMEPLE 0.06, PLEPLE 0.38, ALEPLE 0.08. EAW 0.53, CRW 0.69, EAW/CRW 0.77, CRW/CW 0.48. MOA 0.29 long, anterior width 0.28, posterior width 0.28. CH 0.13. CH/AME 1.08. Labium 0.20 long, 0.25 wide. Sternum 0.96 long, 0.83 wide. Leg measurements: I 8.73 (2.20, 0.63, 2.46, 1.96, 1.48), II 6.79 (1.66, 0.56, 1.84, 1.55, 1.18), III 5.72 (1.44, 0.53, 1.22, 1.60, 0.93), IV 8.86 (2.36, 0.60, 2.04, 2.56, 1.30), leg pattern: 4123. Spination: femur I–IV d 1, femur I pl 5, tibia I pv 8 rv 9, tibia II pv 8 rv 7, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 4 rv 2.

Coloration. Carapace yellow-brown, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen black-gray, with a yellow-brown dorsal scutum longer than 1/2 abdomen length. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg yellow-brown.

Palp as in Fig. 6A–D. Femoral apophysis protruding. Tubercle distinct. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, curved, with wide base and sword-like tip. Tegulum oval, slightly thinner than cymbium; tegular apophysis nearly triangular. Sperm duct distinct, tapering from retrolateral of tegulum to base of embolus. Embolus curved, tip blunt.

Female (paratype): total length 4.93, carapace 2.07 long, 1.75 wide; abdomen 2.86 long, 1.95 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AMEAME 0.07, AMEALE 0.01, ALEALE 0.35, PMEPME 0.13, PMEPLE 0.09, PLEPLE 0.48, ALEPLE 0.09. EAW 0.64, CRW 0.88, EAW/CRW 0.73, CRW/CW 0.50. MOA 0.32 long, anterior width 0.32, posterior width 0.30. CH 0.15, CH/AME 1.07. Labium 0.23 long, 0.32 wide. Sternum 1.25 long, 0.92 wide. Leg measurements: I 9.54 (2.36, 0.76, 2.90, 2.20, 1.32), II 7.68 (1.96, 0.61, 2.17, 1.74, 1.20), III 6.18 (1.65, 0.56, 1.37, 1.67, 0.93), IV 9.63 (2.69, 0.67, 2.21, 2.86, 1.20), leg pattern: 4123. Spination: femur I d 1 pl 6, femur II d 2 pl 4, femur III–IV d 1, tibia I pv 10 rv 10, tibia II pv 9 rv 8, metatarsus I pv 4 rv 4, metatarsus II pv 5 rv 4.

Coloration. Carapace slightly darker than male, with several patches resembling flowing droplets beside fovea. Abdomen black. A small, irregular, slightly sclerotized area in front of the spinnerets with black setae. Leg yellow-brown.

Epigyne as in Fig. 6E, F. Epigynal plate slightly sclerotized. Median septum wide, inverted goblet-shaped. Copulatory openings small, separated by median septum. Copulatory ducts thick. Glandular appendages thick, short-cylindrical. Connecting tubes thinner than copulatory ducts, base broad. Bursa nearly reniform, the right one slightly larger than left in dorsal view. Spermathecae oval, slanted, separated from each other. Fertilization ducts located at posterior of spermathecae.

Distribution

China: Jiangxi Province (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. 

Collection localities of the new Grandilithus species described in this paper.

Acknowledgements

We are especially grateful to Dr David Chamé Vázquez for valuables comments and suggestions on the manuscript. English of the earlier draft was checked by Dr Xinping Wang.

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 National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32170468) and by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2022FY202100).

Author contributions

Writing - original draft: YM, MX. Writing - review and editing: CZ, FZ.

Author ORCIDs

Mengjiao Xu https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9548-6941

Yannan Mu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2504-673X

Chao Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1702-1206

Feng Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3347-1031

Data availability

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

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