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Research Article
Description of six new crab-spider species and first description of the male of Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 from Medog, Xizang, China (Araneae, Thomisidae)
expand article infoLu-Yu Wang‡, Yan-Nan Mu‡, Qian-Le Lu§, Yong-Qiang Xu|, Hai-Tao Bu|, Feng Zhang#, Zhi-Sheng Zhang‡
‡ Southwest University, Chongqing, China
§ Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| Medog Biodiversity Observation and Research Station of Xizang Autonomous Region, Medog, China
¶ Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa, China
# Hebei University, Baoding, China

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

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

Academic editor: Miquel A. Arnedo
© 2024 Lu-Yu Wang, Yan-Nan Mu, Qian-Le Lu, Yong-Qiang Xu, Hai-Tao Bu, Feng Zhang, 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, Mu Y-N, Lu Q-L, Xu Y-Q, Bu H-T, Zhang F, Zhang Z-S (2024) Description of six new crab-spider species and first description of the male of Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 from Medog, Xizang, China (Araneae, Thomisidae). ZooKeys 1217: 195-213. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1217.127555
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B7E1DDC6-9834-42EA-A80E-77ABAADF14F1
Open Access

Abstract

Seven species of the crab-spider family Thomisidae from Medog, Xizang, China are described here, including six new species: Camaricus medog Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), Sinothomisus beibeng Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), Sinothomisus dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), Spilosynema motuo Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀), and Thomisus yarang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (♂♀). The male of Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 is described here for the first time. Descriptions and photographs of all the species are provided.

Key words

Description, morphology, new species, taxonomy

Introduction

Medog, a county seat of Nyingchi City, located downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is a key transitional zone between the Eastern Himalayas and Hengduan Mountain region. The topography of Medog is complex and with a variety of vegetation types from tropical valley monsoon rain forest to cold ice sheet between the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon to the summit of Nangabawa (Wang and Peng 2022). Medog is the most northerly tropical region in the Northern Hemisphere and is affected by a subtropical humid climate due to the warm and humid airflow from the Indian Ocean. It is the lowest area of the Tibetan Plateau, with the best hydrothermal conditions and the greatest precipitation (Li et al. 2024). The unique geographical environment and climate have contributed to the rich biodiversity of Medog. However, due to the remote location, complex environment, and inconvenient transportation, the research of spider diversity in Medog has not been achieved until recently with improvements in transportation. According to preliminary statistics, only 34 species have been recorded from Medog, most of them published since 2017 (Table 1).

Table 1.
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List of spider species recorded from Medog.

Family Species Distribution References
Agelenidae Draconarius medogensis Medog Zhu et al. 2017
Draconarius subaspinatus Medog
Anapidae Sinanapis medogensis Medog Zhang and Lin 2018
Araneidae Araneus motuoensis Medog Yin et al. 1990
Argiope beibeng Medog Mi et al. 2024
Argiope caesarea China (Xiang and Yunnan), India and Myanmar
Clubionidae Clubiona medog Medog Zhang et al. 2007
Corinnidae Apochinomma medog Medog Zhang and Zhang 2023
Ctenidae Amauropelma medogensis Medog Wang et al. 2024a
Anahita medog Medog, Chayu of Xizang Chu et al. 2022
Bowie rotundus Medog Wang et al. 2024a
Halonoproctidae Conothele medoga Medog Zhang and Yu 2021
Lycosidae Serratacosa medogensis Medog Wang et al. 2021
Zantheres gracillimus Medog; Bhamo of Myanmar Wang and Zhang 2020
Oonopidae Ischnothyreus metok Medog Tong et al. 2023
Paramolotra metok Medog Cheng et al. 2021
Pholcidae Belisana medog Medog Zhu et al. 2020
Pholcus medog Medog Zhang et al. 2006
Pisauridae Hygropoda medogensis Medog Lu et al. 2023
Psilodercidae Leclercera aniensis Medog Chang and Li 2020
Leclercera duandai Medog
Leclercera renqinensis Medog
Merizocera nyingchi Medog Chang et al. 2020
Salticidae Chrysilla yarlungzangbo Medog Yang and Zhang 2024
Hyllus qishuoi Medog Xiong et al. 2017
Synagelides medog Medog Wang et al. 2024
Sparassidae Pseudopoda conica Medog Zhang et al. 2023
Pseudopoda medogensis Medog Jiang et al. 2018
Pseudopoda shuo Medog
Pseudopoda zhangi Medog Fu and Zhu 2008
Theraphosidae Chilobrachys jinchengi Medog Lin et al. 2022
Thomisidae Pharta xizang Medog Li et al. 2023
Zodariidae Asceua dawai Medog Wang et al. 2024b
Mallinella mеdog Medog

Our team has been investigating the spider diversity of Medog since 2018, and we have found more than 300 species, including many undescribed species. Here, seven crab-spider species are described, including six new species and the male of Pharta xizang new to science.

Materials and methods

All specimens are preserved in 75% ethanol and were examined, illustrated, photographed, and measured using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a Leica DFC450 Camera and LAS software (v. 4.6). Male pedipalps and epigynes were examined and illustrated after dissection. Epigynes were cleared by immersing them in a pancreatin solution (Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga 2007). Eye sizes were measured as the maximum dorsal diameter. Leg measurements are shown as: total length (femur, patella and tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). All measurements are in millimetres. All specimens, including the holotypes examined here, are deposited in the Collection of Spiders, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China (SWUC).

Terminology follows Tang and Li (2010). Abbreviations used in the text: ALE–anterior lateral eye; AME–anterior median eye; MOA–median ocular area; PLE–posterior lateral eye; PME–posterior median eye.

Taxonomy

Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833 (蟹蛛科)

Genus Camaricus Thorell, 1887 (顶蟹蛛属)

Camaricus medog Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/D88E4BFE-1E8B-4050-B5CE-29730C9E751B
Figs 1A, B, 3A, B, 4, 11
Common name. 墨脱顶蟹蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-01-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Mirage observation deck, 29°20'36"N, 95°20'43"E, elev. 1297 m, 8 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg. Paratypes: • 1 ♂ 4 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-01-02~06), same data as for holotype.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality; it is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles C. formosus Thorell, 1887 (Song and Zhu 1997: 173, fig. 122A–D) in having the embolus origin in the same position, but C. medog differs from the latter by the short and blunt ventral tibial apophysis end (vs long and sharp in C. formosus), a bifurcated retrolateral tibial apophysis (vs single in C. formosus), a broad embolus (vs slender in C. formosus), and a distinct copulatory atrium (vs indistinct in C. formosus) (Fig. 4).

Description

Male holotype (SWUC-T-THO-01-01, Figs 1A, 3A) total length 4.50. Prosoma 2.40 long, 2.09 wide; opisthosoma 2.03 long, 1.69 wide. Carapace black. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.16, PME 0.05, PLE 0.12; AME–AME 0.39, AME–ALE 0.34, PME–PME 0.68, PME–PLE 0.51, ALE–PLE 0.31. MOA 0.33 long, anterior width 0.66, posterior width 0.82. Clypeus height 0.21. Chelicerae black, with 3 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Labium and endites brown, longer than wide. Sternum brown and scutellate. Leg measurements: I 7.65 (2.22, 2.85, 1.55, 1.03); II 7.58 (2.21, 2.83, 1.48, 1.06); III 4.39 (1.45, 1.60, 0.69, 0.65); IV 4.37 (1.44, 1.62, 0.74, 0.57). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma oval, black, with a white spot at mid-anterior part. Spinnerets black.

Figure 1. 

Living photos of crab spiders A, B Camaricus medog Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A male holotype B female paratype C, D Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. C male holotype, D female paratype. Photographed by Qian-Le Lu.

Palp (Fig. 4A, B). Tibial as 1/2 of length cymbium, ventral tibial apophysis somewhat pediform, retrolateral tibial apophysis bifurcated: ventral arm thumb shaped, retrolateral arm hook-like in retrolateral view. Embolus originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, broad, curved along with bulb.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-01-02, Fig. 3B) total length 6.60. Prosoma 3.04 long, 2.63 wide; opisthosoma 3.70 long, 3.22 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.21, PME 0.10, PLE, 0.19; AME–AME 0.49, AME–ALE 0.46, PME–PME 0.84, PME–PLE 0.60, ALE–PLE 0.32. MOA 0.45 long, anterior width 0.80, posterior width 1.04. Clypeus height 0.27. Leg measurements: I 7.07 (2.10, 2.55, 1.40, 1.02); II 7.16 (2.13, 2.70, 1.37, 0.96); III 4.72 (1.59, 1.77, 0.75, 0.61); IV 5.38 (1.74, 2.13, 0.87, 0.64). Leg formula: 2143. Opisthosoma oval, black, with 5 white (yellow when live) and one brown spots. Spinnerets black.

Epigyne (Fig. 4C, D). Epigynal plate longer than wide. Copulatory opening located anteriorly. Copulatory ducts transparent and C-like. Spermathecae stomach shaped. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Variation

Males (n = 2) total length 4.50–4.92; females (n = 4) total length 6.60–8.00.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Medog, Xizang, China (Fig. 11).

Genus Monaeses Thorell, 1869 (莫蟹蛛属)

Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/6E866803-36E5-4324-8E7A-F8F686965881
Figs 1C, D, 3M, N, 5, 11
Common name. 西藏莫蟹蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-02-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Mirage Observation Deck, 29°20'36"N, 95°20'43"E, elev. 1297 m, 8 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg. Paratype: • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-02-02), same data as for holotype.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality; it is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles M. aciculus (Simon, 1903) (Song and Zhu 1997: 59, fig. 35A–H) in having the ventral tibial apophysis of the same shape and spermathecae compressed, but the new species differs from M. aciculus in having the ventral tibial apophysis shorter than retrolateral tibial apophysis (vs as long as retrolateral tibial apophysis in M. aciculus), a short embolus originating at approximately 11-o’clock (vs long and originating at approximately 8-o’clock in M. aciculus), and comma-like copulatory ducts (vs U-shaped in M. aciculus) (Fig. 5).

Description

Male holotype (SWUC-T-THO-02-01, Figs 1C, 3M) total length 7.31. Prosoma 2.24 long, 1.82 wide; opisthosoma 5.33 long, 1.24 wide. Carapace yellow brown. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.14, PME 0.09, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.19, PME–PME 0.34, PME–PLE 0.29, ALE–PLE 0.31. MOA 0.40 long, anterior width 0.30, posterior width 0.51. Clypeus height 0.45. Chelicerae yellow brown. Labium and endites yellow brown, longer than wide. Sternum yellow-brown and scutellate, with brown hairs. Leg measurements: I 18.79 (5.43, 6.98, 4.57, 1.81); II 16.96 (5.06, 6.25, 3.94, 1.71); III 6.61 (2.10, 2.57, 1.09, 0.85); IV 7.81 (3.28, 2.52, 1.08, 0.93). Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma columnar, yellow brown. Spinnerets yellow-brown.

Palp (Fig. 5A, B). Tibia ½ length of cymbium. Ventral tibial apophysis columnar, with a curved end. Retrolateral tibial apophysis sclerous, somewhat triangular, with a sharp end. Embolus originating at approximately 11-o’clock position, slender, curved along with bulb, tip staying in cymbial furrow.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-02-02, Figs 1D, 3N) total length 10.70. Prosoma 3.23 long, 2.35 wide; opisthosoma 7.28 long, 1.88 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.22, PME 0.11, PLE, 0.19; AME–AME 0.32, AME–ALE 0.27, PME–PME 0.52, PME–PLE 041, ALE–PLE 0.39. MOA 0.49 long, anterior width 0.46, posterior width 0.74. Clypeus height 0.58. Leg measurements: I 16.12 (5.05, 6.17, 3.34, 1.56); II 14.41 (4.53, 5.52, 2.88, 1.48); III 14.30 (4.39, 5.53, 2.98, 1.40); IV 8.37 (3.57, 2.81, 1.11, 0.88). Leg formula: 1234.

Epigyne (Fig. 5C, D). Epigynal plate almost rounded. Copulatory openings slit-like, distant from each other. Copulatory ducts comma-like. Spermathecae folded. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Medog, Xizang, China (Fig. 11).

Genus Pharta Thorell, 1891 (范蟹蛛属)

Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023

Figs 2A, 3C, D, 6, 11
Common name. 西藏范蟹蛛

Pharta xizang Liu & Yao in Li et al., 2023: 176, fig. 4A–G (♀).

Material examined

China, Xizang, Medog County: • 2 ♂, Medog Town, 29°19.470'N, 95°19.618'E, elev. 1116 m, 27 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Z.S. Wu and Y.N. Mu leg; • 1 ♀, Beibeng Township, Damu, 29°14'51"N, 95°11'1"E, elev. 924 m, 28 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Y.N. Mu and Z.S. Wu leg; • 1 ♀, Medog Town, Yarang Village, 29°17.758'N, 95°16.827'E, elev. 761 m, 22 May 2019, L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and H. Wang leg; • 1 ♀, Medog Town, 23 May 2019, L.Y. Wang, T. Yuan, P. Liu and H. Wang leg; • 2 ♂ 4 ♀, Beibeng Township, Badeng Village, 29°16'28"N, 95°10'7"E, elev. 851 m, 7 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg; • 2 ♂, Mirage Observation Deck, 29°20'36"N, 95°20'43"E, elev. 1297 m, 8 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg.

Diagnosis

This species resembles P. tangi Wang, Mi & Peng, 2016 (Wang et al. 2016: 130, figs 1A–G, 2A–D) in having similar shaped spermathecae, but differs it from the latter by the knife-like ventral tibial apophysis (vs rhabditiform and slightly curved in P. tangi), the multiple spines at the base of ventral tibial apophysis (vs spine absent in P. tangi), the folded posterior half part of conductor (vs knife-shaped in P. tangi), and the kidney-shaped spermathecae (vs long oval in P. tangi) (Fig. 6). This new species also resembles P. gongshan (Yang, Zhu & Song, 2006) (Benjamin 2011: 80, figs 47A, B, D–F, 49A–F, 51A–D) in having a similar shaped bulb, but it can be distinguished by the bifurcated tip of the conductor (vs not bifurcated in P. gongshan) and the small copulatory openings located towards the posterior (vs large copulatory openings towards the lateral).

Figure 2. 

Living photos of crab spiders A Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023, female B, C Sinothomisus dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. B male holotype C female D Spilosynema xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov., female paratype. Photographed by Qian-Le Lu.

Description

Male (Fig. 3C) total length 5.89. Prosoma 2.74 long, 2.40 wide; Opisthosoma 3.08 long, 2.43 wide. Carapace yellow-brown, with a deep-brown spot. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.20, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.17. MOA 0.42 long, anterior width 0.26, posterior width 0.45. Clypeus height 0.15. Chelicerae brown, with 3 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Labium and endites yellow-brown, longer than wide. Sternum yellow-brown and scutellate, with brown hairs. Leg measurements: I 11.47 (3.39, 4.34, 2.51, 1.23); II 10.92 (3.24, 4.14, 2.28, 1.26); III 6.16 (1.97, 2.34, 1.13, 0.72); IV 7.25 (2.28, 2.61, 1.58, 0.78). Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma oval, yellow, with a deep-red spot. Spinnerets yellow-brown.

Figure 3. 

Habitus, dorsal view A, B Camaricus medog Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (A male holotype B female paratype) C, D Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 (C male D female) E, F Sinothomisus beibeng Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (E male holotype F female paratype) G, H Sinothomisus dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (G male holotype H female paratype) I, J Spilosynema xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (I male holotype J female paratype) K, L Thomisus yarang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (K male holotype, L female paratype) M, N Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (M male holotype N female paratype).

Figure 4. 

Camaricus medog Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view. C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Figure 5. 

Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Palp (Fig. 6A–C). Tibia longer than wide. Ventral tibial apophysis knife-like, three times longer than wide, base of ventral tibial apophysis bulging, with multiple spines. Conductor originating from centre of bulb, base wider than embolus, anterior part folded as a furrow. Embolus strong, originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, with its tip staying in conductor furrow.

Figure 6. 

Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 A male left palp, prolateral view B same, ventral view C same, retrolateral view D epigyne, ventral view E same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; C = conductor; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Female (Fig. 3D) total length 7.20. Prosoma 3.04 long, 2.52 wide; opisthosoma 3.82 long, 3.47 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.19, PME 0.16, PLE, 0.19; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.19, ALE–PLE 0.19. MOA 0.45 long, anterior width 0.27, posterior width 0.48. Clypeus height 0.17. Leg measurements: I 11.07 (3.28, 4.61, 2.16, 1.02); II 10.28 (3.09, 4.21, 1.92, 1.06); III 5.90 (1.88, 2.37, 0.99, 0.66); IV 7.24 (2.30, 2.65, 1.55, 0.74). Leg formula: 1243.

Epigyne (Fig. 6D, E). Epigynal plate almost rounded. Copulatory openings small, rounded, far away from each other. Copulatory ducts short. Spermathecae kidney-shaped. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Distribution

China (Xizang, Medog) (Fig. 11).

Genus Sinothomisus Tang, Yin, Griswold & Peng, 2006 (华蟹蛛属)

Sinothomisus beibeng Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/99A666E2-A89A-44A9-B224-ECA5C062D6CD
Figs 3E, F, 7, 11
Common name. 背崩华蟹蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-03-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Beibeng Township, Damu, 29°14'51"N, 95°11'1"E, elev. 924 m, 28 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Y.N. Mu and Z.S. Wu leg. Paratype: • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-03-02), same data as for holotype.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality; it is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles S. liae Tang, Yin, Griswold & Peng, 2006 (Tang et al. 2006: 65, figs 1–13) in having a similar shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis, but it differs from the latter by the retrolateral tibial apophysis which is shorter than the bulb (vs equal in length to the bulb in S. liae), the long, thin apical tegular apophysis (vs short and wide in S. liae), and the C-like spermathecae (vs caterpillar-like in S. liae) (Fig. 7). This new species also resembles S. dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.; see diagnosis for S. dawai.

Figure 7. 

Sinothomisus beibeng Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; DTA = dorsal tibial apophysis; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Description

Male holotype (SWUC-T-THO-03-01, Fig. 3E) total length 4.03. Prosoma 2.19 long, 2.12 wide; opisthosoma 1.96 long, 1.56 wide. Carapace border black, with a large, deep-brown spot in the middle. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.17, PME 0.02, PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.22, AME–ALE 0.23, PME–PME 0.26, PME–PLE 0.47, ALE–PLE 0.19. MOA 0.22 long, anterior width 0.37, posterior width 0.30. Clypeus height 0.22. Chelicerae brown. Labium and endites brown, longer than wide. Sternum brown and scutellate, with brown hairs. Leg measurements: I 8.09 (2.39, 2.89, 1.65, 1.16); II 8.36 (2.46, 3.07, 1.64, 1.19); III 5.27 (1.70, 1.96, 0.84, 0.77); IV 5.25 (1.71, 1.90, 0.94, 0.70). Leg formula: 2134. Opisthosoma oval, yellow, with a black spot. Spinnerets brown.

Palp (Fig. 7A, B). Tibia longer than wide. Ventral tibial apophysis small, thumb-shaped, near retrolateral tibial apophysis. Retrolateral tibial apophysis four times longer than ventral tibial apophysis, jellyfish-shaped in retrolateral view. Dorsal tibial apophysis small, conical. Bulb flat, apical tegular apophysis thin and long. Embolus filiform, originating at approximately 6-o’clock position, curved along with bulb, tip staying in cymbial furrow.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-03-02, Fig. 3F) total length 4.86. Prosoma 2.37 long, 2.17 wide; opisthosoma 2.48 long, 2.32 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.19, PME 0.02, PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.23, AME–ALE 0.26, PME–PME 0.26, PME–PLE 0.52, ALE–PLE 0.23. MOA 0.26 long, anterior width 0.40, posterior width 0.32. Clypeus height 0.25. Leg measurements: I 6.90 (2.13, 2.60, 1.26, 0.91); II 7.16 (2.24, 2.62, 1.30, 1.00); III 4.85 (1.56, 1.87, 0.70, 0.72); IV 4.81 (1.60, 1.73, 0.81, 0.67). Leg formula: 2134.

Epigyne (Fig. 7C, D). Epigynal plate as long as wide. Copulatory openings slit-like, distant from each other. Copulatory ducts S-like. Spermathecae C-shaped. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Medog, Xizang, China (Fig. 11).

Sinothomisus dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/36CEFA28-BE47-4CBD-8D15-BD72D8EAC7D9
Figs 2B, C, 3G, H, 8, 11
Common name. 达娃华蟹蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-04-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Mirage Observation Deck, 29°20'36"N, 95°20'43"E, elev. 1297 m, 8 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg. Paratypes: • 1 ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-04-02), same data as for holotype; • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-04-03), Beibeng Township, Damu, 29°14'51"N, 95°11'1"E, elev. 924 m, 28 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Y.N. Mu and Z.S. Wu leg.

Etymology

The specific name is a patronym in honor of Mr. Dawa from the Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology in Lhasa, Xizang.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles S. beibeng Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. (Fig. 7) in having same shaped bulb and same position of embolus origin, but differs from the latter by the long and large retrolateral tibial apophysis (vs short and C-like in S. beibeng), the small spine between the retrolateral tibial apophysis and the dorsal tibial apophysis (vs absent in S. beibeng), the fingernail-like protuberance at epigynal plate (vs absent in S. beibeng) (Fig. 8).

Figure 8. 

Sinothomisus dawai Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; DTA = dorsal tibial apophysis; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Description

Male holotype (SWUC-T-THO-04-01, Figs 2B, 3G) total length 4.21. Prosoma 2.19 long, 2.04 wide; Opisthosoma 2.34 long, 1.92 wide. Carapace border black, with a large deep brown spot in the middle. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.18, PME 0.01, PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.24, AME–ALE 0.21, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.45, ALE–PLE 0.21. MOA 0.24 long, anterior width 0.37, posterior width 0.29. Clypeus height 0.18. Chelicerae brown. Labium and endites brown, longer than wide. Sternum brown and scutellate, with brown hairs. Leg measurements: I 8.40 (2.54, 3.04, 1.58, 1.24); II 8.52 (2.62, 3.07, 1.63, 1.20); III 5.42 (1.81, 1.98, 0.91, 0.72); IV 5.34 (1.70, 1.99, 0.95, 0.70). Leg formula: 2134. Opisthosoma oval, yellow, with black spot. Spinnerets brown.

Palp (Fig. 8A, B). Tibia as long as wide. Ventral tibial apophysis small, thumb shaped, closing to retrolateral tibial apophysis. Retrolateral tibial apophysis middle part bulging, with a hook end. Dorsal tibial apophysis small, cone-shaped. A spine-like tubercle between retrolateral tibial apophysis and dorsal tibial apophysis. Bulb flat, apical tegular apophysis nail-shaped. Embolus filiform, originating at approximately 6-o’clock position, curved along with bulb, tip staying in cymbial furrow.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-04-03, Fig. 3H) total length 5.59. Prosoma 2.28 long, 2.25 wide; opisthosoma 3.10 long, 2.61 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.18, PME 0.02, PLE 0.15; AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.25, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.54, ALE–PLE 0.25. MOA 0.26 long, anterior width 0.46, posterior width 0.33. Clypeus height 0.22. Leg measurements: I 7.00 (2.19, 2.56, 1.30, 0.95); II 7.35 (2.30, 2.79, 1.28, 0.98); III 5.05 (1.65, 1.90, 0.76, 0.74); IV 4.84 (1.44, 1.86, 0.84, 0.70). Leg formula: 2134.

Epigyne (Fig. 8C, D). Epigynal plate wider than long, with a fingernail-like protuberance at middle part. Copulatory openings slit like, far away from each other. Copulatory ducts S-like. Spermathecae C-shaped. Fertilization ducts crescent.

Variation

Males (n = 2) total length 4.21–5.17.

Distribution

China (Xizang, Medog) (Fig. 11).

Genus Spilosynema Tang & Li, 2010 (花斑蛛属)

Spilosynema motuo Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/C8CEDAA7-E58F-43AF-B415-3B0C06A84AE4
Figs 2D, 3I–J, 9, 11
Common name. 墨脱花斑蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-05-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Beibeng Township, 29°14.87'N, 95°11.02'E, elev. 924 m, 19 December 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and Y.N. Mu leg. Paratypes: • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-05-02), Beibeng Township, Damu, 29°14'51"N, 95°11'1"E, elev. 924 m, 28 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Y.N. Mu and Z.S. Wu leg. • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-05-03), Dexing Township, Guoguotang, 29°19.560'N, 95°16.360'E, elev.1025 m, 29 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Y.N. Mu and Z.S. Wu leg. • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-05-04), Beibeng Township, Bayang Village, 29°12'49"N, 95°5'43"E, elev. 738 m, 7 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg. • 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-05-05), Beibeng Township, Badeng Village, 29°16'28"N, 95°10'7"E, elev. 851 m, 7 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg. • 3 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-05-06~08), Mirage Observation Deck, 29°20'36"N, 95°20'43"E, elev. 1297 m, 8 July 2023, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang, Q.L. Lu and X.L. Chen leg.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality (medog = motuo); it is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

The male of this new species resembles S. comminum Tang & Li, 2010 (Tang and Li 2010: 70, figs 52A–D, 54A, B) in the bulb of the same shape and the embolus origin in the same position, but it differs from the latter by the absence of an intermedial tibial apophysis (vs presence in S. comminum), the conical tutacular apophysis (vs hook-shaped in S. comminum) (Fig. 9A, B). The female of this new species can be distinguished from all other Spilosynema species in having the epigynal plate with a hood.

Figure 9. 

Spilosynema motuo Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; H = hood; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Tu = tutaculum; TUA = tutacular apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Description

Male holotype (Fig. 3I) total length 4.20. Prosoma 2.12 long, 1.98 wide; Opisthosoma 2.18 long, 1.65 wide. Carapace yellow brown. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.21, PME 0.09, PLE 0.15; AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.34, ALE–PLE 0.26. MOA 0.45 long, anterior width 0.40, posterior width 0.40. Clypeus height 0.19. Chelicerae brown, with 2 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Labium and endites brown, longer than wide. Sternum brown and scutellate, with brown hairs. Leg measurements: I 10.49 (2.89, 3.53, 2.64, 1.43); II 10.38 (2.88, 3.59, 2.55, 1.36); III 5.47 (1.72, 1.99, 0.98, 0.78); IV 5.96 (1.99, 2.11, 1.11, 0.75). Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma oval, yellow-brown, with a scaly spot. Spinnerets brown.

Palp (Fig. 9A, B). Tibia as long as wide. Ventral tibial apophysis strong, tip slightly hooked. Retrolateral tibial apophysis curved and strongly sclerotized. Cymbium base with two apophyses. Bulb flat. Embolus filiform, originating at approximately 8-o’clock position, curved along with bulb, tip staying in cymbial furrow.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-05-02, Fig. 3J) total length 5.23. Prosoma 2.28 long, 2.18 wide; opisthosoma 2.93 long, 2.58 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.22, PME 0.10, PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.25, AME–ALE 0.20, PME–PME 0.30, PME–PLE 0.44, ALE–PLE 0.35. MOA 0.45 long, anterior width 0.49, posterior width 0.53. Clypeus height 0.24. Leg measurements: I 10.10 (2.97, 3.64, 2.28, 1.21); II 9.98 (3.02, 3.49, 2.29, 1.18); III 5.10 (1.55, 1.90, 0.98, 0.67); IV 5.58 (1.82, 1.92, 1.10, 0.74). Leg formula: 1243.

Epigyne (Fig. 9C, D). Epigynal plate wider than long, with a hood at middle. Copulatory openings slit-like, distant from each other. Copulatory ducts S-like. Spermathecae peanut-shaped. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Variation

Females (n = 7) total length 5.23–5.93.

Distribution

China (Xizang, Medog) (Fig. 11).

Genus Thomisus Walckenaer, 1805 (蟹蛛属)

Thomisus yarang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/D3B67A42-9792-4B5D-BB7B-077186A88D48
Figs 3K–L, 10, 11
Common name. 亚让蟹蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-THO-06-01), China, Xizang, Medog County, Medog Town, Yarang Village, 29°17.758'N, 95°16.827'E, elev. 761 m, 28 June 2018, L.Y. Wang, Z.S. Wu and Y.N. Mu leg. Paratypes: • 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (SWUC-T-THO-06-02 and SWUC-T-THO-06-02-03), same data as for holotype.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality; it is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles T. labefactus Karsch, 1881 (Song and Zhu 1997: 167, fig. 117A–E) in having a similar long and curved embolus, but it differs from the latter by the long, digitiform ventral tibial apophysis (vs short and conical in T. labefactus), the groove-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis (vs base stretches in T. labefactus), and the arc-shaped copulatory ducts (vs semicircular in T. labefactus) (Fig. 10).

Figure 10. 

Thomisus yarang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. A, B holotype male C, D paratype female A male left palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecal.

Description

Male holotype (SWUC-T-THO-06-01, Fig. 3K) total length 3.84. Prosoma 1.90 long, 1.98 wide; opisthosoma 2.24 long, 2.31 wide. Carapace brown, with a great many small denticles. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.14, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.57, PME–PLE 0.42, ALE–PLE 0.24. MOA 0.39 long, anterior width 0.51, posterior width 0.75. Clypeus height 0.30. Chelicerae brown, with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 5.35 (1.75, 1.87, 0.97, 0.76); II 5.48 (1.82, 1.93, 0.95, 0.78); III 2.94 (0.95, 1.06, 0.49, 0.44); IV 3.11 (1.04, 1.02, 0.58, 0.47). Leg formula: 2143. Opisthosoma brown, dorsum with small spines, venter yellow.

Palp (Fig. 10A, B). Tibia as long as wide. Ventral tibial apophysis blunt, digitiform. Retrolateral tibial apophysis large, wide, groove-shaped. Embolus originating at approximately 11-o’clock position, curved along with bulb.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-THO-06-03, Fig. 3L) total length 10.73. Prosoma 5.42 long, 5.19 wide; opisthosoma 5.84 long, 8.29 wide. Carapace yellowish. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.23, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.56, AME–ALE 0.71, PME–PME 1.09, PME–PLE 0.73, ALE–PLE 0.37. MOA 0.79 long, anterior width 0.95, posterior width 1.43. Clypeus height 0.65. Leg measurements: I 15.60 (4.99, 5.75, 2.81, 2.05); II 14.69 (4.74, 5.51, 2.69, 1.75); III 8.68 (2.92, 3.14, 1.62, 1.00); IV 10.14 (3.30, 3.72, 1.93, 1.19). Leg formula: 2143. Opisthosoma white, with a brown spot.

Epigyne (Fig. 10C, D). Epigynal plate oval. Copulatory openings arc-like, distant from each other. Copulatory ducts arc-like, three times longer than wide. Spermathecae transparent, spherical. Fertilization ducts crescent-shaped.

Variation

Males (n = 2) total length 3.29–3.84.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Medog, Xizang, China (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. 

Distribution of crab spiders from Medog, Xizang, China.

Discussion

Among these seven species of crab spiders described here, only Pharta xizang Liu & Yao, 2023 was active at night. The rest of the species were collected during the day. All six new species were collected from flower beds along the side of a road, except Monaeses xizang Wang, Lu & Zhang, sp. nov. which was also collected from a road guardrail. It may be due to the abundance of precipitation, which makes the forest too dense and humid, so the crab-spider spiders go out of the forest to live at the edges.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks are given to Mr Zhi-Sun Wu, Tao Yuan, Ms Piao Liu (SWUC) and Hui Wang (College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China) for their assistance during fieldwork and collection. Many thanks to Miquel A. Arnedo, Renato Teixeira, and an anonymous reviewer for their valuable comments that greatly improved the manuscript.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (grant no. 2022FY202100), the Science Foundation of School of Life Sciences, SWU (20212020110501), and the Survey of Wildlife Resources in Key Areas of Tibet (ZL202203601).

Author contributions

All authors have contributed equally.

Author ORCIDs

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

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

Qian-Le Lu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6291-9117

Yong-Qiang Xu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1889-9531

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

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.

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