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Research Article
Diversity of spiders in Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China (I), three new Cicurina species of Cicurinidae (Araneae)
expand article infoLu-Yu Wang‡§, Yan-Nan Mu‡, Ling-Xiang Yang|, Zhi-Sheng Zhang‡
‡ Southwest University, Chongqing, China
§ Chongqing Urban Ecosystem Positioning Observation and Research Station, Chongqing, China
| Management Center of Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China

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

Academic editor: Alireza Zamani
© 2024 Lu-Yu Wang, Yan-Nan Mu, Ling-Xiang Yang, 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, Yang L-X, Zhang Z-S (2024) Diversity of spiders in Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China (I), three new Cicurina species of Cicurinidae (Araneae). ZooKeys 1219: 61-72. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1219.137354
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0881899D-11BE-485C-9C37-195CE56328BE
Open Access

Abstract

Three new species of the genus Cicurina Menge, 1871 are described from Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China: C. chengkou sp. nov. (♂♀), C. dabashan sp. nov. (♂♀) and C. longihamata sp. nov. (♂♀). Morphological descriptions, photos and illustrations of copulatory organs are provided.

Key words

Morphology, new species, spider, taxonomy

Introduction

The Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve is located in Chengkou County in the southern Dabashan Mountains, southwestern China. Its eastern and northern sides border Shaanxi Province. It is adjacent to Wuxi County and Kaizhou District of Chongqing Municipality in the south and is connected to Sichuan Province in the west. It is a transitional zone from the Qinling Mountains to southern China, extending from 31°37'27" to 32°12'15"N and 108°27'07" to 109°16'40"E. In the Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, there are numerous valleys crisscrossing. The heterogeneous habitats create conditions for the independent evolution of species and have given birth to many endemic species such as ferns and flowering plants, including Botrychium sutchuenense, Asplenium humistratum, Primula fagosa, and the beetle Neobisnius chengkouensis (Deng 2015).

A comprehensive survey of the biological resource background of Chongqing Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve was performed in 2011. In total, 181 macro fungi, 3572 tracheophyte, 884 insects, 68 mammalian, 233 avian, 24 reptilian, 25 amphibian and 44 fish species were recorded (Deng 2015). However, at present, only 13 species of spiders have been recorded in the Reserve: Amaurobius spinatus Zhang, Wang & Zhang, 2018 (Amaurobiidae), Chrosiothes pengqi Lin & Li, 2024, Coscinida hantao Lin & Li, 2024, Mallinella zhoushengboi Lin & Li, 2024, Onomastus zhuwu Lin & Li, 2024, Orchestina xiebao Lin & Li, 2024, Otacilia lubrica Mu & Zhang, 2021, O. pyriformis Fu, Zhang & Zhang, 2016, O. wuli Mu & Zhang, 2021, Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, 2024, Synagelides huangxin Lin & Li, 2024, Tekellina haosiwen Lin & Li, 2024 and Yaginumena xuanzan Lin & Li, 2024 (Theridiidae) (Fu et al. 2016; Zhang et al. 2018; Mu and Zhang 2021; Lin et al. 2024). The diversity of spiders is clearly underestimated.

Cicurina is the largest genus in the spider family Cicurinidae, with 144 species currently known worldwide. Most of them (114) are recorded from North America and a few (28) are found in Asia (Lin et al. 2023; WSC 2024). At present, there are 20 Cicurina species found in China (Li and Wang 2017; Wang et al. 2019; Liao et al. 2022).

This is the first study detailing the spider diversity of Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve. Three new species assigned to Cicurina Menge, 1871 are described: C. chengkou sp. nov., C. dabashan sp. nov. and C. longihamata sp. nov.

Materials and methods

All specimens were preserved in 75% ethanol and were examined, illustrated, photographed and measured using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a drawing tube, a Leica DFC450 camera and LAS software (ver. 4.6). Male pedipalps and epigynes were examined and illustrated after they were dissected. Epigynes were cleared immersing them in pancreatin (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. Specimens examined here are deposited in the Collection of Spiders, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China (SWUC).

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 Cicurinidae Kishida, 1955

Genus Cicurina Menge, 1871

Cicurina chengkou sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/B8AE2F95-84BB-4A4F-954B-6DF16B89869E
Figs 1, 2, 7 Vernacular name: 城口洞叶蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-CI-10-01), China, Chongqing City, Chengkou County, Longtian Town, Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°03.836'N, 108°40.238'E, elev. 1275 m, 21 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg. Paratype • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-10-02), with same data as for holotype (SWUC).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to C. dabashan sp. nov. (Figs 3, 4) in having wide and short retrolateral tibial apophysis, long and strong embolus, strong and beak-like conductor, posteriorly located epigynal atrium and ball-shaped spermathecae, but differs from the latter by the long RTA (Figs 1B, 2Е) (vs. short in C. dabashan sp. nov.), the apical part of conductor as long as the width of conductor base (Figs 1A, B, 2C–E) (vs. about half the length of conductor base in C. dabashan sp. nov.) and the oblong atrium (Figs 1C, 2F) (vs. somewhat oval in C. dabashan sp. nov.), the short copulatory duct (Figs 1D, 2D) (vs. long in C. dabashan sp. nov.).

Figure 1. 

Cicurina chengkou sp. nov. holotype male (A, B) and paratype female (C, D) A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: At = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Co = conductor; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Sp = spermathecae.

Figure 2. 

Cicurina chengkou sp. nov. holotype male (A, C–E) and paratype female (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 vulva, dorsal view.

Figure 3. 

Cicurina dabashan sp. nov. holotype male (A, B) and paratype female (C, D) A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: At = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Co = conductor; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Sp = spermathecae.

Figure 4. 

Cicurina dabashan sp. nov. holotype male (A, C–E) and paratype female (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 vulva, dorsal view.

Description

Male holotype (Fig. 2A) total length 4.02. Carapace 2.09 long, 1.75 wide; opisthosoma 1.78 long, 1.35 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.12, PME 0.10, PLE, 0.11; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.23 long, anterior width 0.18, posterior width 0.30. Clypeus height 0.21. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 8 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 5.74 (1.63, 1.98, 1.27, 0.86); II 5.32 (1.55, 1.80, 1.16, 0.81); III 4.78 (1.38, 1.54, 1.13, 0.73); IV 6.23 (1.63, 2.06, 1.62, 0.92). Leg formula: 4123.

Palp (Figs 1A, B, 2C–E). Femur long, two times longer than cymbium, without modified. Tibia slightly longer than patella. Retrolateral tibial apophysis wide, with a single fold and rounded apex. Base of retrolateral tibial apophysis with two small apophyses, extending ventrally and dorsally. Bulb circular, tegulum semicircular, with a distinct process at middle part in prolateral and ventral view. Sperm duct obvious. Embolus strong, originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, anterior part resting in the long groove of conductor. Conductor strong, with a sharp end.

Female paratype (Fig. 2B) total length 3.51. Carapace 1.76 long, 1.23 wide; opisthosoma 1.86 long, 1.38 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.10, PME 0.08, PLE, 0.10; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.22 long, anterior width 0.15, posterior width 0.27. Clypeus height 0.14. Leg measurements: I 4.67 (1.39, 1.65, 0.95, 0.68); II 4.28 (1.23, 1.44, 0.94, 0.67); III 3.91 (1.15, 1.31, 0.93, 0.52); IV 5.26 (1.48, 1.76, 1.30, 0.72). Leg formula: 4123.

Epigyne (Figs 1C, D, 2F, G). Atrium oval. Copulatory openings located lateral of atrium. Copulatory ducts straight and short, about half length of spermathecae diameter. Spermathecae kidney shaped. Fertilization ducts hook-like.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 7).

Cicurina dabashan sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/C5223A06-8D90-43EE-A991-385DC9EE7F65
Figs 3, 4, 7 Vernacular name: 大巴山洞叶蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-CI-11-01), China, Chongqing City, Chengkou County, Longtian Township, Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°03.614'N, 108°40.316'E, elev. 1215 m, 16 September 2012, L.Y. Wang and X.K. Jiang leg. Paratypes • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-11-02), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°04.590'N, 108°39.058'E, elev. 1417 m, 17 September 2012, L.Y. Wang and X.K. Jiang leg. • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-11-03), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°04.432'N, 108°39.225'E, elev. 1353 m, 21 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality (Dabashan = Daba Mountain).

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to C. lichuanensis Wang, Zhou & Peng, 2019 (Wang, Zhou and Peng 2019: 354, figs 5A–D, 6A–G) in having similarly shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis, long and strong embolus, posteriorly located epigynal atrium and ball-shaped spermathecae, but differs from the latter by the tegulum with a small process (Figs 3A, 4C, D) (vs. without process), the conductor with a short, sclerotic and sharp end (Figs 3A, B, 4C–E) (vs. with a long and blunt end in C. lichuanensis) and the anterior edge of atrium unconnected (Figs 3C, 4F) (vs. connect in C. lichuanensis).

Figure 5. 

Cicurina longihamata sp. nov. holotype male (A, B) and paratype female (C, D) A left male palp, ventral view B same, retrolateral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: At = atrium; CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; Co = conductor; Em = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Sp = spermathecae.

Figure 6. 

Cicurina longihamata sp. nov. holotype male (A, C–E) and paratype female (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 vulva, dorsal view.

Description

Male holotype (Fig. 4A) total length 3.66. Carapace 1.91 long, 1.43 wide; opisthosoma 1.72 long, 1.22 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.10, PME 0.07, PLE, 0.10; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.19 long, anterior width 0.10, posterior width 0.25. Clypeus height 0.16. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 7 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 4.95 (1.48, 1.73, 0.98, 0.76); II 4.45 (1.36, 1.53, 0.92, 0.64); III 4.07 (1.20, 1.32, 0.95, 0.60); IV 5.49 (1.56, 1.81, 1.34, 0.78). Leg formula: 4123.

Palp (Figs 3A, B, 4C–E). Retrolateral tibial apophysis wide, with a single fold and truncates apex. The base of retrolateral tibial apophysis with two small apophyses, extending ventrally and dorsally. Embolus strong, originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, anterior part resting in the long groove of conductor. Conductor strong, with a beak-like end.

Female paratypes (SWUC-T-CI-11-02, Fig. 4B) total length 3.33–4.95 (N = 2). One female total length 3.33. Prosoma 1.70 long, 1.15 wide; opisthosoma 1.48 long, 1.20 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.10, PLE, 0.11; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.25 long, anterior width 0.16, posterior width 0.28. Clypeus height 0.12. Leg measurements: I 4.18 (1.22, 1.542, 0.83, 0.61); II 3.65 (1.08, 1.28, 0.75, 0.54); III 3.29 (0.95, 1.15, 0.69, 0.50); IV 4.44 (1.26, 1.53, 1.05, 0.60). Leg formula: 4123.

Epigyne (Figs 3C, D, 4F, G). Atrium oval. Copulatory openings located anterior of atrium. Copulatory ducts as long as spermathecae diameter, C-shaped. Spermathecae spherical, anteriorly located. Fertilization ducts folded.

Figure 7. 

Distribution records of three Cicurina species in Chongqing, China.

Distribution

China (Chongqing) (Fig. 7).

Cicurina longihamata sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/AD3DFE55-EB4B-4BF3-A1B0-85FAF3608780
Figs 5, 6, 7 Vernacular name: 长钩洞叶蛛

Type material

Holotype • ♂ (SWUC-T-CI-12-01), China, Chongqing City, Chengkou County, Longtian Town, Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°05.062'N, 108°38.300'E, elev. 1417 m, 17 September 2012, L.Y. Wang and X.K. Jiang leg. (SWUC). Paratypes • 6♂ 3♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-02 to 10), with same data as for holotype • 1♂ 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-11 to 12), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°04.443'N, 108°39.278'E, elev. 1264 m, 16 September 2012, L.Y. Wang and X.K. Jiang leg. • 2♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-13 to 14), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°04.590'N, 108°39.058'E, elev. 1417 m, 17 September 2012, L.Y. Wang and X.K. Jiang leg. • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-15), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°03.836'N, 108°40.238'E, elev. 1275 m, 21 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg. • 4♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-16 to 19), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°03.726'N, 108°40.351'E, elev. 1206 m, 16 March 2018, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang and Z.S. Wu leg. • 5♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-20 to 24), Wuli Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 32°04.269'N, 108°39.914'E, elev. 1286 m, 16 March 2018, Z.S. Zhang, L.Y. Wang and Z.S. Wu leg. • 3♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-25 to 27), Heyu Town, Xumu Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 31°54.484'N, 109°03.556'E, elev. 1670 m, 27 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg. • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-28), Xumu Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 31°55.393'N, 109°01.930'E, elev. 1593 m, 28 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg. • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-29), Dongan Township, Chaoyang Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 31°47.099'N, 109°14.727'E, elev. 1576 m, 29 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg. • 1♀ (SWUC-T-CI-12-30), Dongan Township, Xingtian Village, Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve, 31°43.426'N, 109°08.563'E, 1391 m, 31 March 2013, X.K. Jiang and X.W. Meng leg.

Etymology

The specific name is a combination of ‘long’ and ‘hamata’, referring to the long and hook-shaped conductor; adjective.

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to C. eburnata Wang, 1994 (Wang et al. 2019: 354, figs 9A–D, 10A–G) in having similar shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis, long and strong embolus, strong and hook-like conductor, posteriorly located epigynal atrium, but differs from the latter by the conductor with a long, acicular and C-shaped end (Figs 5A, B, 6C–E) (vs. short and blunt end in C. eburnata), the C-shaped copulatory ducts and gourd-shaped spermathecae (Figs 5D, 6G) (vs. rod-shaped and spherical C. eburnata).

Description

Male holotype (Fig. 6A) total length 2.93. Prosoma 1.51 long, 1.14 wide; Opisthosoma 1.31 long, 0.86 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE, 0.08; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.14 long, anterior width 0.07, posterior width 0.21. Clypeus height 0.14. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 7 retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 3.66 (1.09, 1.31, 0.70, 0.56); II 3.18 (0.94, 1.08, 0.64, 0.52); III 2.85 (0.83, 0.88, 0.69, 0.45); IV 3.99 (1.10, 1.32, 0.95, 0.62). Leg formula: 4123.

Palp (Figs 5A–B, 6C–E). Retrolateral tibial apophysis wide. The base of retrolateral tibial apophysis with two small apophyses, extending ventrally and dorsally. Embolus strong, originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, anterior part resting in the groove of conductor. Conductor strong, with a long and J-like end.

Female paratype (SWUC-T-CI-12-02, Fig. 6B) total length 2.94. Prosoma 1.46 long, 0.99 wide; opisthosoma 1.57 long, 1.18 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.10, PME 0.07, PLE, 0.09; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.02. MOA 0.18 long, anterior width 0.08, posterior width 0.22. Clypeus height 0.12. Leg measurements: I 3.56 (1.10, 1.30, 0.65, 0.51); II 3.16 (0.95, 1.11, 0.62, 0.48); III 2.86 (0.87, 0.90, 0.66, 0.43); IV 3.99 (1.18, 1.36, 0.93, 0.52). Leg formula: 4123.

Epigyne (Figs 5C–D, 5F–G). Atrium oval. Copulatory openings located anterior of atrium. Copulatory ducts strongly curved, circular. Spermathecae large and gourd-shaped. Fertilization ducts long and hook-like.

Variation

Males (N = 8) total length 2.80–3.15; females (N = 22) total length 2.90–3.49.

Distribution

China (Chongqing) (Fig. 7).

Acknowledgements

Many thanks are given Mr Xuan-Kong Jiang, Xiang-Wei Meng and Zhi-Sun Wu (SWUC) for their assistance during the field work and collection. Many thanks to subject editor, Alireza Zamani and two reviewers, Feng Zhang and another 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 Scientific investigation project of biological resource background of Chongqing Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve.

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

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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