Research Article
Print
Research Article
A new genus, Sinodromus gen. nov., with two new species and the first description of the female of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 (Arachnida, Araneae, Philodromidae) from China
expand article infoZhong-jing Wang‡, Yan-bin Yao§, Zi-ying Tang‡, Wen-hui Li‡, Ke-ke Liu‡, Xiang Xu|
‡ Jinggangshan University, Ji’an, China
§ Jinshan College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China

Corresponding author: Ke-ke Liu ( liukeke_1986@126.com )

Corresponding author: Xiang Xu ( xux@hunnu.edu.cn )

Academic editor: Sarah Crews
© 2024 Zhong-jing Wang, Yan-bin Yao, Zi-ying Tang, Wen-hui Li, Ke-ke Liu, Xiang Xu.
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 Z-jing, Yao Y-bin, Tang Z-ying, Li W-hui, Liu K-ke, Xu X (2024) A new genus, Sinodromus gen. nov., with two new species and the first description of the female of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 (Arachnida, Araneae, Philodromidae) from China. ZooKeys 1221: 279-296. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1221.137930
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7EE4D14C-4869-4130-ABF6-DF42B903476B
Open Access

Abstract

Three species of the spider family Philodromidae are reported from the south of China. A new genus, Sinodromus gen. nov., is described from Jiangxi, Fujian, and Hunan Provinces. It can be distinguished from other genera of Philodromidae by the tegular apophysis of the palp and the cymbial process, as well as by its uniquely striped abdomen. The type species, S. fujianensis sp. nov., and a second species, S. perbrevis sp. nov., are described and illustrated; these species occur in bamboo forests in hilly areas. Additionally, the female of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 is described for the first time from Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces. All species are illustrated with SEM micrographs, and their distributions are mapped.

Key words

Distribution, hilly land, running crab spiders, taxonomy

Introduction

Philodromidae Thorell, 1870, commonly known as small running crab spiders, is a relatively small but globally distributed spider family consisting of 528 species in 29 genera (WSC 2024). They are free-living, agile spiders commonly found on plants or on the soil surface (Jocqué and Dippenaar-Schoeman 2006). Currently, 59 species in seven genera are recorded or described from China (Li 2020; WSC 2024). The majority of Chinese philodromid spiders have been reported from the Tibetan Plateau in the western part of the country, while other regions of China remain poorly studied (Li and Lin 2016). Thus, there are still many undescribed species of small running crab spiders in the northern and southern parts of China.

While examining philodromid spider material collected in the southern part of China, namely from Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian Provinces over the last 10 years, we discovered two undescribed species from one new genus and the first female of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022. The present paper provides detailed descriptions of these three species.

Materials and methods

Specimens were examined using a Jiangnan SZ6100 stereomicroscope with a KUY NICE CCD camera. Male and female copulatory organs in this paper were dissected and examined in 80–85% ethanol. The endogynes were cleaned with pancreatin (Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga 2007). All specimens were photographed with an Olympus CX43 compound microscope with a KUY NICE CCD camera. For SEM photographs, the specimens were dried under natural conditions, sprayed with gold with a small ion-sputtering apparatus (ETD-2000), or were uncoated, and then photographed with a Zeiss EVO LS15 scanning electron microscope.

All measurements were made using a stereomicroscope (AxioVision SE64 rel. 4.8.3) and are given in millimeters. Leg measurements are given as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus).

Depositories of all specimens examined are abbreviated as:

ASM-JGSU Animal Specimen Museum, College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an, China.

HNU Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.

Terminology of the male and female copulatory organs follows Kubcová (2004) and Kastrygina and Kovblyuk (2016). The abbreviations used in the text and figures are:

Eyes

ALE anterior lateral eye;

AME anterior median eye;

MOA median ocular area;

PLE posterior lateral eye;

PME posterior median eye.

Male palp

Con conductor;

CP cymbial process;

Em embolus;

RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis;

SD sperm duct;

TA tegular apophysis;

VTA ventro-prolateral tibial apophysis.

Epigyne

At atrium;

Taxonomy

Family Philodromidae Thorell, 1870

Currently, approximately 43% of philodromid species are known from a single sex and juveniles: 167 of these were described from females, 39 from males, and 21 from juveniles (WSC 2024). There are seven genera reported in China: Apollophanes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898, Philodromus Walckenaer, 1826, Pulchellodromus Wunderlich, 2012, Psellonus Simon, 1897, Rhysodromus Schick, 1965, Thanatus C. L. Koch, 1837, and Tibellus Simon, 1875 (WSC 2024). Some of these are widely distributed in Asia, America, and Europe, such as Apollophanes punctipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1891), Philodromus emarginatus (Schrank, 1803), Pulchellodromus medius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), Rhysodromus alascensis (Keyserling, 1884), Thanatus arcticus Thorell, 1872, and Tibellus oblongus (Walckenaer, 1802) (WSC 2024). Currently, 59 known species in those seven genera above have been reported from China (Li and Lin 2016; WSC 2024). Only three new species have been described from China in the past 10 years (WSC 2024).

Genus Philodromus Walckenaer, 1826

Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022

Figs 1A–D, 2A–E, 8A, 9A, B Common name: 贵阳逍遥蛛

Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu in Long et al. 2022: 118, figs 2A–D, 3A–D (holotype male from Guiyang, Guizhou Province, illustrations examined).

Additional material examined

China: Jiangxi Province • 2♂, 5♀, Ji’an City, Jishui County, Dadong Mountain, 27°15'14.71"N, 115°10'50.50"E, 607 m a.s.l., 2 March 2023, K. Liu, Z. Jiang, Z. Deng, X. Chen leg. (20230302, Phi-07, ASM-JGSU) • 1♂, 1♀, Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City, Ciping Town, Jingzhu Mountain, 26°32'45.20"N, 114°06'32.46"E, 1158 m a.s.l., 2 May 2024, Z. Jiang, Z. Wang leg. (20240502, Phi-07, ASM-JGSU) • 1♀, Ciping Town, Huangyangjie Scenic Spot, 26°37'30.33"N, 114°7'8"E, 1384 m a.s.l., 13 August 2024, L. Luo, Y. Yao, Z. Wang leg. (20240813, Phi-07, ASM-JGSU), other data same as previous • 2♀, Shangrao City, Guangfeng District, Tongbo Mountain, Shazi Ridge, 28°09'10.78"N, 118°17'41.31"E, 751 m a.s.l., 11 July 2023, K. Liu, Z. Jiang, C. Li leg. (20230711, Phi-07, ASM-JGSU) • 1♀, Qianshan County, Wangwu Line, Wuyishan Town, near Yu Huizhen Hope Primary School, 27°57'05.51"N, 117°49'12.74"E, 463 m a.s.l., 9 July 2023 (20230709, Phi-07, ASM-JGSU), other data same as previous; Hunan Province • 6♀, Xinning County, Bajiaozhai, Langshan, Bajiaozhai, 26°16.’673N, 110°44.262'E, 839 m a.s.l., 22 July 2015, H. Yin, B. Zhou, J. Gan, Y. Gong, W. Liu, C. Zeng, Z. Chen, B. He, Y. Huang, X. Wu leg. (Phi-07, HNU).

Diagnosis

The female of this species resembles that of P. subaureolus Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (see Yin et al. 2012: 1250, fig. 672b, c) in having widely separated oval spermathecae, but it can be easily separated from it by the broad median septum (vs narrow) and the broad copulatory ducts (vs narrow) (Fig. 1C, D). For the male diagnosis, see Long et al. (2022).

Figure 1. 

Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022, female A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD – copulatory duct, CO – copulatory opening, FD – fertilization duct, GA – glandular appendage, GM – glandular mound, MS – median septum, Spe – spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, D).

Description

Female. Habitus as in Figs 1A, B, 9A, B. Total length 2.95, carapace 1.24 long, 1.3 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances (Fig. 1A): AME 0.06, ALE 0.07, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.31, PME–PLE 0.17, AME–PME 0.18, AME–PLE 0.3, ALE–ALE 0.3, PLE–PLE 0.72, ALE–PLE 0.17. MOA 0.28 long, front width 0.29, back width 0.43. Chelicerae with three promarginal teeth and no retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 5.42 (1.59, 0.7, 1.22, 1.08, 0.83); II 6.26 (1.86, 0.76, 1.56, 1.13, 0.95); III 4.12 (1.45, 0.32, 0.89, 0.88, 0.58); IV 4.47 (1.45, 0.48, 1.04, 0.99, 0.51); spination: I Fe: d6; Ti: d4, p3, r2, v6; Mt: d4, p2, r2, v6; II Fe: d4; Ti: d4, p2, v6; Mt: d4, p4, r3, v6; III Fe: d2, p1; Ti: d4, p2, v4; Mt: d4, p2, r2, v6; IV Fe: d4, p1; Ti: d4, v6; Mt: d4, p2, r3, v6. Abdomen 1.71 long, 1.12 wide.

Coloration (Fig. 1A, B). Carapace white to red-brown, laterally with broad red-brown stripes. Medially with a white V-shaped mark. Chelicerae and endites yellow to brown. Labium brown. Sternum white to brown, laterally with brown spots. Legs white to dark brown, with many dark brown stripes or annulations. Abdomen white to dark brown, with many white spots and yellow muscle sigilla; venter white to yellowish.

Epigyne (Figs 1C, D, 8A). Copulatory openings located at antero-lateral part of epigyne. Median septum broad, sub-posterior part slightly constricted. Copulatory ducts broad, anteriorly curved, posteriorly slightly separated. Glandular appendages slightly protruding, very small, directed laterally. Spermathecae oval, widely separated. Glandular mounds mastoid-like, located on anterolateral part of spermathecae, directed anterolaterally. Fertilization ducts long, more than 2/3 length of spermathecae, directed anterolaterally.

Male. See Long et al. (2022) for description; habitus is shown in Fig. 2A, B and the palp is shown in Fig. 2C–E.

Figure 2. 

Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022, male A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C right palp, retrolateral view D same, ventral view E same, prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C–E).

Remarks

This species is numerous in subtropical broad-leaved forests. The specimens were collected on shrubs and broad-leaved trees by sieving.

Distribution

Known from Guizhou (Long et al. 2022), Hunan (Fig. 10), and Jiangxi (Fig. 10), China. It may be broadly distributed in southern China.

Sinodromus Yao & Liu, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/00C43736-D4E3-438C-91E9-5D460295BDF4

Type species

Sinodromus fujianensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov.

Diagnosis

The new genus is similar to Tibellus Simon, 1875 in having a similar habitus (cf. Figs 3–7, 8B, C and Kastrygina and Kovblyuk 2016: figs 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, B, 6A, B), but it can be easily distinguished from Tibellus (cf. Figs 3–7, 8B, C and Kastrygina and Kovblyuk 2016: figs 1C, G, H, J, K, 2C, G, H, 3F, G, 4C, F, G, 5D, J, K, 6D, F, G) by the very small PME, nearly as long as 1/2 of the AME diameter (vs the large PME as long as AME diameter), the palp with two tibial apophyses (vs one), the presence of a cymbial process (vs absent), the epigyne with a pair of teeth (vs absent), and the relatively thin, tube-shaped copulatory ducts (vs broad). Species of Sinodromus gen. nov. also resemble those of Pulchellodromus Wunderlich, 2012 in having a blunt cymbium and spine-like RTA (cf. Figs 4A–C, 5A, B, D, E and Lecigne et al. 2019: fig. 3F and Song and Zhu 1997: fig. 134C, D), but the genus can be easily distinguished from Pulchellodromus by the slender habitus (vs relatively broad), the male palp with a ventro-prolateral tibial apophysis (vs absent), the well-developed conductor with scaly serrations (vs the undeveloped conductor lacking scaly serrations), and the epigyne with a pair of teeth anterolaterally (vs absent) (cf. Figs 3–7, 8B, C and Lecigne et al. 2019: figs 4F, 5F and Song and Zhu 1997: fig. 134A, B).

Figure 3. 

Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov., habitus A male holotype, dorsal view B same, ventral view C female paratype, dorsal view D same, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 4. 

Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov., male palp A holotype, prolateral view, slightly ventral B same, ventral view C same, ventro-retrolateral view D paratype, detail of palpal tegulum, posterior view E same, ventral view, slightly frontal. Abbreviations: Con – conductor, CP – cymbial process, Em – embolus, RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis, SD – sperm duct, TA – tegular apophysis, VTA – ventro-prolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–C); 0.05 mm (D, E).

Figure 5. 

SEMs of Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov., male palp of paratypes A left palp, ventral view B same, detail of ventro-prolateral and retrolateral tibial apophyses, ventral view C same, detail of anterior tegulum, ventral view D detail of retrolateral tibial apophysis and cymbial process, retrolateral view E right palp, detail of tibial apophyses, prolateral view F same, tegulum, ventral view G same, detail of anterior tegulum, ventral view H same, detail of conductor, ventral view I same, detail of anterior tegulum, retrolatero-ventral view J same, detail of anterior tegulum, ventral view, slightly frontal K same, detail of tegular apophysis and embolic tip after removing part of conductor, ventral view, slightly frontal L same, detail of conductor, ventral view M same, detail of embolus, ventral view. Abbreviations: Con – conductor, CP – cymbial process Em – embolus, RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis, TA – tegular apophysis, VTA – ventro-prolateral tibial apophysis.

Figure 6. 

Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov., female epigyne of paratype A epigyne, ventral view B vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: At – atrium, CD – copulatory duct, CO – copulatory opening, ET – epigynal tooth, FD – fertilization duct, GA – glandular appendage, GM – glandular mound, MS – median septum, Spe – spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.05 mm.

Figure 7. 

Sinodromus perbrevis sp. nov., female holotype A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD – copulatory duct, ET – epigynal tooth, FD – fertilization duct, GA – glandular appendage, GM – glandular mound, MS – median septum, Spe – spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, D).

Description

Small spiders, body length 2.5–4.5 mm. Male habitus with more black spots than in females. Eyes: AME, ALE, and PLE oval, with relatively large eye cups, PME rounded, smaller than other eyes, with small eye cups, anterior eye row and posterior eye row strongly recurved. Chelicerae with two promarginal teeth and no retromarginal teeth. Broad brown median band present on carapace and abdomen, and white or grey bands present on carapace and abdomen laterally. Abdomen elongate, with a notch anteromedially and pointed at posterior end.

Male palp : tibia with two apophyses, ventro-prolateral and retrolateral, both finger-like; cymbium with blunt postero-retrolateral process, directed towards base of retrolateral tibial apophysis; sperm duct slender, curving back on itself, located medially; conductor large, covers embolus, with scaly serrations; tegular apophysis thick and large, slightly sclerotized; embolus spine-like. Epigyne with conspicuous epigynal teeth anterolaterally; median septum triangular; copulatory openings located laterally to median septum; copulatory ducts tube-shaped; spermathecae oval, slightly separated.

Species composition

S. fujianensis sp. nov. (type species) and S. perbrevis sp. nov.

Distribution

China (Fujian, Hunan, and Jiangxi Provinces; Fig. 10).

Etymology

The genus name is formed from a combination of sino- from the Latin “Sinae” referring to China, and -dromus, from “Philodromidae”; the gender is masculine.

Sinodromus fujianensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/58446CA8-10D4-4F41-B533-4B3A957649B2
Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 8B, 9C–F Common name: 福建华逍遥蛛

Type material

China: Fujian Province: Holotype • ♂: Fuzhou City, Cangshan District, Jinshan College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 26°2'21.12"N, 119°19'56.66"E, 24 February 2024, Y. Yao leg. (20240224, Phi-5, ASM-JGSU). Paratypes • 2♂, 2♀, the same data as the holotype • 2♂, 1♀, Fuzhou City, Yongtai County, Geling Town, Yangxi Village, Tianmen Mountain, 25°49'7.6"N, 119°1'5.07"E, 320 m a.s.l., 23 March 2024, Y. Yao, Q. Wu, and Z. Chen leg. (20240323, Phi-5, ASM-JGSU). Jiangxi Province • 1♀, Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City, Huang’ao Town, Jiebei Group, 26°28'40.8"N, 114°14'16.8"E, 297 m a.s.l., 6 April 2015, Z. Chen, G. Li, K. Liu, Z. Meng, Y. Zhao leg. (20150406, Phi-5, ASM-JGSU).

Diagnosis

Males of the new species are easily distinguished from other philodromid spiders by the following combination of morphological characteristics: (1) the thumb-like retrolateral tibial apophysis with a membranous basal apophysis on the male palpal tibia, (2) the tegular apophysis with several ridges, and (3) the conductor with scale-like serrations (Figs 4A–E, 5A–M). The female resembles that of Sinodromus perbrevis sp. nov. in having spermathecae with a short stalk and crescent-shaped fertilization ducts, but it can be separated by the triangular epigynal teeth (vs oval), the copulatory openings located at the mediolateral part of the epigyne (vs anterolateral), and the very short copulatory ducts (vs relatively long) (cf. Figs 6A, B, 8B, 7C, D, 8C).

Figure 8. 

SEM pictures of epigynes, ventral view A Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 B Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov. C S. perbrevis sp. nov.. Abbreviations: At – atrium, CO – copulatory opening, ET – epigynal tooth, MS – median septum.

Description

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 3A, B, 9C, D. Total length 3.83. Carapace medially with dense yellowish-brown setae, laterally with dense white setae, 1.46 long, 1.30 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances (Fig. 3A): AME 0.05, ALE 0.06, PME 0.03, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.24, ALE–ALE 0.41, PME–PLE 0.22, PLE–PLE 0.68, ALE–PLE 0.23, AME–PME 0.11, AME–PLE 0.34. MOA 0.15 long, 0.22 front width, 0.30 back width. Chelicerae with two promarginal teeth (proximal larger) and no retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: I 6.64 (1.91, 0.60, 1.68, 1.53, 0.92); II 8.32 (2.34, 0.82, 2.14, 1.97, 1.05); III 5.18 (1.63, 0.54, 1.22, 1.17, 0.62); IV 6.37 (2.12, 0.65, 1.29, 1.57, 0.74). Leg spination: I Pa: d1, p1, r1; Ti: d2, p2, r2, v5; Mt: d1, p2, r2, v2; II Pa: v1; Ti: d2, p2, r2, v5; Mt: d1, p1, r2, v1; III Pa: v1; Ti: d2, p1, r2, v3; Mt: d2, p2, r3, v3; IV Fe: d2; Pa: d1; Ti: d2, p2, r1; Mt: d2, p2, r3. Abdomen (Fig. 3A, B) medially with dense yellow-brown setae, laterally with dense white setae, 2.47 long, 0.91 wide.

Figure 9. 

A, B living specimen of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 C, D Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov., male E, F S. fujianensis, female.

Coloration (Figs 3A, B, 9C, D). Carapace yellow, with many black dots, laterally with broad yellowish stripes, posteriorly with two pairs of black spots. Chelicerae and endites yellow. Labium yellow, with brown spot posteriorly. Sternum shield-like, yellowish, with dense black dots. Legs with many black dots. Abdomen yellowish to yellow, dorsally with dense black dots, medially with broad yellow stripe, laterally with grey stripes; venter with many pairs of black spots bilaterally.

Palp (Figs 4A–E, 5A–M). Tibia with two apophyses, the ventro-prolateral one short, slightly curved dorsally toward posterior part of tegulum, the retrolateral one finger-like, with a membranous basal apophysis. Cymbial process strongly protruding, approaching the base of retrolateral tibial apophysis. Sperm duct thin, curving back on itself, clearly visible from posterior to prolateral part. Tegular apophysis thick, horn-like, with a blunt basal apophysis. Conductor slightly sclerotized, longer than embolus, covers embolus, with many scaly serrations. Embolus short, hook-shaped, tapering to a point.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Figs 3C, D, 9E, F. As in male, except as noted. Total length 5.00. Carapace: 1.50 long, 1.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances (Fig. 3C): AME 0.05, ALE 0.05, PME 0.03, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.11, PME–PME 0.29, ALE–ALE 0.48, PME–PLE 0.24, PLE–PLE 0.80, ALE–PLE 0.22, AME–PME 0.13, AME–PLE 0.36. MOA 0.16 long, 0.28 front width, 0.36 back width. Leg measurements: I 5.22 (1.46, 0.70, 1.31, 1.10, 0.65); II 6.38 (1.76, 0.83, 1.61, 1.39, 0.79); III 4.32 (1.33, 0.50, 1.02, 0.97, 0.50); IV 6.05 (1.97, 0.63, 1.47, 1.33, 0.65). Leg spination: I Fe: d1; Ti: d2, p2, r5, v4; Mt: p3, r3, v3; II Ti: d2, p3, r3, v3; Mt: p3, r3, v2; III Ti: d2, p2, r1, v2; Mt: p3, r1, v3; IV Pa: v1; Ti: d1, p2, r1, v2; Mt: p1, r3, v6. Abdomen 3.50 long, 1.41 wide.

Coloration (Figs 3C, D, 9E, F). Paler than male. Carapace yellowish to yellow, with sparse black dots. Sternum laterally with many black dots. Legs yellowish white, with sparse dark spots. Abdomen with abundant silver spots and sparse black dots on surface.

Epigyne (Figs 6A, B, 8B) slightly longer than wide. Epigynal teeth lamellar, subtriangular, located anterolaterally on epigyne. Atrium small, separated by median septum. Median septum narrow, anteriorly subtriangular. Copulatory openings directed posteriorly, located on the sides of the antero-lateral part of median septum, slightly covered by epigynal teeth. Glandular appendages located at the beginning part of copulatory ducts, directed anteriorly. Copulatory ducts slightly curved, slightly shorter than spermathecae. Spermathecae slightly separated, round, with a short stalk. Glandular mounds slightly protruding, truncate, located on anterolateral part of spermathecae, directed laterally. Fertilization ducts nearly as long as 1/2 of spermathecal width, directed antero-laterally.

Biology

The coloration and habitus are the same as the grassland community from which they are collected and provides them with camouflage.

Distribution

Known from the type locality in Fujian Province, as well as Jiangxi Province, China (Fig. 10).

Figure 10. 

Distributional records of Philodromus guiyang Long & Yu, 2022 (black circles), Sinodromus fujianensis sp. nov. (green triangles) and S. perbrevis sp. nov. (red stars) from China.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality.

Sinodromus perbrevis Yao & Liu, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/87AD4F3D-EBE1-4D80-A70D-E9540A33B613
Figs 7, 8C Common name: 短华逍遥蛛

Type material

China: Jiangxi Province: Holotype • ♀, Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City, Ciping Town, Huangyangjie Scenic Spot, 26°37'21.6"N, 114°6'21.6"E, 958 m a.s.l., 5 April 2014, Z. Chen, K. Liu, Z. Meng, Y. Tang, X. Huang leg. (20140405, Phi-06, ASM-JGSU). Paratypes • 1♀, Ji’an City, Jinggangshan County Level City, JingZhu Mountain, 26°29'45.6"N, 114°4'44.4"E, 1146 m a.s.l., 20 December 2015, K. Liu, Z. Chen, Z. Meng, Q. Chen, S. Wu, P. Gong leg. (20151220, Phi-06, ASM-JGSU). Hunan Province • 1♀, Hengshan Mountain, 27°16.504'N, 112°42.304'E, 815 m a.s.l., 1–7 May 2007, G. Tang, P. Hu, Q. Wang leg. (Phi-06, HNU) • 1♀, 1 May 2008, Q. Wang leg., other data same as previous (Phi-06, HNU).

Diagnosis

The female of this species can be easily distinguished from S. fujianensis sp. nov. by the oval epigynal teeth (vs triangular) and the short copulatory ducts (vs relatively long) (cf. Figs 7C, D, 8C, 6A, B, 8B).

Description

Habitus as in Fig. 7A, B. Total length 3.52. Carapace 1.34 long, 1.21 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances (Fig. 7A): AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.03, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.12, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.2, AME–PME 0.12, AME–PLE 0.32, ALE–ALE 0.44, PLE–PLE 0.67, ALE–PLE 0.15. MOA 0.21 long, front width 0.25, back width 0.34. Chelicerae with three promarginal teeth and no retromarginal teeth. Leg (Fig. 7A, B) measurements: I and II missing; III 1.26 (0.42, 0.16, 0.28, 0.25, 0.15); IV 5.3 (1.82, 0.63, 1.18, 1.06, 0.61); spination: III Ti: r2; Mt: d1, r1, v8; IV Ti: v2; Mt: r2, v6. Abdomen (Fig. 7A, B) 2.18 long, 0.79 wide.

Coloration (Fig. 7A, B). Carapace yellow, with three pairs of stripes, each one including many black spots, laterally with dark brown stripes. Chelicerae yellowish, with sparse black spots. Endites and labium yellow, with sparse black spots. Sternum yellowish to yellow, laterally with many black dots. Legs with many small black dots. Abdomen yellowish to brown, dorsally with small dense black dots; venter with a broad brown stripe medially.

Epigyne (Figs 7C, D, 8C) nearly as long as wide. Epigynal teeth lamellar, ear-shaped, located antero-laterally. Atrium moderately large, anteromedially located. Median septum narrow, anteriorly subtriangular. Copulatory openings directed laterally, located on the sides of the antero-lateral part of median septum, not covered by epigynal teeth. Glandular appendages small, mastoid like, located at the origin of the copulatory ducts, directed anterolaterally. Copulatory ducts very short, strongly bent dorsally. Spermathecae widely separated, globular, with a short stalk. Glandular mounds slightly protruding, cap-like, located on antero-lateral part of spermathecae, directed laterally. Fertilization ducts nearly as long as 1/2 of spermathecal width, directed antero-laterally.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution

Known from the type locality in Jiangxi, and from Hunan Province, China (Fig. 10).

Etymology

The specific name comes from the Latin word perbrevis, referring to the very short copulatory ducts; adjective.

Discussion

Currently, with this addition of the two new species, 62 species of philodromids have been classified in eight genera in China. Surprisingly, there are no detailed keys for these genera. The main reasons are: 1) most species of Thanatus are known from only a single female (WSC 2024), and it is very difficult to classify the generic characters; 2) the genus Thanatus is very large, and the morphological variation within its supposed members is so broad that the assignment of several species to this genus has been questioned (e.g. many species from South China should be re-assigned to the genus Apollophanes); 3) the descriptions of Rhysodromus and Tibellus from China are superficial, and only a few illustrations have been provided (e.g. Song and Zhu 1997; Hu 2001). The new genus has a tegular apophysis (Fig. 5C), which is absent in Apollophanes (Dondale and Redner 1975), Philodromus (Dondale and Redner 1978), Pulchellodromus (Wunderlich 2012), Psellonus (Malamel et al. 2019, Lin et al. 2024), Rhysodromus (Kastrygina and Kovblyuk 2016), Thanatus (Dippenaar-Schoeman et al. 2022), and Tibellus (Dippenaar-Schoeman et al. 2022).

Beating as a collecting method has allowed us to simultaneously obtain many specimens from the subtropical forest habitat. The new genus, Sinodromus gen. nov., is distributed in the south of China. It is likely that additional species in this genus will be described in the future, extending the distribution.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Qun-zhen Wu, Qin-ang Wu, and Zu-bin Chen (from Chonglinyequ Cultural Creativity Co., Ltd), and Zhi-wu Chen, Guang-feng Li, Cong-zheng Li, Ze-yuan Meng, Yu-bao Tang, Qian-qian Chen, Sha Wu, Pei-chong Gong, Xing-tong Chen and Yi-fan Zhao (from Jinggangshan University, China) and Guo Tang, Peng Hu, Hai-qiang Yin, Bing Zhou, Jia-hui Gan, Yu-hui Gong, Wang Liu, Chen Zeng, Zhuo-er Chen, Bing-yan He, Ya-zhou Huang, Xin-zhou Wu and Qiao-bing Wang (from Hunan Normal University) for collecting the specimens. We also thank Dr Nathalie Yonow for improving the English of the manuscript, and Mr Ye-jie Lin, the reviewer Dr Rahşen S. Kaya, and the subject editor Dr Sarah Crews for providing detailed corrections and suggestions.

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 Natural Science Foundation of China (32000301/32070429).

Author contributions

Yan-bin Yao, Ke-ke Liu and Xiang Xu designed the MS. Zhong-jing Wang, Yan-bin Yao, Zi-ying Tang and Wen-hui Li provided the data. Ke-ke Liu drafted the early MS.

Author ORCIDs

Zhong-jing Wang https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6377-6840

Yan-bin Yao https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2560-9299

Zi-ying Tang https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8513-456X

Wen-hui Li https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-9526

Ke-ke Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-3667

Xiang Xu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9485-5373

Data availability

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

References

  • Álvarez-Padilla F, Hormiga G (2007) A protocol for digesting internal soft tissues and mounting spiders for scanning electron microscopy. The Journal of Arachnology 35(3): 538–542. https://doi.org/10.1636/Sh06-55.1
  • Dippenaar-Schoeman AS, Haddad CR, Foord SH, Lotz LN (2022) The Philodromidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide, Irene, 53 pp. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6634009
  • Dondale CD, Redner JH (1978) The insects and arachnids of Canada, Part 5. The crab spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Philodromidae and Thomisidae. Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1663: 1–255.
  • Hu JL (2001) Spiders in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. Henan Science and Technology Publishing House, 658 pp.
  • Jocqué R, Dippenaar-Schoeman AS (2006) Spider families of the world. Musée Royal de l’Afrique Central Tervuren, 336 pp.
  • Kubcová L (2004) A new spider species from the group Philodromus aureolus (Araneae, Philodromidae) in Central Europe. In: Thaler K (Ed.) Diversität und Biologie von Webspinnen, Skorpionen und anderen Spinnentieren. Denisia 12: 291–304.
  • Lecigne S, Cornic JF, Oger P, Van Keer J (2019) Celerrimus n. gen. (Araneae, Philodromidae) et description de Celerrimus duffeyi n. sp., une espèce très singulière d’Europe occidentale. Revue Arachnologique (2) 6: 32–51.
  • Li SQ, Lin YC (2016) Species Catalogue of China (Vol. 2). Animals. Invertebrates (1). Arachnida: Araneae. Science Press, Beijing, 549 pp.
  • Lin YJ, Li SQ, Mo HL, Wang XH (2024) Thirty-eight spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam. Zoological Systematics 49(1): 4–98. https://doi.org/10.11865/zs.2024101
  • Malamel JJ, Nafin KS, Sankaran PM, Sebastian PA (2019) Taxonomic revision of the monotypic genus Psellonus Simon, 1897 (Araneae, Philodromidae). Zootaxa 4543(3): 442–450. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4543.3.9
  • Song DX, Zhu MS (1997) Fauna Sinica: Arachnida: Araneae: Thomisidae, Philodromidae. Science Press, Beijing, 259 pp.
  • World Spider Catalog (2024) World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Version 25.5. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/ [accessed 1 August 2024]
  • Wunderlich J (2012) Fifteen papers on extant and fossil spiders (Araneae). Beiträge zur Araneologie 7: 1–246.
  • Yin CM, Peng XJ, Yan HM, Bao YH, Xu X, Tang G, Zhou QS, Liu P (2012) Fauna Hunan: Araneae in Hunan, China. Hunan Science and Technology Press, Changsha, 1590 pp.

Zhong-jing Wang, Yan-bin Yao and Zi-ying Tang contributed equally to this work.
login to comment