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Research Article
Review of the wolf-spider genus Draposa Kronestedt, 2010 from China (Araneae, Lycosidae)
expand article infoZhi-Sheng Zhang‡, Piao Liu‡, Shuqiang Li§, Lu-Yu Wang‡
‡ Southwest University, Chongqing, China
§ Anhui Normal University, Anhui, China

Corresponding author: Lu-Yu Wang ( wangluyu1989@163.com )

Academic editor: Yuri Marusik
© 2025 Zhi-Sheng Zhang, Piao Liu, Shuqiang Li, Lu-Yu Wang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Zhang Z-S, Liu P, Li S, Wang L-Y (2025) Review of the wolf-spider genus Draposa Kronestedt, 2010 from China (Araneae, Lycosidae). ZooKeys 1248: 267-279. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1248.150292
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ABD5205D-0B23-4AA1-96DD-E62860FCE4A4
Open Access

Abstract

The wolf-spider genus Draposa Kronestedt, 2010 in China is reviewed. A new combination is proposed: Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001), comb. nov. (ex. Pardosa C L. Koch, 1847). Pardosa shugangensis Yin, Bao & Peng, 1997 is synonymized with Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995), syn. nov. Detailed redescriptions, habitus photographs, illustrations of copulatory organs, and live habitus images are provided for relevant species. Draposa burasantiensis (Tikader & Malhotra, 1976) is transferred back to Pardosa and figures of P. burasantiensis sensu Yin et al. (1997b) from China are provided.

Key words:

Distribution, Pardosinae, redescription, synonym, taxonomy

Introduction

Draposa Kronestedt, 2010 is a small genus with 12 named species distributed from the United Arab Emirates to the Indomalayan Realm (Alderweireldt and Jocqué 2017; WSC 2025). Draposa has been well studied in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates (Kronestedt 2010; Marusik and Omelko 2016; Alderweireldt and Jocqué 2017; Abhijith and Sudhikumar 2023). Currently, only two species of the genus have been recorded in China: D. burasantiensis (Tikader & Malhotra, 1976) and D. zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) (WSC 2025). Here, we review Draposa from China based on recently collected specimens, as well as the type specimens of D. zhanjiangensis, Pardosa aciculifera Chen, Song & Li, 2001, and P. shugangensis Yin, Bao & Peng, 1997. We propose that Pardosa aciculifera Chen, Song & Li, 2001 should be transferred to Draposa and that Pardosa shugangensis Yin, Bao & Peng, 1997 is a junior synonym of Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995).

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 drawing tube, a Leica DFC450 Camera, and LAS v. 4.6 software. Male palps 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. Specimens examined here are deposited in the Collection of Spiders, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China (SWUC); the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS); and the Hunan Normal University (HNU).

Terminology follows Kronestedt (2010) and Zhang et al. (2025). 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 Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833 (狼蛛科)

Draposa Kronestedt, 2010

龙狼蛛属

Draposa Kronestedt, 2010: 33.

Type species.

Lycosa nicobarica Thorell, 1891.

Diagnosis.

Males of Draposa differ from other Pardosinae by the presence of a subpaleal sclerite with two processes (AP and PP, Figs 2B, 3C, E, 5B, 6F, 7C, E) partly hidden by the palea, as well as by the median apophysis (= tegular apophysis in Kronestedt 2010) being transverse with wide basal part carrying variously shaped projections and narrow distal part carrying small subapical protrusion before evenly curved tip; females differ by the epigynal cavity being only partly divided by a tongue-shaped septum.

Description.

See Kronestedt (2010).

Composition and distribution.

Twelve species are known from the Arabian Peninsula to Indomalayan Region.

Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001), comb. nov.

Figs 1A–D, 2, 3, 4, 10
针龙狼蛛

Pardosa aciculifera Chen, Song & Li, 2001: 476, figs 1–7 (♂♀); Wang et al. 2021: 48, fig. 42A–H (♂♀).

Material examined.

China: • 1♂ 2♀, Hainan Prov., Jianfengling, 18.7°N, 108.8°E, 12.07.1990 (holotype and 2 paratypes, IZCAS-Ar-9487, IZCAS-Ar-9488, and IZCAS-Ar-9489) • 1♀, Hainan Prov., Qianghai Co., 20.5.1990 (paratype, IZCAS-Ar-9490) • 2♂ 1♀, Yunnan Prov., Kaiyuan City, 23°40'54"N, 103°20'27"E, elev. 1389 m, 14.06.2017, L.Y. Wang et al. leg. (SWUC, SWUC-LYDA-01–03) • 5♂ 14♀, Guangxi Prov., Beihai City, Hepu Co., Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, Dunzai Vill., 21°31'2"N, 109°45'36"E, 13.05.2024, Q.L. Lu leg. (SWUC, SWUC-LYDA-04–22) • Thailand: 6♂ 6♀, Chiang Mai, Amphoe Hot, 18°09'14"N, 98°25'51"E, elev. 782 m, 5.07.2014, Z.S. Zhang et al. leg. (SWUC, SWUC-LYDA-23–34).

Figure 1. 

Living Draposa spp. A–D. D. aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001) (A. Male, B–D. Female); E, F. D. zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) (female). Photographed by Qian-Le Lu.

Figure 2. 

Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001) male (A, B) and female (C, D). A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A = atrium; AP = anterior subpaleal process; C = conductor; CO = copulatory opening; CP = cymbium protruding; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; HS = head of spermathecae; MA = median apophysis; PA = paleal apophysis; PP = posterior subpaleal process; SAP = subapical protrusion on median apophysis; SS = stalk of spermathecae.

Comments.

Kronestedt (2010) has already suggested that this species might belong to Draposa.

Diagnosis.

Draposa aciculifera can be distinguished from all congeners by the acicular subapical protrusion (SAP) of the median apophysis (MA) in the male palp (vs triangular) and the absence of epigynal septum (vs present).

Description.

Male (Fig. 3A) total length 4.14. Carapace 2.41 long, 1.85 wide; opisthosoma 1.89 long, 1.29 wide. Carapace dark brown, with lateral margin with yellow bands, and covered with white setae; small, light, longitudinal stripe around fovea. Cervical groove and radial furrows indistinct. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.07, PME 0.32, PLE 0.28; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.37, PME–PLE 0.45. Clypeus height 0.25. Chelicerae brown. Endites and labium brown. Sternum black. Leg measurements: I 8.86 (1.90, 2.41, 1.76, 1.07); II 6.78 (1.74, 2.27, 1.77, 1.00); III 6.81 (1.76, 2.15, 1.94, 0.96); IV 10.02 (2.51, 2.96, 3.14, 1.41). Opisthosoma oval, yellow-brown and covered with numerous black spots dorsally. Heart mark distinct. Venter yellow-brown.

Figure 3. 

Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001) male from Kaiyuan City, Yunnan. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Left bulb, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Left male palp, ventral view; E. Same, retrolateral view; F. Median apophysis, ventral view; G. Terminal part in obliquely retrolateral.

Palp (Figs 2A, B, 3B–G). Tibia yellow-brown, 1.7 times longer than wide. Cymbium yellow-brown, with strong protruding (CP) of retrolateral margin. Median apophysis (MA) moderately long, 2.4 times longer than wide, with lamellar projection in basal half, its subapical protrusion (SAP) acicular, tip of median apophysis semicircle. Paleal apophysis (PA) corniform; anterior subpaleal process narrow (AP), lamellar, with rounded tip, as long as posterior subpaleal process; posterior subpaleal process (PP) wider than long, half sclerotized and half membranous, with serrated edges. Embolus (E) narrow, originating at approximately 9-o’clock position, without membrane, evenly tapering to tip.

Female (Fig. 4A) total length 5.27. Carapace 2.41 long, 1.83 wide; opisthosoma 2.62 long, 1.89 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.05, PME 0.32, PLE 0.27; AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.37, PME–PLE 0.45. Clypeus height 0.22. Leg measurements: I 6.51 (1.85, 2.23, 1.53, 0.90); II 5.38 (1.48, 1.77, 1.21, 0.92); III 6.21 (1.62, 2.00, 1.68, 0.91); IV 9.69 (2.26, 2.87, 3.15, 1.41).

Figure 4. 

Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001) female from Kaiyuan City, Yunnan, China. A. Female habitus, dorsal view; B. Epigyne, ventral view; C. Same, dorsal view.

Epigyne (Figs 2C, D, 4B, C). Plate ~1.6 times wider than long. Atrium (A) narrow; septum absent; copulatory openings (CO) crack-shaped, located on both side of the atrium. Spermathecal heads (HS) spherical, visible through cuticle of lateral walls of atrium. Spermathecal stalks (SS) arc-shaped. Fertilization ducts (FD) crescent.

Note.

As described above, copulatory organs of this species are completely consistent with this genus except tongue-shaped septum (absent). Therefore, we transfer Pardosa aciculifera to Draposa.

Distribution.

China (Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan), Thailand (Chiang Mai) (Fig. 10).

Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995)

Figs 1E, F, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
湛江龙狼蛛

Pardosa zhanjiangensis Yin et al., 1995: 74, figs 18–22 (♂♀); Yin et al. 1997b: 281, fig. 133a–e (♂♀); Song et al. 1999: 335, figs 199Q, 200B (♂♀).

Pardosa shugangensis Yin, Bao & Peng, 1997a: 24, figs 39–41 (♂); Yin et al. 1997b: 269, fig. 127a–c (♂); Song et al. 1999: 334, fig. 198M (♂). Syn. nov.

Material examined.

China: • 1♂ 2♀ (holotype ♀, paratype ♀ and allotype ♂ of P. zhanjiangensis), Guangdong Prov., Zhanjiang City, 25.06.1985, Y.J. Zhang leg. (HNU) • 2♂ (holotype and paratype of P. shugangensis), Guangxi Prov., Beihai City, Shuangang Dadao, 25.11.1995, C.M. Yin leg. (HNU) • Malaysia: Sabah: 6♂ 6♀, Kota Kinabalu, bank of Kawa Kawa R., 06°25'18"N, 116°24'19"E, elev. 50 m, 13.10.2015, L.Y. Wang et al. leg. (SWUC) • 8♂ 8♀, Pitas, 06°41'15"N, 116°57'44"E, elev. 24 m, 20.10.2015, L.Y. Wang et al. leg. (SWUC).

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to D. nicobarica (Thorell, 1891) (Kronestedt 2010: 44, figs 26, 51–52) and D. tenasserimensis (Thorell, 1895) (Kronestedt 2010: 51, figs 28, 54–55) in having strong posterior subpaleal process (PP), hook-like tip of median apophysis, conspicuous deep atrium and tongue-shaped septum, but it can be distinguished by the lamellar, rounded tip in basal half of median apophysis (MA) (vs acute tooth-like), the atrium widens both anteriorly and posteriorly (vs widens posteriorly).

Description.

Female holotype of P. zhanjiangensis (Fig. 6A) total length 6.69. Carapace 3.34 long, 2.45 wide; opisthosoma 2.66 long, 1.75 wide. Carapace yellow-brown. Cervical groove and radial furrows indistinct. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.12, PME 0.40, PLE 0.35; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.35. Clypeus height 0.19. Chelicerae yellow-brown. Endites and labium yellowish brown, longer than wide. Sternum yellowish brown, covered with brown setae. Leg measurements: I 9.85 (2.60, 3.57, 2.23, 1.45); II 9.65 (2.70, 3.35, 2.15, 1.45); III 8.76 (2.37, 2.91, 2.22, 1.26); IV 12.63 (3.24, 4.05, 3.75, 1.59). Opisthosoma oval, yellow-brown, and covered with numerous black spots. Heart mark distinct. Venter yellow-brown.

Epigyne (Figs 5C, D, 6C, D, 8B, C). Plate ~1.2 times wider than long. Conspicuous deep atrium (A), atrium widens both anteriorly and posteriorlys; copulatory openings (CO) crack-shaped, as long as atrium. Spermathecal heads (HS) spherical, spermathecal stalks (SS) ~3 times longer than wide, both visible through cuticle of lateral walls of atrium. Fertilization ducts (FD) hook-shaped.

Figure 5. 

Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) male allotype (A, B) and female holotype (C, D). A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A = atrium; AP = anterior subpaleal process; C = conductor; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; HS = head of spermathecae; MA = median apophysis; PA = paleal apophysis; PP = posterior subpaleal process; SAP = subapical protrusion on median apophysis; Se = Septum; SS = stalk of spermathecae.

Male allotype of P. zhanjiangensis (Fig. 6B) total length 6.62. Carapace 3.56 long, 2.68 wide; opisthosoma 2.92 long, 1.69 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.11, PME 0.41, PLE 0.34; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.36. Clypeus height 0.22. Leg measurements: I 10.81 (2.74, 3.85, 2.61, 1.61); II 10.19 (2.73, 3.47, 2.47, 1.52); III 9.83 (2.58, 3.31, 2.61, 1.33); IV 14.13 (3.40, 4.48, 4.40, 1.85).

Figure 6. 

Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) female holotype (A, C, D) and male allotype (B, E, F). A. Female habitus, dorsal view; B. Male habitus, dorsal view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Vulva, dorsal view. E. Left male palp, ventral view; F. Same, retrolateral view.

Figure 7. 

Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) male from Pitas, Sabah, Malaysia. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Left bulb, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Left male palp, ventral view; E. Same, retrolateral view; F. Median apophysis, ventral view; G. Terminal part in obliquely retrolateral.

Figure 8. 

Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) female from Pitas, Sabah, Malaysia. A. Female habitus, dorsal view; B. Epigyne, ventral view; C. Same, dorsal view.

Palp (Figs 5A, B, 6E, F, 7B–G). Tibia yellow-brown, 1.4 times longer than wide. Cymbium yellow-brown, 1.7 times longer than wide. Paleal apophysis triangular (PA). Anterior subpaleal process (AP) strong and rodlike, with a rounded end. Posterior subpaleal process (PP) lamellar, with a notch. Median apophysis (MA) moderately long, with lamellar projection in basal half, subapical protrusion triangular (SAP), tip of median apophysis hook-like. Embolus (E) narrow, evenly tapering to tip.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi and Guangdong), Malaysia (Sabah) (Fig. 10). Records from Malaysia (Tioman Island, Sarawak) and Indonesia (Kronestedt 2010) are doubtful and require confirmation.

Pardosa burasantiensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976 sensu Yin et al. (1997b)

Figs 9, 10
布拉桑蒂豹蛛

Pardosa burasantiensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976: 130, figs 10–12 (♂♀); Yin et al. 1997b: 239, fig. 112a–g (♂♀, misidentified per Kronestedt 2010: 34); Song et al 1999: 330, figs 194C (♀, misidentified per Kronestedt 2010: 34); Yin et al. 2012: 833, fig. 416a–g (♂♀).

Draposa burasantiensis: Dhali et al., 2012: 1202.

For complete list of references see WSC (2025).

Comments.

This species was originally described based on a female holotype and male paratypes collected from Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, India. Kronestedt (2010) proposed a potential taxonomic reclassification, suggesting that this species might belong to Draposa, based on the presence of a subpaleal sclerite in the illustrated male specimen. However, it should be noted that the figure of the paratype male is rather schematic. Morphological examination of the female holotype indicates characteristics consistent with the nebulosa species group within Pardosa C.L. Koch, 1847. Dhali et al. (2012) transferred two Pardosa species (P. amkhasensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976 and P. burasantiensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976) to Draposa, referring to Kronestedt (2010) as justification. However, their work lacked substantial morphological evidence to support this reclassification, providing neither detailed descriptions nor clear images of diagnostic characteristics. Study of the paratype female of this species by Dr Souvik Sen from the Zoological Survey of India (Kronestedt pers. comm.) reveals that it belongs to Pardosa and male paratype is not conspecific with female. Pardosa burasantiensis was first reported from China by Yin et al. (1997b) and figures provided in their publication refer to Pardosa and most likely not conspecific with the holotype of P. burasantiensis. Therefore, species reported from China does not belong to Draposa. In addition, we hereby reinstate the original taxonomic classification for P. burasantiensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976.

Figure 9. 

Pardosa burasantiensis sensu Yin et al. (1997b) from Puer City, Yunnan, China. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Female habitus, dorsal view; C. Left male palp, bulb, ventral view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Left male palp, ventral view; F. Same, retrolateral view; G. Terminal part in obliquely retrolateral; H. Epigyne, ventral view; I. Same, dorsal view.

Figure 10. 

Distribution records of Draposa aciculifera (Chen, Song & Li, 2001) and Draposa zhanjiangensis (Yin, Wang, Peng & Xie, 1995) and Chinese records of Pardosa burasantiensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1976.

Acknowledgements

Great thanks are given to the subject editor, Yuri M. Marusik (Magadan, Russia) and three reviewers, Torbjörn Kronestedt (Stockholm, Sweden), Mikhail M. Omelko (Vladivostok, Russia), and Luis N. Piacentini (Buenos Aires, Argentina) for their helpful comments. We are grateful to Xian-Jin Peng (College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China) for the permission to check type specimens. Many thanks are given to Zhi-Zhong Gao (Xinzhou Normal University, XinZhou, China), Tian Lu, Xuan-Kong Jiang, Zheng Cao, Gui-Qiang Huang (formerly SWUC), and Qian-Le Lu (Shenzhen) for their assistance during the fieldwork and collection.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Use of AI

No use of AI was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (grant no. 2022FY202100) and the Chongqing Municipal Graduate Research Innovation Project (no. CYS20104).

Author contributions

All authors have contributed equally.

Author ORCIDs

Zhi-Sheng Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9304-1789

Piao Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2060-0826

Shuqiang Li https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3290-5416

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

Data availability

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

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