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Research Article
Taxonomic notes on the genus Phrynarachne from China (Araneae, Thomisidae)
expand article infoYejie Lin‡, Long Yu§, Peter Koomen|, Xunyou Yan‡, Shuqiang Li
‡ Langfang Normal University, Langfang, China
§ Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| Natuurmuseum Fryslân, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
¶ Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of sciences, Beijing, China

Corresponding author: Xunyou Yan ( yanxunyou@163.com )

Corresponding author: Shuqiang Li ( lisq@ioz.ac.cn )

Academic editor: Zhiyuan Yao
© 2022 Yejie Lin, Long Yu, Peter Koomen, Xunyou Yan, Shuqiang Li.
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: Lin Y, Yu L, Koomen P, Yan X, Li S (2022) Taxonomic notes on the genus Phrynarachne from China (Araneae, Thomisidae). ZooKeys 1085: 69-99. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1085.77966
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DA1FA04C-FB0F-4325-BDAB-507FF6DEB967
Open Access

Abstract

Four new species of the genus Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869 from China are described: P. dreepy Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. xuxiake Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. yunhui Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀), and P. zhengzhongi Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀). The unknown sexes of P. brevis Tang & S. Li, 2010 (♂), P. huangshanensis Li et al., 1985 (♀), P. lancea Tang & S. Li, 2010 (♂), and P. mammillata Song, 1990 (♀) are described for the first time. Phrynarachne sinensis Peng, Yin & Kim is treated as a nomen dubium.

Keywords

Diagnosis, new species, nomen dubium, type specimens

Introduction

The spider genus Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869 currently includes 32 species and subspecies distributed in southern Asia, the Australian region, and sub-Saharan Africa. Only five species are described by both sexes, and 10 species have been studied after their original description. Efforts have been made to find Phrynarachne types preserved in well-known European museums, but these endeavors have failed.

Seven Phrynarachne species were known from China before the current study; only two species, i.e., P. ceylonica (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1884) and P. katoi Chikuni, 1955, are described by both sexes. All endemic Chinese Phrynarachne species are only described by few single-sex specimens, and the species in the surrounding areas of China, except Japan, are not well revised and most of them have only initial descriptions (Li et al. 2021; WSC 2021; Yao et al. 2021).

Here, we describe four new and six known Phrynarachne species from China. Due to the lost holotype and unknown locality in the original description, we treat P. sinensis Peng et al. as nomen dubium.

Materials and methods

All specimens were preserved in 80% ethanol. Epigynes were cleared in trypsin enzyme solution to dissolve non-chitinous tissues. Specimens were examined under a LEICA M205C stereomicroscope. Photomicroscopy images were taken with an Olympus C7070 zoom digital camera (7.1 megapixels). Laboratory habitus photographs were taken with a Sony A7RIV digital camera equipped with a Sony FE 90mm Goss lens. Photos were stacked with Helicon Focus (v. 7.6.1) or Zerene Stacker (v. 1.04) and processed in Adobe Photoshop CC2019.

All measurements are in millimeters and were obtained with an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope with a Zongyuan CCD industrial camera. Total length is measured without chelicerae. Eye sizes are measured as the maximum diameter from either the dorsal or frontal view. Leg measurements are given as follows: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The terminology used in the text and figures follows Ono (1988).

Types of the new species reported here are deposited at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

Abbreviations

ALE anterior lateral eyes;

AME anterior median eyes;

E embolus;

FD fertilization duct;

H hood;

ITA intermediate tibial apophysis;

Mp median plate;

PLE posterior lateral eyes;

PME posterior median eyes;

RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis;

S spermathecae;

VTA ventral tibial apophysis.

Taxonomy

Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833

Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869

Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869: 37. For the complete list of references see WSC (2021).

Type species

Thomisus rugosus Walckenaer, 1805, from Mauritius

Diagnosis

Large or medium-sized, male is much smaller than the female (1:2 or more). Prosoma nearly as long as wide, with granulations. Eyes small, subequal in size. Fovea inconspicuous. Chelicerae with two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Labium longer than wide, sternum oval, male palp with VTA, ITA and RTA; tegulum flat, disk-shaped; tegular ridge present; embolus slender. Female epigynum simple, with a media plate, spermathecae strong sclerotized.

Phrynarachne brevis Tang & S. Li, 2010

Figs 1A, 6, 18A, 21

Phrynarachne brevis Tang & Li, 2010: 49, figs 35A–D, 36A, B (♂).

Type material

Holotype : ♂ (IZCASAr18535), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Bamboo plantation near G213 roadside, 21.8940°N, 101.2823°E, 580 m elev., 3.XII.2009, Guo Tang and Zhiyuan Yao leg., examined.

Other material examined

1♀ (IZCAS-Ar41642), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Bamboo plantation, 21.9008°N, 101.2822°E, 597 m elev., 9.V.2019, Zhigang Chen leg.

Diagnosis

See diagnosis of P. dreepy sp. nov.

Description

Female (Figs 1A, 6, 18A). Total length 16.53, carapace 6.62 long, 7.09 wide, yellow brown with brown pattern and granulations dorsally. With large projection between ALE and PLE. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.26, AME 0.23, PLE 0.25, PME 0.22; ALE–AME 0.51, AME–AME 0.90, PLE–PME 1.62, PME–PME 1.02. Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth; gnathocoxae, labium dark yellow, labium 1.52 long, 1.18 wide. Sternum yellow. Legs brown, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with dense asymmetrical ventral spines (I, tibia 12, metatarsus 30; II, tibia 10, metatarsus 30). Leg measurements: I 17.25 (5.74, 6.31, 3.10, 2.10), II 17.61 (5.66, 6.61, 3.30, 2.04), III 12.30 (3.67, 5.74, 1.50, 1.39), IV 10.26 (3.31, 4.12, 1.46, 1.37). Opisthosoma dorsally light yellow, each side with 22 long tubercles, middle with pair of black markings.

Figure 1. 

Phrynarachne spp., live A P. brevis, adult female B P. xuxiake sp. nov., juvenile. Photos by Chao Wu (A) and Fan Gao (B).

Epigyne (Fig. 6) with M-shaped sclerotized margins; median plate obvious, with a posterior hood, anterior edge recurved and posterior edge almost straight, the ratio of length to width is 11:3; copulatory opening obvious; spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of anterior edge to posterior edge length is 1:1. Fertilization duct transverse.

Male. See Tang and Li (2010).

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Notes

The female is described here for the first time.

Phrynarachne ceylonica (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1884)

Figs 2, 21

Ornithoscatoides ceylonica O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1884: 201, pl. 15, fig. 3. For the complete list of references see WSC (2021).

Type material

Syntypes 2♀, “Ceylon, G.H.K. Thwaites leg.”, Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford, UK, not examined; O. nigra O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1884: Syntypes 2♂, “Ceylon and India, G.H.K. Thwaites leg.”, Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford, UK, not examined.

Figure 2. 

Phrynarachne ceylonica A adult male (left) and female (right) B male live C female live. Photos by Peter Koomen.

Other material examined

2♂ (IZCAS), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, primary tropical seasonal rain forest, 21.9598°N, 101.2035°E, 822 m elev., 8.VIII.2007, Guo Zheng leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Paramichelia baillonii plantation (about 20 years old), 21.9129°N, 101.2674°E, 556 m elev., 18.VII.2007, Guo Zheng leg.; 2♂ (IZCAS), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, secondary tropical seasonal moist forest, 21.9120°N, 101.2823°E, 645 m elev., 27.VII.2007, Guo Zheng leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Anogeissus acuminata plantation (about 20 yr.), 21.8999°N, 101.2802°E, 611 m elev., 19.VIII.2007, Guo Zheng leg.; 2♀ (IZCAS), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, secondary tropical seasonal moist forest, 21.9065°N, 101.2802°E, 612 m elev., 10.VIII.2007, Guo Zheng leg.

Distribution

Asia: from India and Sri Lanka to Japan, south to Indonesia. In China is known from Guangxi, Taiwan, and Yunnan.

Phrynarachne dreepy Lin & S. Li, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/E0BC4600-8F1E-403A-BBDD-C37EDE540845
Figs 3, 7, 8, 18C, D, 21

Type material

Holotype : ♂ (IZCAS-Ar41643), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, 21.9768°N, 101.2010°E, 814 m elev., 17.VIII.2011, Guo Zheng leg.; Paratypes: 2♀ (IZCAS-Ar41644, Ar41645), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, 21.9277°N, 101.2622°E, 552 m elev., VIII.2019, Long Yu leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar41646), same data as holotype, but 21.9502°N, 101.2010°E, 814 m elev., 18.VIII.2011; 2♂ (IZCAS-Ar41647, Ar41648), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Guanping Town, Shiwudui, 22.2280°N, 100.8894°E, 888 m elev., 20.VII.2012, Qingyuan Zhao and Zhigang Chen leg.

Etymology

The species is named after Dreepy, a fictional character from Pokémon Sword and Shield, who has a triangular head that is reminiscent of the opisthosoma of the new species; noun (name) in apposition.

Diagnosis

Phrynarachne dreepy sp. nov. is similar to P. brevis in that males have a long RTA; in females the epigyne has sclerotized margins and the posterior edge of the median plate has a depression. However, males of P. dreepy sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the long VTA (vs short VTA in P. brevis), the length of embolus to the length of the embolus base (7:1 vs 18:1 in P. brevis), and the embolus separate from the tegulum (vs close to the tegulum in P. brevis). Females can be separated from P. brevis by the short, triangular tubercles on the abdomen (vs long, slender tubercles in P. brevis), the straight anterior edge of median plate (vs recurved in P. brevis), and the procurved posterior edge of the median plate (vs almost straight in P. brevis).

Figure 3. 

Phrynarachne dreepy sp. nov. A, B male C female life. Photos by Peter Koomen (A, B) and Chao Wu (C).

Description

Male (Figs 3A, B, 7, 18C), holotype: total length 2.26, carapace 1.04 long, 1.02 wide, yellow-brown, with white tubercles. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, AME 0.07, PLE 0.07, PME 0.06; ALE–AME 0.05, AME–AME 0.07, PLE–PME 0.09, PME–PME 0.11. Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, yellow-brown, labium brown, 0.23 long, 0.18 wide. Sternum yellow-brown. Legs yellow-brown, femora I ang II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with pairs of ventral spines (I, tibia 6, metatarsus 8; II, tibia 6, metatarsus 6). Leg measurements: I 3.85 (1.21, 1.38, 0.76, 0.50), II 3.78 (1.22, 1.34, 0.73, 0.49), III 1.72 (0.55, 0.60, 0.27, 0.30), IV 1.52 (0.51, 0.52, 0.23, 0.26). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma dark brown, each side with 18 tubercles, each with a clavate seta.

Male palp (Fig. 3A, B). Tibia brown, VTA club-shaped; RTA long, the length of VTA to the length of RTA is 3:1. Cymbium brown. Tegulum flat, disk-shaped, with a tegular ridge. Embolus spiraled, thin, separated from tegulum; the length of embolus to the length of embolus base 7:1.

Female (Figs 3C, 8, 18D) one paratype: total length 8.45, carapace 3.77 long, 4.02 wide, pale yellow, green when alive. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.22, AME 0.12, PLE 0.20, PME 0.15; ALE–AME 0.18, AME–AME 0.24, PLE–PME 0.28, PME–PME 1.02. Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, labium yellow, labium 0.86 long, 0.63 wide. Sternum yellow. Legs pale yellow, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with dense asymmetrical ventral spines (I, tibia 25, metatarsus 102; II, tibia 20, metatarsus 83). Leg measurements: I 13.87 (4.26, 4.94, 3.10, 1.57), II 13.99 (4.40, 4.81, 3.16, 1.62), III 7.17 (2.36, 2.67, 1.12, 1.02), IV 6.74 (2.49, 2.57, 0.82, 0.86). Leg formula: 2134. Opisthosoma pale green, each side with 13 triangular tubercles, each with a clavate seta.

Epigyne (Fig. 8) with sclerotized margins; median plate almost rectangular, hood absent, anterior edge straight, posterior edge slightly recurved, the ratio of length to width is 4:1; copulatory opening inconspicuous; spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of anterior edge to posterior edge length is 2:1. Fertilization duct transverse.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Phrynarachne huangshanensis Li, Chen & Song, 1985

Figs 5, 9, 10, 17A, C, 18B, 21

Phrynarachne huangshanensis Li et al., 1985: 73, figs 1, 2. For the complete list of references see WSC (2021).

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (IZCAS-Ar41649), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Huangshan District, Zhaixi Village, 30.0580°N, 118.1664°E, 423 m elev., 14.VI.1982, Youcai Li, Fayang Chen and Daxiang Song leg., examined.

Other material examined

1♂(IZCAS-Ar416450), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Tangkou Town, Houyuan, ravine, 30.0735°N, 118.1522°E, 470 m elev., IX.2018, Long Yu leg.; 2♂(IZCAS-Ar41651, Ar41652), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Tangkou town, Fangcunxin Village, ravine, shrub with broad leaves, 30.0457°N, 118.1606°E, 430±8 m elev., 5.IX.2019, Long Yu leg.; 3♂ (IZCAS-Ar41653–Ar41655), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Tangkou town, Fangcun Village, shrub with broad leaves, 30.0302°N, 118.1822°E, 356±6 m elev., 5.IX.2019, Long Yu leg; 5♀(IZCAS-Ar41656–Ar41660), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Tangkou Town, Fangcunxin Village, ravine, 30.0501°N, 118.1854°E, 450 m elev., IX.2018, Long Yu leg.

Diagnosis

Males of Phrynarachne huangshanensis can be distinguished from those of P. mammillata by the ratio of the length of the embolus to the length of the embolus base (7:1 in P. huangshanensis vs 10:1 in P. mammillata), and the ratio of the length of the RTA to the length of the VTA (3:1 in P. huangshanensis vs 2:1 in P. mammillata). Females can be differentiated by the length to width ratio of the median plate (3:1 in P. huangshanensis vs 5:1 in P. mammillata), and the V-shaped median plate (vs M-shaped in P. mammillata).

Description

Male (Figs 5A, 9, 18B): total length 2.45, carapace 1.10 long, 1.14 wide, dark brown with long setae. Opisthosoma brown in middle, with some tubercles, each with a clavate seta. A pair of white lines from PLE to fovea. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, AME 0.06, PLE 0.07, PME 0.04; ALE–AME 0.05, AME–AME 0.11, PLE–PME 0.13, PME–PME 0.15. Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, labium dark brown, labium 0.20 long, 0.21 wide. Sternum black. Legs black, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles, tibiae and metatarsi I, II with pairs of ventral spines (I, tibia 6, metatarsus 6; II, tibia 6, metatarsus 6); femora III, IV with white stripe. Leg measurements: I 3.54 (1.13, 1.23, 0.66, 0.52), II 3.50 (1.18, 1.22, 0.60, 0.50), III 1.69 (0.55, 0.56, 0.26, 0.32), IV 2.08 (0.73, 0.72, 0.28, 0.35). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma dorsally dark brown, each side with 17 tubercles, each with a clavate seta, center with a pair of yellow markings.

Male palp (Fig. 9). Tibia brown, VTA club-shaped; RTA long, the length ratio of VTA to RTA is 3:1. Cymbium black. Tegulum flat, disk-shaped, with a tegular ridge. Embolus spiral, thin, the length ratio of the embolus to the embolus base is 7:1.

Female. See Li et al. (1985).

Distribution

China (Anhui).

Notes

The male is described for the first time here.

Phrynarachne katoi Chikuni, 1955

Figs 4, 21

Phrynarachne katoi Chikuni, 1955: 35, figs 4A–G, pl. 1. For the complete list of references see WSC (2021).

Type material

Holotype 1♀ (Collection of Kyukichi Kishida, Tokyo), from Tojigami, Daisan-ku, Kawajimura, Iida-shi, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Pref., 470 m elev., 7.IX.1953, S. Sekigawa leg., not examined.

Other material examined

1♂1♀ (IZCAS), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Xiuning County, Mount Qiyun, 29.8186°N, 118.0294°E, 24.X.2021, Fan Gao leg.

Distribution

China, Korea, and Japan. In China it is known from Anhui, Zhejiang.

Figure 4. 

Phrynarachne katoi, live A male B female. Photos by Fan Gao.

Figure 5. 

Phrynarachne huangshanensis, live A male B female. Photos by Ruiyang Wang.

Figure 6. 

Phrynarachne brevis, female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 7. 

Phrynarachne dreepy sp. nov., holotype male, left palp A ventral B retrolateral.

Phrynarachne lancea Tang & S. Li, 2010

Figs 11, 19A, 21

Phrynarachne lancea Tang & Li, 2010: 53, figs 37A–D, 38A, B.

Type material

Holotype : ♂ (IZCAS-Ar18536), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Tropical seasonal rainforest, 21.9368°N, 101.2701°E, 558 m elev., 1.XII.2009, Guo Tang and Zhiyuan Yao leg., examined. Paratype: 1♂(IZCAS-Ar18537), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Menglun Nature Reserve, Anogeissus acuminata plantation (about 20 years old), 21.8970°N, 101.2846°E, 609 m elev., 27.XII.2009, Guo Tang and Zhiyuan Yao leg. examined.

Other material examined

3♀(IZCAS-Ar41661–Ar41663), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Rainforest Valley, 21.9277°N, 101.2622°E, 552 m elev., III.2018, Yu Long leg.; 2♀ (IZCAS-Ar41664, Ar41665), same data as above, but II.2019; 3♂(IZCAS-Ar41666–Ar41668), same data as above, but V.2019.

Diagnosis

Phrynarachne lancea males can be easily distinguished from other species by the wide, spear-shaped RTA. Females of P. lancea are similar to P. mammillata in having an M-shaped median plate and kidney-shaped spermathecae. However, P. lancea can be distinguished by the length to width ratio of the median plate (7:1 in P. lancea vs 4:1 in P. mammillata), the straight posterior edge of the median plate (vs procurved in P. mammillata), the posterior edge of the spermathecae shorter than the anterior edge (vs of equal length in P. mammillata), and the longitudinal fertilization ducts (vs transverse in P. mammillata).

Description

Female (Figs 11, 19A): total length 16.49, carapace 6.53 long, 6.82 wide, white, posterior edge black. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.21, AME 0.20, PLE 0.24, PME 0.21; ALE–AME 0.14, AME–AME 0.25, PLE–PME 0.33, PME–PME 0.28. Chelicerae white, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae white with black pattern, labium black, 0.88 long, 0.83 wide. Sternum white. Legs white with black markings, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with dense asymmetrical ventral spines (I, tibia 28, metatarsus 75; II, tibia 26, metatarsus 68). Leg measurements: I 12.45 (4.23, 4.49, 2.41, 1.32), II 12.15 (4.15, 4.41, 2.31, 1.28), III 6.25 (2.12, 2.38, 0.98, 0.87), IV 5.90 (2.18, 2.00, 0.92, 0.80). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma white, posterior grey, with four obvious brown tubercles.

Epigyne (Fig. 11) with sclerotized margins inconspicuous, M-shaped; median plate M-shaped, hood absent, anterior and posterior edges recurved, the ratio of length to width is 7:1; copulatory opening inconspicuous; spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of anterior edge to posterior edge length is 3:1. Fertilization duct longitudinal.

Male. See Tang and Li (2010).

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Notes

The female is reported here for the first time.

Phrynarachne mammillata Song, 1990

Figs 12, 13, 17B, D, 19B, 21

Phrynarachne mammillata Song in Song & Chai, 1990: 364, fig. 1A–D.For the complete list of references see WSC (2021).

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (IZCAS-Ar9358), China: Guizhou: Tongren City, Jiangkou County, Fanjing Mountain, 10.VII.1988, examined.

Figure 8. 

Phrynarachne dreepy sp. nov., patatype female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 9. 

Phrynarachne huangshanensis, male left palp A ventral B retrolateral.

Other material examined

2♀ (IZCAS-Ar41669, Ar41670), China, Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Rainforest Valley, 21.927745°N, 101.262194°E, 552 m elev., 2014/VII, Yu Long leg.; 1♂ (IZCAS-Ar41671), Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Guanping Town, Shiwudui, 22.2280°N, 100.8894°E, 888 m elev., 20.VII.2012, Qingyuan Zhao and Zhigang Chen leg.

Diagnosis

See diagnosis of Phrynarachne huangshanensis.

Description

Male (Figs 12, 19B): total length 1.82, carapace 0.90 long, 0.97 wide, dark brown, cephalic region yellow-brown. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, AME 0.06, PLE 0.07, PME 0.06; ALE–AME 0.05, AME–AME 0.07, PLE–PME 0.12, PME–PME 0.12. Chelicerae brown, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, labium dark brown, labium 0.15 long, 0.19 wide. Sternum brown. Legs black, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with pairs of ventral spines (I, tibia 6, metatarsus 6; II, tibia 6, metatarsus 6), femora III, IV with broad white pattern. Leg measurements: I 2.51 (0.83, 0.83, 0.51, 0.34), II 2.51 (0. 81, 0.86, 0.46, 0.38), III 1.47 (0.47, 0.48, 0.26, 0.26), IV 1.36 (0.48, 0.42, 0.24, 0.22). Leg formula: 1 = 234. Opisthosoma dark brown with yellow-brown spots, each side with 18 tubercles, yellow-brown tubercles, each with a clavate seta.

Figure 10. 

Phrynarachne huangshanensis, holotype female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Male palp (Fig. 12). Tibia brown, VTA club-shaped; RTA long, the length ratio of VTA to RTA is 2:1. Cymbium yellow to brown. Tegulum flat, disk-shaped, with a tegular ridge. Embolus spiraled, thin, the length ratio of embolus to embolus base is 10:1.

Female. See Song and Chai (1990).

Distribution

China (Guizhou, Yunnan).

Notes

The male is reported here for the first time.

Phrynarachne sinensis Peng, Yin & Kim, 2004 nomen dubium

Phrynarachne sinensis Peng et al., 2004: 21, figs 1–3; Yin et al. 2012: 1265, fig. 680a–c.

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University), China (Wang-101), no detailed data, lost, not examined.

Notes

The lost type specimen, lack of clear figures of the holotype, and the vague distributional information make further study of the taxonomy of this species impossible. We treat it as nomen dubium.

Phrynarachne xuxiake Lin & S. Li, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/BB4750BD-1DC5-4B3C-BF29-2F26118EA68D
Figs 1B, 14, 19C, 21

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (IZCAS-Ar41672), China: Anhui: Huangshan City, Tangkou Town, Fangcunxin Village, ravine, 30.0501°N, 118.1854°E, 450 m elev., IX.2018, Long Yu leg.

Etymology

The species is named after Xu Xiake, a Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming dynasty; noun (name) in apposition.

Diagnosis

Females of Phrynarachne xuxiake sp. nov. are similar to P. katoi but can be distinguished by the length to width ratio of the median plate (3:1 in P. xuxiake vs 5:1 in P. katoi) and by the rectangular median plate with its posterior edge straight (vs dumbbell-shaped with procurved posterior edge in P. katoi).

Description

Female (Figs 14, 19C), holotype: total length 8.78, carapace 3.84 long, 4.45 wide, dark brown with long setae. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.22, AME 0.17, PLE 0.18, PME 0.15; ALE–AME 0.18, AME–AME 0.24, PLE–PME 0.28, PME–PME 0.28. Chelicerae white, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, labium black, labium 0.84 long, 0.74 wide. Sternum black. Legs yellow, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi of I, II with dense ventral spines (I, tibia 26, metatarsus 108; II, tibia 21, metatarsus 89). Leg measurements: I 15.11 (4.17, 4.92, 3.70, 2.32), II 13.93 (4.02, 4.68, 3.13, 2.10), III 6.94 (2.12, 2.71, 1.05, 1.06), IV 6.63 (2.39, 2.54, 0.76, 0.94). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma brown, each side with 19 blunt tubercles, each with a clavate seta, with a pair of black markings medially.

Figure 11. 

Phrynarachne lancea, female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 12. 

Phrynarachne mammillata, male left palp A ventral B retrolateral.

Epigyne (Fig. 14). Sclerotized margins inconspicuous, M-shaped; median plate obvious, with a posterior hood, anterior edge recurved and posterior edge almost straight, the ratio of width to length is 3:1; copulatory opening inconspicuous; Spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of anterior edge to posterior edge length is 3:2. Fertilization duct transverse.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Figure 13. 

Phrynarachne mammillata Song, 1990, female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 14. 

Phrynarachne xuxiake sp. nov., holotype female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 15. 

Phrynarachne yunhui sp. nov., holotype female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Phrynarachne yunhui Lin & S. Li, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/51542955-2CCB-4A0B-881A-FED561B28CB8
Figs 15, 19D, 21

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (IZCAS-Ar41673), China: Hainan: Ledong County, Jianfengling Nature Reserve, Mingfenggu, 18.7417°N, 108.8417°E, 989 m elev., 1.VII.2020, Yunhu Mo leg.

Etymology

The species is named after Mr Yunhu Mo, who collected the holotype; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis

Females of Phrynarachne yunhui sp. nov. are similar to P. mammillata in having the anterior edge and posterior edges of the median plate procurved and the posterior edge with a depression, and in having kidney-shaped spermathecae. However, Phrynarachne yunhui sp. nov. can be distinguished by the oval median plate (vs M-shaped in P. mammillata) and the broad anterior edge of the spermathecae (vs narrow in P. mammillata).

Description

Female (Figs 15, 19D): total length 10.04, carapace 3.67 long, 4.44 wide, black. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.22, AME 0.19, PLE 0.25, PME 0.20; ALE–AME 0.16, AME–AME 0.27, PLE–PME 0.35, PME–PME 0.29. Chelicerae black, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; Gnathocoxae, labium black, labium 0.83 long, 0.75 wide. Sternum black. Legs black, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with dense asymmetrical ventral spines (I, tibia 17, metatarsus 41; II, tibia 16, metatarsus 36). Leg measurements: I 13.01 (4.38, 4.63, 2.56, 1.44), II 12.74 (4.33, 4.58, 2.43, 1.40), III 6.78 (2.16, 2.42, 1.18, 1.02), IV 6.44 (2.35, 2.19, 1.07, 0.93). Leg formula: 1234. Opisthosoma grey, with dense, varying-sized, red-brown tubercles, each with a clavate seta.

Epigyne (Fig. 15). Sclerotized margins inconspicuous; median plate obvious, with a small posterior hood, anterior and posterior edges recurved, the ratio of width to length is 15:4; copulatory opening inconspicuous; spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of posterior edge to anterior edge length is 1:1. Fertilization duct transverse.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Phrynarachne zhengzhongi Lin & S. Li, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/77674036-F817-4088-A525-2DF0AB763CDC
Figs 16, 20, 21

Type material

Holotype : ♀ (IZCAS-Ar41674), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Guanping Town, Shiwudui, 22.2310°N, 100.9172°E, 872 m elev., 27.IV.2018, Zhengzhong Huang leg. Paratype ♀ (IZCAS-Ar41675), same data as holotype.

Etymology

The species is named after Mr Zhengzhong Huang, who collected the holotype and paratype; noun (name) in genitive case.

Figure 16. 

Phrynarachne zhengzhongi sp. nov., holotype female A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal.

Figure 17. 

Phrynarachne spp., holotype females A, C habitus (A) and original labels (C handwriting by Daxiang Song) of P. huangshanensis B, D habitus (B) and original label (D handwriting by Daxiang Song) of P. mammillata.

Figure 18. 

Phrynarachne spp., habitus dorsal A P. brevis, female B P. huangshanensis, male C P. dreepy sp. nov., holotype male D same, paratype female.

Figure 19. 

Phrynarachne spp., habitus dorsal A P. lancea, female B P. mammillata, male C P. xuxiake sp. nov., holotype female D P. yunhui sp. nov., holotype female.

Figure 20. 

Phrynarachne zhengzhongi sp. nov., female holotype (A) and paratype (B) habitus A dorsal B lateral.

Diagnosis

Females of Phrynarachne zhengzhongi sp. nov. are similiar to P. brevis by the shape of the spermathecae; the posterior edge of the spermathecae is as wide as the anterior edge. However, females of P. zhengzhongi sp. nov. can be distinguished by the triangular tubercles on the abdomen (vs long, slender apophysis in P. brevis), the epigyne with a hood, and the absence of sclerotized margins (vs hood absent, sclerotized margins present in P. brevis), and the straight anterior edge of the median plate (vs recurved in P. brevis).

Description

Female (Figs 16, 20): total length 10.79, carapace 5.27 long, 5.53 wide, brown, with small projection, ocular tubercle white. Projection present between ALE and PLE. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.21, AME 0.17, PLE 0.18, PME 0.10; ALE–AME 0.35, AME–AME 0.66, PLE–PME 0.50, PME–PME 0.87. Chelicerae pale yellow, with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth; gnathocoxae, labium yellow, labium 1.19 long, 0.94 wide. Sternum yellow. Legs brown, femora I and II with dense, varying-sized tubercles; tibiae and metatarsi I, II with dense asymmetrical ventral spines (I, tibia 22, metatarsus 43; II, tibia 17, metatarsus 37). Leg measurements: I 14.43 (4.71, 5.91, 2.35, 1.46), II 14.78 (5.05, 6.31, 2.09, 1.33), III 7.76 (2.24, 3.48, 1.03, 1.01), IV 7.30 (2.44, 3.01, 0.92, 0.93). Leg formula: 2134. Opisthosoma dorsally light yellow, each side with 22 tubercles, each with some tubercles.

Figure 21. 

Distribution records of Phrynarachne species in China 1 P. brevis 2 P. ceylonica 3 P. dreepy sp. nov. 4 P. huangshanensis 5 P. katoi 6 P. lancea 7 P. mammillata 8 P. xuxiake sp. nov. 9 P. yunhui sp. nov. 10 P. zhengzhongi sp. nov.

Epigyne (Fig. 16). Sclerotized margins inconspicuous; median plate obvious, with a posterior hood, anterior and posterior edges almost straight, the ratio of width to length is 4:1; copulatory opening inconspicuous; spermathecae kidney-shaped, the ratio of posterior edge to anterior edge length is 1:1. Fertilization duct transverse.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Acknowledgements

The manuscript benefited greatly from comments by Hirotsugu Ono,Yuri Marusik, Zhiyuan Yao. Sarah Crews checked the English. Zhengzhong Huang (IZCAS), Fan Gao (Nanjing, China), and Yunhu Mo (Haikou, China) helped with fieldwork. Fan Gao (Nanjing, China), Chao Wu (Beijing, China), and Ruiyang Wang (Nanjing, China) took the photographs.

References

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  • WSC (2021) World Spider Catalog. Version 22.5. Natural History Museum Bern. http://wsc.nmbe.ch [Accessed on: 2021–09–11]
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