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Research Article
A new species of Sinopoda from China, with first description of the male of S. wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (Araneae, Sparassidae)
expand article infoYang Zhong‡§|, Meng-Yun Zeng‡, Chao-Lan Gu‡, Hui-Liang Yu§|, Jing-Yuan Yang§|
‡ Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
§ Shennongjia National Park Administration, Shennongjia, China
| Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Shennongjia Golden Monkey, Shennongjia, China

Corresponding author: Yang Zhong ( hubeispider@aliyun.com )

Corresponding author: Jing-Yuan Yang ( snjbhq@163.com )

Academic editor: Gergin Blagoev
© 2022 Yang Zhong, Meng-Yun Zeng, Chao-Lan Gu, Hui-Liang Yu, Jing-Yuan Yang.
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: Zhong Y, Zeng M-Y, Gu C-L, Yu H-L, Yang J-Y (2022) A new species of Sinopoda from China, with first description of the male of S. wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (Araneae, Sparassidae). ZooKeys 1116: 121-132. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1116.85303
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:83FFFD94-67F9-47CE-A7E8-5D1B05F3FEF9
Open Access

Abstract

One new species of the genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999, S. muyuensis sp. nov. (♂, ♀), is described and figured from the Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China. In addition, the male of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 is described for the first time from the Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Fujian, Hubei, huntsman spiders, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Sinopoda was established by Jäger (1999). As currently recognised, it comprises 137 species, of which 71 species were recorded from China, representing 51.8% of the global species [World Spider Catalog (WSC) 2022]. The genus has been reported from East Asia (85 species in China, Japan, and Korea), Southeast Asia (50 species in Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) and South Asia (a single species in India) (Zhang et al. 2021).

We have found two Sinopoda species present in collections from China in the past year. The discovery of one of these species, Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. from Hubei represents the first record of this species in Shennongjia Forestry District. Furthermore, specimens of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 from Fujian have allowed us to provide the first description of the male of the species.

Materials and methods

Specimens were examined and measured with an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope. Positions of tegular appendages are given according to clock positions, based on the left palp in ventral view. Male and female copulatory organs were examined and illustrated after dissection from the spider bodies; vulvae were cleared in a warm 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. All photographs were captured with a KUY NICE industrial digital camera (20.0 megapixels) mounted on an Olympus CX43 dissecting microscope, and assembled using Helicon Focus 3.10.3 image stacking software. Photographic images were then edited using Adobe Photoshop CC 2018. All measurements were obtained using an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope and are given in millimetres (mm).

Leg measurements are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Number of macrosetae is listed for each segment in the following order: prolateral, dorsal, retrolateral, ventral (in femora and patellae ventral spines are absent and fourth digit is omitted in the setation formula). Abbreviations used in the text and figures are given below: AB = anterior bands, ALE = anterior lateral eye, AME = anterior median eye, AW = anterior width of carapace, C = conductor, CH = clypeus heightclypeus height, dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA, E = embolus, EA = embolic apophysis, FD = fertilization duct, FE = femur, GA = glandular appendage, LL = lateral lobes, LS = lobal septum, MS = membranous sac, Mt = metatarsus, OL = opisthosoma length, OW = opisthosoma width, Pa = patella, PI = posterior incision of LL, PL = carapace length, PLE = posterior lateral eyes, PME = posterior median eyes, Pp = palp or palpus, PP = posterior part of spermathecae, PW = carapace width, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, SP = spermophor, SS = slit sensillum, ST = subtegulum, T= tegulum, Ta = tarsustarsus, Ti = tibia. I, II, III, IV–legs I to IV, TP = tegular protrusion, vRTA = ventral branch of RTA, HUST = School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry and Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei, China.

Taxonomy

Family Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872

Subfamily Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873

Sinopoda Jäger, 1999

Type species

Sarotes forcipatus Karsch, 1881

Diagnosis

See Jäger (1999), Liu et al. (2008), Zhang et al. (2015), and Grall and Jäger (2020).

Composition

Within the genus Sinopoda, five groups were established by Jäger and Ono (2000), Grall and Jäger (2020) and Zhang et al. (2021): S. anguina-group (S. anguina Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008, S. bifurca Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. bispina Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. fornicata Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008, S. improcera Zhong et al., 2019, S. lata Zhong et al., 2019, S. longicymbialis Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. mamillata Zhong, Cao & Liu, 2017, S. nanphagu Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. phiset Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. rotunda Grall & Jäger, 2020 and S. tuber Grall & Jäger, 2020); S. chiangmaiensis-group (S. chiangmaiensis Grall & Jäger, 2020, S. lot Grall & Jäger, 2020 and S. phathai Grall & Jäger, 2020); S. globosa-group (S. globosa Zhang, Zhang & Zhang, 2015, S. longiducta Zhang, Zhang & Zhang, 2015, S. mi Chen & Zhu, 2009, S. ovata Zhong et al., 2019, S. triangula Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008 and S. yaanensis Zhong et al., 2019); S. tumefacta-group (S. crassa Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008, S. dehiscens Zhong et al., 2019, S. erromena Zhong et al., 2019, S. tumefacta Zhong et al., 2019, S. yanlingensis Zhong et al., 2019 and S. yaojingensis Liu, Li & Jäger, 2008); S. okinawana-group [S. forcipata (Karsch, 1881), S. cochlearia Zhang, Zhang & Zhang, 2015, S. derivata Jäger & Ono, 2002, S. fasciculata Jäger Gao & Fei, 2002, S. guangyuanensis Zhong et al., 2018, S. hamata (Fox, 1937), S. koreana (Paik, 1968), S. okinawana Jäger & Ono, 2000, S. tanikawai Jäger & Ono, 2000, S. wangi Song & Zhu, 1999]. Ninety-six other species have not yet been grouped.

Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/4BCEBD12-8C2A-44EA-9180-DDE1FB4ACD39
Figs 1, 2, 4A, B, E–H, 5A, B, 6

Type material

Holotype : ♂ (HUST 0003), China: Hubei: Shennongjia Forestry District, Muyu Town, Guanmenshan Scenic Area; 31.45°N, 110.40°E; alt. 1200 m; 10.XII.2021; Y. Zhong leg. Paratypes (HUST): 2♂, 3♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology

‘Muyu’ refers to the type locality of this species, Muyu Town.

Diagnosis

The male of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. resembles S. angulata Jäger, Gao & Fei, 2002 (Zhu et al. 2020: figs 1A–C, 2A–C) and S. yichangensis Zhu, Zhong & Yang, 2020 (Zhu et al. 2020: figs 4A–C, 5A–C; Gong and Zhong 2021: figs 2A–C) in having the embolus distally filiform, as long as the embolic apophysis, and RTA arising subdistally from tibia, but the new species can be separated from S. angulata by the posterior margins of the embolic apophysis being distinctly humped (smooth in S. angulata); from S. yichangensis by the tip of embolic apophysis with a pointed end (blunt in S. yichangensis). Females are similar to those of S. angulata (Zhu et al. 2020: fig. 2D, E) in having the epigyne with a lobal septum ~ 1/4 of the epigynal width, posterior part of the spermathecae considerably larger than the glandular projection, and the angle of the diverging internal duct system ~ 80°, but distinguished by the vulva with its internal duct system not touching (touching along the median line in S. angulata); glandular appendages extending into the median half of the internal duct system (anterior half in S. angulata); ends of internal duct system nearly straight in dorsal view (bent at 180° in S. angulata) (Figs 1, 2).

Figure 1. 

Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov., holotype male A–C palp, left (A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view). Abbreviations: C – conductor, dRTA – dorsal branch of RTA, E – embolus, EA – embolic apophysis, SP – spermophore, T – tegulum, vRTA – ventral branch of RTA. Red arrow: embolic apophysis projection. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. 

Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov., paratype female A epigyne B vulva (A ventral view B dorsal view). Abbreviations: AB – anterior bands, FD – fertilisation duct, GA – glandular appendage, LL – lateral lobes, LS – lobal septum, MS – membranous sac, PP – posterior part of spermathecae, SS – slit sensillum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Description

Male. PL 5.3, PW 4.7, AW 2.5, OL 5.8, OW 3.9. Eyes: AME 0.19, ALE 0.31, PME 0.22, PLE 0.32, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.36, AME–PME 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.25, CH AME 0.19, CH ALE 0.26. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 1100; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–IV 2326; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.8 (2.4, 1.3, 1.3, –, 1.8), I 17.6 (4.4, 1.4, 5.5, 4.9, 1.4), II 19.1 (5.6, 1.7, 6.5, 3.9, 1.4), III 15.7 (4.9, 1.5, 4.8, 3.3, 1.2), IV 15.9 (5.3, 1.5, 4.8, 3.3, 1.0). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 36 denticles (Fig. 4A). Carapace yellowish brown dorsally, with yellow transversal stripe posteriorly, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellow with brown margin. Endites and labium deep yellowish brown, with margin deep brown. Legs yellowish brown, covered by short spines. Opisthosoma yellowish brown dorsally, with three pairs of dark patches laterally. Opisthosoma uniformly yellowish brown with some brown patches ventrally (Fig. 4E, F).

Palp as in Fig. 1. Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia. Embolus S-shaped, arising from tegulum at nearly the 6-o’ clock-position in ventral view. Conductor arising at 12- to 1-o’ clock-position from tegulum. RTA arising mesially to distally from tibia, with distinct brush of stiff setae. dRTA slender, finger-shaped, vRTA roughly rectangular in retrolateral view.

Female. PL 5.7, PW 4.8, AW 3.1, OL 5.9, OW 3.9. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.25, PME 0.18, PLE 0.25, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.35, AME–PME 0.32, ALE–PLE 0.28, CH AME 0.20, CH ALE 0.25. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2026, 1014; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 000; Ti: I–III 2026, IV 2024; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.8 (1.9, 0.8, 1.3, –, 1.8), I 14.6 (4.5, 2.4, 4.1, 2.3, 1.3), II 16.9 (5.2, 2.4, 4.1, 3.8, 1.4), III 13.2 (4.4, 2.0, 3.0, 2.6, 1.2), IV 14.2 (4.7, 1.8, 3.4, 3.0, 1.3). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ~ 45 denticles (Fig. 4B).

Copulatory organ as in Fig. 2. Epigynal field wider than long, with short anterior bands and one slit sensillum on each side close to the epigynal field. Lateral lobes fused, with some fusion bubbles along median line. Fertilisation ducts arising posterolaterally. Membranous sac between fertilisation ducts almost rectangular.

Colouration in ethanol as in males, but generally slightly darker, Opisthosoma brown dorsally (Fig. 4G, H).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 6).

Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021

Figs 3, 4C, D, I–L, 5C, 6

Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, in Zhang et al. 2021: 20, fig. 9A–D (holotype female from Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, deposited in College of Life Science, Hubei University LJ-202002-ZY, examined)

Material examined

3♂, 4♀ (HUST 0004), China: Fujian: Wuyishan National Reserve, Guadun Village; 27.58°N, 117.48°E; 16.XI.2021; Y. Zhong leg.

Diagnosis

Males of S. wuyiensis can be distinguished from other Sinopoda species by the combination of the following characters: bases of the tegulum with a distinct sub-triangular protrusion, embolic apophysis reduced, distinctly narrower and shorter than the embolus, and the dRTA about twice as long as the vRTA in ventral view. Females of S. wuyiensis may be recognised by the following combination of characters: epigynal field almost fusiform, lateral lobes fused without visible seam, with their anterior and posterior margins almost parallel, and glandular appendages laterad, as wide as posterior part of spermathecae (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. 

Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 A–C palp, left, ventral view D epigyne E vulva (A prolateral view B, D ventral view C retrolateral view E dorsal view). Abbreviations: AB – anterior bands, C – conductor, dRTA – dorsal branch of RTA, E – embolus, EA – embolic apophysis, FD – fertilisation duct, GA – glandular appendage, LL – lateral lobes, LS – lobal septum, MS – membranous sac, PP – posterior part of spermathecae, SP – spermophore, T – tegulum, TP – tegular protrusion, vRTA – ventral branch of RTA. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Description

Male. PL 4.5, PW 4.3, AW 2.5, OL 5.3, OW 3.0. Eyes: AME 0.18, ALE 0.28, PME 0.26, PLE 0.31, AME–AME 0.24, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.28, AME–PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.23, CH AME 0.10, CH ALE 0.14. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 1021; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 000; Ti: I–IV 2226; Mt: I 1014, II 2024, III–IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.4 (1.9, 1.2, 1.4, –, 1.9), I 18.8 (5.1, 2.2, 5.5, 4.7, 1.3), II 21.9 (6.0, 2.2, 6.2, 5.9, 1.6), III 16.8 (5.1, 2.0, 4.6, 3.6, 1.5), IV 18.3 (4.6, 2.1, 5.1, 4.9, 1.6). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with~ 38 denticles (Fig. 4C). Carapace deep yellowish brown dorsally, laterally and posteriorly with dark brown U-shaped pattern, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellow with brown margin. Endites and labium deep yellowish brown, with margin deep brown. Legs deep yellowish brown, covered by short spines. Opisthosoma brown dorsally, median part with four brown dots, posteriorly dark brown. Opisthosoma uniformly greyish brown with some brown patches ventrally (Fig. 4I, J).

Figure 4. 

A, B cheliceral dentition of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. C, D cheliceral dentition of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 E–H habitus of Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. I–L habitus of Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (A, C, F, J male, ventral view E, I male, dorsal view B, D, H, L female, ventral view G, K female, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A–D); 5 mm (E–L).

Palp as in Fig. 3A–C. Cymbium ~ 2× longer than tibia in ventral view. Embolus slightly curved, arising from tegulum at nearly the 6-o’ clock-position in ventral view. Conductor curving distally, arising at 12- to 1-o’clock-position from tegulum. Spermophore almost straight. RTA arising mesially to distally from tibia, with distinct brush of stiff setae. vRTA wider than dRTA, dRTA long, in ventral view proximal part wide and tip tapering.

Figure 5. 

A, B Photograph of living Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. C photograph of living Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021 A male B, C female.

Female. PL 5.4, PW 4.7, AW 3.0, OL 5.3, OW 3.6. Eyes: AME 0.21, ALE 0.33, PME 0.21, PLE 0.39, AME–AME 0.26, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.46, AME–PME 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.25, CH AME 0.15, CH ALE 0.20. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2121 1014; Fe: I–III 323, IV 321; Pa: I–IV 000; Ti: I–III 2026, IV 2226; Mt: I–II 1014, III 2024, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.8 (2.0, 0.6, 1.0, –, 2.2), I 15.7 (4.7, 1.7, 4.1, 3.6, 1.6), II 16.2 (4.8, 1.8, 4.5, 3.7, 1.4), III 13.9 (4.4, 1.9, 3.5, 3.0, 1.1), IV 15.1 (4.4, 1.9, 4.1, 3.6, 1.1). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Colouration in ethanol as in males, but opisthosoma distinctly darker dorsally and ventrally (Fig. 4K, L; see Zhang et al. (2021) for others described).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. 

Distribution records of Sinopoda species in China 1 Sinopoda muyuensis sp. nov. 2 Sinopoda wuyiensis Liu, 2021.

Acknowledgements

The manuscript benefitted greatly from comments by Gergin Blagoev, Galina N. Azarkina, Tamas Szuts, and ilhan Coşar. We thank Guofei Ma (Shennongjia National Park Administration), Jiangwei Zheng (HUST), Han Dong (HUST), and Wei Wang (HUST) for assistance in collecting specimens. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (32000303), Technology Innovation Project of Hubei Province (2019AC161): Biodiversity research, monitoring and demonstration in Shennongjia National Park, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Shennongjia Golden Monkey Foundation (No. SNJKL2021003), and the program of Hubei University of Science and Technology (2021ZX12).

References

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