Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China Author Mi, Xiaoqi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1744-3855 College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China mixiaoqi1018@163.com Author Wang, Cheng https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1831-0579 College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China Author Gan, Jiahui https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6899-3705 College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China text ZooKeys 2023 2023-08-04 1173 243 273 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.106315 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.106315 1313-2970-1173-243 B0A11BACB9DA4DC29BC5F50CE6268CA0 A6A83DCFCD1D56AABF53E508919088D2 Araneus shii sp. nov. Figs 7 , 8 , 15M-P , 17 Type material. Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -197), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Muhuang Township, Jinchang Village, Maxi'ao ( 28°1.37'N , 108°45.00'E , ca 1340 m), 10.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratypes : 4♀ (TRU- Araneidae -198-201), same data as for holotype; 3♂6♀ (TRU- Araneidae -202-210), same locality, 26.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -211), Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Huguosi ( 27°54.54'N , 108°46.57'E , ca 1660 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -212), Mianxueling ( 27°54.89'N , 108°40.17'E , ca 1790 m), 23.VII.2021, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Diagnosis. Females of the new species resembles A. flagelliformis Zhu & Yin, 1998 in appearance, but can be distinguished as follows: 1) scape with nearly parallel sides in ventral view (Fig. 7A ) vs twisted in an S-shape ( Yin et al. 1997 : fig. 84c); 2) scape slightly beyond epigastric furrow in ventral view (Fig. 7A ) vs far exceeding epigastric furrow ( Yin et al. 1997 : fig. 84c); 3) anterolateral humps on dorsal abdomen very low (Fig. 7E ) vs humps obvious ( Yin et al. 1997 : fig. 84a); and 4) total length less than 6 vs total length longer than 16. Males of the new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following combination of characters: 1) terminal apophysis weakly sclerotized with a fine tip (Fig. 8A, C, E ); 2) subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, arched (Fig. 8A-E ); 3) median apophysis large, bifurcated, dorsal ramus long, curved, pointed at tip, ventral ramus very short with serrated tip (Fig. 8A-D ); 4) rather long embolus with a wide base (Fig. 8A, C, E ); and 5) tibia I slightly curved (Fig. 15M ). Figure 7. Araneus shii sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae -198 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, anterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm ( A-D ); 1 mm ( E-H ). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sc scape, Sp spermatheca. Figure 8. Araneus shii sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E part of expanded bulb. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis, ST subterminal apophysis, TA terminal apophysis. Description. Male (holotype, Figs 7G, H , 8 , 15M-P ). Total length 3.60. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.70 wide. Abdomen 2.20 long, 1.75 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.33, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 6.70 (2.05, 2.55, 1.45, 0.65), II 5.80 (1.85, 2.20, 1.30, 0.45), III 3.70 (1.30, 1.25, 0.75, 0.40), IV 5.05 (1.65, 1.75, 1.15, 0.50). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with inconspicuous grayish brown radial patches in thoracic region, with pale setae. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites somewhat square, yellow with pale tip, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, grayish yellow with paler tip. Sternum cordiform, yellow with pale and grayish brown setae. Legs yellow with yellowish brown annuli, tibia I slightly curved, with nine macrosetae, tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with seven macrosetae, and tibia IV with nine macrosetae. Abdomen wide oval, ~ 1.25 x longer than wide, dorsum yellow to grayish brown, with dense, long, pale setae anteriorly and short, dark setae posteriorly; venter grayish brown with a pair of longitudinal white patches laterally. Spinnerets yellowish brown. Pedipalp (Fig. 8 ): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, bifurcated, dorsal ramus long, pointed at tip, ventral ramus very short with serrated tip; embolus prominent, slightly curved at tip in prolateral view; conductor somewhat square, widest at base in ventral view; terminal apophysis weakly sclerotized, with a pointed tip; subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, arched and covering most part of the embolus. Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -198, Fig. 7A-F ). Total length 5.25. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 3.60 long, 3.45 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.35, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.43, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 5.70 (1.85, 2.00, 1.25, 0.60), II 5.20 (1.60, 1.90, 1.10, 0.60), III 3.30 (1.10, 1.10, 0.65, 0.45), IV 4.85 (1.60, 1.70, 1.05, 0.50). Habitus similar to that of male but abdomen a little paler. Epigyne (Fig. 7A-D ): with a long base; scape long, extending forward first, then reflected to posterior, with nearly parallel sides and spoon shaped distal tip; copulatory openings wide and deeply concaved, at posterior surface; copulatory ducts curved about 90°; spermathecae elliptical, less than 1/4 of the spermatheca width apart. Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 3.45-3.80 ( n = 4), ♀♀ 4.45-5.25 ( n = 12). Distribution. Known only from type locality. Comments. The wide oval abdomen, long and ridged scape, and the male pedipalp with a bifurcated median apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group. Etymology. The specific name is a patronym of Mr. Lei Shi (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who helped us greatly with specimen collection on this research; noun in genitive case.