The orb-weaving spider genus Eriovixia (Araneae: Araneidae) in the Gaoligong Mountains, China
Author
Mi, Xiao-Qi
Author
Peng, Xian-Jin
Author
Yin, Chang-Min
text
Zootaxa
2010
2488
39
51
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.195544
1b780b78-bb85-4c53-a68b-607524333efc
1175-5326
195544
Genus
Eriovixia
Archer, 1951
Eriovixia
Archer, 1951a
: 18
Simonarachne
Archer, 1951b
: 28
(Synonymy by
Grasshoff, 1986
: 118
, contra
Yaginuma & Archer, 1959
: 36
)
Type
species:
Araneus rhinura
Pocock, 1899
(removed from the synonymy of
Neoscona
Simon, 1864
by
Grasshoff, 1986
: 4)
Diagnosis.
Representatives of the genus
Eriovixia
are small to medium-sized orb-weaving spiders. This genus differs from all other araneid genera by the following combination of characters: absence of macroseta in the male pedipalp patella; absence of male coxa I hook; epigyna nearly triangular, with copulatory openings wide and opening dorsally; and by the female abdomen which extends beyond the spinnerets, and appears as a “tail”.
Description.
Total length: 3.00–5.70 (females), 2.60–3.90 (males). Carapace piriform, slightly longer than wide, narrow in eye region, covered with white seta, cervical groove deep in females and inconspicuous in males, cephalic region slightly elevated in females (
Figs 1
,
9
,
17
,
25
). Legs yellowish with dark annuli (
Figs 1–2
,
9–10
,
17–18
,
25–26
). Abdomen triangular, pointed posteriorly (
Figs 1–2
,
9–10
,
17–18
,
25–26
). Epigyna subtriangular, with rimmed scape (
Figs 3–4
,
11–12
,
19–20
,
27–28
); copulatory openings situated on the dorsal surface of the scape, copulatory ducts twisted; spermathecae touching (
Figs 5
,
13
,
21
,
29–30
). Pedipalpal of male with small paracymbium, median apophysis large, with one or two pointed spurs; conductor usually wide; embolus slender and short (
Figs 6–7
,
14–15
,
22–23
,
30–31
); terminal apophysis present (
Figs 14
,
31
) or fused with embolus (
Figs 6
,
22
).