Notes on species of Talaus Simon, 1886 (Araneae, Thomisidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species Author Li, Cong-zheng https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3849-8433 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China Author Yao, Yan-bin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2560-9299 Jinshan College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian, China Author Xiao, Yong-hong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-9366 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China Author Xu, Xiang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9485-5373 College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, Hunan, China Author Liu, Ke-ke https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-3667 College of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, Jiangxi, China liukeke_1986@126.com text ZooKeys 2024 2024-01-29 1190 195 212 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1190.111583 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1190.111583 1313-2970-1190-195 793327D7F62D4343AD8FCC1F39AAA82B 01B614A657AC5D80A7F312CD8CF41FF0 Talaus niger Tang, Yin, Ubick & Peng, 2008 Fig. 3 Talaus niger Tang et al., 2008 c: 65, figs 13-23. Type material examined. Paratype . 2 ♀ (GKJ020): CHINA, Yunnan Province, Tengchong County, Wuhe Township, Tongjiazhuang Village, Longchuanjiang River (Longjiang Bridge), along river, 24.89284°N , 98.67439°E , 1210 m, 24 May 2005, Heng-mei Yan & Ke-ji Guo leg. (Tho-202). Holotype not examined. Diagnosis. The female can easily be recognized by the S-shaped copulatory ducts with a swollen median part (Fig. 3D ). Description. Female habitus as in Fig. 3A, B , epigyne in Fig. 3C, D . Epigyne : copulatory openings relatively large, antero-medially located, with sclerotized and round margins; epigynal hood posteriorly located, thumb-like; copulatory ducts S-shaped, anterior part relative narrow, L-shaped, medial and posterior part swollen, extending transversally; spermathecae triangular, widely separated by approximately half of their width; fertilization ducts located posteriorly, directed anteriorly. Figure 3. Talaus niger Tang, Yin, Ubick & Peng, 2008, female A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, ventral view C epigyne, ventral view D epigyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD - copulatory duct, CO - copulatory opening, EH - epigynal hood, FD - fertilization duct, Spe - spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.2 mm ( A, B ); 0.05 mm ( C, D ). Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Yunnan Province, China (Fig. 12 ). Remarks. According to Tang et al. (2008 : 65), the original materials consisted of a male and two females, one female deposited in HNU and one female in CAS. However, two females and no male holotype were found in HNU and there are no labels designating the paratypes. Based on the locality information and the original illustration given in their paper, these specimens can be confirmed as the paratypes of T. niger and have been labelled as such. They are somewhat shriveled after alcohol evaporated during storage, but their epigynes still can be clearly recognized after pancreatin digestion and are now placed on labelled slides.