On four new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) from southern China Author Wu, Yibei 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 Wang, Cheng 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 Wu, Nanfei Central South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, Hunan 410014, China Author Zhang, Mengfei Central South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, Hunan 410014, 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 text ZooKeys 2023 2023-05-09 1160 169 190 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1160.101594 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1160.101594 1313-2970-1160-169 25047ED149154DC4AF723FD0BA7CDB5D 3276E011253459658F9D1F6E809BF3C5 Araneus shiwandashan Mi & Wang sp. nov. Figs 5 , 6 , 9I-L , 10 Type material. Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -162), China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve ( 21°52.97'N , 107°54.88'E , ca 720 m), 6.X.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratype : 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -163), same data as for holotype. Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality. Diagnosis. The new species resembles Araneus floriformis Liu, Li, Mi & Peng, 2022 in somatic morphology and pedipalp structures, but differs in having 1) the median apophysis bifurcated vs uniramous ( Liu et al. 2022 : fig. 4A-C); 2) the embolic lamella covering the embolus medially in prolateral view vs not covering the embolus medially ( Liu et al. 2022 : fig. 4A, D); 3) copulatory openings at the posterior surface vs laterally ( Liu et al. 2022 : fig. 4G, H); and 4) the epigyne scape triangular vs spoon-shaped ( Liu et al. 2022 : fig. 4G, H). Description. Male (holotype, Figs 5G, H , 6 , 9I-L ). Total length 4.70. Carapace 2.50 long, 2.05 wide. Abdomen 2.80 long, 1.75 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.13, PME 0.15, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.28, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.33, MOA length 0.38, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.35. Leg measurements: I 9.35 (2.80, 3.40, 2.30, 0.85), II 8.60 (2.60, 3.10, 2.10, 0.80), III 4.90 (1.60, 1.65, 1.05, 0.60), IV 6.95 (2.15, 2.40, 1.70, 0.70). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow, with dark setae on sides of cephalic region. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow; four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites yellow with very narrow, dark anterior edge, with tooth-like process laterally. Labium triangular, yellow, paler at tip. Sternum cordiform, yellow with dark setae. Legs yellow with indistinct, yellowish-brown annuli; femur I with seven macrosetae; tibia I with 10 macrosetae; tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with eight macrosetae; and tibia IV with 11 macrosetae. Abdomen oval, ~1.6 x longer than wide, covered with pale setae; dorsum whitish yellow with six pairs of lateral patches; posterior patches darker; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets brown. Figure 5. Araneus shiwandashan sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae -163 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, posterior 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 ). Pedipalp (Fig. 6 ) with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis prominent, bifurcate, dorsal ramus long, curved, ventral ramus short, straight; embolus strongly sclerotized, with basal tooth, distally semicircular, embolic lamella long, covering part of embolus; conductor membranous, subquadrate in ventral view; terminal apophysis flattened, heavily sclerotized distally. Figure 6. Araneus shiwandashan sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E expanded bulb, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -163, Fig. 5A-F ). Total length 7.25. Carapace 2.45 long, 2.00 wide. Abdomen 5.10 long, 4.55 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.13, PME 0.15, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.33, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.40, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.33. Leg measurements: I 7.85 (2.30, 2.85, 1.90, 0.80), II 7.10 (2.15, 2.50, 1.70, 0.75), III 4.30 (1.45, 1.40, 0.90, 0.55), IV 6.35 (2.10, 2.10, 1.50, 0.65). Femur I with a distinct macroseta prolaterally, tibia I with three distinct macrosetae prolaterally. Habitus similar to that of male. Epigyne (Fig. 5A-D ) ~1.9 x wider than long; scape triangular, ~1.8 x longer than wide, directed posteriorly; copulatory openings concave, located at posterolaterally; copulatory ducts twisted into an S-shape, longer than spermatheca; spermathecae elliptical, touching each other. Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Guangxi). Comments. The oval abdomen and the male pedipalp with a bifurcated median apophysis and arched terminal apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group, although the scape is not twisted or widened distally. Based on the somatic morphology and genitalia, the new species is most similar to A. breviscapus , A. floriformis , and A. pianmaensis .