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 yangchuandongi sp. nov. Figs 11 , 12 , 16E-H , 17 Type material. Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -241), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Huguosi ( 27°54.72'N , 108°28.62'E , ca 1500 m), 24.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg. Paratypes : 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -242), same locality as for holotype, 25.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -243-244), same locality as holotype, 8.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -245), same locality as holotype, 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -246), Dayuanzhi Village, Wanjuanshu ( 27°55.07'N , 108°37.67'E , ca 1200 m), 25.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -247), Huguosi ( 27°54.54'N , 108°46.57'E , ca 1660 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -248), Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Wuluo Township, Taohuayuan Village ( 27°59.10'N , 108°46.15'E , ca 1230 m), 4.IV.2022, C. Wang & X. Chen leg. Other material examined. 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -249), China : Guizhou Province , Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture , Leishan County , Danjiang Township , Xiannuetang , Leigongshan National Nature Reserve ( 26°22.38'N , 108°11.87'E , ca 1550 m ), 29.IV.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -250), same locality ( 26°22.86'N , 108°11.79'E , ca 1790 m ), 30.IV.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -251), Danjiang Township , Xiangshuiyan , Leigongshan National Nature Reserve ( 26°21.73'N , 108°9.59'E , ca 1200 m ), 1.V.2018 , G.J. Tian & H. Liu leg. ; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -252), Fangxiang Township , Queniao Village , Leigongshan National Nature Reserve ( 26°25.01'N , 108°13.78'E , ca 1150 m ), 2.V.2018 , X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -253), Tongren City , Shiqian County , Ganxi Township , Fuyan Village , Jiuchashu , Fodingshan National Nature Reserve ( 27°20.62'N , 108°3.56'E , ca 1410 m ), 7.VI.2019 , C. Wang et al. leg. Diagnosis. The new species resembles A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 in appearance, but differs in: 1) copulatory openings slit-shaped (Fig. 11A ) vs deeply concaved (Fig. 3A ); 2) scape with nearly parallel sides (Fig. 11A ) vs twisted into an S-shape (Fig. 3A ); 3) carapace with ten macrosetae anterior to fovea (Fig. 11E, G ) vs lacking (Fig. 3E, H ); 4) embolus tapered (Fig. 12C-E ) vs threadlike (Fig. 4A-E ); 5) terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized pointed at tip (Fig. 12A-E ) vs membranous and lamellar (Fig. 4A-E ); and 6) conductor not much longer than wide (Fig. 12A-D ) vs ~ 3.6 x longer than wide in retrolateral view (Fig. 4B ). Figure 11. Araneus yangchuandongi sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae -242 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C ibid., lateral 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 ). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sc scape, Sp spermatheca. Figure 12. Araneus yangchuandongi 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, EB embolic base, EN embolic node, ET embolic tooth, MA median apophysis, ST subterminal apophysis, TA terminal apophysis. Description. Male (holotype, Figs 11G, H , 12 , 16E-H ). Total length 4.00. Carapace 2.15 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 2.70 long, 1.95 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 0.25, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 8.40 (2.45, 3.05, 2.10, 0.80), II 7.60 (2.15, 2.60, 2.10, 0.75), III 4.60 (1.55, 1.55, 0.95, 0.55), IV 5.95 (1.85, 2.10, 1.40, 0.60). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with pale setae, with ten macrosetae anterior to fovea, cervical groove slightly obvious. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth. Endites almost square, yellow, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, grayish yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow with inconspicuous dark patches and dark setae. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, without annulus, tibia I with 17 macrosetae, distally with constriction (see arrow in Fig. 16E ), tibia II with 15 macrosetae, tibia III with nine macrosetae, tibia IV with ten macrosetae. Abdomen oval, pointed anteriorly and blunt posteriorly, ~ 1.38 x longer than wide, covered with dense setae, dorsum whitish yellow with a triangular gray patch anteriorly and four pairs of arcuate gray patches posteriorly; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets yellowish brown. Pedipalp (Fig. 12 ): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis bifurcated, with a large prolateral spur and four retrolateral teeth; embolus slender and straight, shorter than the conductor, bearing a tooth and a node, the embolic base about equal width to bulb diameter; conductor weakly sclerotized, not much longer than wide; terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized and pointed at tip, subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, somewhat flattened. Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -242, Fig. 11A-F ). Total length 4.35. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.80 wide. Abdomen 3.30 long, 2.95 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.40, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.45, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 6.75 (2.00, 2.50, 1.50, 0.75), II 5.60 (1.65, 2.00, 1.25, 0.70), III 3.70 (1.20, 1.25, 0.75, 0.50), IV 5.10 (1.55, 1.85, 1.15, 0.55). Habitus similar to that of male but the macrosetae anterior to fovea stronger, and anterior abdomen a little blunt. Epigyne (Fig. 11A-D ): scape with nearly parallel sides, distal end spoon shaped; copulatory openings slit-like, on the ventral surface; copulatory ducts longer than spermatheca, curved to an S-shape; spermathecae round, nearly touching. Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 3.90-4.00 ( n = 2); ♀♀ 4.10-6.20 ( n = 12). Distribution. Guizhou (Yinjiang, Songtao, Leishan, Shiqian). Comments. The oval abdomen and the long, ridged, distally spoon-shaped scape indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group. The somatic morphology and genitalia indicate that the new species is most similar to A. colubrinus , A. conexus , and A. zhoui . Etymology. The species is named after Mr. Chuandong Yang (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who has been committed to biodiversity conservation of Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve for the past 40 years; noun in genitive case.