Taxonomic study of four closely-related species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from China's Qinling Mountains: An integrated morphological and molecular approach Author Yang, Lan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7754-9275 College of Life Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning, China Author He, Qiaoqiao https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9381-7444 College of Life Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning, China heqq@synu.edu.cn Author Yao, Zhiyuan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1631-0949 College of Life Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning, China yaozy@synu.edu.cn text Zoosystematics and Evolution 2024 2024-03-14 100 1 279 289 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.115633 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.115633 1860-0743-1-279 45A269526A374C4299D6DB5E6AD1BCC4 16A755D09A755856A32774B2E0C0BBF5 Pholcus ovatus Yao & Li, 2012 Pholcus ovatus Yao and Li (2012 : 28), figs 134A-D, 135A-E, 136A-D, 137A-D. Material examined. 1♂ (SYNU-Ar00120F) 1♀ (SYNU-Ar00121F), China , Shaanxi , Xi'an , Zhouzhi County , Banfangzi Town ( type locality), roadside of G108 ( 33°48.02'N , 107°59.08'E , 1165 m elev.), 31 July 2022 , Z. Yao , L. Yang & L. Zhang leg. Diagnosis. The species resembles P. taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992 ( Yao and Li 2012 : 34, figs 169A-D, 170A-C) with similar male chelicerae and epigyne (figs 135A, 136B, C, 137C in Yao and Li (2012) ), but it can be distinguished by sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis of procursus prolatero-proximally strongly widened (figs 134C, 137A in Yao and Li (2012) ; not widened in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169C in Yao and Li (2012) ), by raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge of procursus laterally strongly curved (figs 134D, 137B in Yao and Li (2012) ; laterally angular in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169D in Yao and Li 2012 ), by appendix median branch length/appendix length ratio: 0.5 (figs 134A, 136A in Yao and Li (2012) ; 0.2 in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169A in Yao and Li (2012) ) and by vulval anterior arch postero-medially strongly protruding (figs 135B, 137D in Yao and Li (2012) ; not protruding in P. taibaiensis , fig. 170B in Yao and Li (2012) ). Natural history. The species was found on the underside of an overhang on rock cliffs. Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Fig. 1 ).