Three New Species of the Spider Genus Plexippoides Prószyński,1976(Araneae,Salticidae)from China

WANG Cheng,MI Xiao-qi,PENG Xian-jin

(1.College of Life Sciences,Hunan Normal University,Changsha 410081,Hunan,China；2.Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region,Tongren University,Tongren 554300,Guizhou,China)

Abstract:Three new Plexippoides species,including P.longapophysis sp.nov.(♂)from Yunnan,P.subtristis sp.nov.(♂ ♀)and P.tangi sp.nov.(♂ ♀)from Hunan,China,are described.Distributional data,detailed morphological characteristics,photos of the habitus and copulatory organs are provided.

Key words:jumping spider；Plexippina；south China；new species；taxonomy

The genus Plexippoides Prószyński,1976 was redefined by Prószyński(1984)[1]and contains 21 species known as foliage dwellers mainly distributed in Asia(WSC,2020)[2].Within this genus,most species were sporadically described and have very limited ranges:18 species are native and each one is known from a single country,and no new species have been described in more than a decade since P.regiusoides Peng & Li 2008 was reported(WSC,2020)[2].Although the genus is rather numerically rich and all the species have diagnostic drawings,it has never been revised at global and regional scales in the last three decades,and 8 of its species are known only from a single-sex,which indicates the genus remains insufficiently known.The genus can be easily distinguished from all other salticid genera except Epeus Peckham & Peckham,1886 by having the cymbial apophysis,the flap of bulb and the long copulatory duct forming several loops[3].It can be distinguished from the latter by the longitu-dinal bands on the dorsal of abdomen,and the flap of bulb mainly present anteriorly rather than absent or present at the central or posterior part in the species of Epeus[3～4].To date,with as many as 14 species and 9 native,China has the highest diversity of the genus worldwide.

In the examination of the Salticidae specimens collected from the Wuliang Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan and Huping Mountain National Nature Reserve in Hunan of China,three species of Plexippoides were recognized as new to science and are described in the present contribution.

1 Materials and methods

Specimens were collected by beating shrubs and kept in 75%ethanol.After dissecting from the habitus,the epigyne was cleared in trypsin enzyme solution before examination and photography.Left male palps were used for description and illustration.The specimens were examined with an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope and measured using a Leica M205C.Photos were taken with a Kuy Nice CCD mounted on an Olympus BX53 compound microscope.Compound focus images were generated using Helicon Focus 6.7.1 software.

All measurements are given in millimeters.Leg measurements are giving as total length(femur,patella+tibia,metatarsus,tarsus).Type specimens are deposited in the museum of Hunan Normal University except the specimens of P.longapophysis sp.nov.,which are deposited in the museum of Tongren University.Abbreviations used are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Abbreviations used in the text and figures

2 Taxonomy Family Salticidae Blackwall,1841 Genus Plexippoides Prószyński,1976

2.1 Plexippoides longapophysis sp.nov.(Figs.1A～C,2)

Type material.Holotype♂(m20150818-01),Wuliang Mountain National Nature Reserve(24°15′47.20″N,100°44′26.00″E,alt.2 006 m),Gonglang Township,Nanjian County,Yunnan Province,China,18 August 2015,Xiao-qi Mi,Tian-jun Liu and Xing Kuang leg.Paratype.1♂(m20150818-02),same data as holotype.

Etymology.The specific name comes from a combination of the words“long”and“apophysis”,referring to the long tibial apophysis of the male palp.

Diagnosis.The new species resembles P.longus Zhu,Zhang,Zhang & Chen,2005(see Zhu et al.,2005[5]:538,Figs.11A～E)in the long cymbial apophysis and the anteriorly located flap of bulb,but can be distinguished by:1)RTA about two times longer than cymbial apophysis in retrolateral view(Fig.2C),whereas about half the length of cymbial apophysis in P.longus；2)embolus arising at almost 4:00 o’clock in ventral view(Fig.2B)versus almost 12:00 o’clock in P.longus.

Description.Male(holotype).TL 4.81.CL 2.29,CW 1.67.AL 2.38,AW 1.07.Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.51,ALE 0.31,PLE 0.29,AME—AME 0.03,AME—ALE 0.04,AERW 1.62,PERW 1.55,EFL 1.02.Legs:Ⅰ 4.31(1.32,1.62,0.76,0.61)；Ⅱ 4.07(1.29,1.45,0.72,0.61)；Ⅲ 4.85(1.53,1.56,1.01,0.75)；Ⅳ5.07(1.55,1.68,1.09,0.75).Cephalothorax(Fig.1A)yellow,the cephalic almost square,and the thoracic with a pair of dark-brown irregular rows of hairs extending to the posterior margin from the medial region.Fovea longitudinal.Chelicerae with one retromarginal and two promarginal teeth.Endites(Fig.1C)yellow,the inner tip pale.Labium(Fig.1C)tapering,the tip covered with dense hairs.Sternum(Fig.1C)yellow,the rim covered with thin hairs.Legs yellow,with dark stripes on the retrolateral side of the femoraⅠ.Abdomen(Figs.1A～C)elongated,dorsum with two longitudinal dark-brown stripes separated by a broad yellow stripe extending posteriorly from the anterior margin,and followed by several dotted lines,covered with sparse hairs；venter pale,bilaterally with two longitudinal brown stripes running across the whole surface.Palp(Fig.2).Retrolateral tibial apophysis originating from the base of the tibia,almost 2 times longer than cymbial apophysis,curved medially and slightly rounded at the tip.Bulb almost round,anteriorly with an ear-like flap extending retrolaterally.Embolus slender,arising at 4:00 o’clock,circling with a pointed distal end reaching to the cymbial tip.Cymbium broad and flattened,widest at the base,and then narrowed gradually,proximal-retrolaterally with a spiny apophysis about half the retrolateral tibial apophysis length in retrolateral view.

Female.Unknown.

Distribution.China(Yunnan).

Fig.1 Habitus of Plexippoides species

2.2 Plexippoides subtristis sp.nov.(Figs.1D～F,3)

Type material.Holotype♂(HNU-200806-021),Huping Moutain National Nature Reserve(30°01′16.26″N,110°36′14.64″E,alt.950 m),Hupingshan Township,Shimen County,Hunan Province,China,19—25 June 2008,Guo Tang and Xiao-qi Mi leg.Paratypes.5♂ 8♀ (HNU-200806-022—034),same data as holotype.

Fig.2 Male palp of Plexippoides longapophysis sp.nov.

Etymology.The specific name refers to the new species closely resembling P.tristis Próchniewicz,1990.

Diagnosis.The new species resembles P.tristis Próchniewicz,1990(see Próchniewicz,1990[6]:159,Figs.29～36)in the general shape of habitus and copulatory organs,but can be distinguished by:1)RTA apically directed retrolaterally in retrolateral view(Fig.3C),whereas directed almost anteriorly in P.tristis；2)cymbial apophysis directed towards inner laterad in retrolateral view(Fig.3C),whereas directed towards downward in P.tristis；3)flap of bulb located at the anterior edge(Fig.3B),whereas located at the outer lateral margin in P.tristis；4)copulatory openings merged into a circle(Figs.3D,E),whereas separated and arc-shaped in P.tristis.

Description.Male(holotype).TL 5.02.CL 2.35,CW 1.67.AL 2.58,AW 1.22.Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.47,ALE 0.28,PLE 0.26,AME—AME 0.03,AME—ALE 0.04,AERW 1.57,PERW 1.53,EFL 1.06.Legs:Ⅰ 6.00(1.73,2.47,1.18,0.62)；Ⅱ 4.70(1.53,1.75,0.87,0.55)；Ⅲ 5.32(1.73,1.72,1.16,0.71)；Ⅳ 5.54 (1.70,1.93,1.19,0.72).Cephalothorax(Fig.1D)yellow,pale in eyes field,the cephalic almost square,and the thoracic with a pair of faint red-brown stripes extending to the posterior margin from the behind of PMEs,covered with hairs.Fovea longitudinal.Chelicerae redbrown,with one retromarginal and two promarginal teeth.Endites(Fig.1E)and sternum(Fig.1E)yellow.Labium(Fig.1E)yellow-brown,tapering,the tip pale,with dense hairs.Legs yellow,the femur of legⅠ,Ⅱ with dark stripes retrolaterally.Abdomen(Figs.1D,E)elongated,dorsum with three longitudinal dark brown stripes running across the whole surface,covered with sparse hairs；venter pale-yellow,with an irregular brown stripe postero-medial ly.Palp(Figs.3A～C).Retrolateral tibial apophysis broadened antero-medially and curved abruptly before extending dorsally in ventral view.Bulb almost round,anterior sub-margin with an ear-like flap extending retrolaterally.Embolus slender,arising at 3:30 o’clock,and then circling,with a distal end reaching to the cymbial tip.Cymbium broad and flattened,proximal-retrolaterally with an apophysis tapering to a pointed tip directed towards 7:30 o’clock in retrolateral view.

Female(paratype,HNU-200806-027).TL 6.03.CL 2.52,CW 1.90.AL 3.49,AW 2.02.Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.58,ALE 0.31,PLE 0.28,AME—AME 0.04,AME—ALE 0.06,AERW 1.71,PERW 1.68,EFL 1.08.Legs:Ⅰ4.64(1.50,1.81,0.73,0.60)；Ⅱ 4.23(1.46,1.53,0.69,0.55)；Ⅲ 4.95(1.80,1.71,0.79,0.65)；Ⅳ 5.22(1.81,1.71,1.05,0.65).Habitus(Fig.1F)similar to that of male except paler in color and the femur of legsⅠ,Ⅱwithout retrolateral dark stripes.Epigyne(Figs.3D,E)with anteriorly located copulatory openings merged into a circle.Copulatory ducts long,coiled complicated.Spermathecae almost round,the diameter about one and a half times the width of copulatory ducts.Fertilization ducts well-developed,lamellar,extending almost transversely.

Distribution.China(Hunan).

2.3 Plexippoides tangi sp.nov.(Figs.1G～I,4)

Type material.Holotype♂(HNU-200806-035),Huping Moutain National Nature Reserve(30°01′16.26″N,110°36′14.64″E,alt.950 m),Hupingshan Township,Shimen County,Hunan Province,China,19—25 June 2008,Guo Tang and Xiao-qi Mi leg.Paratypes.4♂ 6♀ (HNU-200806-036—045),same data as holotype.

Fig.3 Plexippoides subtristis sp.nov.

Etymology.The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr.Guo Tang,one of the collectors of the new species.

Diagnosis.The new species resembles P.digitatus Peng & Li,2002(see Peng & Li,2002[7]:717,Figs.1～4；Peng,Chen & Zhao,2004[8]:80,Figs.A～F；Zhu & Zhang,2011[9]:498,Figs.363A～C),but can be distinguished by:1)RTA extending above the level of the base of cymbial apophysis in ventral view(Fig.4A),versus below the level of the base of cymbial apophysis in P.digitatus；2)RTA crossed with cymbial apophysis at the base in ventral view(Fig.4A),whereas at the tip in P.digitatus；3)epigyne with a distinct atrial anterior margin(Fig.4D),whereas absent in P.digitatus；4)copulatory openings slitshaped(Fig.4D),whereas circular in P.digitatus.

Description.Male(holotype).TL 6.37.CL 3.03,CW 2.21.AL 3.10,AW 1.72.Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.61,ALE 0.36,PLE 0.35,AME—AME 0.04,AME—ALE 0.05,AERW 2.15,PERW 1.99,EFL 1.10.Legs:Ⅰ 6.19(1.85,2.41,1.16,0.77)；Ⅱ 5.80(1.81,2.27,1.04,0.68)；Ⅲ 6.90(2.26,2.24,1.66,0.74)；Ⅳ 7.52(2.37,2.55,1.82,0.78).Cephalothorax(Fig.1G)red-brown,with two pairs of dark brown radial markings on the thoracic area.Eyes field red to dark brown,with dense hairs on the anterior margin.Fovea longitudinal.Chelicerae with one retromarginal and two promarginal teeth.Endites,labium and sternum(Fig.1H)yellow.Labium tapering,the tip pale with dense hairs.Legs yellow.Abdomen(Figs.1G,H)elongated,dorsum with an irregular pale-yellow stripe running across the whole surface and bifurcated posteriorly,covered with hairs；venter pale,with an irregular brown stripe appearing posteromedially.Palp(Figs.4A～C).Retrolateral apophysis tapered,the terminal curved dorsally and with a pointed tip almost directed towards 3:00 o’clock in retrolateral view.Cymbium broad and flattened,proximal-retrolaterally with a triangular apophysis mostly hidden by the retrolateral tibial apophysis in ventral view.Bulb round,with an ear-like flap present at the position of 9:00 o’clock.Embolus slender,arising at 11:00 o’clock,circling with the distal end reaching to the cymbial tip.

Female(paratype,HNU-200806-040).TL 7.26.CL 2.89,CW 2.30.AL 3.99,AW 2.60.Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.73,ALE 0.44,PLE 0.37,AME—AME 0.05,AME—ALE 0.06,AERW 2.19,PERW 1.99,EFL 1.26.Legs:Ⅰ5.52(1.85,2.13,0.78,0.76)；Ⅱ 5.34(1.83,2.02,0.74,0.75)；Ⅲ 6.05(2.05,2.15,1.05,0.80)；Ⅳ6.37(2.10,2.32,1.15,0.80).Habitus(Fig.1I)similar to that of male except paler in color.Epigyne(Figs.4D,E)with a pre-curved atrial anterior margin and slit-like copulatory openings located medially.Copulatory ducts long,coiled,and forming several loops.Spermathecae long oval,the distance between them slightly less than the distance of copulatory openings.Fertilization ducts well-developed,knife-shaped,extending almost longitudinally.

Distribution.China(Hunan).

Fig.4 Plexippoides tangi sp.nov.

Acknowledgments

Thank Guo Tang,Tian-jun Liu,Gao-tao Liu and Xing Kuang for collecting the specimens.