Anapidae (Arachnida: Araneae), a Spider Family Newly Recorded from Laos

Zootaxa 3608 (6): 511–520 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3608.6.4 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:96F9D43C-FEEC-4B1B-B043-5284E5A188F9

Anapidae (Arachnida: Araneae), a spider family newly recorded from Laos

Yucheng LIN1, Shuqiang LI2 & Peter JÄGER3* 1Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China; 2Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; E-mail: [email protected]; 3Arachnology, Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; *Corresponding author. [email protected]

Abstract

The spider family Anapidae is reported from Laos for the first time. One new species is described: Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp. from Nam Khan Valley, Luang Prabang Province. Another species is recorded for the first time from Champasak Province, Laos and the following new synonymy is proposed: Sinanapis thaleri Ono 2009 = Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1995 n. syn. Morphological descriptions, diagnoses and comparative illustrations are provided for the two species.

Key words: taxonomy, Pseudanapis, Sinanapis, new species, new record, Araneoidea, Orbiculariae

Introduction

The spider fauna of Laos was poorly studied in the last century and therefore little is known about the spider species that occur in this landlocked Southeast Asian country. However, this situation has begun to change with a recent series of publications dealing with new species and new records of spiders from Laos (e.g. Jäger 2007; Jäger & Praxaysombath 2009, 2011). These studies have mainly concentrated on large spiders or groups, several of which have been recently revised (e.g., Tetragnathidae by Zhu et al. 2003, Theridiidae by Zhu 1998). Many small spiders, found in hidden habitats, exhibiting a cryptic life style, a tiny body size collectable only with sophisticated methods, have not been available for research. The family Anapidae is a typical and poorly known spider group reported to occur in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries (e.g. Brignoli 1981; Wunderlich & Song 1994; Lin & Li 2012; Lin 2012, Ono 2009b), but which was previously unrecorded from Laos. The current paper deals with specimens of Anapidae recently collected in the the Luang Prabang and Champasak Provinces of Laos. From this material two species were recognized: one is described as a new species, Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp. and another one is identified as a first record for Laos, Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1995.

Material and methods

Specimens were examined and measured with an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope. Further details were studied with an Olympus BX43 compound microscope. All drawings were made using a drawing tube attached to the Olympus BX43 compound microscope, and then inked on ink jet plotter paper. Male copulatory organs were examined and illustrated after they were dissected and detached from the spiders’ bodies. To reveal the course of the spermophor, emboli were also treated in lactic acid and mounted in Hoyer’s Solution. The left male pedipalps were illustrated. Type specimens are preserved in 85% ethanol solution. Digital images were taken with a Canon EOS 60D wide zoom digital camera (8.5 megapixels) mounted on an Olympus BX43 compound microscope. The images were montaged using Helicon image stacking software. All measurements are in millimetres. Leg measurements are given in the following sequence: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus).

Accepted by G. Hormiga: 4 Jan. 2013; published: 23 Jan. 2013 511 All types are deposited in the Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany (SMF). Abbreviations used in text: ALE, anterior lateral eyes; AME, anterior median eyes; PLE, posterior lateral eyes; PME, posterior median eyes; PER, posterior eye row; I–IV, legs I to IV.

Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp. Figs 1–3

Type material. Holotype male (SMF), Laos, Luang Prabang Province, SE Luang Prabang town, Xieng Ngeun District, Ban Keng Koung, 19.671°N, 102.302°E, altitude 372 m, waterfall, forest soil, pitfall, 21–28 February 2008, P. Jäger leg. Paratype: 1 male, with same data as for holotype. Diagnosis. This new species shares the following generic characters of the genus Pseudanapis: coarsely punctuate carapace, sternum and ventral opisthosomal scutum (Figs 1A–D, 1H), male pedipalp with two femoral apophyses, one or two apophyses on patella, and no apophysis on tibia (Figs 2A–B, 3A–B, 3E), and the subequally long legs I and IV. It is closely similar to P. aloha Forster, 1959 (see Snazell & Smithers 2007; Ono 2009a) and P. parocula (see Platnick & Shadab 1979), but it can be distinguished from the latter two species by the sharp, short and spur-like patellar apophysis of the male pedipalp (Figs 2B, 3B, 3E), the presence of two stiff setae on the retroventral patella (Figs 3A–B, 3E), the wide embolus forked distally (Figs 2C–D, 3C–D), and the three long curves of the spermophor (Figs 2D, 3C–D). Etymology. The species epithet refers to the type locality, the river Nam Khan, and it is taken as a noun in apposition. Description. Male (holotype). Colouration: Prosoma reddish-brown, opisthosomal scuta and legs yellowish- brown, but patellae paler yellow. Unsclerotised portions of opisthosoma pale yellow (Figs 1A–C). Measurements: Total length 0.91. Prosoma length 0.45, width 0.39, maximal height 0.51. Opisthosoma length 0.61, width 0.53, height 0.50. Clypeus height 0.13. Sternum length 0.29, width 0.25. Eye diameters: PLE 0.048, ALE 0.045 and PME 0.038. Legs: I 1.13 (0.34, 0.13, 0.26, 0.14, 0.27); II 1.02 (0.30, 0.11, 0.23, 0.13, 0.25); III 0.91 (0.25, 0.11, 0.21, 0.12, 0.23); IV 1.04 (0.30, 0.12, 0.25, 0.13, 0.24). Prosoma (Figs 1D–F): Strongly sclerotised with lateral margins of carapace fused to sternum via pleural sclerites. Cephalic part elevated, surface smooth, but with two rows of round pits behind ocular area. Ocular area covered with few setae. Six eyes in three diads, AME absent, PER straight in dorsal view, PLE>ALE>PME in size, each right and left ALE and PLE contiguous, PME contiguous, separated from PLE by their diameter. Thoracic part and clypeus covered with deep circular pits, anterolateral pits adjacent to maxillae marginally deep. Chelicerae robust, pale brown, basally constricted, covered with long setae on frontal surface, with one proximal tooth and a second (mesal) trifid promarginal tooth, and long plumose setae distally close to fangs (Fig. 1G). Labral spur small, short. Gnathocoxae rhombic, as long as wide, with serrula. Labium triangular, fused to sternum. Sternum longer than wide, covered with shallow, closely spaced pits, margin strongly sclerotized and fused to carapace. Legs (Fig. 1A): Cuticle granulated. Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Tibiae I–IV with three trichobothria dorsally, metatarsi I–III with one dorsal trichobothrium. Opisthosoma (Figs 1B–C, H): Opisthosoma circular in dorsal view. Dorsal scutum sub-circular, cuticle faintly granulate, covered with sparse long setae. Ventral scutum surrounding pedicel, with fine pits and wide posterior indentation, with two lateral sclerotized round patches posterior to indentation. Booklung covers darker than surrounding cuticle, fuscous. Opisthosoma with lateral rows of small sclerites of irregular shape and size (most of them circular or elongated). Spinnerets surrounded by sclerotized annular plate, anterior spinnerets as large as posterior laterals, posterior medians smallest. Colulus small, longer than wide. Anal tubercle present. Pedipalp (Figs 2A–D, 3A–E): Brownish-yellow, weakly sclerotized. Trochanter short, as long as tibia, with long seta basally. Femur with a triangular medio-dorsal and a long dorsally curved pro-distal apophysis, femur with a long ventral seta basally. Patella widening distally, 2 x longer than tibia, distally with round blunt retroventral apophysis and sharply pointed retro-dorsal apophysis, patella retro-ventrally with two short, stiff setae (Figs 3B, 3E). Tibia lightly tapered, with long curved seta dorsally. Cymbium smooth, bowl-shaped, covered with long setae. Bulb smooth, sub-globular ventrally. Conductor absent. Embolus strongly sclerotized, arising about medially from bulb, widest basally and distally bifid. Spermophor long and curved, open at the distal end of embolus after three curves in the bulb (Fig. 3D).

512 · Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press LIN ET AL . FIGURES 1A–H. Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp., male (holotype). A–C, Habitus (A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view); D–F, Prosoma (D, anterior view; E, ventro-latero-frontal view; F, lateral view); G, Chelicerae, frontal view; H, Opisthosoma, ventral view. AP = anterolateral pit, LS = labral spur.

FIGURES 2A–D. Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp., male (holotype). A–B, Left pedipalp (A, prolateral view; B, retrolateral view); C–D, Palpal tarsus (C, ventral view; D, distal view). Cm = cymbium, Em = embolus, FA = femoral apophyses, Fe = femur, PA = patellar apophyses, Pa = patella, SD = spermophor, Ti = tibia.

514 · Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press LIN ET AL . FIGURES 3A–E. Pseudanapis namkhan n. sp., male (holotype). A–B, Left pedipalp (A, prolateral view; B, retrolateral view); C–D, Palpal tarsus (C, ventral view; D, distal view); E, Pedipalpal femur, tibia and patella, retrolateral view.

Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1994: 344, figs 1–8 Sinanapis crassitarsus.—Song et al. 1999: 155, figs 12H, K, 84K–L Sinanapis thaleri Ono 2009b: 1022, figs 1–14. New synonymy

Type material. Holotype male (of S. crassitarsus) (IZCAS), China, Yunnan Province, Mengla County, Menglun Town, tropical botanical garden near rainforest, in leaf litter, 2 October 1987, L.M. Yu leg. Other material examined. 1 male (SMF), Laos, Champasak Province, Muang Bachieng, Ban Lak 35, That Etu, secondary forest, sieved leaf litter near waterfall, 29.18550°N, 106.91770°E, altitude 595 m, 26 November 2009, P. Jäger leg. Diagnosis. Sinanapis crassitarsus can be easily recognised by the complex patellar apophyses [i.e. patella with a triangular basal process bearing two spines (Figs 5E; 6E), a long, pointed retro-distal process (Figs 5B; 6B), a wide dorsal process (Figs 5C, F; 6C, F), bearing a rasper-like process with numerous tiny denticles (Figs 5F–G; 6F–G)], the absence of apophyses on the pedipalpal femur and tibia (Figs 5A–B; 6A–B), the long and slender embolus (Figs 5D, 6D), and the presence of short, cusp-like setae on metatarsus I and tarsus I (Fig. 4G). Description. Male. Colouration: Prosoma reddish-brown, opisthosomal scuta and legs pale yellowish-brown. Unsclerotized portions of opisthosoma paler yellow. Opisthosoma with two longitudinal dorsal and three posterior latitudinal black stripes (Figs 4A–C). Measurements: Total length 1.57. Prosoma length 0.79, width 0.59, maximal height 0.80. Opisthosoma length 0.80, width 0.80, height 0.84. Clypeus height 0.30. Sternum length 0.54, width 0.36. Eye diameters: ALE 0.089, PLE 0.089, PME 0.063. Legs: I 2.79 (0.88, 0.30, 0.77, 0.32, 0.52); II 2.20 (0.66, 0.27, 0.54, 0.27, 0.46); III 1.69 (0.54, 0.20, 0.36, 0.21, 0.38); IV 1.88 (0.59, 0.20, 0.45, 0.25, 0.39). Prosoma (Figs 4D–E): Strongly sclerotized, with lateral margins of carapace fused to sternum via pleural sclerites. Cephalic part distinctly elevated, surface smooth, but with a row of five cusp-like tubercles (setae missing) behind ocular area. Ocular area with six eyes in three diads, AME absent, PER strongly procurved in dorsal view, PLE=ALE>PME in size, each right and left ALE and PLE contiguous, PME contiguous, separated from PLE by their diameter. Thoracic part provided with irregular reticulation, marginally with wide antero-lateral (glandular) pits, with paired small antero-lateral and postero-lateral extensions near anterior margin of clypeus and pedicel. Clypeus slightly concave in lateral view, sloping forward. Chelicerae robust, brown, constricted basally, covered with long setae on frontal surface, bearing a small proximal tubercle on anterior surface, with one proximal and two adnate promarginal teeth, and a few long plumose setae distally close to fang (Fig. 4F). Labral spur large, porrect. Gnathocoxae constricted mesally, longer than wide, with serrula. Labium equilaterally triangular, fused to sternum. Sternum longer than wide, surface rugose, with a rounded posterior extension, margin strongly sclerotised and fused to carapace. Legs (Figs 4A, G): Femoral cuticle granulated. Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Leg I longest and robust, with modified short cusp-like setae on ventral metatarsus and tarsus. Tarsus I slightly swollen. Opisthosoma (Figs 4A–C): Spherical, slightly shrunken, covered with dense short setae, irregular sclerotized spots. Dorsal scutum posterior, not cracked in midline. Ventral scutum small, closely surrounding pedicel. Booklung covers large, elongated ovoid. Spinnerets situated ventrally, with a sclerotized annular plate, anterior spinnerets larger than posterior spinnerets. Colulus tiny. Anal tubercle present, distinctly larger than colulus. Pedipalp (Figs 5A–B, 6A–B): Femur long, pale yellow, widening distally. Patella structure complex, modified by three apophyses: basal apophysis large, bent, dorsad, with two short stiff setae; lateral apophysis with a wide process and posteriorad rasper-like process; retro-distal apophysis sharp and straight, distad (Figs 5C, E–G, 6C, E–G). Tibia widening distally, with one trichobothrium retrolaterally. Cymbium hemispherical, covered with long setae (Figs 5C, 6C). Bulb strongly sclerotized, sub-ovate ventrally. Subtegulum smooth. Conductor absent. Embolus slender, long, wide basally, narrowing distally, deriving from the prolateral margin of bulb and coiling into about a loop. Spermophor revolving irregularly about two loops in the bulb (Figs 5D, 6D). Female: Unknown.

516 · Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press LIN ET AL . FIGURES 4A–G. Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1995, male from Laos. A–C, Habitus (A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view); D–E, Prosoma (D, frontal view; E, lateral view); F, Chelicerae, frontal view; G, Metatarsus and tarsus of left leg I, prolateral view. AC = anterolateral extension of carapace, AP = anterolateral pit, CT = cheliceral tubercle, Cu = cusps on leg I, DS = dorsal scutum, LS = labral spur.

ANAPIDAE FROM LAOS Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press · 517 FIGURES 5A–G. Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1995, male from Laos. A–B, Left pedipalp (A, prolateral view; B, retrolateral view); C, Pedipalpal patella, tibia and tarsus, dorsal view; D, Bulb, ventral view; E–G, Patellar apophyses (E, retrolateral view; F, dorsal view, G distal view). Cm = cymbium, DA = dentigerous apophysis, Em = embolus, Fe = femur, PA = patellar apophysis, Pa = patella, PS = patellar spine, ST = subtegulum, Ti = tibia.

518 · Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press LIN ET AL . FIGURES 6A–G. Sinanapis crassitarsus Wunderlich & Song 1995, male from Laos. A–B, Left pedipalp (A, prolateral view; B, retrolateral view); C, Pedipalpal patella, tibia and tarsus, dorsal view; D, Bulb, ventral view; E–G, Patellar apophyses (E, retrolateral view; F, dorsal view; G, distal view).

ANAPIDAE FROM LAOS Zootaxa 3608 (6) © 2013 Magnolia Press · 519 Remarks. Although the type material of Sinanapis thaleri has not been examined for this study, the grater-like patellar process, the basal patellar apophysis with two distinct spines, the shape of pedipalpal bulb, the long and filiform embolus, the course of the spermophor, the number and arrangement of cheliceral teeth, the cusps on leg I and the tiny colulus depicted in the original illustrations (Ono 2009: figs 4–14) leave little doubt that the identification is correct. The original illustrations of the pedipalp, bulb and patellar structure of S. crassitarsus by Wunderlich and Song (1994: figs 6–8) are rather simple and show some differences in comparison with those of S. thaleri (Ono 2009: figs 10–12), but we have examined the type of S. crassitarsus in China and the specimens collected in Laos. Therefore, we consider these subtle differences as being intraspecific variation. Distribution. China (Yunnan), Vietnam (Lam Dong) and Laos (Champasak).

Acknowledgments

The manuscript benefited greatly from comments by Xinping Wang (University of Florida, USA). Michael Rix, an anonymous reviewer and Gustavo Hormiga revised an earlier version of this work and provided useful comments. This study was supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists-31025023 and NSFC-31000946), and by New Teacher Fund for Doctor Station of Ministry of Education of China (20100181120049).

References

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