Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Biodiversity Data Journal logoLink to Biodiversity Data Journal
. 2022 Nov 1;10:e90967. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e90967

Two new species of the genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae, Macrothelidae) from China

Yaying Wu 1,2, Zhimin Li 3, Yan Yang 4, Zizhong Yang 1,2,✉
PMCID: PMC9836591  PMID: 36761573

Abstract

Background

The family Macrothelidae Simon, 1892 belongs to the infraorder Mygalomorphae, currently contains two genera and 47 described species, from South Europe, South, and East Southeast Asia, Central, West, and North Africa.

New information

Two new species of the funnel-web spider genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 from Yunnan Province, China are described: Macrothelewashanensis Wu & Yang, sp. n. (♂♀), and M.wuliangensis Wu & Yang, sp. n. (♂♀). Detailed descriptions, diagnostic illustrations and distribution map are provided. All specimens are deposited in the Institute of Entomoceutics Research, Dali University (DUIER).

Keywords: mygalomorph, Macrothelidae, taxonomy, morphology, new species

Introduction

The spider family Macrothelidae Simon 1892 is an important spider group in the infraorder Mygalomorphae. They usually build funnel webs using crevices and cavities in slopes, occasionally build web in surface deciduous layers. So far, the family has 47 species of two genera reported worldwide (World Spider Catalog 2022), of which 29 species are known from China (Pocock 1901, Saitô 1933, Hu and Li 1986, Shimojana and Haupt 1998, Song et al. 1999, Zhu et al. 2000, Zhu and Song 2000, Xu and Yin 2001, Xu et al. 2002, Li and Zha 2013, Shi et al. 2018, Yang et al. 2018, Yang et al. 2019, Wang et al. 2019, Tang et al. 2020, Chen et al. 2020, Lin et al. 2021, Tang et al. 2022).

We are carrying out a systematic investigation on the Chinese fauna of Macrothelidae and have collected a lot of specimens from Yunnan Province. During this study, two new species have been discovered and described here: Macrothelewashanensis Wu & Yang, sp. n. and M.wuliangensis Wu & Yang, sp. n.

Materials and methods

Specimens were examined and measured with Olympus SZX16 and Leica M205A stereo-microscopes and an Olympus CX33 compound microscope. All specimens examined were preserved in 80% ethanol. The left male palps were examined after dissection and removal from the specimens, and the female genitalia were treated in 10% NaOH for 24 hours to dissolve tissue and examine the vulvae. The distribution map was produced by ArcMap software (version 10.8).

All type specimens are deposited in Institute of Entomoceutics Research, Dali University (DUIER). All measurements are in millimeters. Palp and leg measurements are given as: palp total length (femur, patella + tibia, tarsus); leg total length (femur, patella + tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Abbreviations used are: ALE = anterior lateral eyes; AME = anterior median eyes; PLE = posterior lateral eyes; PME = posterior median eyes; PMS = posterior median spinnerets; PLS = posterior lateral spinnerets; basal haematodocha = BH; embolus = E ; CD = copulatory ducts；T = terminus of receptacula.

Taxon treatments

Macrothele washanensis

Wu & Yang sp. n.

01B89F2B-E7E9-590F-B009-23B2E98C9F5D

259FAB90-0670-4940-9A06-49B730786D34

Materials

  1. Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang, Yongming You and Jiasen Wei; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: D04682CE-CED5-56AC-A410-7702384D544D; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewashanensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Cangyuan county; municipality: Lincang; verbatimLatitude: 23°14′5′′N; verbatimLongitude: 99°17′48′′E; Event: year: 2021; month: 5; day: 10; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWa11

  2. Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang, Yongming You and Jiasen Wei; individualCount: 5; sex: 2 males, 3 females; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: 591EC1BF-750A-582E-9048-CB6B879AA1AE; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewashanensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Cangyuan county; municipality: Lincang; verbatimLatitude: 23°14′5′′N; verbatimLongitude: 99°17′48′′E; Event: year: 2021; month: 5; day: 10; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWa21-MWa25

  3. Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang, Chenggong Li and Wenjie Zhang; individualCount: 6; sex: 4 males, 2 females; lifeStage: 2 males juveniles, 2 females juveniles; occurrenceID: 1CB3C2AB-A8F3-597A-B327-116255DB7C73; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewashanensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Gengma county; municipality: Lincang; locality: Mengjian Town; verbatimLatitude: 23°43'0.772″N; verbatimLongitude: 99°20'14.784"E; Event: year: 2017; month: 9; day: 15; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWa26-MWa211

  4. Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang, Chenggong Li and Wenjie Zhang; individualCount: 23; sex: females; lifeStage: 22 females juveniles; occurrenceID: C8434D9A-AFE5-5421-BEB6-35D4F206CE28; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewashanensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Gengma county; municipality: Lincang; locality: Lixin village; verbatimLatitude: 23º15′31.90″N; verbatimLongitude: 99º17′22.45″E; Event: year: 2018; month: 7; day: 25; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWa212-MWa234

Description

Male (holotype, DUIER-MWa11, Fig. 1). Total length 24.56: cephalothorax 10.89 long, 6.98 wide; opisthosoma 8.14 long, 5.64 wide. Carapace dark, gray hairs. Fovea concave. Both eye rows recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.55, ALE 0.64, PME 0.48, PLE 0.49; ALE-AME 0.14, AME-AME 0.17, ALE-PLE 0.18, PLE-PME 0.07, PME-PME 0.88. Eye area 1.11 long, 2.21 wide. Chelicerae black, with 15 stout promarginal teeth, 13 small retromarginal teeth, and 15 tiny teeth within fang furrow (Fig. 1F). Labium and maxillae chestnut, with grey bristles and patch of cuspules on anterior half part (Fig. 1K); maxillae area length 2.58, and cuspules area length 1.45. Sternum with three pairs of sigilla (Fig. 1J). Palp: tibia grey, 4.34 long, with four long prolateral spines (Fig. 1G), palpal trochanter without lyral spines; embolus 4.76 long, apex curved and hook shaped (Fig. 1B-E).

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., male holotype. A. Male body, dorsal view; B. Embolus, prolateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Same, the end; F. Left chelicerae, ventral view; G. Left palp tibia, prolateral view; H. Same, dorsal view; I. Same, retrolateral view; J. Sternum; K. Maxillae and labium.

Leg spines. I: femur with 1 prolateral near base; patella 2 prolateral distally; tibia 2 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, 9 ventral (Fig. 2A); metatarsus with 19 ventral spines (Fig. 2B), and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 2 spines, retrolateral with 3 spines (Fig. 3A-B); tarsus with 3 prolateral and 3 retrolateral. II: femur 1 prolateral near distad; patella 2 prolateral; tibia 1 prolateral, and 3 ventral, 1 spine near distad, 2 near basal (Fig. 2C); metatarsus with 1 prolateral, 10 ventral (Fig. 2D), two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 4 spines (Fig. 3C-D); tarsus with 6 prolateral, 6 retrolateral. III: femur 1 prolateral and 1 retrolateral; patella 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia 3 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, and 3 ventral; metatarsus 2 ventral, 4 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 4 spines (Fig. 3E-F); tarsus with 4 prolateral, 5 retrolateral. IV: femur 1 prolateral and retrolateral near distal end; patella with 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia with 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral, 3 ventral near distal end; metatarsus with 2 dorsal, 3 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 5 spines (Fig. 3G-H); tarsus with 7 prolateral, 6 retrolateral.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., male holotype, left leg. A. Tibia I, ventral view; B. Metatarsus I, ventral view; C. Tibia II, ventral view; D. Metatarsus II, ventral view.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., male holotype, comb-like organs. A. Metatarsus I, prolateral comb-like organs; B. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; C. Metatarsus II, prolateral comb-like organs; D. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; E. Metatarsus III, prolateral comb-like organs; F. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; G. Metatarsus IV, prolateral comb-like organs; H. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs.

Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 9.63 (2.28, 6.12, 1.23); I: 22.79 (6.14, 7.66, 5.58, 3.41); II: 25.80 (6.72, 8.75, 6.84, 3.49); III: 24.69 (6.14, 7.89, 6.93, 3.73); IV: 29.75 (7.37, 9.35, 8.68, 4.35). Leg formula: 4231.

Abdomen gray brown, hairy. Spinnerets, PMS one segment, 1.87 long, 0.48 wide, PMS-PMS 0.78; PLS three segments, PLS 10.65 long (3.20, 3.19, 4.26).

Female (DUIER-MWa21, Fig. 4). Total length 28.39 : cephalothorax 11.67 long, 6.66 wide; opisthosoma 9.11 long, 6.54 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.52, ALE 0.71, PME 0.50, PLE 0.51; AME-AME 0.26, ALE-AME0.24, ALE-PLE 0.12, PME-PME 0.91, PLE-PME 0. Eye area 1.13 long, 2.24 wide. Chelicerae brown, with 15 stout promarginal teeth, 12 small retromarginal teeth, and 13 tiny teeth within fang furrow (Fig. 4B). Labium and maxillae dark yellow, with dark brown bristles and patch of cuspules on anterior half part (Fig. 4C); maxillae area length 2.34, and cuspule area length 1.58. Sternum with three pairs of sigilla (Fig. 4D); palpal trochanter without lyral spines.

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., female paratype. A. Female, body, dorsal view; B. Left chelicerae, ventral view; C. Maxillae and labium; D. Sternum.

Leg spines. I: femur with 1 prolateral near distad; patella 1 prolateral; tibia with 1 prolateral; metatarsus with 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 5A-B); tarsus with 3 prolateral, 4 retrolateral. II: femur 1 prolateral near distad; patella 2 prolateral; tibia 1 prolateral, 2 ventral; metatarsus 1 prolateral, 6 retrolateral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 4 spines (Fig. 5C-D); tarsus with 5 prolateral, 3 retrolateral. III: femur with 1 dorsal; patella 2 prolateral and 1 retrolateral; tibia 3 prolateral, and 2 retrolateral, 3 ventral distally; metatarsus with 2 dorsal, 5 prolateral, 4 retrolateral, 6 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 3 spines (Fig. 5E-F); tarsus with 5 prolateral, 6 retrolateral. IV: femur 1 prolateral near distad, 1 retrolateral; patella 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia 3 prolateral, and 2 retrolateral, 3 ventral near distad; metatarsus with 2 dorsal, 3 prolateral, 4 retrolateral, 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 6 spines (Fig. 5G-H); tarsus with 9 prolateral, 7 retrolateral.

Figure 5.

Figure 5.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., female paratype. A. Metatarsus I, prolateral comb-like organs; B. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; C. Metatarsus II, prolateral comb-like organs; D. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; E. Metatarsus III, prolateral comb-like organs; F. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; G. Metatarsus IV, prolateral comb-like organs; H. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs.

Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 12.07 (3.07, 4.80, 4.20); I: 20.65 (5.80, 7.47, 4.85, 2.53); II: 21.99 (5.81, 7.92, 5.33, 2.93); III: 22.24 (5.39, 7.25, 6.33, 3.27); IV: 25.37 (6.24, 8.35, 7.54, 3.24). Leg formula: 4321.

Receptacula apically teardrop shaped, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1:6 (Fig. 6A-B). Spinnerets: PMS one segment, PMS 2.78 long, 0.58 wide, PMS-PMS 1.63; PLS three segments, PLS 11.11 long (2.91, 3.75, 4.45).

Figure 6.

Figure 6.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n., female paratype. A-B. Genitalia, Cangyuan county.

Diagnosis

Males of Macrothelewashanensis sp. n. resemble M.arcuata Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020 by having similar bulb shape, but they can be distinguished by the BH no protrusion in prolateral view, embolus tapers from base to apex, and hook-shaped, the ratio of the length of the BH to the length of the E is almost 1 : 4 (Fig. 1B-E); the four tibial spines visible in prolateral view (Fig. 1G-I); tibia I with nine spines visible in ventral view, tibia II straight, with three ventral spines (Fig. 2) (vs tibia with three prolateral spines, and three ventral spines, embolus with visible protrusion, joint of embolus and bulb is strongly bent, embolus needle shaped, the ratio of the length of the BH to the length of the E is almost 1 : 5; tibia I with 26 spines, tibia II with retrolateral bend and 15 ventral spines in M.arcuata). Females of M.washanensis sp. n. can be differentiated from M.arcuata by the receptacula apically teardrop shaped, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 6 (Fig. 6) (vs copulatory duct long, shape of the English letter “G”; receptacula apically oval, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 8 in M.arcuata).

Etymology

The species epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Distribution

China, Yunnan Province (Cangyuan, Gengma) (Fig. 15)

Figure 15.

Figure 15.

Open in a new tab

Distribution records of the Macrothele in Yunnan Province. 1. M.bannaensis Xu & Yin, 2001; 2. M.cangshanensis Yang et al., 2018; 3. M.undata Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020; 4. M.jinlin Yang et al., 2018; 5. M.jingzhao Chen, Jiang & Yang, 2020; 6. M.multispine Wang, Li & Yang, 2019; 7. M.sanheensis Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020 ; 8. M.yani Xu, Yin & Griswold, 2002, Shi et al. 2018; 9. M.yongshengensis Yang, Zhao & Yang, 2019; 10. M.menglunensis Li & Zha, 2013; 11. M.yunlingensis Yang, Zhao & Yang, 2019; 12. M.arcuata Tang, Zhao & Yang, 2020; 13. M.yunnanica Zhu & Song, 2000; 14. M.washanensis sp. n.; 15. M.wuliangensis sp. n.

Ecology

Spinning large funnel web on crevices. Female often stays in the entrance of funnel tube, when the sheet part of funnel web was hit by other animals, she quickly rush out, to catch the prey, or attack the enemy (Fig. 7B). If the male of the same species comes, releasing some chemical clue or sending vibration via the web, female accepted the clue and walk out for further communication and copulation (Fig. 7A). After some days of copulation, female will lay several dozens of eggs, packaged in a silk-sac, then carried it under her ventral side with cheliceral fang (Fig. 7C).

Figure 7.

Figure 7.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewashanensis sp. n. A. Spider shelter and spiders; B. Living female; C. Female spider with eggs.

Variation

Male (holotype and two male paratypes, n = 3): total length 23.30-24.56; maxillary cuspules 220-269, labial cuspules 53-59. Female (paratypes, n = 3): total length 23.43-28.39; maxillary cuspules 260-297, labial cuspules 61-70.

Macrothele wuliangensis

Wu & Yang sp. n.

0E37C13A-E435-5485-908D-E29F52ACEEA0

DA15CB9B-018A-42F1-A34B-28DE1240985A

Materials

  1. Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: C1EDAD90-9A3D-5884-A92F-7FE5C002F5FF; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewuliangensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Jingdong county; municipality: Puer; verbatimLatitude: 24°31ʹ38ʺN; verbatimLongitude: 100°47ʹ47ʺE; Event: year: 2019; month: 5; day: 28; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWl11

  2. Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Dasong Yang, Yani Tang, Ying Wang and Lei Tao; individualCount: 18; sex: 2 males, 16 females; lifeStage: 10 adults, 8 females juveniles; occurrenceID: 751DC632-5A7E-5A49-87A8-7BF2EF11204E; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewuliangensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Jingdong county; municipality: Puer; verbatimLatitude: 24°31ʹ38ʺN; verbatimLongitude: 100°47ʹ47ʺE; Event: year: 2019; month: 5; day: 28; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWl21-MWl218

  3. Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang and Ping Feng; individualCount: 4; sex: 1male, 3 females; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: 7AFC9F9E-108B-5934-A860-66DB903D504F; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewuliangensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Zhenyuan county; municipality: Puer; locality: Bollie River; verbatimLatitude: 23°52.536′N; verbatimLongitude: 101°08.416′E; Event: year: 2010; month: 7; day: 22; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWl219-MWl222

  4. Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang and Chenghong Li; individualCount: 4; sex: 4 females; lifeStage: 3 juveniles; occurrenceID: 2CC9FE88-81E8-5AF1-A744-DEBCB84A7DA8; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n.; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Zhenyuan county; municipality: Puer; locality: Gucheng Town; verbatimLatitude: 23º29’52.5″N; verbatimLongitude: 101º10’33.8″E; Event: year: 2017; month: 3; day: 7; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWl223-MWl226

  5. Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Zizhong Yang and Wanping Li and Shengshuai Liu; individualCount: 13; sex: 13 females; lifeStage: 8 adults, 5 juveniles; occurrenceID: BF23457D-A6A1-5987-B572-D3BF4C5DF46E; Taxon: scientificName: Macrothelewuliangensis; order: Araneae; family: Macrothelidae; genus: Macrothele; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Jingdong county; municipality: Puer; locality: Jingping Town; verbatimLatitude: 24º34’52.4″N; verbatimLongitude: 100º46’35.9″E; Event: year: 2018; month: 9; day: 14; Record Level: institutionCode: DUIER-MWl236-MWl248

Description

Male (holotype, DUIER-MWl11, Fig. 8). Total Length 22.52: cephalothorax 11.43 long, 7.49 wide; opisthosoma 8.49 long, 4.97 wide. Carapace dark chestnut, gray hairy. Fovea concave. Both eye rows recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.47, ALE 0.62, PME0.45, PLE 0.50; ALE-AME 0.15, AME-AME 0.31, ALE-PLE 0.22, PLE-PME 0.05, PME-PME 0.95. Eye area 1.15 long, 2.28 wide. Chelicerae dark, with 13 stout promarginal teeth, 15 small retromarginal teeth, 17 tiny teeth with fang furrow (Fig. 8F). Labium and maxillae chestnut, with dark brown bristles and patch of cuspules on anterior half part (Fig. 8J); maxillae area length 3.30, cuspules area length 1.48. Sternum chestnut, and with three pairs of sigilla (Fig. 8K). Palp: tibia yellow, 4.34 long，with one long and two stout prolateral spines, two stout dorsal spines (Fig. 8G-I), palpal trochanter without lyral spines; embolus terminal end curved, 4.76 long. (Fig. 8E)

Figure 8.

Figure 8.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n., male holotype. A. Male body, dorsal view; B. Embolus, prolateral view; C. Same, ventral view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Same, the end; F. Left chelicerae. ventral view; G. Left palp tibia, prolateral view; H. Same, dorsal view; I. Same, retrolateral view; J. Sternum; K. Maxillae and labium.

Leg spines. I: femur with 1 dorsal near distad; tibia 2 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, 10 ventral (Fig. 9A) metatarsus with 16 ventral, 12 ventral on near based (Fig. 9B), and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 2 spines, retrolateral with 3 spines (Fig. 10A-B); tarsus 3 prolateral, 4 retrolateral. II: femur with 2 dorsal; patella 2 prolateral; tibia 1 prolateral, 7 ventral (Fig. 9C); metatarsus with 1 prolateral, 7 ventral (Fig. 9D), and two comb-like organs near distad, prolateral with 2 spines, retrolateral with 3 spines (Fig. 10C-D); tarsus 4 prolateral, 4 retrolateral. III: patella 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia 3 prolateral, 1 retrolateral, 4 ventral; metatarsus 2 dorsal, 4 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 10E-F); tarsus with 7 prolateral, 5 retrolateral. IV: femur with 1 dorsal near basad; patella 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia 2 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, 4 ventral; metatarsus 1 dorsal, 4 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, prolateral with 3 spines, retrolateral with 5 spines (Fig. 10G-H); tarsus with 7 prolateral, 7 retrolateral.

Figure 9.

Figure 9.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n., male holotype, left leg. A. Tibia I, ventral view; B. Metatarsus I, ventral view; C. Tibia II, ventral view; D. Metatarsus II, ventral view.

Figure 10.

Figure 10.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n., male holotype. A. Metatarsus I, prolateral comb-like organs; B. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; C. Metatarsus II, prolateral comb-like organs; D. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; E. Metatarsus III, prolateral comb-like organs; F. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs; G. Metatarsus IV, prolateral comb-like organs; H. Same, retrolateral comb-like organs.

Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 12.30 (5.07, 6.22, 1.01); I: 22.44 (6.04, 7.81, 5.82, 2.77); II: 23.40 (6.09, 7.67, 6.29, 3.35); III: 22.77 (5.99, 7.38, 6.06, 3.34); IV: 27.76 (6.99, 8.75, 8.44, 3.58). Leg formula: 4231.

Abdomen black, hairy. Spinnerets: PMS one segment, 1.84 long, 0.45 wide, PMS-PMS 0.86; PLS three segments, PLS 10.35 long (3.29, 3.55, 3.51).

Female (DUIER-MWl21, Fig. 11). Total length 26.86: cephalothorax 8.95 long, 6.77 wide; opisthosoma 8.92 long, 5.18 wide. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.58, ALE 0.70, PME 0.50, PLE 0.56; AME-AME 0.17, ALE-AME 0.13, ALE- PLE 0.16, PLE-PME 0.03, PME-PME 0.99. Eye area 1.20 long, 2.50 wide. Chelicerae chestnut, with 15 stout promargin teeth, 12 small retromarginal teeth, 10 tiny teeth with fang furrow (Fig. 11B). Labium and maxillae lightly yellow, with dark brown bristles and patch of cuspules on anterior half part (Fig. 11C); maxillae area length 3.49, cuspules area length 2.15. Sternum yellow, with three pairs of sigilla (Fig. 11D); palpal trochanter without lyral spines.

Figure 11.

Figure 11.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n., female paratype. A. Female, body, dorsal view; B. Left chelicerae, ventral view; C. Maxillae and labium; D. Sternum.

Leg spines. I: patella with 1 prolateral; tibia 2 ventral; metatarsus 6 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, ventral with 2 spines, prolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 12A-B); tarsus 6 prolateral, 5 retrolateral. II: patella 1 prolateral; tibia 1 prolateral, 2 ventral; metatarsus 1 prolateral, 7 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, retrolateral with 2 spines, prolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 12C-D); tarsus 5 prolateral spines, 5 retrolateral. III: patella 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia 4 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, 4 ventral distally; metatarsus 3 dorsal, 5 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, 8 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, retrolateral with 2 spines, prolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 12E-F); tarsus 8 prolateral, 7 retrolateral. IV: patella 1 prolateral near distally, 1 retrolateral; tibia 2 prolateral, 2 retrolateral, 2 ventral distal; metatarsus 2 dorsal, 4 prolateral, 5 retrolateral, 8 ventral, and two comb-like organs near distad, among them, retrolateral with 4 spines, prolateral with 2 spines (Fig. 12G-H); tarsus with 9 prolateral, 8 retrolateral.

Figure 12.

Figure 12.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n., female paratype. A. Metatarsus I, ventral comb-like organs; B. Same, prolateral comb-like organs; C. Metatarsus II, retrolateral comb-like organs; D. Same, prolateral comb-like organs; E. Metatarsus III, retrolateral comb-like organs; F. Same, prolateral comb-like organs; G. Metatarsus IV, retrolateral comb-like organs; H. Same, prolateral comb-like organs.

Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 13.52 (4.54, 4.91, 4.07); I: 18.86 (5.46, 6.58, 4.19, 2.63); II: 21.53 (6.77, 7.25, 4.86, 2.65); III: 23.00 (6.55, 8.33, 5.13, 2.99); IV: 23.33 (5.78, 8.51, 6.28, 2.76). Leg formula: 4321.

Apically teardrop shaped receptacula bent inwards apically, the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 5 (Fig. 13). Spinnerets: PMS one segment, 1.94 long, 0.59 wide, PMS-PMS 1.05; PLS three segments, 12.00 long (3.33, 3.94, 4.73).

Figure 13.

Figure 13.

Open in a new tab

M.wuliangensis sp. n. A. Genitalia, paratype, Jingdong county; B. Same, Zhenyuan county Bollie River; C. Same, Jingdong county; D. Jingping Town, juvenile female; E. Same, juvenile genitalia; F. Zhenyuan county Bollie River, juvenile genitalia.

Diagnosis

Males of Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n. resemble M.washanensis sp. n. by having similar palpal bulb morphology, but they can be distinguished by having spines in prolateral and dorsal views of palpal tibia and similar palpal bulb morphology, females of the new species are similar to others by the apically teardrop shaped receptacula bent inwards apically. Males of M.wuliangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from M.washanensis sp. n. having five tibial spines visible in prolateral view, two tibial spines visible in dorsal view (Fig. 8G-I); tibia I has 10 ventral spines with six arranged in three pairs, tibia II has 7 ventral spines (Fig. 9) (vs four tibial spines visible in prolateral view, 0 dorsal spines; tibia I with nine spines visible in ventral view, tibia II has 3 ventral spines in M.washanensis sp. n.). Females of M.wuliangensis sp. n. can be differentiated from M.washanensis sp. n. by the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1:5 (Fig. 13) (the ratio of the length of the T to the length of the CD is almost 1 : 6 in M.washanensis sp. n.).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality and is a noun in apposition.

Distribution

China, Yunnan Province (Jingdong, Zhenyuan) (Fig. 15)

Ecology

These spiders usually live in the gap between high rocks and soil (Fig. 14A). They use the natural gap to form a web (Fig. 14B). The web is obvious, funnel shaped, and there are many gaps (Fig. 14C). The spiders usually stay at the hole and wait for the appearance of prey. Generally, the female is large (Fig. 14D).

Figure 14.

Figure 14.

Open in a new tab

Macrothelewuliangensis sp. n. A Microhabitat; B Spider shelter; C Web; D Living female.

Variation

Male (holotype and two male paratypes, n = 3): total length 22.05-22.63; maxillary cuspules 210-330, labial cuspules 57-79. Female (paratypes, n = 16): total length 19.27-26.86; maxillary cuspules 219-354, labial cuspules 61-84.

Discussion

Morphologically, the two new species described is different from that of other species. In addition, the interspecific genetic distance was calculated. In Table 1, the intraspecific genetic distance of the M.wuliangensis sp. n. is 0.0053, less than 0.02, and the interspecific genetic distance between the M.wuliangensis sp. n. and other species is 0.0613-0.5489; The interspecific genetic distance between M.washanensis sp. n. and other species is 0.0613-0.5832. The females and males of two new species are collected from the same location, therefore, we consider that the two new species proposed are effective.

Table 1.

Interspecific genetic distance of two new species based on the p-distance mode.

GenBank number Species M.yani M.wuliangensis sp. n. M.wuliangensis sp. n. M.washanensis sp. n. M.jinlin
MW868388 M.yani
OP003884 M.wuliangensis sp. n. 0.1839
MW847615 M.wuliangensis sp. n. 0.1891 0.0053
OP484957 M.washanensis sp. n. 0.2119 0.0630 0.0613
MW850365 M.jinlin 0.5849 0.5849 0.5814 0.5832
Open in a new tab

Supplementary Material

XML Treatment for Macrothele washanensis
XML Treatment for Macrothele wuliangensis

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32160113) the Key Project on Applied Basic Research of Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (2016FA012), the Special Program of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (202002AA100007).

We are grateful to Dasong Yang, Yani Tang, Yongming You, Wanping Li, Shengshuai Liu, Ping Feng, Jiasen Wei Chenggong Li and Wenjie Zhang for collecting the specimens. Also thanks Dr. Luyu Wang for taking photos of the specimens, and Dr. Junxia Zhang for editing the manuscript.

Funding Statement

The Key Project on Applied Basic Research of Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (2016FA012);The Special Program of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (202002AA100007)

References

  1. Chen Hui-Min, Jiang Xuan-Kong, Yang Zi-Zhong. Two new species of the genus Macrothele of China (Araneae, Macrothelidae) Journal of Guangxi Normal University (Natural Science Edition) 2020;38(1):114–119. doi: 10.16088/j.issn.1001-6600.2020.01.015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hu Jin-Lin, Li Fu-Jiang. On two species of Macrothele from China (Araneae: Dipluridae) Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica. 1986;11:35–39. [Google Scholar]
  3. Lin Ye-Jie, Yan Xun-You, Li Shu- Qiang, Ballarin F, Chen Hai -Feng. Five new species of Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 from China (Araneae, Macrothelidae) ZooKeys. 2021;1052:1–23. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1052.68623. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Li Shu-Qiang, Zha Zu-Wei. Macrothele spiders from Xishuangbanna rainforest of Yunnan, China (Araneae, Hexathelidae) Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica. 2013;38:776–783. [Google Scholar]
  5. Pocock R. I. On some new trap-door spiders from China. Proceedings of the ZoologicalSociety of London. 1901;70(2):207–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1901.tb08540.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  6. Saitô S. Notes on the spiders from Formosa. Transactions of the Sapporo Natural History Society. 1933;3:1–15. [Google Scholar]
  7. Shi Ji-Hui, Yang Zhi-Bin, Zhao Yu, Yang Zi-Zhong. The first description on the male of Macrotheleyani, and supplemental descriptions of female (Araneae: Macrothelidae) Acta Arachnologica Sinica. 2018;27(2):103–107. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-9628.2018.02.003. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  8. Shimojana M, Haupt J. Taxonomy and natural history of the funnel-web spider genus Macrothele (Araneae: Hexathelidae: Macrothelinae) in the Ryukyu Islands (Japan) and Taiwan. Species Diversity. 1998;3:1–15. doi: 10.12782/specdiv.3.1. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  9. Simon E. Histoire naturelle des araignées. Deuxième édition. Tome Premier. Roret; Paris: 1892. 1-256. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  10. Song Da-Xiang, Zhu Ming-Sheng, Chen Jun. The spiders of China. Hebei of Science and Techology Publishing House; 1999. 640 [Google Scholar]
  11. Tang Ya-Ni, Zhao Yu, Yang Zi-Zhong. Three new species of the funnel-web spider genus Macrothele from the Southwest China (Mygalomorphae: Macrothelidae) Zootaxa. 2020;4822(1):127–137. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4822.1.8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Tang Ya-Ni, Wu Ya-Ying, Zhao Yu, Yang Zi-Zhong. Description of a new genus and two new species of the funnel-web mygalomorph (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Macrothelidae) from China with notes on taxonomic amendments. Zootaxa. 2022;5125(5):513–535. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.5.3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Wang Ying, Li Yue, Yang Zi-Zhong. A new species of genus Macrothele (Araneae: Macrothelidae) from China. Acta Arachnologica Sinica. 2019;28(2):109–112. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-9628.2019.02.005. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  14. Catalog World Spider. World Spider Catalog. Version 23.5. Natural History Museum Bern. http://wsc.nmbe.ch. [2022-07-03T00:00:00+03:00]. http://wsc.nmbe.ch
  15. Xu Xiang, Yin Chang-Ming. A new species of the genus Macrothele from China (Araneae: Hexathelidae) Journal of Natural Science of Hunan Normal University. 2001;24:65–66,72. [Google Scholar]
  16. Xu Xiang, Yin Chang-Ming, Griswold C. E. A new species of the spider genus Macrothele from the Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China (Araneae: Hexathelidae) Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 2002;78:116–119. [Google Scholar]
  17. Yang Zhi-Bin, Zhao Yu, Zhang Cheng-Gui, Yang Zi-Zhong. Two new species of the genus Macrothele from the southwest of China (Mygalomorphae: Macrothelidae) Acta Arachnologica Sinica. 2018;27(2):96–102. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-9628.2018.02.002. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  18. Yang Zhi-Bin, Zhao Yu, Yang Zi-Zhong. Two new species of the genus Macrothele from the southwest of China (Mygalomorphae: Macrothelidae) Journal of Dali University. 2019;4(06):45–47+101. [Google Scholar]
  19. Zhu Ming-Sheng, Song Da-Xiang. Review of the Chinese funnel-web spiders of the genus Macrothele, with descriptions of two new species (Araneae: Hexathelidae) Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 2000;48:59–64. [Google Scholar]
  20. Zhu Ming-Sheng, Li Ting-Hui, Song Da-Xiang. A new species of the genus Macrothele (Araneae: Hexathelidae) from China. Journal of Hubei University. 2000;20:358–361. [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

XML Treatment for Macrothele washanensis
BDJ.10.e90967-treatment1.xml (40.2KB, xml)
XML Treatment for Macrothele wuliangensis
BDJ.10.e90967-treatment2.xml (43.9KB, xml)

Articles from Biodiversity Data Journal are provided here courtesy of Pensoft Publishers

RESOURCES