Biodiversity Data Journal : Taxonomy & Inventories
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Taxonomy & Inventories
A new trapdoor spider of Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871 from southern China (Araneae, Halonoproctidae)
expand article infoKun Yu, Changze Li§, Shuyuan Zhang|, Feng Zhang
‡ Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
§ College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| Shanghai FlyDreamer Cultural Diffusion Co.,Ltd, Shanghai, China
Open Access

Abstract

Background

The genus Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871 previously included ten species from North America and Asia, six of which have been recorded from China.

New information

A new species, Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n., is described and diagnosed, based on both sexes from Guangxi Province, China. Morphological characters for the early stages of juveniles of the new species are also provided.

Keywords

Opisthosomal disc, early stages of spiderling, morphology, taxonomy, variation

Introduction

Trapdoor spiders of the genus Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871, are currently known from Southeast Asia (south China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos) and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (southern United States and Mexico) (World Spider Catalog 2023). These spiders are famous in their unique opisthosomal discs bearing orderly ribs and grooves, as well as exquisite muscle impressions. They show interesting defence behaviour of their unusual burrow, which is composed of a wide vestibule and a narrow basal tube (Schwendinger 2005: 225). When disturbed, spiders will commonly retreat to the lower portion of their burrow and use the opisthosomal disc as a false bottom. They are relatively rare in collections and previous studies have shown that this rarity is due to both their demanding requirements of habitat and the well-camouflaged trapdoor that is difficult to find (Gertsch and Platnick 1975). However, in some areas, they are locally abundant with relatively high density (Schwendinger 2005: 240).

Previous studies indicated Cyclocosmia are very long-lived spiders like some other mygalomorphs, with more than 12 years of life span and taking at least five years to become mature (Gertsch and Platnick 1975: 2, Schwendinger 2005: 250). Some species do not reproduce annually; they potentially take a full year to brood eggs and can reproduce more than 300 spiderlings one time (Schwendinger 2005: 240, 250). Wild-caught spiderlings with fully developed opisthosomal discs were considered at least in the third instar (Schwendinger 2005: 237). However, no complete record for the early stages of juvenile Cyclocosmia has been documented and the life history of Cyclocosmia is still poorly known in some respects.

In this study, we describe a new species of Cyclocosmia, based on both sexes from Guangxi Province, China, herein named Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n. During the survey of this new species in 2022, we obtained its egg sacs and brought them into the laboratory for observations and rearing (Figs. 1–3; see under Biology). The early stages of juveniles of the new species are preliminarily reported and the opisthosomal disc of the new species is confirmed to develop in the second instar.

Materials and methods

All specimens, preserved in 75–95% ethanol, were examined under a ZEISS Stemi 305 stereomicroscope. The photographs of genitalia were taken by an Olympus BX53 microscope equipped with a Kuy Nice CCD Camera. Photographs of specimens were stacked by the Helicon Focus 7 software and retouched in the Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 software. Specimens were measured in millimetres by the dedicated tool of Leica LAS V. 4.3 software. The measurements of palps are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, tarsus) (male palpal tarsus measured cymbium only); measurements of legs are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Leg formulae are arranged from longest to shortest. Spinations are given as left/right or a single number, if no variation was observed between both sides. Female vulvae were cleared with Pancreatin (BBI Life Sciences). Distributions of Asian Cyclocosmia spp. were mapped using ArcMap 10.5 (Esri Inc.). All specimens studied are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, China (MHBU) or Collection of Kun Yu, Hanzhong, China (CKYH).

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of new species and five other Cyclocosmia species (C. lannaensis, C. latusicosta, C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti) were amplified using universal primers LCO1490 (forward) and HCO2198 (reverse) (Folmer et al. 1994). PCR products were sent to Azenta Life Sciences, Inc. (Tianjin, China) for sequencing. Sequences were uploaded to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and GenBank accession numbers and voucher information are shown in Table 1 (data released from 5 April 2023). COI sequences of C. truncata and C. loricata were downloaded from NCBI (GenBank accession numbers as shown in Table 1). Sequences were imported into MEGA-X (Kumar et al. 2018) for multiple alignment and calculation of genetic distances. Three species of Cyclocosmia (C. siamensis Schwendinger, 2005, C. liui Xu, Xu & Li, 2017 and C. torreya Gertsch & Platnick, 1975) were not included in our molecular analysis due to lacking specimens or accessible data in the public database.

Table 1.

List of GenBank accession numbers, voucher numbers and locations of Cyclocosmia specimens used for molecular comparison in this study.

GenBank Accession Number Taxon DNA Voucher number Location
OQ561523 C. ruyi sp. nov. KYU081 CHINA: type locality in Guangxi Prov.
OQ561524 C. ruyi sp. nov. KYU082 CHINA: type locality in Guangxi Prov.
OQ561525 C. lannaensis KYU083 CHINA: Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna, Menglun Town
OQ561526 C. latusicosta KYU084 VIETNAM: near Lào Cai
OQ561527 C. ricketti KYU072 CHINA: Zhejiang Prov., Hangzhou, Lishanqiao Village
OQ572318 C. ricketti KYU071 CHINA: Zhejiang Prov., Wenzhou, Mt. Yandang
OQ572316 C. sublatusicosta KYU065 CHINA: Guangdong Prov., Foshan, Changqi Village
OQ572317 C. sublatusicosta KYU073 CHINA: Guangxi Prov., Qinzhou, Pubei County
OQ572319 C. subricketti KYU007 CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Pujiang County
OQ572320 C. subricketti KYU079 CHINA: Chongqing, Jindao Gorge
OQ572322 C. subricketti KYU070 CHINA: Hubei Prov., Yichang, Duzhenwan Town
OQ572321 C. subricketti KYU067 CHINA: Sichuan Prov., Mt. Emei
KY017640.1 C. truncata AUM MY2033 USA: Alabama, Lawrence Co., Borden Ck. Trail
KY017639.1 C. loricata AUM MY3547 MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, El Potosi

Abbreviations: ALE: anterior lateral eyes, AME: anterior median eyes, PLE: posterior lateral eyes, PME: posterior median eyes, MOA: median ocular area, d: dorsal, pd: prodorsal, pl: prolateral, pv: proventral, rd: retrodorsal, rl: retrolateral, rv: retroventral, v: ventral.

Comparative material examined

Cyclocosmia lannaensis Schwendinger, 2005: 1 female and 1 juvenile (CKYH), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Menglun Town, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, 21.8794°N, 101.3293°E, 10 Apr 2019, leg. C. Wei; 2 males and 2 juveniles (CKYH), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, Mt. Jinuo, 22.0636°N, 101.0054°E, 5 July 2022, leg. X. Yang (males were raised and matured in Dec 2022); 2 females (CKYH), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Puwen Town, near Mengwang Village, 22.4830°N, 101.2549°E, 6 Oct 2022, leg. G. Qi.

Cyclocosmia latusicosta Zhu, Zhang & Zhang, 2006: 1 female (Holotype; MHBU), CHINA: Guangxi Province, Ningming County, Aidian Town, 25 Aug 2004, leg. M. Zhu, J. Zhang & F. Zhang; 2 females (Paratypes; MHBU), CHINA: Guangxi Province, Ningming County, Aidian Town, 25 Aug 2004, leg. M. Zhu, J. Zhang & F. Zhang; 1 male and 3 females (CKYH), VIETNAM: near Lào Cai, no further data.

Cyclocosmia ricketti (Pocock, 1901): 1 female (MHBU), CHINA: Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Taishun County, 27.56°N, 119.71°E, leg. Z. Chen, Dec 1989; 1 male (CKYH), CHINA: Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Mt. Yandang, near Nengren Temple, 28.3469°N, 121.0680°E, 15 Oct 2017, leg. S. Zheng; 1 male (CKYH), CHINA: Zhejiang Province, Wuchaoshan National Forest Park, Hangzhou, Mt. Xiaohe, 30.2076°N, 120.0389°E, 25 Oct 2017, leg. S. Zhang; 1 male (CKYH), CHINA: Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Wuchaoshan National Forest Park, near Lishanqiao Village, 30.2014°N, 119.9994°E, Sep 2016, leg. Y. Zhang; 1 female (CKYH), CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Ganzhou, Dayu County, near Wudong Village, 25.3951°N, 114.0271°E, 745 m elev., Oct 2021, leg. R. Kong.

Cyclocosmia sublatusicosta Yu & Zhang, 2018: 1 female (CKYH), CHINA: Guangdong Province, Foshan, Lubao County, Changqi Village, 23.3719°N, 112.9849°E, 3 Mar 2021, leg. X. Zhang; 1 male and 5 females (CKYH), CHINA: Guangxi Province, Qinzhou, Pubei County, 15 Apr 2020, leg. Q. Chen.

Cyclocosmia subricketti Yu & Zhang, 2018: 1 female (CKYH), CHINA: Chongqing, Beibei district, Jindao Gorge, 30.0248°N, 106.6236°E, 12 Apr 2021, leg. H. Chen; 1 male, 3 females and 1 juvenile (CKYH), CHINA: Sichuan Province, Chengdu, citrus plantations in Pujiang County, 30.28°N, 103.56°E, 10 June 2017, leg. local collecter (male was raised and matured in July 2017); 1 female (CKYH), CHINA: Sichuan Province, Qionglai, near Shiqima Village, 30.3258°N, 103.7382°E, 20 Nov 2017, leg. B. Xu; 2 females (CKYH), CHINA: Sichuan Province, Qionglai, Apr 2018, no further data; 1 male (MHBU), CHINA: Sichuan Province, Leshan, Mt. Emei, near Shenshuige, 29.5709°N, 103.4182°E, 24 Sep 2010, leg. Y. Zhao & Z. Gao; 1 male (CKYH), CHINA: Hubei Province, Yichang, Changyang County, Duzhenwan Town, near Yangzheping Village, 30.3075°N, 110.9952°E, 22 Aug 2018, leg. H. Deng.

Taxon treatment

Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & F. Zhang, sp. n.

Materials   Download as CSV 
Holotype:
  1. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventID:
    HBUARA#2022-138
    ; eventDate:
    3 Aug 2022
    ; sex:
    female
    ; recordedBy:
    K. Yu & Y. Ding
    ; identifiedBy:
    K. Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    MHBU-ARA-00023656
    ; occurrenceID:
    B26D100E-7810-5506-81EC-3FF0AD9AD810
Paratypes:
  1. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventID:
    HBUARA#2022-138
    ; eventDate:
    3 Aug 2022
    ; sex:
    1 female
    ; recordedBy:
    K. Yu & Y. Ding
    ; identifiedBy:
    K. Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    MHBU-ARA-00023657
    ; occurrenceID:
    39128A4E-FE8F-592C-B347-587E66971A64
  2. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventDate:
    7 Oct 2022
    ; sex:
    1 male, 1 female
    ; recordedBy:
    W. Feng
    ; identifiedBy:
    K. Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    MHBU-ARA-00023658~00023659
    ; occurrenceID:
    610035A4-763C-5D07-96BD-476A82FC3241
  3. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventDate:
    29 June 2022
    ; sex:
    1 male (raised by C. Li and matured on 1 Oct 2022)
    ; recordedBy:
    W. Feng
    ; identifiedBy:
    K. Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    MHBU-ARA-00023660
    ; occurrenceID:
    06EAD122-F12C-5D31-91A6-9B73D04E142A
Other materials:
  1. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventDate:
    July 2017
    ; sex:
    1 male (penultimate)
    ; recordedBy:
    W. Feng
    ; identifiedBy:
    Kun Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    CKYH (DNA voucher number: KYU081)
    ; occurrenceID:
    D52EA05E-D9A1-5B54-A681-5608F39BA65E
  2. scientificName:
    Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n.
    ; country:
    China
    ; stateProvince:
    Guangxi
    ; county:
    Jinxiu
    ; locality:
    Changdong Village, near Gubaotun
    ; verbatimElevation:
    980 m
    ; verbatimCoordinates:
    110.1668°E, 24.0970°N
    ; eventDate:
    July 2017
    ; sex:
    2 females (1 adult & 1 subadult)
    ; recordedBy:
    W. Feng
    ; identifiedBy:
    Kun Yu
    ; institutionCode:
    CKYH (the subadult female were used for DNA extraction, DNA voucher number: KYU082)
    ; occurrenceID:
    ED50D521-B57C-5E45-9B27-22057CFBEE25

Description

Female (Holotype, MHBU-ARA-00023656). Sclerotised parts of body mostly reddish-brown, membranes cream, cephalon and fovea slightly darker, opisthosoma yellowish-brown, but gradually darkens posteriorly, opisthosomal disc dark brown (Fig. 5C). Colour slightly darker in life, especially cephalon and chelicerae (Fig. 2C–F). Total length (not including chelicerae) 18.48. Carapace smooth, 7.93 long, 7.37 wide. Eyes on low mound, eye group 0.79 long, 2.10 wide anteriorly, 2.09 wide posteriorly. Eye diameters and interdistance: AME 0.24, ALE 0.43, PME 0.20, PLE 0.30, ALE–AME 0.36, AME–ALE 0.41, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.21, ALE–PLE 0.15, MOA 0.84 long, front width 0.85, back width 1.47. Chelicerae robust, promargin of cheliceral groove with 12 and retromargin with 10 denticles of different sizes, arranged in irregular rows. Rastellum carrying one retrolateral-proximal spine and ca. 10 distal spines. Maxillae 3.28 long, 2.06 wide, carrying 12/9 cuspules in prolateral-proximal corner and many weaker spicules all over ventral surface. Labium 1.43 long, 2.00 wide, carrying two cuspules. Sternum 5.47 long. 4.83 wide, three pairs of sigilla present, two anterior pairs small, anterior one closer to margin than median one, posterior pair of sigilla large, medially fused.

Figure 1.  

Habitats (A–B) and burrows (C–E) of Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n. A Landscape of type locality; B Microhabitat; C–D Burrow of holotype female, trapdoor closed (C) and opened (D); E Profile of burrow of paratype female (MHBU-ARA-00023657), with arrows indicating constricted basal tube; F–G Holotype female using opisthosomal disc as the false bottom of burrow, with egg sac (F) and egg sac removed (G). Figures are copyright 2023 Kun Yu.

Figure 2.  

Living specimens of Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n.. A–B Paratype male (MHBU-ARA-00023660); C–F Holotype female. A–E Copyright 2023 Weihang Wang; F Comparison of female and egg sac, copyright 2023 Kun Yu.

Figure 3.  

Living spiderlings of Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n. A First instar spiderlings in egg sac; B first instar spiderlings, with eggshells; C Late stage of a first instar spiderling, pre-moult; D Second instar spiderlings, back view; E Comparison.

Figure 4.  

Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n.. A–B, E, G, I Paratype male (MHBU-ARA-00023660); C–D, H Paratype female (MHBU-ARA-00023657); F Paratype female (MHBU-ARA-00023659); J Holotype female; A–D Habitus; E–F Sternum; G Ocular area; H Bristles on clypeus; I–J Spinnerets. A, C, G–H Dorsal view; B, D, E–F, I–J Ventral view.

Figure 5.  

Opisthosomal discs of Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n.. A Paratype male (MHBU-ARA-00023660); B Paratype male (MHBU-ARA-00023658); C Holotype female; D Paratype female (MHBU-ARA-00023659).

Figure 6.  

Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n., palp of paratype males. A–C, E MHBU-ARA-00023658; D MHBU-ARA-00023660; D–E Details of embolic tip in two individuals.

Measurements of palp: 13.95 (5.28, 2.41, 3.05, 3.21). Legs relatively short and robust, without scopula. Measurements of legs: I 15.98 (5.68, 2.78, 3.59, 2.34, 1.59), II 14.02 (4.92, 2.27, 2.94, 2.18, 1.71), III 13.65 (4.79, 2.59, 2.04, 2.35, 1.88), IV 16.59 (5.39, 2.73, 2.92, 3.24, 2.31). Leg formula 4213. Palpal claw with one proximal tooth on common base and one denticle slightly closer to front base of that tooth, the tooth with one small denticle each front and back surface. Each claw of leg tarsus with one small denticle and one larger tooth near base. Spination: Palp, patella 1 pv distal spine, tibia pv 36/33, rv 35/37, tarsus pv 41/42, rv 57/50; legs I, tibia pv 29/22, rv 39/31, metatarsus pv 40/38, rv 44/35, tarsus pv 27/26, rv 19/21; II, tibia pv 14/11, rv 11/15, metatarsus pv 34/30, rv 19/16, tarsus pv 25/23, rv 10/11; III–IV with many pd and distodorsal spines on patellae and tibiae, d and pd spines on metatarsus III and pd spines on metatarsus IV, 5/4 pd distal spines on metatarsus III, 12/14 pd to ventral distal spines on tarsus III, some of spines on Legs III–IV difficult to distinguish from stiff bristles.

Trichobothria: Palp, tibia with 3 pd, 2 rd in proximal half, tarsus with 8/9 pd (one of trichobothrial sockets carrying two trichobothria on right metatarsus), arranged on irregular oblique row; Legs I, tibia with 4 pd, 4 rd in proximal half, metatarsus with 6 d in distal half, tarsus with 13/14 d, irregularly arranged; Legs II–IV share similar trichobothrial position and arrangement to I; II, tibia 4 pd, 4 rd, metatarsus 6/5 d, tarsus 14/15 d; III, tibia 3/4 pd, 3 rd, metatarsus 6/5 d, tarsus 14/18 d; IV, tibia 5 pd, 5 rd, metatarsus 5 d, tarsus 9 d.

Opisthosoma 9.15 long. Opisthosomal disc 11.33 in diameter, carrying ca. 35 bristles on each rib angle, with three pairs of muscle impressions centrally, two longitudinal ribs separating upper muscle impressions from each other, two transversal ribs separating upper and median pair of muscle impressions, ends of lower transversal rib not connected to radial ribs, ribs between muscle impressions slightly fragmentised; with 45 radial ribs around muscle impressions, each rib carrying tubercles in one row and many adjacent smaller rough granulations irregularly arranged besides the tubercles; no setae present on disc surface, except for three pairs of bristles on rims of muscle impressions (upper pair on inner lower corner of rim of upper muscle impressions, median pair on inner median part of rim of median muscle impressions and lower pair on inner upper part of rim of lower muscle impressions) (Fig. 5C). Posterior median spinnerets 1.25 long, posterior lateral spinnerets 3-segmented (Fig. 4J), 2.15 long.

Spermathecae long, distally curved inwards, ental margin concave near mid-point; with dense pores (Fig. 7A, 9C).

Figure 7.  

Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n., vulvae of females. A Holotype; B Paratype (MHBU-ARA-00023657).

Figure 8.  

Cyclocosmia ruyi Yu & Zhang sp. n., egg and early stages of spiderlings. A–C Pre-hatching egg; D–F First instar spiderling; G–J Second instar spiderling; C Chelicerae of embryo, with arrow indicating row of spines; I Chelicerae; J Opisthosomal disc. A, C, I Front; B, F Lateral; D, G Dorsal; E, H Ventral; J Back.

Figure 9.

Bristles on female clypeus and ocular area of Cyclocosmia spp. (a–b) and vulvae of C. ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n. (c–f)

aC. ruyi Yu & Zhang, sp. n., paratype female (MHBU-ARA-00023659);  
bC. subricketti from Pujiang County, Sichuan Province (CKYH), with arrow indicating dense small bristles;  
cHolotype;  
dParatype (MHBU-ARA-00023657);  
eParatype (MHBU-ARA-00023659);  
fNon-type specimen, subadult female (CKYH).  

Male (Paratype, MHBU-ARA-00023660). Sclerotised parts of body mostly reddish-black, membranes cream, leg tarsi slightly lighter than other segments (Fig. 2A–B). Opisthosoma yellowish-brown, ribs slightly darker (Fig. 4A–B). Total length (not including chelicerae) 16.50. Carapace 7.03 long, 6.29 wide, rather rough, with some transverse ridges on cephalon and dense pits. Eyes on low mound (Fig. 4G), eye group 0.78 long, 1.98 wide anteriorly, 1.90 wide posteriorly. Eye diameters and interdistance: AME 0.44, ALE 0.42, PME 0.32, PLE 0.28, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.24, PME–PME 0.82, PME–PLE 0.06, MOA 0.81 long, front width 1.03, back width 1.29. Chelicerae relatively weaker than female, promargin of cheliceral groove with 13/15 and retromargin with 11/10 denticles of different sizes. Rastellum carrying one retrolateral-proximal spine and 7/6 distal spines. Maxillae 3.16 long, 1.65 wide, carrying 10 cuspules in prolateral-proximal corner. Labium 1.07 long, 1.54 wide, carrying two cuspules. Sternum 5.47 long. 4.83 wide, with three pairs of sigilla (Fig. 4E) like female in position and shape.

Measurements of palp: 14.33 (5.58, 2.52, 4.51, 1.72). Legs relatively short and robust, all tarsi present scopula. Measurements of legs: I 22.14 (7.33, 2.60, 5.27, 4.66, 2.28), II 19.43 (6.12, 2.57, 4.27, 4.26, 2.21), III 18.18 (5.47, 2.69, 3.16, 4.20, 2.66), IV 23.30 (6.68, 3.31, 4.46, 5.84, 3.01). Leg formula 4123. Claws of leg tarsus like female. Leg spination: I, tibia pv to rv 19 (pv 3, distally), metatarsus pv to rv 20, tarsus pl to pv 14/13, v 1/2, rv 11/8; II, tibia pv to rv 19, metatarsus pv to rv 25, tarsus pl to pv 11/13, v 2/3, rv 20/21; III–IV with many spines (Fig. 10A), but none on dorsal and retrolateral sides of tibiae III–IV and retrolateral side of metatarsus IV, most spines on legs III–IV difficult to distinguish from stiff bristles.

Figure 10.

Tarsi IV of males of Cyclocosmia spp., ventral view.

aC. ruyi sp. nov., paratype (MHBU-ARA-00023660);  
bC. ricketti from Hangzhou, Mt. Xiaohe (upper; CKYH) and C. latusicosta from northern Vietnam (lower; CKYH).  

Trichobothria: Palp, tibia with 5 d in proximal half, cymbium with 7/6 d in distal half, arranged in an irregularly oblique row; Legs I, tibia with 4 pd, 4 rd in proximal half, metatarsus with 5 d in distal half, tarsus with 19/14 d, irregularly arranged; Legs II–IV share similar trichobothrial position and arrangement to I; II, tibia 4 pd, 4 rd, metatarsus 5/6 d, tarsus 16/14 d; III, tibia 4/3 pd, 4 rd, metatarsus 3 d, tarsus 17/15 d; IV, tibia 4 pd, 4 rd, metatarsus 4/5 d, tarsus 8/7 d.

Opisthosoma 8.05 long, disc 7.94 in diameter, with ca. 30 bristles on each rib angle (Fig. 11A). Muscle impressions and ribs between muscle impressions as in female, but not strongly sclerotised; 45 radial ribs present (Fig. 5A), without tubercles. Bristles of disc like female in number and position. Posterior median spinnerets 1.00 long, posterior lateral spinnerets 3-segmented (Fig. 4I), 2.77 long.

Figure 11.

Dorsal abdominal ribs of males of Cyclocosmia spp.

aC. ruyi sp. nov., paratype (MHBU-ARA-00023660);  
bC. ricketti from Hangzhou, Mt. Xiaohe (upper; CKYH) and C. latusicosta from northern Vietnam (lower; CKYH).  

Embolus slender, tapering gradually into a fine tip that widens at its tip, to form a hook-like structure (Fig. 6D).

Juveniles. First instar spiderling (Fig. 8D–F): body length 2.68 (not including chelicerae), carapace 0.96 long, 0.87 wide, abdomen oval, without opisthosomal disc, but three upper pairs of impressions (rows of impression I–III) and two lower unpaired transverse impressions (rows of impression IV–V) posteriorly (Fig. 8E–F); rastellum absent, front surface of chelicerae carrying one row of small spines. Second instar spiderling (Fig. 8G–J): body length 3.17 (not including chelicerae), carapace 1.01 long, 0.96 wide, opisthosomal disc present, with ca. 40–45 radial ribs, carrying one bristle on each rib angle, upper muscle impressions kidney shaped (with elevated subcentral zone) (Fig. 8J); rastellum present, carrying one retrolateral-proximal spine and one distal spine (Fig. 8I). Subadult male (penultimate) like female in overall appearance and disc pattern, but palpal tarsi swollen proximally.

Variation between adults (both sexes). Count of radial ribs on female disc: 42–46 (n = 4); count of radial ribs on male disc: 44–48 (n = 2). Outlines of tip edges of embolus are slightly different in two males: relatively protracted in one, whereas relatively blunt in another one; apophysis of embolic tip show different sizes amongst two individuals (Fig. 6D–E). No obvious variation of embolic details observed between two palps in same individual.

Diagnosis

The new species can be distinguished from the American congeners, Cyclocosmia loricata (C. L. Koch, 1842), C. torreya Gertsch & Platnick, 1975 and C. truncata (Hentz, 1841), by the more dense pores on spermathecae and the tips of spermathecae not processing lateral lobes (Fig. 7A–B, Fig. 9C–F), whereas the pores are relatively sparse and the lobes are well developed in the latter three species (see Gertsch and Platnick (1975): figs. 25–27).

In females, the new species can be distinguished from all Asian congeners (except for C. lannaensis Schwendinger, 2005) by the presence of tubercles on radial ribs (Fig. 5C–D) and spermathecae distally curved inwards (Fig. 7C–F, Fig. 9C–F). However, females can be distinguished from C. lannaensis by the following: (1) surface of radial ribs rather rough, with large number of small granulations (Fig. 12A); and (2) the lower transversal rib between upper and median muscle impressions is separated from radial ribs (Fig. 5C–D, 12A); whereas in C. lannaensis, surface of radial ribs is relatively smooth, without small granulations (Fig. 12B; Schwendinger (2005): fig. 51), the lower transversal rib between upper and median muscle impressions is connected to radial ribs (Fig. 12B; Schwendinger (2005): fig. 49). Further, females of the new species can also be distinguished from C. siamensis Schwendinger, 2005 by the absence of setae on the radial ribs (Fig. 5C–D), whereas setae are well developed on the radial ribs of disc in C. siamensis (see Schwendinger (2005): figs. 23–24). Females can be further distinguished from C. ricketti (Pocock, 1901) and C. subricketti Yu & Zhang, 2018 by: (1) the reduced number of radial ribs (count = 42–46); (2) absence of many small bristles on the clypeus (Fig. 9A), whereas in the latter two species, more than 60 radial ribs are present on the opisthosomal disc (Fig. 12C; Yu and Zhang (2018): fig. 5G) and many small bristles are present on clypeus (Fig. 9B; Schwendinger (2005): fig. 2). Females can be further distinguished from both C. latusicosta and C. liui Xu, Xu & Li, 2017 by the absence of an elevated central zone in either the upper or median pair of muscle impressions (Fig. 5C–D), whereas these are present in the upper muscle impressions of C. latusicosta forming endocentric concavities (Fig. 12D; Zhu et al. (2006): fig. 6B); or present in the median muscle impressions of C. liui (Xu et al. (2017): 83, fig. 3C).

Figure 12.

Details of opisthosomal discs of Cyclocosmia spp.

aC. ruyi sp. nov., Paratype females (left: MHBU-ARA-00023657, with red arrows indicating the ends of the lower transversal rib between upper and median muscle impressions; right: MHBU-ARA-00023659, details of radial rib, with yellow arrows indicating the rough surface with large number of granulations);  
bC. lannaensis, female from Xishuangbanna, China (CKYH); left: opisthosomal disc; right: details of radial ribs;  
cC. ricketti, female from Jiangxi Province, China (CKYH), left: opisthosomal disc; right: details of radial ribs;  
dC. latusicosta, opisthosomal discs, left: paratype female from Guangxi, China (MHBU); right: male from northern Vietnam (CKYH).  

In males, the new species can be distinguished from C. latusicosta, C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti by the following: (1) the presence of scopula on ventral tarsi IV (Fig. 10A); and (2) presence of more setae irregularly arranged on the dorsal abdominal ribs (Fig. 11A), whereas in C. latusicosta, C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti, the scopula is absent on ventral tarsi IV (Fig. 10B), the dorsal abdominal ribs have only a row of sparse setae only similarly dense distally (Fig. 11B). Males of the new species can be further distinguished from C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti by: (1) the reduced number of radial ribs (count = 44–48) (Fig. 5A–B); (2) in prolateral view, the apophysis of the embolic tip points laterally (Fig. 6D–E), whereas in C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti, more than 60 radial ribs are present on the opisthosomal disc (Lin et al. (2022): fig. 1D; Yu and Zhang (2018): figs 8B–C); while in prolateral view, the apophysis of the embolic tip points dorsally (Lin et al. (2022): fig. 5D). Males can be further distinguished from C. latusicosta by the absence of the elevated central zone in the upper muscle impression (Fig. 5A–B), whereas these are present in C. latusicosta (Fig. 12D; Yu and Zhang (2018): fig. 8A). Additionally, males can be distinguished from C. lannaensis and C. siamensis by the lower transversal rib between upper and median muscle impressions being separated from radial ribs (Fig. 5A), whereas in C. lannaensis and C. siamensis, the lower transversal rib between upper and median muscle impressions is connected to radial ribs (Schwendinger (2005): figs. 28, 53).

Remark: 

Interspecific genetic distances (p-distance) on COI sequences between Cyclocosmia ruyi sp. nov. and five other Asian congeners (C. lannaensis, C. latusicosta, C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti) form the range from 12.61% to 15.04%, which is considered comparable to interspecific genetic distances between C. lannaensis, C. latusicosta and C. ricketti (13.19% between C. latusicosta and C. ricketti; 14.84% between C. lannaensis and C. latusicosta; 17.09% between C. lannaensis and C. ricketti) and obvious higher than interspecific genetic distances between C. ricketti, C. sublatusicosta and C. subricketti (3.45 ~ 3.60% between C. sublatusicosta and C. ricketti; 6.30 ~ 6.45% between C. ricketti and C. subricketti; 6.60 ~ 6.90% between C. subricketti and C. sublatusicosta). Interspecific genetic distances between C. ruyi sp. nov. and two American congeners (C. loricata and C. truncata) form the range from 15.17% to 22.86%, considered comparable to interspecific genetic distances between other Asian Cyclocosmia species and American Cyclocosmia species (15.59 ~ 23.69%; Table 2).

Table 2.

Interspecific genetic distance matrix (based on p-distance model) on COI sequences of eight species of Cyclocosmia.

OQ561523 OQ561524 OQ561525 OQ561526 OQ561527 OQ572318 OQ572316 OQ572317 OQ572319 OQ572320 OQ572322 OQ572321 KY017640.1 KY017639.1
OQ561523
OQ561524 0.0030
OQ561525 0.1278 0.1261
OQ561526 0.1368 0.1366 0.1484
OQ561527 0.1504 0.1502 0.1709 0.1319
OQ572318 0.1504 0.1502 0.1709 0.1319 0.0000
OQ572316 0.1414 0.1411 0.1619 0.1244 0.0345 0.0345
OQ572317 0.1383 0.1381 0.1589 0.1229 0.0360 0.0360 0.0045
OQ572319 0.1383 0.1351 0.1619 0.1244 0.0630 0.0630 0.0660 0.0675
OQ572320 0.1383 0.1351 0.1619 0.1244 0.0630 0.0630 0.0660 0.0675 0.0000
OQ572322 0.1383 0.1351 0.1619 0.1229 0.0645 0.0645 0.0675 0.0690 0.0015 0.0015
OQ572321 0.1383 0.1351 0.1619 0.1244 0.0630 0.0630 0.0660 0.0675 0.0000 0.0000 0.0015
KY017640.1 0.1549 0.1517 0.1559 0.1664 0.1784 0.1784 0.1739 0.1724 0.1649 0.1649 0.1664 0.1649
KY017639.1 0.2286 0.2252 0.2249 0.2369 0.2369 0.2369 0.2294 0.2279 0.2264 0.2264 0.2279 0.2264 0.2264

Etymology

The specific epithet is from the Chinese "??” (rú yì), it is an auspicious blessing, meaning “everything goes well”; noun in apposition.

Biology

All specimens were collected from moist slopes beside path cuts or hillside with abundant leaf litter (Fig. 1B). Burrows are usually with moss nearby. The entrance of burrow is closed by a thin trapdoor comprised of dead leaves, twigs and moss, sometimes with an extended rim (Fig. 1C–D). The burrow internally presents a wide upper and median portion (vestibule) and a constricted basal tube (Fig. 1E). Burrows of adult females are ca. 7–11 cm deep, shallower in juveniles.

Two mature males were obtained in early October, one matured in captivity from a subadult collected earlier (MHBU-ARA-00023660); another one was collected from the wild (MHBU-ARA-00023658). The collection of dust and soil on the body, shrunken abdomen and abrasion of some claws, indicate the latter one had perhaps been mature for some time. Two females were observed each carrying one egg sac on 3–4 August 2022. Daytime temperatures on those days ranged from a maximum of 30°C to a minimum of 20°C at night (perhaps relatively stable inside the burrow). When burrows were excavated, those females first tried to threaten by biting, before retreating to the constricted basal tube and blocking it with their abdominal disc, but leaving their egg sac behind themselves (Fig. 1F–G).

Two egg sacs were soon opened by the first author in the laboratory (10 August 2022). One of them had 147 live first instar spiderlings and same number of eggshells (Fig. 3A–B), the other had 158 fresh dead first instars, some eggshells and four eggs ready to hatch (this latter sac may have been ruined by accidental extrusion during carriage); no unfertilised eggs found. Living spiderlings were placed in a sunless incubator with 27°C and 95% humidity to nurture. After ca. 3–4 weeks (1–6 September 2022), they started to moult into second instars (Fig. 3C–E). The practical period of first instar stage is unknown, because the hatching time is uncertain, but presumably not too much longer.

First instar spiderlings present a few of small spines on the front surface of the chelicerae, which do not seem homologous to those of the rastellum because of their deviation in position, arrangement and shape. These spines were developed before the hatching (Fig. 8C) and partly missing in some emerged first instars, which indicates they may be potentially used to puncture the eggshell. The opisthosomal disc was shaped up after moulting to second instar, three pairs of muscle impression were positionally corresponding to rows of impression II–IV in first instar; rows of impression I and V of first instar disappeared after moulting into second instar. These spiderlings seem very sensitive to light (even in early stage of first instar when their eyes were not well developed), they were very agitated under artificial lighting, but soon regained their sedentary composure after lighting was removed.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality of Guangxi, China (Fig. 13).

Figure 13.  

Distribution records of Cyclocosmia species in Asia.

DNA barcode

AGATATTGGAACTCTTTATTTAATGTTTGGGGTTTGAGCTTCTATAATGGGTTCAGGTATAAGATTAATTATTCGAACTGAGTTAGGCCAATTAGGGAGATTTTTAGGTGATGATCATTTATATAATGTTATTGTGACAGCACATGCTTTAGTAATGATTTTTTTTATAGTGATGCCTATTATGATTGGGGGATTTGGAAATTGGTTGGTTCCTTTAATGATAGGGGCTCCAGATATAGCTTTTCCTCGGATGAATAATTTAAGATTTTGGTTATTGCCTCCTTCTTTGTTTATGTTGTTGCTTTCTTCTTTGACTGATTTAGGGGTAGGAGCTGGATGGACTATTTATCCTCCATTGTCTTCTTCTTTGGGGCATATAGGGGGGGGGATAGATTTTGTTATTTTTTCTTTGCATTTGGCAGGGGCTTCTTCAATTATAGGGGCTATTAATTTTATTTCAACTATTGTGAATATACGATCTTCTGGAATGAGTTTGGAACGAGTTCCTTTGTTTGTGTGATCTGTGATGATCACAGCTATTTTATTGTTATTGTCGTTACCAGTTTTAGCTGGAGCGATTACTATATTGTTGACTGACCGGAATTTTAATACTTCTTTTTTTGATCCTGCTGGAGGAGGAGATCCTATTTTATTTCASCATTTATTTTGATTTTTTGGTC (GenBank accession number: OQ561524)

Acknowledgements

This paper benefited greatly from valuable suggestions by the subject editor Dr. Stuart J. Longhorn and three reviewers (Dr. Rebecca L. Godwin, Dr. Zeeshan A. Mirza and an anonymous reviewer). Thank Mr. Wenyong Feng (Guangxi) for his tremendous help on first author’s trip to Guangxi in 2022. Thanks to Yuhui Ding (MHBU) for assistance with collecting type specimens, Weihang Wang (MHBU) for providing photos of living specimens and Haocong Yang (Beijing) and Zhuoran Zeng (Chongqing) for providing information of the new species. Thanks to Dr. Junxia Zhang (MHBU), Dr. Vesela Evtimova (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) and Ms. Jiaxuan Li (Shanghai) for comments on the early manuscript. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to Feng Zhang (No. 32170468).

References

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