Callosa gen. n., a new troglobitic genus from southwest China (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

Abstract

A new linyphiid genus Callosa gen. n., with two new species Callosa ciliata sp. n. (♂♀, type species) and Callosa baiseensis sp. n. (♂♀), from southwest China are described. Detailed description of genitalic characters and somatic features is provided, as well as light microscopy and SEM micrographs of each species. Callosa gen. n. was found in caves in Yunnan and Guangxi, and its copulatory organs are similar to those of Bathyphantes and Porrhomma, but differ greatly in details. The monophyly and placement of Callosa gen. n. are supported by the results of molecular analysis.

Nihonella gen. nov., a new troglophilic genus of dwarf spiders from Japan with a discussion on its phylogenetic position within the subfamily Erigoninae (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

“…The general structure of our Bayesian phylogeny (Fig. 5) shows strong similarity to phylogenies reported in previous studies on Linyphiidae (Miller & Hormiga 2004;Arnedo et al 2009;Zhao & Li 2017). In our tree, the nodes of clades forming the main linyphiid subfamilies are strongly supported (PP = 1) and show monophyly.…”

“…As far as we know, Linyphiidae are not commonly found in caves within Japan or other Asian countries (Zhao & Li 2017). Some Japanese genera (e.g., Arcuphantes Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943) inhabit the entrance and inner areas of natural large cavities, but their species are not endemic to the subterranean environment.…”

“…nov. and, possibly, new congeners. The recent discovery of cave-adapted linyphiid genera in China (Zhao & Li 2017), and now Japan, further indicates that the study of the troglophilic linyphiid fauna is in general still largely unexplored in East Asia. Specific taxonomic studies on these small spiders in Asian caves may lead to new and interesting discoveries.…”

Acroterius gen. nov. (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Linyphiinae) with twelve new species from Yunnan, China

“…The discovery of this new genus is not surprising, considering that there is limited taxonomic research on Linyphiidae from Yunnan. Zhao & Li (2014, 2017, Irfan & Peng (2018, 2019a, 2019b and Irfan et al (2019) already identified 39 species and 10 genera; with the addition of Acroterius gen. nov., the number of linyphiid genera endemic to Yunnan is now eleven. Acroterius gen. nov. appears to be closely related to Zhezhoulinyphia as many species in both genera have been recorded from the same localities and they share similarities in the embolic division and spermathecae shape.…”

Zhezhoulinyphia gen. nov. (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from Yunnan, China

“…Li and Lin (2016) listed 371 Chinese linyphiid species in 154 genera, including 69 species in 16 genera in the subfamily Linyphiinae. Yunnan is a biodiversity-rich spot in south China and about 9 genera and 39 species of linyphiid spiders have been described from there (Wunderlich and Song 1994; Xia et al 2001; Liu and Chen 2010; Zhao and Li 2014; Zhao and Li 2017; Irfan and Peng 2018). …”