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ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024)
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564

Research Article

Description of two new species of the genus Trachelas L. Koch,
1872 and the male of T. gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017
from China (Araneae, Trachelidae)

Gang Tang’®, Wen-long Yan'®, Yi Zhao™®, Xian-jin Peng'®

1 College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
Corresponding author: Xian-jin Peng (xjpeng@126.com)

OPEN Qaccess

Academic editor: Dimitar Dimitrov
Received: 27 June 2024

Accepted: 2 September 2024
Published: 14 October 2024

ZooBank: https://zoobank.
org/19536B03-4F83-435F-ADEB-
B29CAF39BBFE

Citation: Tang G, Yan W-I, Zhao Y,
Peng X-j (2024) Description of two
new species of the genus Trachelas
L. Koch, 1872 and the male of 7.
gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017
from China (Araneae, Trachelidae).
Zookeys 1215: 127-138. https://doi.
org/10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564

Copyright: © Gang Tang et al.

This is an open access article distributed under
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License (Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Two new spider species of the genus Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 are described from China:
Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov. () and Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov. (2). The male of
Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 is described for the first time. Illustra-
tions of the body and copulatory organs and a distribution map are provided.

Key words: Morphology, spider, taxonomy, trachelids, Yunnan

Introduction

The subfamily Tracheleae Simon, 1897 was originally treated as a member of
the family Corinnidae Karsch, 1880. Ramirez (2014) separated it from Corinni-
dae and elevated it to its own family, Trachelidae. This family currently contains
290 species in 25 genera, of which nine genera and 38 species are distributed
in China. Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 is the most species-rich genus in Trachelidae,
with 91 species distributed worldwide, including 13 species in China (main-
ly distributed in southwest China) (WSC 2024). There have been seven new
species of Trachelas described and one new record reported in China recently
(Zhang et al. 2009; Jin et al. 2017; Liu et al. 2024).

During the examination of spider specimens collected from Yunnan Province
in 2007, two new species, Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov. (2), T. kavanaughi sp.
nov. (), and the males of T. gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 were discov-
ered. Descriptions and photomicrographs of the habitus and copulatory organs
and distribution map are provided.

Material and methods

Specimens were stored in 75% ethanol. The female genitalia were cleared
with lactic acid before examination and photography. Specimens were pho-
tographed using a Kuy Nice E3IS PM digital camera attached to an Olym-
pus BX53 compound microscope and examined and measured with a Leica
M205C stereomicroscope. Photographs were taken by placing specimens on

127

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

alcohol-soaked cotton in a Petri dish. Focus-stacked images were composit-
ed using Helicon Focus ver. 7.0 and then modified in Adobe Photoshop CS6.
All measurements are in millimeters (mm). Leg measurements are as follows:
total length (femur, patella+tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). All specimens are depos-
ited at the College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University (HNU), Changsha,
Hunan Province, China.

The following abbreviations are used in the text and figures: ALE anteri-
or lateral eyes, AME anterior median eyes, ATR atrium, CD copulatory duct,
CnD connecting duct, CO copulatory opening, RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis,
E embolus, FD fertilization duct, MOA median ocular area, PLE posterior lateral
eyes, PME posterior median eyes, RPA retrolateral patellar apophysis, SD sperm
duct, ST subtegulum, ST1 primary spermatheca, ST2 secondary spermatheca,
TA tegular apophysis, VFG ventral femoral groove.

Taxonomy

Family Trachelidae Simon, 1897
Genus Trachelas L. Koch, 1872

Type species. Trachelas minor O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872.

Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017
Figs 1-4

Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017: 42, figs 16A-G, 18A, B (9).

Material examined. « 4 4, 1 9(HNU-20071010); CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Longyang
County, Mangkuan Baihualing; 25.30366°N, 98.80032°E; 1624 maz.s.|.; 10 Octo-
ber 2007; Xian-jin Peng leg. * 2 2 (HNU-Tang-04-12); CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Gong-
shan County, Cikai Township, Heiwadi Village; 27.47101°N, 98.35533°E; 1850 m
a.s.l.; 13-16 November. 2004; Guo Tang leg. * 2 2 (HNU-DHK-2004-082); CHINA,
Yunnan Prov., Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Township, 0.2 km S of confluence
of Dulongjiang with Muke Wang [river]; 27.84125°N, 98.32979°E; 1450 maz.s.L.,;
11 November 2004; D. H. Kavanaugh leg. * 1 9 (HNU-VFL-04-0027); CHINA, Yun-
nan Prov., Gongshan County, Bingzhongluo Township, west side of bridge NW
of Stone Gate; 28.06670°N, 98.58890°E; 1500 m a.s.I.; 11 December 2004; V. F.
Lee leg.

Etymology. The species name “gaoligongensis” refers to the Gaoligong
mountain range where the type locality is found, adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of Trachelas gaoligongensis (Figs 2, 4A-C) resembles
that of T; bomiensis Jin & Mi, 2024 (see Liu et al. 2024, fig. 2A-D) in having a
hook-shaped sperm duct and a protruding genital bulb but differs as follows:
(1) the embolus is enlarged at the base and elongated at the tip in retrolateral
view (vs. elongated at the base and with two spirals at the tip); (2) the retro-
lateral tibial apophysis points to the dorsal side of the cymbium in prolateral
view (vs. absent); and (3) the retrolateral patellar apophysis is longitudinally
bar-shaped, distally covered with feathery setae in retrolateral view (vs. distal

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 128

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Figure 1. Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 (HNU-20071010). Male (A-E) A habitus, dorsal view B ditto,
ventral view C ditto, lateral view D ocular area, dorsal view E carapace, frontal view. Female (F-J) F habitus, dorsal view
G ditto, ventral view H ditto, lateral view I ocular area, dorsal view J carapace, frontal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

portion transversely bent toward tibia and without feathery setae). The female
of T. gaoligongensis (Figs 3, 4D, E) resembles that of T. kavanaughi sp. nov.
(see Figs 5E, F, 7A, B) in the shape of the atrium and secondary spermathe-
cae, but differs as follows: (1) the atrium is about as long as wide in ventral
view (vs. wider than long); (2) the copulatory openings are posteriorly locat-
ed on the genitalia in ventral view (vs. anteriorly located on the genitalia); (3)
the primary spermathecae are oval in dorsal view (vs. round); and (4) the in-
terdistance of the secondary spermathecae is more than twice the width of
the primary spermathecae in dorsal view (vs. narrower than the width of the
primary spermathecae).

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 129

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

D

Figure 2. Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 (HNU-20071010) A male left palp, ventral view B ditto, retrolat-
eral view C ditto, dorsal view D ditto, prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 130

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Figure 3. Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 (HNU-20071010) A genitalia, ventral view B ditto, dorsal view.
Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

D E

Figure 4. Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017 A male left palp, prolateral view B ditto, ventral view C ditto,
retrolateral view D genitalia, ventral view E ditto, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 131

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Description. Male. (one of HNU-20071010) (Fig. 1A-E). Total length 4.06.
Carapace 2.05 long, 1.64 wide; abdomen 2.30 long, 1.65 wide. Carapace brown,
fovea thin and black, cervicle and radial grooves distinct. Chelicerae and labium
brown, three promarginal and two retromarginal teeth. Sternum and endites
yellowish brown, truncated margin of sternum with distinct crescent-shaped
depression. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.14, PME 0.14, PLE
0.11, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-PME 0.11, PME-PLE 0.10, ALE-
PLE 0.08. MOA 0.34 long, anterior width 0.28, posterior width 0.36. Clypeus
height 0.12. Legs yellowish brown, with black rings. Leg measurements: leg |
5.38 (1.68, 2.19, 0.92, 0.59), Il 5.24 (1.61, 2.13, 0.87, 0.63), Ill 3.15 (0.87, 0.90,
0.94, 0.44), IV 5.60 (1.74, 1.83, 1.45, 0.58). Leg formula: 4123. Abdomen oval,
apricot-white; anterior half of dorsum with two black-brown longitudinal stripes;
posterior half with five black-brown chevrons decreasing in size from anterior
to posterior; venter with three dark longitudinal stripes. Spinnerets with paren-
thesis-shaped marks laterally.

Palp (Figs 2, 4A-C). Retrolateral patellar apophysis finger-like, as long as
patella, distally covered with feathery setae; retrolateral tibial apophysis spur-
like, as long as tibia, pointed distally; genital bulb oval, embolus short, with base
broad and spiralled, apex constricted and spinelike. Sperm duct distinct and
hook-shaped.

Female. (HNU-20071010) (Fig. 1F-J). Total length 4.95. Carapace 1.70 long,
1.39 wide; abdomen 2.84 long, 1.79 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME
0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11, AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-
PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.09, ALE-PLE 0.08. MOA 0.28 long, anterior width 0.24,
posterior width 0.32. Clypeus height 0.11. Leg measurements: leg | 4.81(1.50,
1.80, 0.89, 0.62), Il 4.57 (1.44, 1.63, 0.91 0.59), III 3.73 (1.19, 1.12, 0.91, 0.51),
IV 5.47 (1.54, 1.91, 1.40, 0.62). Leg formula: 4123. Abdomen oblong, anterior
half of dorsum with a black-brown longitudinal stripe and some irregular darker
patches. Other characters as in male.

Epigyne (Figs 3, 4D, E). Atrium about as long as wide, copulatory open-
ings pore-like, located at posterior of epigyne; copulatory ducts C-shaped,
connected to n-shaped secondary spermathecae; connecting ducts slender,
axisymmetric; primary spermathecae oval, connected to lightly sclerotized
fertilization ducts.

Distribution. China (Yunnan) (Fig. 8).

Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov.
https://zoobank.org/6250BA11-335B-45DD-BOBB-F65CCE47FF41
Figs 5, 7A, B

Type material. Holotype » 2 (HNU-DHK-2004-058); CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Gong-
shan County, Dulongjiang Township, south of Dizhengdang Village along Si-
lalong River; 28.07654°N, 98.32603°E; 1890 m a.s.l.; 28 October 2004; D. H.
Kavanaugh leg.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the type specimen collector,
D. H. Kavanaugh, the curator emeritus at the California Academy of Sciences.

Diagnosis. The female of this new species (Figs 5E, F, 7A, B) resembles that
of Trachelas gaoligongensis (see Figs 3, 4D, E) in the shape of the atrium and

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 132

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

F

Figure 5. Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov., female (holotype) A habitus, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ocular area, dor-
sal view D carapace, frontal view E genitalia, ventral view F ditto, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 0.3 mm (E, F).

the secondary spermathecae but differs as follows: (1) the atrium is wider than
long in ventral view (vs. about as long as wide); (2) the copulatory openings are
located on the anterior of the genitalia in ventral view (vs. located on posteri-
or); (3) the primary spermathecae are round in dorsal view (vs. oval); and (4)
the interdistance of the secondary spermathecae is narrower than the width
of the primary spermathecae in dorsal view (vs. more than the twice width
of the primary spermathecae).

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 133

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Description. Female (holotype) (Fig. 5A-D). Total length 4.45. Carapace 1.75
long, 1.61 wide; abdomen 2.68 long, 1.79 wide. Carapace brown, smooth, fovea
black, small and distinct. Chelicerae brown, with three promarginal and two
retromarginal teeth. Sternum and labium light brown, and truncated margin of
sternum with distinct crescent-shaped depression. Eye sizes and interdistanc-
es: AME 0.13, ALE 0.13, PME 0.13, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.02,
PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.08, ALE-PLE 0.05. MOA 0.27 long, anterior width
0.30, posterior width 0.34. Clypeus height 0.12. Legs light brown alternating
with dark brown. Leg measurements: leg | 5.53 (1.72, 2.02, 1.04, 0.75), Il 5.30
(1.60, 1.93, 1.06, 0.71), III 4.20 (1.22, 1.43, 1.02, 0.53), IV 5.72 (1.66, 1.95, 1.46,
0.65). Leg formula: 4123. Abdomen oval, apricot-white; dorsum with five black-
brown chevrons decreasing in size from anterior to posterior; venter with two
blurry gray longitudinal stripes. Spinnerets yellowish.

Epigyne (Figs 5E, F, 7A, B). Atrium wider than long copulatory openings small,
located at anterior of epigyne; copulatory ducts C-shaped, secondary sperma-
thecae narrowest at junction with copulatory ducts, widening from copulatory
openings to spermathecae; connecting ducts axisymmetric; primary sperma-
thecae round, connected to lightly sclerotized fertilization ducts.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 8).

Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov.
https://zoobank.org/87DF29C7-02FA-41 1D-8A54-CBC9141565F7
Figs 6, 7C, D

Type material. Holotype > 2° (HNU-Wang060528-1); CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Teng-
chong County, Hougiao Township; 25.35391°N, 98.25488°E; 1785 m a.s.l.; 28
May 2006; Xin-Ping Wang, Peng Hu leg.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin “ventriosus” (pot-bel-
lied), referring to its large abdomen; adjective.

Diagnosis. The female of this new species (Figs 6E, F, 7C, D) resembles that
of Trachelas fasciae Zhang, Fu & Zhu, 2009 (see Zhang et al. 2009, figs 21, 22) in
having symmetrical connecting ducts and the primary spermathecae are near
the genital groove but differs as follows: (1) the atrium occupies 3/4 of the gen-
italia in ventral view (vs. 1/3 of the genitalia); (2) the copulatory openings are
posterior to the secondary spermathecae in ventral view (vs. anterior to the sec-
ondary spermathecae); (3) the secondary spermathecae are inverted V-shaped
in dorsal view (vs. V-shaped); and (4) the primary and secondary spermathecae
are far away from each other in dorsal view (vs. partially overlapping).

Description. Female (holotype) (Fig. 6A-D). Total length 4.47. Carapace 1.59
long, 1.33 wide; abdomen 2.87 long, 1.89 wide. Carapace brown, fovea black
and slender, radial grooves distinct. Chelicerae light brown, with two promar-
ginal and three retromarginal teeth. Sternum and labium light brown, partly
covered with black setae. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.12,
PME 0.12, PLE 0.12, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.10, PME-
PLE 0.08, ALE-PLE 0.07. MOA 0.26 long, anterior width 0.24, posterior width
0.30. Clypeus height 0.11. Legs light brown alternating with dark brown. Leg
measurements: leg | 4.56 (1.43, 1.65, 0.81, 0.67), Il 4.82 (1.44, 1.62, 1.22, 0.54),

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 134

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Figure 6. Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov., female (holotype) A habitus, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ocular area, dorsal
view D carapace, frontal view E genitalia, ventral view F ditto, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 0.3 mm (E, F).

Ill 3.02 (0.83, 1.05, 0.72, 0.42), IV 4.80 (1.32, 1.71, 1.23, 0.54). Leg formula:
2413. Abdomen oval, apricot-white; dorsum with eight black-brown chevrons
decreasing in size from anterior to posterior, with a longitudinal black-brown
stripe in middle, and several brown markings distributed irregularly; venter with
two blurry gray longitudinal stripes. Spinnerets covered with black setae and
parenthesis-shaped marks laterally.

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 135

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

mas

ventral view B ditto, dorsal view

,

, D Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov. A genitalia

, B Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov. C

A

7

igure

F

dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

ventral view D ditto,

,

C ditto

Atrium longer than wide, copulatory openings lo-

Epigyne (Figs 6E, F, 7C, D).
cated on posterior of epigyne

second-

primary spermathecae close to genital

connecting ducts long and symmetrical;

J

J

ary spermathecae close to each other

groove, connected by short fertilization ducts.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 8).

136

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

A Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov.

oa Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov.

@ Jrachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017

Figure 8. Collection localities of Trachelas gaoligongensis Jin, Yin & Zhang, 2017,
Trachelas kavanaughi sp. nov. and Trachelas ventriosus sp. nov.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Guo Tang, Xin-Ping Wang, Peng Hu, D. H. Kavanaugh, and V.
F. Lee for collecting specimens.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China
(NSFC-30970327, 31272271, 31272272, 31301861, 31660609).

Author contributions

Data curation: YZ. Methodology: WY. Writing - original draft: GT. Writing - review and
editing: XP.

Author ORCIDs

Gang Tang ® https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6287-6706
Wen-long Yan © https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9663-9436
Yi Zhao © https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8804-5305
Xian-jin Peng © https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2614-3910

ZooKeys 1215: 127-138 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.130564 137

Gang Tang et al.: Two new species and a male supplement of genus Trachelas

Data availability
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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