ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Venom glands play a key role in the predation and defense strategies of almost all spider groups. However, the spider family Uloboridae lacks venom glands and has evolved an adaptive strategy: they excessively wrap their prey directly with spider silk instead of paralyzing it first with toxins. This shift in survival strategy is very fascinating, but the genetic underpinnings behind it are poorly understood. RESULTS: Spanning multiple spider groups, we conducted multiomics analyses on Octonoba sinensis and described the adaptive evolution of the Uloboridae family at the genome level. We observed the coding genes of myosin and twitchin in muscles are under positive selection, energy metabolism functions are enhanced, and gene families related to tracheal development and tissue mechanical strength are expanded or emerged, all of which are related to the unique anatomical structure and predatory behavior of spiders in the family Uloboridae. In addition, we also scanned the elements that are absent or under relaxed purifying selection, as well as toxin gene homologs in the genomes of 2 species in this family. The results show that the absence of regions and regions under relaxed selection in these spiders' genomes are concentrated in areas related to development and neurosystem. The search for toxin homologs reveals possible gene function shift between toxins and nontoxins and confirms that there are no reliable toxin genes in the genome of this group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the trade-off between different predation strategies in spiders, using either chemical or physical strategy, and provides insights into the possible mechanism underlying this trade-off. Venomless spiders need to mobilize multiple developmental and metabolic pathways related to motor function and limb mechanical strength to cover the decline in adaptability caused by the absence of venom glands.
Subject(s)
Evolution, Molecular , Spiders , Animals , Spiders/genetics , Spiders/metabolism , Spider Venoms/genetics , Predatory Behavior , Phylogeny , Biological Evolution , Genome , Selection, Genetic , Adaptation, Physiological/geneticsABSTRACT
Background: Only two Otacilia Thorell, 1897 species with troglobitic characteristics have been recorded from Laos and no records of troglobitic Otacilia species from China. New information: A new troglobitic species is reported from Guangxi, China: Otaciliakhezu Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ). Photos and morphological descriptions of the new species are presented; the type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS), Beijing.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, two new species of the genus Amaurobius C. L. Koch, 1837 of the family Amaurobiidae Thorell, 1869 are reported from Sichuan Province, China: A. danba Lin & Li, sp. nov. () and A. yaan Lin & Li, sp. nov. (). Photos and morphological descriptions of the new species are presented; the type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS), Beijing.
Subject(s)
Spiders , Animals , ChinaABSTRACT
Background: The spider genus Stiphropus Gerstaecker, 1873 currently includes 21 extant species that are distributed in Africa (12) and Asia (9). Four species, S.falciformus Yang, Zhu & Song, 2006, S.myrmecophilus Huang & Lin, 2020, S.ocellatus Thorell, 1887 and S.soureni Sen, 1964, are currently known from China. New information: The mismatched female of S.falciformus is reported as a new species: S.qianlei sp. n. (ââ). The unknown male of S.soureni Sen, 1964 is described for the first time. Photos and morphological descriptions are provided.
ABSTRACT
Background: Pennellabalaenoptera Koren & Danielssen, 1877 (Crustacea, Siphonostomatoida, Pennellidae) is so far known as the largest copepod species and has only been found as a parasite on marine mammals. Previous studies on parasitic copepods in China only focused on those found on economic fishes, no records of P.balaenoptera having ever been reported before. New information: A Bryde's whale (Balaenopteraedeni Anderson, 1879) and a pygmy sperm whale [Kogiabreviceps (Blainville, 1838)] were respectively stranded on the eastern and southern coast of China in 2021 and 2022. A total of eight parasitic copepods found on their body surface were sampled and examined. The parasites were identified as Pennellabalaenoptera, based on morphological characteristics and measurements. Descriptions and photomicrographs of this newly-recorded species from China are given in the present study.
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Background: The spider genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 contains 34 species, almost entirely limited to Indochina, India, Sri Lanka and China, with a regional distribution. Eleven species of Asceua are currently only known from China, five of them are described only from one sex. New information: Two new spider species of the genus Asceua are reported from China, A.haocongi sp. n. (ââ, Hainan) and A.zijin sp. n. (ââ, Jiangsu). Photos and a morphological description of the new species are provided.
ABSTRACT
Background: The spider genus Liphistius Schiødte, 1849 contains 69 species, endemic to Indochina and Southeast Asia. Only one species is currently known from the Chinese province of Yunnan: Liphistiusnabang Yu, Zhang & Zhang, 2021. New information: A new species, Liphistiusliz Lin & Li, sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China, on the basis of both sexes. Photos and a morphological description of the new species are provided.
ABSTRACT
Four new genera and 11 new species of Hahniidae Bertkau, 1878 are described. The new genera are Goblinia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species G.tiane Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Guangxi, China; Myahnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species M.kanpetlet Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Chin, Myanmar; Troglohnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species Tr.qiubei Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Yunnan, China and Typhlohnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species Ty.rongshui Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Guangxi, China. Seven additional new species are described: Tr.dafang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Guizhou, China; Tr.shidian Lin & Li, sp. nov. (â) from Yunnan, China; Tr.wuding Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Yunnan, China; Ty.banlaksao Lin & Li, sp. nov. (â) from Bolikhamxay, Laos; Ty.kaiyang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (â) from Guizhou, China; Ty.sondoong Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ) from Quang Binh, Vietnam and Ty.suiyang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (â) from Guizhou, China.
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Species of the family Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892 were surveyed in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, and nine species were found including two new genera and seven new species. The new monotypic genera are Meizhelangen. nov., with the type species Meizhelanmuhongsp. nov. (ââ) and Yuqilingen. nov., with the type species Y.lujunyisp. nov. (ââ). Five additional new species are described: Allomicythussuochaosp. nov. (ââ); Hongkongialiutangsp. nov. (ââ); Sernokorbaruanxiaoersp. nov. (ââ), Synaphosusleihengsp. nov. (ââ) and Sy.lijunsp. nov. (ââ). The unknown male of A.kamurai Ono, 2009 and unknown female of H.wuae Song & Zhu, 1998 are described for the first time.
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Background: The theridiid spider genus Stemmops O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 includes 27 extant species and is distributed in America (23 spp.) and Asia (4 spp.). Three species, S.forcipus Zhu, 1998 (ââ), S.nigrabdomenus Zhu, 1998 (â) and S.nipponicus Yaginuma, 1969 (ââ), are currently known from China. New information: Two new species of Stemmops are described from China: S.atratus sp. n. (â, Jiangsu, Zhejiang) and S.lini sp. n. (ââ, Fujian, Zhejiang). In addition, the previously unknown female of S.nigrabdomenus Zhu, 1998 is described. Photos and morphological descriptions are provided.
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Photographs of the type specimens of nine spider species described by Barrion et al. (2013) from Hainan Island, China, considered as valid taxa in this study, are provided. Among them, three new combinations are proposed: Clubiona pandalira (Barrion-Dupo, Barrion & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Nusatidia Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001); Dictis edwardsi (Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Scytodes Latreille, 1804); and Nesioneta mingshengzhui (Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Meioneta Hull, 1920). Thirty-one new synonyms are proposed and three species are considered as nomina dubia.
Subject(s)
Arachnida , Spiders , Animals , ChinaABSTRACT
Ten jumping spider species published by Song and Chai in 1992 are restudied. The following new synonyms are proposed: Chinattus emeiensis (Peng & Xie, 1995) syn. nov. [=C. undulatus (Song & Chai, 1992)], Evarcha paralbaria Song & Chai, 1992 syn. nov. (= E. coreana Seo, 1988), Ptocasius nanyuensis (Xie & Peng, 1995) syn. nov. [=P. badongensis (Song & Chai, 1992)]. Evarcha orientalis (Song & Chai, 1992) is transferred to Nigorella Wesoowska & Tomasiewicz, 2008. The synonymy status of Chinattus szechwanensis (Prszyski, 1992) with C. undulatus (Song & Chai, 1992) and Nigorella hunanensis (Peng, Xie & Kim, 1993) with N. hirticeps (Song & Chai, 1992) are restored.
Subject(s)
Spiders , Animals , Spiders/classificationABSTRACT
Background: The genus Selenocosmia Ausserer, 1871 includes 39 species. Five species were known from China. This genus has not been found in south-eastern China. New information: A new species of the genus Selenocosmia Ausserer, 1871 is described from China: Selenocosmiazhangzhengi Lin, sp. n. from Fujian. Photos and a morphological description of the new species are given. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beiing (IZCAS).
ABSTRACT
Background: Haplocosmia Schmidt & von Wirth, 1996 is a small genus distributed in the Himalayas that includes two species. This genus has not been found in China (Li et al. 2021, Yao et al. 2021, Zhao et al. 2022). New information: A new species of the genus Haplocosmia is described from China: Haplocosmiasherwoodae sp. n. from Tibet. Photos and a morphological description of the new species are given. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing (IZCAS).
ABSTRACT
Four new species of the genus Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869 from China are described: P.dreepy Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (ââ), P.xuxiake Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (â), P.yunhui Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (â), and P.zhengzhongi Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (â). The unknown sexes of P.brevis Tang & S. Li, 2010 (â), P.huangshanensisLi et al., 1985 (â), P.lancea Tang & S. Li, 2010 (â), and P.mammillata Song, 1990 (â) are described for the first time. Phrynarachnesinensis Peng, Yin & Kim is treated as a nomen dubium.
ABSTRACT
Two new species of the genus Chilobrachys Karsh, 1892 are described from China: Chilobrachysdominus Lin & Li, sp. nov. from Yunnan and C.jinchengi Lin & Li, sp. nov. from Tibet. Photos and a morphological description of the new species are given. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy (IZCAS) in Beijing.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The genus Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871 of the spider family Halonoproctidae Pocock, 1901 includes ten known species from North America and Asia. Since Cyclocosmiaricketti was described by Pocock in 1901, no males of this species have ever been reported. NEW INFORMATION: The male of Cyclocosmiaricketti is described for the first time, based on a specimen collected near the type locality in Fujian Province, China. A morphological description and illustrations are given.
ABSTRACT
Background: Troglomorphism is rare known in Mygalomorphae. Only three troglomorphic mygalomorphs have been recorded in China: Raveniolabeelzebub Lin & Li, 2020, R.lamia Yu & Zhang, 2021 and Sinopesagollum Lin & Li, 2021. New information: A new troglobiontic species of the genus Raveniola is described from China: R.yangren sp. n. (female) from Hunan. Photos and morphological description of the new species are given.This new species has elongated appendages and degenerated eyes in order to adapt to the cave environment. It can be distinguished by the stubby, unbranched spermathecae from other Raveniola.
ABSTRACT
Background: Eresidae C. L. Koch, 1845 contains nine genera and 102 species, of which 24 species belong to Eresus Walckenaer, 1805. Four species of the family are known from China: E.granosus Simon, 1895 (Beijing), E.kollari Rossi, 1846 (Hebei), E.lishizheni Lin, Marusik & Li, 2021 (Xinjiang) and Stegodyphustibialis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869) (Yunnan). New information: Two new species of Eresus are described from Xinjiang, China: Eresusda Lin & Li sp. n. and E.yukuni Lin & Li sp. n. Photos and morphological descriptions of new species are given.