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Accepted by F. Labarque: 30 Nov. 2017; published: 1 Feb. 2018
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN
1175-5334
(online edition)
Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 4377 (2): 235
–
253
http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Article
235
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4377.2.5
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92AB898C-1B08-44C4-98B6-B0C31E8F9F7D
Five new species of the spider genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805
(Araneae: Pholcidae) from China and Thailand
KELI ZHU
1, 2
, ZHIYUAN YAO
3
, XIUJUAN BAI
1, 5
& SHUQIANG LI
3, 4, 5
1
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
2
Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
3
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
4
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
5
Corresponding authors: Shuqiang Li, E-mail: lisq@ioz.ac.cn; Xiujuan Bai, E-mail: bxj630306@163.com
Abstract
Five new species from four species-groups of the genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 are described from China and Thai-
land: P. sakaew Yao & Li sp. nov. (Thailand) from the P. bidentatus species-group; P. umphang Yao & L i sp. nov. (Thai-
land) from the P. halabala species-group; P. ningan Yao & L i sp. nov. (China) from the P. phungiformes species-group;
and P. yongshun Yao & L i sp. nov. (China) and P. yuxi Yao & L i sp. nov. (China), both from the P. yichengicus species-
group.
Key words: taxonomy, morphology, biodiversity, pholcid, Pholcinae
Introduction
The spider family Pholcidae C.L. Koch, 1850 has a worldwide distribution and occupies a wide range of habitats in
a variety of ecosystems (Huber 2005). To date, 1,611 species in 80 genera have been described (World Spider
Catalog 2017). The family was divided into five subfamilies: Ninetinae Simon, 1890, Arteminae Simon, 1893,
Modisiminae Simon, 1893, Smeringopinae Simon, 1893, and Pholcinae C.L. Koch, 1850 (Huber 2011a; Dimitrov
et al. 2013). Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 is the most species-rich genus in the family Pholcidae, with 384 described
species belonging to 32 species-groups and mainly distributed in the Old World (Huber 2011b; Huber et al. 2016a;
Huber et al. 2016b; World Spider Catalog 2017).
Pholcus exhibits high species diversity in China and Thailand. Recently, a large number of new species of
Pholcus have been reported from these two areas. In China, Zhang and Zhu (2009) reviewed 55 species of the
genus, including 20 newly described species. Tong and colleagues (Tong & Ji 2010; Tong & Li 2010; Liu & Tong
2015) reported 12 new species mostly from Hebei and Liaoning Provinces. Yao and colleagues (Yao & Li 2012;
Dong et al. 2016b) described 48 new species and provided new illustrations for 45 known species based on type
material. To date, 131 species, nearly one third of the genus, have been recorded from China (Li & Lin 2016; World
Spider Catalog 2017). Huber (2011b) described 42 new species from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands in his
major revision of the genus, of which 15 species are recorded from Thailand. Huber et al. (2016a) further revised
the Southeast Asian P. halabala species-group, with four new species from Thailand. Yao and his collaborators
(Yao & Li 2013; Yao et al. 2014, 2015; Dong et al. 2016a, 2017) described 33 new species of Pholcus from
Southeast Asia, including 16 new species from Thailand. Currently, 35 species have been recorded from Thailand,
which has the highest diversity in Southeast Asia (World Spider Catalog 2017).
In this paper, five new species are described from four species-groups: the P. bidentatus species-group, the P.
halabala species-group, the P. phungiformes species-group, and the P. yichengicus species-group, all collected in
China or Thailand.
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Material and methods
Specimens were examined and measured with a LEICA M205 C stereomicroscope. Images were captured with an
Olympus C7070 wide zoom digital camera (7.1 megapixels) mounted on an Olympus SZX12 dissecting
microscope, and assembled using Helicon Focus 3.10.3 image stacking software. Male and female genitalia were
examined and illustrated after dissection. Epigyna were previously treated in a 10% warm solution of potassium
hydroxide (KOH). The left male pedipalps were illustrated (any exceptions are indicated in figure legends). All
specimens were preserved in 75% ethanol. All measurements are given in millimeters. Leg measurements are
shown as: total length (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus). Leg podomeres were measured on their dorsal
side. The distribution map was generated with ArcView GIS 3.2. All material studied is deposited in the Institute of
Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China (curator: Jun Chen).
Terminology and taxonomic descriptions follow Huber (2011b), except by leg measurements (see above). The
following abbreviations are used in the descriptions: ALE, anterior lateral eye; AME, anterior median eye; PME,
posterior median eye; L/d, length/diameter.
Taxonomy
Family Pholcidae C.L. Koch, 1850
Subfamily Pholcinae C.L. Koch, 1850
Genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805
Type species: Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin, 1775)
Diagnosis and description. See Huber (2011b).
Pholcus bidentatus species-group
Diagnosis. This species-group (core-group) can be distinguished from all known congeners by the combination of
the following characters: eight eyes; opisthosoma cylindrical; male distal cheliceral apophyses without teeth; male
pedipalpal tarsus with a finger-shaped dorsal elongation; procursus with dorsal spines and a distinctive retrolateral
membranous process; uncus with a long proximal apophysis; appendix branched; epigynum heavily sclerotized,
with a ‘knob’ (Huber 2011b).
Composition. The species-group now contains 35 species (core-group: 14 species, tentative assignment-
group: 21 species) and is known from southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. Of these, based on the
morphological characters and our unpublished molecular data, nine species originally not assigned to any existing
species-group are assigned to the core-group: P. d i e b a n Yao & Li, 2012, P. huapingensis Yao & Li, 2012, P.
imbricatus Yao & Li, 2012, P. k u i Yao & Li, 2012, P. obscurus Yao & Li, 2012, P. undatus Yao & Li, 2012, P. y i
Yao & Li, 2012, P. y u a n t u Yao & Li, 2012 and P. zhaoi Yao, Pham & Li, 2015; nine species, including one new
species below, are assigned tentatively to the species-group for the lack of a better solution: P. aduncus Yao & Li,
2012, P. arcuatilis Yao & Li, 2013, P. bailongensis Yao & Li, 2012, P. bantouensis Yao & Li, 2012, P. bifidus Yao ,
Pham & Li, 2015, P. hochiminhi Yao, Pham & Li, 2015, P. mao Yao & Li, 2012, P. sakaew Ya o & L i sp. nov. and
P. sublaksao Yao & Li, 2013.
Pholcus sakaew Yao & Li sp. nov.
Figs 1–2
Type material. Holotype: male, Tham Phet Sai Kaew Cave (13°24.962'N, 102°19.589'E, elevation 243 m), Klong
Hat Subdistrict, Sakaew, Thailand, 9 November 2016, H. Zhao, Y. Li and Z. Chen leg. Paratype: 1 female, same
data as holotype.
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FIGURE 1. Pholcus sakaew Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Flipped right pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B.
Retrolateral view, arrow points at dorsal apophysis on femur proximally); C–D. Distal part of flipped right procursus (C.
Prolateral view, arrow 1 points at membranous prolateral process, arrow 2 points at prolatero-dorsal spine; D. Dorsal view,
arrow points at sclerotized prolateral apophysis). a = appendix, b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars:
0.20 (A–B), 0.10 (C–D).
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FIGURE 2. Pholcus sakaew Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male (C–F) and paratype female (A–B, G–H). A. Epigynum, ventral
view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Flipped right bulbal apophyses, prolateral view; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E–H. Habitus (E,
G. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). a = appendix, da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal apophysis, pa =
proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.10 (A–C), 0.20 (D), 1.00 (E–H).
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NEW SPECIES OF PHOLCUS FROM CHINA AND THAIL AND
Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, and is a noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from all known congeners in the P. bidentatus species-
group by the presence of a long, membranous prolateral process distally (arrow 1 in Fig. 1C) and a long, sclerotized
prolateral apophysis distally (arrow in Fig. 1D) on the procursus and by the long, medially curved appendix (Fig.
2C).
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.51 (5.64 with clypeus), carapace 0.94 long, 1.02 wide,
opisthosoma 4.47 long, 1.44 wide. Leg I: – (11.92 + 0.73 + 12.50 + – + –), leg II: 32.52 (9.29 + 0.69 + 8.44 + 12.50
+ 1.60), leg III: 24.88 (7.69 + 0.65 + 5.83 + 9.49 + 1.22), leg IV: 30.79 (8.97 + 0.66 + 8.27 + 11.35 + 1.54); tibia I
L/d: 71. Distance PME-PME 0.81; diameter PME 0.16; distance PME-ALE 0.06; distance AME-AME 0.05;
diameter AME 0.05. Sternum wider than long (1.02/0.94). Habitus as in Figs 2E–F. Carapace grey, with narrow
brown line medially; ocular area and clypeus grey; sternum gery, with brown marks. Legs yellowish, but whitish on
distal parts of femora and tibiae, without darker rings. Opisthosoma grey, with brown marks posteriorly. Ocular
area elevated; each eye triad on top of a long, laterally directed eye-stalk. Thoracic furrow absent. Chelicerae as in
Fig. 2D, with a pair of proximo-lateral apophyses, a pair of distal apophyses, and a pair of frontal apophyses.
Pedipalps as in Figs 1A–B; trochanter with a long retrolatero-ventral apophysis; femur with a small dorsal
apophysis proximally (arrow in Fig. 1B) and an indistinct ventral protuberance; procursus simple proximally but
complex distally, with a long, membranous prolateral process distally (arrow 1 in Fig. 1C), a long, sclerotized
prolateral apophysis distally (arrow in Fig. 1D), and a prolatero-dorsal spine (arrow 2 in Fig. 1C); uncus with a
scaly edge; appendix long and curved; embolus weakly sclerotized, with some transparent projections distally.
Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 4% proximally; legs with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi,
without spines and curved setae.
Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 2G–H. Total length 5.90 (6.22 with clypeus), carapace 1.41 long,
1.66 wide, opisthosoma 4.49 long, 2.19 wide; leg I missing. Distance PME-PME 0.30; diameter PME 0.18;
distance PME-ALE 0.03; distance AME-AME 0.04; diameter AME 0.05. Sternum wider than long (1.06/0.94).
Carapace yellowish, with narrow brown stripe and large light brown marks medially. Opisthosoma yellowish,
without spots. Ocular area without eye-stalks. Epigynum (Fig. 2A) with a knob. Vulva (Fig. 2B) with a sclerotized
anterior arch and two nearly elliptic pore plates.
Distribution. Thailand (Sakaew, type locality; Fig. 12).
Natural history. The species was found in the aphotic zone inside the cave.
Pholcus halabala species-group
Diagnosis. This species-group (core-group) can be distinguished from all known congeners by the combination of
the following characters: eight eyes; elongate opisthosoma pointed dorso-posteriorly, with black, whitish or
yellowish spots dorsally in life specimens; male ocular area with conspicuous modified setae; male chelicerae with
proximo-lateral, distal and frontal apophyses, distal apophyses provided with two teeth each; bulb with uncus and
appendix; procursus usually with a dorsal flap; epigynum weakly sclerotized, with a ‘knob’ (Huber et al. 2016a).
Composition. The species-group now contains 21 species (core-group: nine species, tentative assignment-
group: 12 species) and is known from Southeast Asia. Of these, three species originally assigned to this species-
group are assigned to the core-group: P. anaiensis Yao & Li, 2016, P. ballarini Yao & Li, 2016 and P.
zhuchuandiani Yao & Li, 2016; five species, including one new species below, are assigned tentatively to the
species-group for the lack of a better solution: P. c h e n i Yao & Li, 2017, P. go u Yao & Li, 2016, P. subwan Yao &
Li, 2017, P. umphang Ya o & L i sp. nov. and P. wan Yao & Li, 2016.
Pholcus umphang Yao & Li sp. nov.
Figs 3–5
Type material. Holotype: male, Huai Lao Poo Cave (15°57.680'N, 98°52.510'E, elevation 534 m), Umphang
Subdistrict, Umphang District, Ta k , Thailand, 16 November 2016, H. Zhao, Y. Li and Z. Chen leg. Paratypes: 3
females, same data as holotype.
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FIGURE 3. Pholcus umphang Ya o & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view, arrow points at dorsal
apophysis on femur proximally; B. Retrolateral view, arrow 1 points at sclerotized retrolatero-ventral apophysis on procursus
subdistally, arrow 2 points at projection on bulb proximally); C. Distal part of procursus, prolateral view; D. Retrolatero-ventral
apophysis of procursus. b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 (A–B), 0.05 (C–D).
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NEW SPECIES OF PHOLCUS FROM CHINA AND THAIL AND
FIGURE 4. Pholcus umphang Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Flipped right bulbal apophyses (A. Prolateral view; B.
Retrolateral view); C. Chelicerae, frontal view; D–E. Habitus (D. Dorsal view; E. Ventral view). da = distal apophysis, e =
embolus, pa = proximo-lateral apophysis, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.05 (A–B), 0.10 (C), 1.00 (D–E).
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FIGURE 5. Pholcus umphang Ya o & L i sp. nov., paratype female. A. Epigynum, ventral view, arrow points at knob; B.
Cleared epigynum, ventral view, arrow 1 points at ventral ridge, arrow 2 points at ventral sclerite; C. Vulva, dorsal view; D–E.
Habitus (D. Dorsal view; E. Ventral view). pp = pore plate. Scale bars: 0.10 (A–C), 1.00 (D–E).
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Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, and is a noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from all known congeners in the P. halabala species-group
by the presence of a small, sclerotized, serrated retrolatero-ventral apophysis subdistally on the procursus (arrow 1
in Fig. 3B; Fig. 3D) and by the presence of two large ventral sclerites on the vulva (arrow 2 in Fig. 5B).
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 4.36 (4.49 with clypeus), carapace 1.20 long, 1.28 wide,
opisthosoma 3.16 long, 1.13 wide. Leg I missing, leg II: – (8.08 + 0.56 + 7.50 + 13.39 + –), leg III: 19.02 (5.45 +
0.50 + 4.55 + 7.69 + 0.83), leg IV: 26.18 (7.56 + 0.52 + 6.15 + 10.71 + 1.24). Distance PME-PME 0.40; diameter
PME 0.11; distance PME-ALE 0.02; distance AME-AME 0.04; diameter AME 0.06. Sternum wider than long
(0.84/0.63). Habitus as in Figs 4D–E. Carapace yellowish, with brown V-pattern on posterior half; ocular area
yellowish; clypeus yellowish, with brown marks posteriorly; sternum yellowish, with brown marks. Legs
yellowish, but dark brown on patellae, proximal parts of tibiae, and distal parts of femora and tibiae, without darker
rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, with spots dorsally and laterally. Ocular area elevated; each eye triad on top of a
laterally directed eye-stalk. Thoracic furrow absent. Chelicerae as in Fig. 4C, with a pair of proximo-lateral
apophyses and a pair of distal apophyses provided with two teeth each. Pedipalps as in Figs 3A–B; trochanter with
a long ventral apophysis; femur with a small dorsal apophysis proximally (arrow in Fig. 3A), subproximally
widened; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with a small, sclerotized, serrated retrolatero-ventral
apophysis subdistally (arrow 1 in Fig. 3B; Fig. 3D); bulb with a large projection proximally (arrow 2 in Fig. 3B);
uncus with scales; appendix absent; embolus partly sclerotized. Legs with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi
and tarsi, without spines and curved setae.
Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 5D–E. Total length 4.42 (4.55 with clypeus), carapace 1.23 long,
1.28 wide, opisthosoma 3.19 long, 1.38 wide; leg I: 38.11 (9.36 + 0.55 + 9.17 + 17.63 + 1.40); tibia I L/d: 69.
Distance PME-PME 0.25; diameter PME 0.13; distance PME-ALE 0.03; distance AME-AME 0.05; diameter
AME 0.05. Sternum wider than long (0.89/0.78). Ocular area without eye-stalks. Epigynum (Figs 5A–B) with a
knob (arrow in Fig. 5A). Vulva (Fig. 5C) with a sclerotized anterior arch provided with ventral ridges (arrow 1 in
Fig. 5B), two large ventral sclerites (arrow 2 in Fig. 5B), and two nearly elliptic pore plates. Retrolateral
trichobothrium of tibia I at 8% proximally; tarsus I with 33 distinct pseudosegments.
Vari a t i o n : Tibia I in the other two female paratypes: 8.27, 8.85.
Distribution. Thailand (Tak, type locality; Fig. 12).
Natural history. The species was found in the entrance zone of the cave.
Pholcus phungiformes species-group
Diagnosis. This species-group can be distinguished from all known congeners by the combination of the following
characters: eight eyes; carapace with radiating marks; opisthosoma cylindrical; male chelicerae usually with frontal
apophyses; male pedipalpal tibia with a prolatero-ventral projection; procursus usually with dorsal spines;
appendix absent, sometimes with a ‘pseudo-appendix’; epigynum heavily sclerotized, with a ‘knob’ (Huber
2011b).
Composition. The species-group now contains 50 species and is largely restricted to northeastern China and
the Korean Peninsula. Of these, one species is newly described: P. ningan Yao & L i sp. nov., five species originally
not assigned to any existing species-group are assigned to the species-group: P. b re v i s Yao & Li, 2012, P. decorus
Yao & Li, 2012, P. lexuancanhi Yao, Pham & Li, 2012, P. tongi Yao & Li, 2012 and P. wangi Yao & Li, 2012.
Pholcus ningan Yao & Li sp. nov.
Figs 6–7
Type material. Holotype: male, Jingpo Lake Scenic Spot (44°03.320'N, 128°56.611'E, elevation 353 m), Ningan
County, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China, 12 July 2016, Z. Chen leg. Paratypes: 2 males and 3 females, same
data as holotype.
Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, and is a noun in apposition.
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FIGURE 6. Pholcus ningan Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C–D.
Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view, arrow points at sclerotized prolateral apophysis; D. Dorsal view, arrow points at
dorsal spine). b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 (A–B), 0.05 (C–D).
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FIGURE 7. Pholcus ningan Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male (C–F) and paratype female (A–B, G–H). A. Epigynum, ventral
view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view, arrow points at ‘pseudo-appendix’; D. Chelicerae, frontal
view; E–H. Habitus (E, G. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal
apophysis, pa = proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.10 (A–D), 1.00 (E–H).
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Diagnosis. This species resembles P. chiakensis Seo, 2014 (see Seo 2014: 400, figs 1A–E, 2A–H) with similar
male chelicerae (Fig. 7D) and female genitalia (Figs 7A–B) but can be distinguished by the absence of retrolateral
branches on the male pedipalpal trochanter (Fig. 6B), by the absence of pointed apophyses proximally on the uncus
(Fig. 7C) and by the presence of a pointed, sclerotized prolateral apophysis subdistally on the procursus (arrow in
Fig. 6C).
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.77 (6.02 with clypeus), carapace 1.60 long, 2.05 wide,
opisthosoma 4.04 long, 1.80 wide. Leg I: 44.60 (10.90 + 0.82 + 11.60 + 18.59 + 2.69), leg II: 30.35 (8.28 + 0.71 +
7.88 + 11.86 + 1.62), leg III: 21.39 (6.41 + 0.44 + 5.25 + 8.01 + 1.28), leg IV: 29.17 (8.20 + 0.69 + 7.40 + 11.28 +
1.60); tibia I L/d: 56. Distance PME-PME 0.27; diameter PME 0.13; distance PME-ALE 0.08; distance AME-
AME 0.05; diameter AME 0.13. Sternum wider than long (1.33/1.13). Habitus as in Figs 7E–F. Carapace
yellowish, with brown radiating marks and brown bands marginally; ocular area yellowish, with brown marks
medially and laterally; clypeus yellowish, with brown marks medially; sternum yellowish, with brown marks. Legs
yellowish, but dark brown on patellae and proximal parts of metatarsi, and whitish on distal parts of femora and
tibiae, femora (subproximally and subdistally) and tibiae (subproximally and subdistally) with distinct darker rings.
Opisthosoma yellowish, with spots dorsally and laterally. Ocular area elevated, without eye-stalks. Thoracic furrow
absent. Chelicerae as in Fig. 7D, with a pair of proximo-lateral apophyses, a pair of distal apophyses, and a pair of
frontal apophyses. Pedipalps as in Figs 6A–B; trochanter with a ventral apophysis; femur with a distinct ventral
protuberance; tibia with a projection prolaterally; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with a pointed,
sclerotized prolateral apophysis subdistally (arrow in Fig. 6C) and a dorsal spine (arrow in Fig. 6D); uncus with a
scaly edge; ‘pseudo-appendix’ hooked (arrow in Fig. 7C); embolus weakly sclerotized, with some transparent
projections distally. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 6% proximally; legs with short vertical setae on tibiae,
metatarsi and tarsi, without spines and curved setae; tarsus I with 36 distinct pseudosegments.
Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 7G–H. Total length 5.13 (5.38 with clypeus), carapace 1.47 long,
1.76 wide, opisthosoma 3.66 long, 1.90 wide; tibia I: 8.65; tibia I L/d: 52. Distance PME-PME 0.21; diameter PME
0.09; distance PME-ALE 0.08; distance AME-AME 0.05; diameter AME 0.13. Sternum wider than long (1.19/
0.94). Clypeus brown. Epigynum (Fig. 7A) with a knob. Vulva (Fig. 7B) with a sclerotized anterior arch and two
nearly elliptic pore plates.
Vari a t i o n : Tibia I in one male paratype (leg I missing in another male paratype): 10.26. Tibia I in one female
paratype (leg I missing in another female paratype): 8.40.
Distribution. China (Heilongjiang, type locality; Fig. 12).
Natural history. The species was found on the rock walls.
Pholcus yichengicus species-group
Diagnosis. This species-group can be distinguished from all known congeners by the combination of the following
characters: eight eyes; carapace with radiating marks; opisthosoma cylindrical; male chelicerae with proximo-
lateral, distal and frontal apophyses; male pedipalpal trochanter apophyses medium long, usually with a short
retrolateral branch; male pedipalpal tibia with a prolatero-ventral projection; procursus with dorsal spines;
appendix usually branched; epigynum sclerotized, with a ‘knob’ of variable length (Huber 2011b).
Composition. The species-group now contains 35 species and is widely distributed in central and southern
China, and Thailand. Of these, P. yongshun Yao & L i sp. nov. and P. y u x i Ya o & L i sp. nov. are newly described
below.
Pholcus yongshun Yao & Li sp. nov.
Figs 8–9
Type material. Holotype: male, Tudi Temple (28º54.498’N, 109º10.332’E, elevation 559 m), Xiaoxi Town,
Yongshun County, Hunan, China, 12 January 2016, Z. Chen and J. Wang leg. Paratype: 1 female, same data as
holotype.
Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, and is a noun in apposition.
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FIGURE 8. Pholcus yongshun Ya o & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view,
arrow points at dorsal apophysis on femur proximally); C–D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view, arrow 1 points at
prolatero-dorsal spine, arrow 2 points at prolateral process; D. Dorsal view). a = appendix, b = bulb, e = embolus, pr =
procursus, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 (A–B), 0.05 (C–D).
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FIGURE 9. Pholcus yongshun Ya o & L i sp. nov., holotype male (C–F) and paratype female (A–B, G–H). A. Epigynum,
ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E–H. Habitus (E, G.
Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). a = appendix, da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal apophysis, pa =
proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.10 (A–C), 0.20 (D), 1.00 (E–H).
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Diagnosis. This species resembles P. gonggarensis Yao & Li, 2016 (see Dong et al. 2016b: 19, figs 13–14,
27C–D) with similar male chelicerae (Fig. 9D), bulbal apophyses (Fig. 9C) and epigynum (Fig. 9A) but can be
distinguished by the short retrolatero-ventral apophysis on the male pedipalpal trochanter (Figs 8A–B), by the
narrow, membranous prolateral process distally on the procursus (arrow 2 in Fig. 8C) and by the nearly triangular
pore plates (Fig. 9B).
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 4.95 (5.19 with clypeus), carapace 1.38 long, 1.60 wide,
opisthosoma 3.57 long, 1.74 wide. Leg I: 43.95 (10.32 + 0.67 + 10.16 + 20.38 + 2.42), leg II: 27.54 (7.69 + 0.65 +
6.63 + 10.95 + 1.62), leg III: 19.68 (5.77 + 0.6 + 4.58 + 7.53 + 1.20), leg IV: 26.21 (7.60 + 0.61 + 6.18 + 10.32 +
1.50); tibia I L/d: 74. Distance PME-PME 0.25; diameter PME 0.15; distance PME-ALE 0.04; distance AME-
AME 0.05; diameter AME 0.10. Sternum wider than long (1.06/0.97). Habitus as in Figs 9E–F. Carapace
yellowish, with brown radiating marks; ocular area yellowish, with brown marks medially and laterally; clypeus
and sternum brown. Legs yellowish, but dark brown on patellae and proximal parts of tibiae, and whitish on
proximal parts of femora and distal parts of femora and tibiae, femora (subdistally) and tibiae (subdistally) with
darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, with spots dorsally and laterally. Ocular area elevated, without eye-stalks.
Thoracic furrow absent. Chelicerae as in Fig. 9D, with a pair of proximo-lateral apophyses, a pair of distal
apophyses, and a pair of frontal apophyses. Pedipalps as in Figs 8A–B; trochanter with a short retrolatero-ventral
apophysis; femur with a small dorsal apophysis proximally (arrow in Fig. 8B) and a distinct ventral protuberance;
tibia with a projection ventrally; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with three prolatero-dorsal
spines (one spine seen in Fig. 8C); uncus with a scaly edge; appendix hooked, with a branch medially; embolus
weakly sclerotized, with some transparent projections distally. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 6%
proximally; legs with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, without spines and curved setae; tarsus I
with 31 distinct pseudosegments.
Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 9G–H. Total length 4.74 (4.93 with clypeus), carapace 1.25 long,
1.48 wide, opisthosoma 3.49 long, 1.60 wide; tibia I: 6.79; tibia I L/d: 54. Distance PME-PME 0.20; diameter PME
0.16; distance PME-ALE 0.05; distance AME-AME 0.06; diameter AME 0.09. Sternum wider than long (0.96/
0.88). Epigynum (Fig. 9A) with a knob. Vulva (Fig. 9B) with a sclerotized anterior arch and two nearly triangular
pore plates.
Vari a t i o n : Right procursus in holotype with two prolatero-dorsal spines.
Distribution. China (Hunan, type locality; Fig. 12).
Natural history. The species was found on the rock walls.
Pholcus yuxi Yao & Li sp. nov.
Figs 10–11
Type material. Holotype: male, Shimen Gorge (23º58.405'N, 101º31.558'E, elevation 1989 m), Ailao Mountain
Scenic Spot, Gasa Town, Xinping County, Yuxi, Yu nn a n , China, 30 May 2015, Z. Chen and Y. Li leg. Paratypes:
2 males and 3 females, same data as holotype.
Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, and is a noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. This species resembles P. qingyunensis Yao & Li, 2016 (see Dong et al. 2016b: 27, figs 19–20)
with similar male chelicerae (Fig. 11D), uncus (Fig. 11C) and epigynum (Fig. 11A) but can be distinguished by the
small, curved prolateral apophysis subdistally (arrow 1 in Fig. 10C) and the strongly sclerotized retrolateral
apophysis distally (arrow 2 in Fig. 10C) on the procursus, by the absence of branches on the appendix (Fig. 11C)
and by the nearly triangular pore plates (Fig. 11B).
Description. Male (holotype): Total length 4.86 (4.98 with clypeus), carapace 1.30 long, 1.68 wide,
opisthosoma 3.56 long, 1.48 wide. Leg I: 40.99 (9.61 + 0.68 + 10.19 + 18.27 + 2.24), legs II–IV missing (see
variation); tibia I L/d: 68. Distance PME-PME 0.30; diameter PME 0.17; distance PME-ALE 0.04; distance AME-
AME 0.07; diameter AME 0.14. Sternum wider than long (0.88/0.83). Habitus as in Figs 11E–F. Carapace
yellowish, with brown radiating marks and brown bands marginally; ocular area yellowish, with brown marks
anteriorly; clypeus and sternum brown. Leg I yellowish, but dark brown on patellae, and whitish on proximal and
distal parts of femora and tibiae, femora (subproximally and subdistally) and tibiae (subproximally and subdistally)
with darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, with spots dorsally and laterally. Ocular area elevated, without eye-
stalks. Thoracic furrow absent. Chelicerae missing, paratype as in Fig. 11D, with a pair of proximo-lateral
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FIGURE 10. Pholcus yuxi Yao & L i sp. nov., holotype male. A–B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C–D.
Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view, arrow 1 points at curved prolateral apophysis, arrow 2 points at sclerotized
retrolateral apophysis; D. Dorsal view, arrows point at two dorsal spines). a = appendix, b = bulb, e = embolus, pr = procursus,
u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.20 (A–B), 0.05 (C–D).
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FIGURE 11. Pholcus yuxi Yao & Li sp. nov., holotype male (C, E–F), paratype male (D) and paratype female (A–B, G–H). A.
Epigynum, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E–H.
Habitus (E, G. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view; H. Ventral view). a = appendix, da = distal apophysis, e = embolus, fa = frontal
apophysis, pa = proximo-lateral apophysis, pp = pore plate, u = uncus. Scale bars: 0.10 (A–C), 0.20 (D), 1.00 (E–H).
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apophyses, a pair of distal apophyses, and a pair of frontal apophyses. Pedipalps as in Figs 10A–B; trochanter with
a ventral apophysis; femur with a distinct ventral protuberance; tibia with a projection prolaterally; procursus
simple proximally but complex distally, with two prolatero-dorsal spines (arrows in Fig. 10D); uncus with a scaly
edge; appendix slightly curved; embolus weakly sclerotized. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 5%
proximally; leg I with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, without spines and curved setae; tarsus I
with 30 distinct pseudosegments.
Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 11G–H. Total length 4.87 (5.06 with clypeus), carapace 1.40 long,
1.39 wide, opisthosoma 3.47 long, 2.03 wide; tibia I: 7.76; tibia I L/d: 52. Distance PME-PME 0.25; diameter PME
0.15; distance PME-ALE 0.04; distance AME-AME 0.05; diameter AME 0.10. Sternum wider than long (1.03/
0.91). Ocular area with brown marks medially and laterally. Epigynum (Fig. 11A) with a knob. Vulva (Fig. 11B)
with a sclerotized anterior arch and two nearly triangular pore plates.
Vari a t i o n : Tibia I in the other two male paratypes: 10.06, 12.30. Tibia I in the other two female paratypes:
8.01, 8.33.
Distribution. China (Yunnan, type locality; Fig. 12).
Natural history. The species was found on the rock walls.
FIGURE 12. Distribution records of new Pholcus species from China and Thailand. 1. P. sakaew Yao & L i sp. nov. from the P.
bidentatus species-group; 2. P. umphang Yao & L i sp. nov. from the P. halabala species-group; 3. P. ningan Ya o & L i sp. nov.
from the P. phungiformes species-group; 4. P. y o n g s h u n Ya o & L i sp. nov. and 5. P. yuxi Ya o & L i sp. nov. from the P.
yichengicus species-group.
Acknowledgments
The manuscript benefited greatly from comments by Facundo M. Labarque, Michael G. Rix and Tamás Szűts. This
study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to Zhiyuan Yao (NSFC-31372170) and
Shuqiang Li (NSFC-31530067, 31471960) and the Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese
Academy of Sciences (2015CASEABRI005, Y4ZK111B01).
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