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Redescription of the net-casting spider Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. (Araneae: Deinopidae) from India

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Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. belonging to the liukuensis species group is redescribed on the basis of fresh specimens collected from Assam, India. Detailed illustrations, a distributional map and notes on its natural history are provided.
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© ARTHROPODA SELECTA, 2020
Arthropoda Selecta 29(3): 325–329
1978] were from Jamduar, a former part of Goalpara
District, Assam. In July 1983, Goalpara was parti-
tioned into Dhubri and Kokrajhar Districts and Jamdu-
ar fell under Kokrajhar District. The place is located in
the eastern Raimona forest range, being part of the
Ripu Reserve Forest under the Manas Biosphere Re-
serve [Forest Department, 2009]. This place is known
for its magnificent scenic landscapes surrounded by
Bhutan Hills harbouring diverse flora and fauna.
The genus Asianopis consists of two species groups
[Lin et al., 2020]: viz., the liukuensis-group and the
zhuanghaoyuni-group, of which the former includes
two nominal species — A. dumogae (Merian, 1911)
and A. liukuensis (Yin, Griswold et Yan, 2002). D.
goalparaensis belongs to this group, as it shares the
following diagnostic characters thereof: proximally en-
larged femora I; pear-shaped carapace; female cheli-
cerae having four pro- and seven retromarignal teeth,
with numerous denticles between them; epigyne with
an anchor-shaped median plate; distinct copulatory
openings; insemination ducts with three turns; and oval
spermathecae [Lin et al., 2020].
The present paper is aimed at the redescription of
D. goalparaensis on the basis of newly collected mate-
rial from the same district where the type locality lies.
Detailed illustrations, a distributional map and notes
on its natural history are provided.
Materials and methods
Specimens were hand collected during a night survey
and photographed using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
camera. The specimens were observed and photographed
under a Leica EZ4 HD stereomicroscope enabled with a
ABSTRACT: Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et
Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. belonging to the liukuensis
species group is redescribed on the basis of fresh spec-
imens collected from Assam, India. Detailed illustra-
tions, a distributional map and notes on its natural
history are provided.
How to cite this article: Basumatary P., Caleb J.T.D.,
Das S., Brahma D. 2020. Redescription of the net-
casting spider Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et
Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. (Araneae: Deinopidae) from
India // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.29. No.3. P.325–329.
doi: 10.15298/arthsel. 29.3.04
РЕЗЮМЕ: Вид Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader
et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n., относящийся к группе
видов liukuensis, переописан по свежим экземпля-
рам, собранным в Ассаме, Индия. Даны детальные
иллюстрации, карта распространения и наблюде-
ния по биологии вида.
Introduction
The Asian deinopid genus Asianopis Lin et Li, 2020
was recently erected, with A. zhuanghaoyuni Lin et Li,
2020 as its generotype [Lin et al., 2020]. The genus
consists of seven valid species, of which only Asiano-
pis liukuensis (Yin, Grisworld et Yan, 2002) is known
from India [WSC, 2020]. Two species were earlier
described from India: viz., Deinopis goalparaensis
Tikader et Malhotra, 1978, which is currently consid-
ered nomen dubium [Caleb, 2019], and D. scrubjun-
glei Caleb et Mathai, 2014, a junior synonym of A.
liukuensis [Lin et al., 2020]. The specimens of D.
goalparaensis collected by Tikader [Tikader, Malhotra,
Redescription of the net-casting spider Asianopis goalparaensis
(Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. (Araneae: Deinopidae)
from India
Ïåðåîïèñàíèå ïàóêà-äåèíîïèäû Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader
et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. (Araneae: Deinopidae) èç Èíäèè
Paris Basumatary1, John T.D. Caleb2,*, Sangeeta Das3, Dulur Brahma1
Ïàðèñ Áàñóìàòàðè1, Äæîí Ò.Ä. Êàëåá2,*, Ñàíãèòà Äàñ3,
Äóëóð Áðàõìà1
1 Department of Zoology, Bodoland University, Assam – 783370, India.
2 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhavan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India; email:
caleb87woodgate@gmail.com
3 Department of Zoology, Assam Don Bosco University, Assam – 782402, India.
*Corresponding author
KEY WORDS: Aranei, Assam, diagnosis, Kokrajhar, morphology, taxonomy.
КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: Aranei, Ассам, диагноз, Кокражхар, морфология, таксономия.
326 P. Basumatary et al.
Figs 1–7. Somatic morphology of Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n., female: 1 — general appearance,
dorsal view; 2 — ditto, lateral view; 3 — prosoma, dorsal view; 4 — ditto, ventral view; 5 — abdomen, dorsal view; 6 — ditto, ventral
view; 7 — chelicerae, ventral view. Scale bars: (3–6) 2 mm, (7) 0.5 mm.
Рис. 1–7. Соматическая морфология Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n., самка: 1 — общий вид
сверху; 2 — то же, сбоку; 3 — просома, сверху; 4 — то же, снизу; 5 — брюшко, сверху; 6 — то же, снизу; 7 — хелицеры, снизу.
Масштаб: (3–6) 2 мм, (7) 0,5 мм.
327
Redescription of Asianopis goalparaensis from India
Figs 8–11. Female copulatory organs of Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n.: 8, 10 — epigyne, ventral view;
9, 11 — vulva, dorsal view. Scale bar: (8–11) 0.5 mm.
Рис. 8–11. Копулятивные органя самки Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n.: 8, 10 — эпигина, снизу; 9,
11 — вульва, сверху. Масштаб: (8–11) 0,5 мм.
Leica Application Suite (LAS EZ), version 3.0. Epigyne was
dissected and macerated in 10% KOH to clear soft tissue.
The type locality coordinates were approximated by using
Google Earth Pro. All measurements are in millimeters (mm).
Specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Collec-
tions, Zoological Survey of India (NZC-ZSI), Kolkata.
Taxonomy
Genus Asianopis Lin et Li, 2020.
Type species: Asianops zhuanghaoyuni Lin et Li, 2020,
by the original designation.
DIAGNOSIS. For detailed diagnosis and description see
Lin et al. [2020].
COMMENTS. Lin et al. [2020] described three new
Asianopis species and transferred four species from Deino-
pis MacLeay, 1839 to Asianopis. Yet, they did not consider
six other Deinopis species known from SE Asia: viz., Deino-
pis aruensis Roewer, 1938 (Indonesia), D. fasciculigera
Simon, 1909 (Vietnam), D. gubatmakiling Barrion-Dupo et
Barrion, 2018 (The Philippines), D. kollari Doleschall, 1859
(Myanmar and Malaysia), D. labangan Barrion-Dupo et
Barrion, 2018 (The Philippines) and D. luzonensis Barrion-
Dupo et Barrion, 2018 (The Philippines), which could also
belong to Asianopis. Each of these species has at least one of
the diagnostic characters supporting its placement in Asian-
opis. The female chelicerae with numerous denticles be-
tween pro- and retromarginal teeth (in D. gubatmakiling, D.
labangan and D. luzonensis; see figs 1B, 5C, 6B in Barrion-
Dupo & Barrion [2018]); the prominent setal fringe over
PMEs (in D. kollari, D. gubatmakiling, D. labangan; cf. fig.
7b in Doleschall [1859] and figs 1A, 4A–B in Barrion-Dupo
& Barrion [2018] with fig. 2D in Lin et al. [2020], and in D.
fasciculigera: “Oculi antici maximi, pilis erectis et obtusis,
superne albidis extus fuscis”, see Simon [1909: 74]). D.
aruensis has insemination ducts making over eight turns
[Roewer, 1938: 19b].
328 P. Basumatary et al.
Map. Collecting localities of Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. in India. Star represents the type locality
(Jamduar), square (Phipsu) and circle (Jharbari).
Карта. Точки сбора Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. в Индии. Звезда показывает типовое местооби-
тание (Джамдуар), квадрат (Фипсу) и кружок (Дхарбари).
A. liukuensis is the only Oriental species having a wide
distribution from South India to Hainan Island in China. D.
fasciculigera known from northern Vietnam is likely to be a
senior synonym of A. liukuensis, as its type locality lies
within the distributional range of the latter species. Such
probability was earlier suggested by Logunov [2018]. Nev-
ertheless, D. fasciculigera could be represented by a sub-
adult, as it only measures 10–13 mm in total length [Simon,
1909]. Thus, the assumption that D. fasciculigera could be a
senior synonym of A. liukuensis requires a further justifica-
tion by reference to the type series of the former species or
newly collected topotypes.
Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978)
comb.n.
Figs 1–11, Map.
Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader et Malhotra, 1978: 157, figs
1–5 (description of a juvenile, not female)
Deinopis goalparaensis: Caleb, 2019: 148, figs 1–11 (nomen
dubium).
MATERIAL: INDIA: 1 $ (NZC-ZSI), Jharbari Forest Range,
Assam (26.6052°N, 90.2419°E), 74 m a.s.l., 10.09.2018, P. Ba-
sumatary; 1 $ (NZC-ZSI), Phipsu, Assam (26.44384° N, 90.07591°
E), 72 m a.s.l., 23.09.2018, P. Basumatary.
DIAGNOSIS. In general morphology, A. goalparaensis
is similar to A. liukuensis from which it can be distinguished
by the insemination ducts forming two and a half spirals; the
spermathecae directed laterally, opposing each other with a
wide V-shaped gap in between (insemination ducts with
three spirals and closely placed spermathecae in A. liukuen-
sis: cf. Figs 9, 11 with figs 6, 8 in Lin et al. [2020]).
COMMENTS. The studied specimens were observed
and collected from near the type locality of D. goalparaen-
sis in Assam, India (see Map). The morphological characters
match those of the type specimens (cf. Figs 3–6 with figs 1–
4 in Caleb [2019]), thus leaving no doubt that the studied
specimens indeed belong to D. goalparaensis.
DESCRIPTION. MALE unknown.
FEMALE. Total length 16.18. Carapace 5.18 long, 3.53
wide; abdomen 11 long, 2.72 wide. Carapace yellowish
brown, covered with dense short greyish hairs, with a pale
black longitudinal patch medially from the base of posterior
median eyes till fovea pointed posteriorly. Short blackish
spines on both the lateral sides of thoracic regions; coarse
blackish hairs forming a horn-shaped projection, along with
small blackish setae over posterior median eyes (Figs 1, 3).
Chelicerae yellowish brown, with four pro- and 7–8 retro-
marginal teeth and many denticles between the pro- and
retromarginal teeth. Sternum blackish, with a pale yellow
triangular patch medially. Labium and maxillae blackish,
with pale yellow margins and tufts of brownish hairs (Figs 4,
7). Legs covered with blackish hairs; femora I–IV with
spines retrolaterally, femur I with basal enlargement and tuft
of hairs prolaterally, femora I–II blackish distally, patellae
I–IV blackish, metatarsi I–IV blackish just above the proxi-
mal ends, tip of tarsi I–IV blackish (Figs 2, 4). Abdomen
elongated, yellowish brown, with a medial brownish longi-
tudinal patch pointed posteriorly and chevron markings merge
with the patch, a pair of slight lateral bumps present in
anterior half; ventrally blackish, with two pairs of short pale
yellow patches: one at mid-venter and another at posterior
end; a broad yellowish brown longitudinal margin runs from
epigastric furrow to the cribellum. Spinnerets dark brown
(Figs 5, 6). Epigyne with anchor-shaped median plate; a pair
of rounded copulatory openings surrounded by plumose hairs;
spiral insemination ducts make two and a half spirals, their
329
Redescription of Asianopis goalparaensis from India
anterior portions narrow; spermathecae oval, diverging lat-
erally (Figs 8–11).
NATURAL HISTORY. The species occurs in the mixed
shrub vegetation and bamboo patches (Figs 1, 2). Specimens
were frequently found at a height of about three feet above
the ground level, but at some instances a few individuals
were found at about eight feet high. It was also observed that
the length and width of the net casting web increased as the
individuals grew older: i.e., from a small web measuring one
centimeter approximately in juveniles to three centimeters in
subadults and finally five to six centimeters in gravid fe-
males. The web colour is also changed abruptly from pale
white in juveniles to milky white in adults.
DISTRIBUTION. India, Assam (Map).
Acknowledgements. Our sincere thanks go to the Addi-
tional PCCF & CHD, Forest, BTC, Kokrajhar, for granting a
permission to conduct the study at the Ripu-Chirang Re-
serve Forest. We greatly acknowledge the Assam State Biodi-
versity Board for granting the collection permit. We owe our
sincere thanks to Dr Kailash Chandra, the Director, Zoolog-
ical Survey of India, Kolkata, for giving access to the facili-
ties and his support. Our heartfelt thanks also go to Tunu
Basumatary, Niren Borgoyary, Pabidash Narzary, Jarang Ba-
sumatary and Karma Gayary for aiding with fieldwork. We
are indebted to Dr. D.V. Logunov (Manchester, UK) whose
suggestions, linguistic and editorial inputs greatly improved
the manuscript.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have
no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: No ethical issues were raised during
our research.
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Responsible editor D.V. Logunov
... In India, 2 species of newly described genus Asianopis Lin & Li, 2020 were recorded out of which one species {Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader & Malhotra, 1978)} is described from Assam and also later recorded in Gujarat and Karnataka. Caleb (2019) has considered it nomen dubium but recently it was re-validated by Basumatary et al. (2020). Another species was described as Deinopis scrubjunglei by Caleb & Mathai (2014) from Tamil Nadu but recently it was synonymized to Asianopis liukuensis (Yin et al., 2002) by Lin et al. (2020). ...
... Assam (Tikader & Malhotra, 1978;Basumatary et al., 2020) Gujarat (Yadav et al., 2017) Karnataka (Nalini Bai & Ravindranatha, 2012;Tabasum et al., 2018) ...
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Discovery of the family Deinopidae from the Philippines, with descriptions of three new species of Deinopis Macleay, 1839 // Philippine Entomologist
  • A L A Barrion-Dupo
  • A Barrion
Barrion-Dupo A.L.A., Barrion A.T. 2018. Discovery of the family Deinopidae from the Philippines, with descriptions of three new species of Deinopis Macleay, 1839 // Philippine Entomologist. Vol.31. No.1. P.1-23.
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Etude sur les arachnides du Tonkin (1re partie) // Bulletin Scientifique de la France et de la Belgique
  • E Simon
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