A molecular phylogeny of the Chinese Sinopoda spiders (Sparassidae, Heteropodinae): implications for taxonomy

Taxonomic revision of the troglophile Spariolenus spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) in South and West Asia

The taxonomy of the genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880 (Heteropodinae) is updated in its entire distribution range in South and West Asia. Newly collected specimens and historical museum material were studied, some date back to more than 124 years. Four new species are described as Spariolenus omidvarbrothers sp. n. (male, female) from southeastern Iran, S. baluchistanicus sp. n. (female) from Pakistan and, S. bakasura sp. n. (male, female) and S. kabandha sp. n. (female) from the Western Ghats and northern regions of India, respectively; specimens of the latter three species had been previously incorrectly identified as S. tigris Simon, 1880. Spariolenus lindbergi (Roewer, 1962) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Heteropoda Latreille, 1804. We discovered and described its male for the first time, along with redescription of the female using recently collected material near the type locality from Afghanistan. Two species, Spariolenus mansourii Moradmand, 2017 (Iran) and S. secundus Jger, 2006 (Oman) are recorded from new geographic localities. A distribution map of all extant Spariolenus species with updated records is presented.

A new species of Pseudopoda (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, with the description of different and distinctive internal ducts of the female vulva

One new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000, Pseudopodadeformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. (♂, ♀), is described and documented with digital images from Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China, based on morphology and DNA barcodes. This new species is separated from other Pseudopoda species by the unique type of internal ducts of the female vulva that are curved longitudinally, forming a narrow triangle or trapezoidal shape. In addition, DNA barcodes for this species are provided.

Two new species of Sinopoda from China, with first description of the male of S.horizontalis Zhong, Cao & Liu, 2017 (Araneae, Sparassidae)

Three species of spider genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 are reported from southern China. Two of them are described as new to science: S.guiyang Zhang, Yu & Zhong, sp. nov. and S.xishui Zhang, Yu & Zhong, sp. nov., both from Guizhou Province. The male of S.horizontalis Zhong, Cao & Liu, 2017 is described for the first time based on new material from the type locality, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China. Detailed descriptions, diagnoses, photographs and a distribution map of the three species are provided.

A new species of Sinopoda from China, with first description of the male of S.wuyiensis Liu, 2021 (Araneae, Sparassidae)

One new species of the genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999, S.muyuensis sp. nov. (♂, ♀), is described and figured from the Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China. In addition, the male of Sinopodawuyiensis Liu, 2021 is described for the first time from the Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China.

Taxonomic study on Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae), with three new species from Korea

The genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 is a group of huntsman spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), and currently seven species have been reported in Korea. In this study, three new species are described from Korea, Sinopodabigibba sp. nov., Sinopodabogil sp. nov., and Sinopodapantherina sp. nov.; Sinopodajirisanensis Kim & Chae, 2013 is revalidated with neotype designation, and had been formerly synonymized with Sinopodaforcipata (Karsch, 1881). Additionally, all previous records of Sinopodastellatops Jäger & Ono, 2002 and S.forcipata from Korea are deemed misidentifications of S.jirisanensis and S.bogil sp. nov., respectively.