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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: Otacilia khezu 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vappolotes Zhao & Li, 2019 is one of the troglophilous genera, with five known species. The previous description of V. tianjiayu from China was based solely on female specimens collected from caves in the Wuling Mountains in southern China without any males. New information: The present study, deals with the first record of the male of V. tianjiayu from its type locality: Guluo Cave. The validation of species is based on the morphological characteristics of both male and female. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the family Liocranidae are described from China and Vietnam. The new genus Sinocranum gen. nov., is erected to accommodate S. menghai sp. nov. (♂♀) from China. Further new species described include Koppe ninger sp. nov. (♀) from China, Xantharia baizilongi sp. nov. (♂♀) from China and X. cucphuong sp. nov. (♂) from Vietnam. In addition, Xantharia is transferred from Miturgidae to Liocranidae. Koppe and Xantharia are reported from China and Vietnam, respectively, for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new zodariid spiders from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan, China are described. A new species of the genus Euryeidon Dankittipakul & Jocqué, 2004, E. dian sp. nov. (♂♀), and two new species of the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906, M. banna sp. nov. (♂) and M. mengla sp. nov. (♂), are described. Euryeidon is reported for the first time in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new genera and eleven new species are reported from Hainan Island, China. The new genera are Logunattus gen. nov., including L. dufui sp. nov. (♂), and the generotype L. libaii sp. nov. (♂♀), Qiongattus yuanyeae gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), and Spiralembolus gen. nov., including the generotype S. yinggeling sp. nov. (♂♀), and S. yui sp. nov. (♂♀). Another six new species are Carrhotus qingzhaoae sp. nov. (♂♀), Gedea liangweii sp. nov. (♂♀), Heliophanoides moi sp. nov. (♂), Indopadilla songi sp. nov. (♂♀), Myrmarachne mixiaoqii sp. nov. (♂♀), and Nandicius shihaitaoi sp. nov. (♂♀). The unknown female of the endemic species, Pancorius hainanensis Song & Chai, 1991 is also described for the first time. Diagnostic photos of these species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 (♂♀), S. nigrabdomenus Zhu, 1998 (♂) and S. nipponicus Yaginuma, 1969 (♂♀), are currently known from China. New information: Two new species of Stemmops are described from China: S. atratus sp. n. (♀, Jiangsu, Zhejiang) and S. lini sp. n. (♂♀, Fujian, Zhejiang). In addition, the previously unknown female of S. nigrabdomenus Zhu, 1998 is described. Photos and morphological descriptions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. (♂♀). The unknown male of S. soureni Sen, 1964 is described for the first time. Photos and morphological descriptions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of the family Corinnidae Karsch, 1880 are described from China and Vietnam. Fengzhen gen. nov. is erected to accommodate F. mengla sp. nov. (1) from China; Peng gen. nov. is erected to accommodate P. birmanicus (Thorell, 1897), comb. nov., P. borneensis (Yamasaki, 2017), comb. nov. and P. taprobanicus (Simon, 1897), comb. nov., transferred from Sphecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895. Further new species described include Allomedmassa tamdao sp. nov. (1), Echinax baisha sp. nov. (1), Medmassa lingshui sp. nov. (1), and Spinirta shaoguan sp. nov. (1). The male of P. birmanicus is described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baiyuerius gen. nov., a new genus of the subfamily Coelotinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 is described, including five new species: B. daxi sp. nov. (1), B. pindong sp. nov. (1), B. tamdao sp. nov. (1), B. zhuping sp. nov. (1) and B. zuojiang sp. nov. (2), from southern China and northern Vietnam. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses support Baiyuerius gen. nov. as monophyletic and as a sister group of the newly established genus Yunguirius Li, Zhao & Li, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of the subfamily Coelotinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893, Yunguirius gen. nov. is described, comprising two new species and three species previously described in Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999, all from southwest China: Y. duoge sp. nov. (♀), Y. xiangding sp. nov. (♀), Y. ornatus (Wang, Yin, Peng & Xie, 1990) comb. nov. (♂♀) (the type species of Yunguirius gen. nov.), Y. subterebratus (Zhang, Zhu & Wang, 2017) comb. nov. (♀), and Y. terebratus (Peng & Wang, 1997) comb. nov. (♂♀). Molecular analyses support Yunguirius gen. nov. as a monophyletic group, with the Sinodraconarius clade as its sister group: Yunguirius gen. nov. + (Hengconarius + (Nuconarius + Sinodraconarius)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. (♂♀, Hainan) and A. zijin sp. n. (♂♀, Jiangsu). Photos and a morphological description of the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three cave-dwelling spider species belonging to the family Symphytognathidae Hickman, 1931, i.e., Anapistula sanjiao sp. nov. (♂♀), A. walayaku sp. nov. (♂♀), and A. panensis Lin, Tao & Li, 2013 (♂♀), are reported from southwest China. DNA sequences and detailed illustrations of the habitus, male palps and epigynes are provided, and their distributions are mapped. Their phylogenetic position within symphytognathids and rela)tionships were tested and assessed using previously published phylogenetic analyses on symphytognathoids. The results showed that they form a clade with A. choojaiae Rivera-Quiroz, Petcharad & Miller, 2021 from Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The genus Ibana Benjamin, 2014 was established, based on the type species Ibana senagang Benjamin, 2014 from Borneo, Malaysia. No species of this genus has been recorded from China. New information A new species of Ibana is described and illustrated, representing the first record of the genus for China. Ibana gan sp. n. differs from its congener by the yellowishbrown longitudinal band on the abdomen and the round, contiguous spermathecae. The distribution of the new species in Jiangxi Province is mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus and eight new species from Xishuangbanna, China are described and diagnosed: Bocusoides zhaoi gen. and sp. nov., Euochin mii sp. nov. (♂♀), E. tangi sp. nov. (♀), Eupoa logunovi sp. nov. (♂♀), Indomarengo wengnan sp. nov. (♀), Laufeia zhangae sp. nov. (♂♀), Simaetha huigang sp. nov. (♂♀), and Synagelides cheni sp. nov. (♀). The unknown sexes of three endemic species, Chalcovietnamicus lii (Lei & Peng, 2010) comb. nov. (ex Chalcoscirtus Bertkau, 1880), Indomarengo yui Wang & Li, 2020, and Rhene triapophyses Peng, 1995 are described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the genus Phrynarachne Thorell, 1869 from China are described: P. dreepy Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. xuxiake Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. yunhui Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀), and P. zhengzhongi Lin & S. Li, sp. nov. (♀). The unknown sexes of P. brevis Tang & S. Li, 2010 (♂), P. huangshanensis Li et al., 1985 (♀), P. lancea Tang & S. Li, 2010 (♂), and P. mammillata Song, 1990 (♀) are described for the first time. Phrynarachne sinensis Peng, Yin & Kim is treated as a nomen dubium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen symphytognathid species belonging to three genera are examined, including the descriptions of eight new species and two new genera from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar: Patu Marples, 1951: P. catba S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂, Vietnam), P. dakou S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, China), P. damtao S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂, Vietnam), P. jiangzhou S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♀, China), P. jidanweishi Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009 (♂♀, China), P. nagarat S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, Thailand), P. nigeri Lin & S. Li, 2009 (♀, China), P. putao S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♀, Myanmar), P. qiqi Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009 (♀, China) and P. xiaoxiao Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009 (♂♀, China); Kirinua S. Li & Lin, gen. nov.: K. maguai S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, China) and K. yangshuo S. Li & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, China); Swilda S. Li & Lin, gen. nov.: S. longtou (Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009), comb. nov. (♂♀, China) is transferred from Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995 and S. spinathoraxi (Lin & S. Li, 2009), comb. nov. (♂♀, China) is transferred from Patu. Diagnoses, descriptions and illustrations are provided for new taxa, as well as a distribution map. The males of P. xiaoxiao and S. longtou are described for the first time. Type specimens of P. jidanweishi, P. nigeri, P. qiqi, P. xiaoxiao, S. longtou and S. spinathoraxi are re-examined and photographed. All Asian Patu species are revised and two species, P. kishidai Shinkai, 2009 and P. bispina Lin, Pham & S. Li, 2009, are transferred to Crassignatha and proposed as new combinations: Crassignatha kishidai comb. nov. and C. bispina comb. nov. In addition, DNA barcodes and genetic distances of ten species treated in this paper were obtained to confirm identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine new species of jumping spiders from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden are described: Euochin yaoi sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Laufeia banna sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Marengo tangi sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Myrmarachne liui sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Nandicius proszynskii sp. nov. (♀), Phintelloides pengi sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Poecilorchestes zhengi sp. nov. (♀&#9794), Rhene wandae sp. nov. (♀) and Simaetha cheni sp. nov. (♀&#9794). The female of Chinattus inflatus Wang & Li, 2020 is described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 is one of the most speciose genera of Oonopidae, with 114 extant species mainly distributed in the Old World. Currently, 16 species have been recorded in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Eriovixia Archer, 1951 from Menglun Town, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China are reviewed, including seven new species: E. ganae sp. nov. (♂♀), E. liuhongi sp. nov. (♂♀), E. tangi sp. nov. (♂♀), E. wangchengi sp. nov. (♂♀), E. yaoi sp. nov. (♂♀), E. yinae sp. nov. (♂♀) and E. zhengi sp. nov. (♂♀). The male of E. yunnanensis (Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990) is described for the first time. The previous description of E. yunnanensis from Tengchong, Yunnan by Mi et al. (2010) refers to E. pengi sp. nov. (♂♀). Diagnostic photos of the habitus and copulatory organs of the new species and E. yunnanensis from Xishuangbanna are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiders of the genus Clubiona Latreille, 1804 from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China are studied. A total of 47 species is reported and illustrated, including 14 new species and two new synonyms. Twelve of the new species belong to four species groups: C. dengpao Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. subdidentata Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. tixing Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. xiaoci Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. xiaokong Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. yejiei Yu & Li, sp. nov., C. zhaoi Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. zhigangi Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. corticalis group; C. mii Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. subtongi Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. ternatensis group; C. banna Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. filicata group; and C. menglun Yu & Li, sp. nov. from the C. trivialis group. The remaining two new species, C. shuangsi Yu & Li, sp. nov. and C. wangchengi Yu & Li, sp. nov., are not readily assignable to any of the existing species groups. The female of C. cochlearis Yu & Li, 2019, the female of C. tiane Yu & Li, 2019, the female of C. bicornis Yu & Li, 2019, the male of C. lala Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 and the true female of C. suthepica Dankittipakul, 2008 are described for the first time. Two new synonyms are: C. vukomi Jäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 syn. nov. = C. circulata Zhang & Yin, 1998; C. melanothele Thorell, 1895 syn. nov. = Clubiona melanosticta Thorell, 1890. A checklist of Clubiona species from Xishuangbanna is provided. The DNA barcodes of almost all of the species were obtained for species delimitation, matching of sexes and future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new species of jumping spiders collected from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan, China, are diagnosed and described: Charippus yinae sp. nov. (♂♀), Chinattus inflatus sp. nov. (♂), Indomarengo yui sp. nov. (♂), Phintella banna sp. nov. (♂♀), P. mii sp. nov. (♂♀), Simaetha menglun sp. nov. (♂♀) and S. pengi sp. nov. (♂♀). Charippus yinae sp. nov. is the second species of the genus Charippus Thorell, 1895, which was previously known only from one sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the spider family Hypochilidae Marx, 1888 from China are studied, including two known species and two new species of the genus Ectatosticta Simon, 1892. The new species are E. wukong sp. nov. (♂♀) from Sichuan and E. xuanzang sp. nov. (♀) from Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new species of jumping spiders collected from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, China are diagnosed and described: Cytaea tongi sp. nov. (♂♀), Dexippus pengi sp. nov. (♂♀), Euophrys subwanyan sp. nov. (♂♀), Gelotia liuae sp. nov. (♂♀), Irura lvshilinensis sp. nov. (♂♀), Rhene menglunensis sp. nov. (♂♀), and Siler zhangae sp. nov. (♂). The female of Gelotia zhengi Cao & Li, 2016 is described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relic amphipod of the Tethys, Sarothrogammarus yiiruae sp. nov., is described from Xinjiang, China. The new species is characterized by the absence of eyes; having the palm of the propodus without a midpalmar spine on gnathopods I-II; a weakly concave coxal plate IV; narrow bases of pereopods V-VII; a peduncle of uropod I without a basofacial spine; uropod III longer than uropods I-II, a scale-like inner ramus, and a biarticulate outer ramus with distinct second article. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are discussed. Genetic distances of the new and related species are provided as proof of species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the spider genus Pimoa Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943 are described from Hunan and Yunnan Provinces, China: P. binchuanensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and P. xinjianensis sp. nov. (♂♀). In addition, the male of P. lata Xu & Li, 2009 is described for the first time. The DNA barcodes of the two new species are documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new species of the genus Trilacuna Tong & Li, 2007: Trilacuna bawan Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), T. datang Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), T. fugong Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), T. gongshan Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), T. longling Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), T. wuhe Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female), and T. xinping Tong, Zhang & Li, sp. n. (male, female) are described from Yunnan Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen new species of Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) are described. Among them, eight species were collected from China: P. chayuensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. conaensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. medogensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. nyingchiensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. shacunensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. shuo Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. yuanjiangensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♀) and P. zixiensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂); seven from Myanmar: P. colubrina Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. daxing Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. gexiao Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. putaoensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂), P. subbirmanica Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. titan Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. xia Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂); and one from Thailand: P. maeklongensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂). A distribution map of the new species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Trilacuna Tong & Li, 2007, T. simianshan Tong & Li, sp. n. and T. songyuae Tong & Li, sp. n., are described from Simianshan Natural Reserve, Chongqing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new Pinelema species, P. cunfengensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. podiensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), and P. qingfengensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), are described from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, bringing the total number of Pinelema species to eight. All occur in Yunnan Province or the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The male palp of Telemidae was studied for the first time using scanning electron microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of Pireneitega spiders from China are surveyed, of which three are new to science: P. huashanensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. lushuiensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), P. xiyankouensis Zhao & Li, sp. n. (♂♀). Two known species are redescribed: P. liansui (Bao & Yin, 2004) and P. triglochinata (Zhu & Wang, 1991). The males of P. liansui and P. triglochinata (Zhu & Wang, 1991) are described for the first time. DNA barcodes for five species are documented for future use and as proof of molecular differences between species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus of the spider subfamily Coelotinae, Papiliocoelotes gen. n., with five new species is described for both sexes: P. guanyinensis sp. n., P. guitangensis sp. n., P. jiepingensis sp. n., P. meiyuensis sp. n., P. yezhouensis sp. n. All new species were collected from caves in the Wuling Mountains of Hubei and Hunan Provinces, China. DNA barcodes were obtained for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new species of the spider genus Spiricoelotes Wang, 2002 are described, S. anshiensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), S. chufengensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), S. nansheensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), S. taipingensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♂♀), S. xianheensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♂♀) and S. xiongxinensis Chen & Li, sp. n. (♀). All new species were collected from caves in Jiangxi Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus of the spider subfamily Coelotinae, Flexicoelotes gen. n., with five new species is described from southern China: F. huyunensis sp. n. (female), F. jiaohanyanensis sp. n. (male and female), F. jinlongyanensis sp. n. (male and female), F. pingzhaiensis sp. n. (female), F. xingwangensis sp. n. (male and female). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus, Bannana, is established for two new species that resemble those of the Dysderoides complex. Two new species are described, B. crassispina sp. n. and B. parvula sp. n. Morphological descriptions and illustrations of both new species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evolution and origin of cave organisms is a recurring issue in evolutionary studies, but analyses are often hindered by the inaccessibility of caves, morphological convergence, and complex colonization processes. Here we investigated the evolutionary history of Nesticella cave spiders, which are mainly distributed in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China. With comprehensive sampling and phylogenetic and coalescent-based analyses, we investigated the tempo and mode of diversification and the origins of these troglobites. We also aimed to determine which factors have influenced the diversification of this little-known group. Results: Coalescent-based species delimitation validated the 18 species recognized by morphological inspection and also suggested the existence of cryptic lineages. Divergence time estimates suggested that Nesticella cave spiders in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau constituted a monophyletic troglobite clade that originated in the middle Miocene (11.1-18.6 Ma). Although the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau clade was composed exclusively of troglobite species, suggesting an ancient common subterranean ancestor, we favor multiple, independent cave colonizations during the Pleistocene over a single ancient cave colonization event to explain the origin of these cave faunas. The diversification of plateau Nesticella has been greatly influenced by the sequential uplift of the plateau and likely reflects multiple cave colonizations over time by epigean ancestors during Pleistocene glacial advances. Conclusions: We concluded that plateau cave Nesticella represent an ancient group of spiders, but with young troglobite lineages that invaded caves only recently. The absence of extant epigean relatives and nearly complete isolation among caves supported their relict status. Our work highlights the importance of comprehensive sampling for studies of subterranean diversity and the evolution of cave organisms. The existence of potentially cryptic species and the relict status of Nesticella highlight the need to conserve these cave spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the family Anapidae are reported from caves and tropical rainforest of southern China: Gaiziapis encunensis, Minanapis menglunensis and Sinanapis longituba. The genus Minanapis is recorded for the first time from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of atyid shrimp, Caridina alba sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from Tenglongdong cave, Hubei Province, China. This new species is characterized by a short rostrum with a small number of teeth, highly reduced eyes, the shape and relative lengths of the pereiopodal segments, the spination of the posterior telsonic margin, and the uropodal diaeresis. The morphology of the species in relation to other species is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of gammaridean amphipod, Gammarus preciosus sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from the Baotianman Natural Reserve, Henan Province, China. This new species is characterized by the inner ramus of the third uropod reaching 0.4 times the length of the outer ramus, and the outer ramus with spines on its outer margin and plumose setae on its inner margin. The morphology of the species is discussed in relation to other, closely similar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The distributions of Chinese spiders are used to form biotic regions and to infer biogeographical patterns. Location China. Methods China was initially divided into 294 quadrats of 2° latitude by 2° longitude. The distributions of 958 species of spiders were summarized for each quadrat. Subsequently, these quadrats were pooled into 28 areas based on topographical characteristics and to a lesser extent on the distributions of spiders. Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to classify the 28 areas based on the shared distributional patterns of spiders. Results China was found to have seven major biogeographical regions based on the distributional patterns of spiders: Western Northern region (clade B2: Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang subregions), Central Northern region (clade B3), Eastern Northern region (clade B4), Central region (clade C2), Eastern Southern region (clade C3), Western Southern region (clade C4), and Central Southern region (clade C5). Main conclusions The distributional patterns of Chinese spiders correspond broadly to geological provinces. A comparison of the geological provinces and the distributional patterns of spiders reveals that the spiders occur south of the geological provinces. Furthermore, a general biogeographical classification with five natural areas is suggested as follows: Tibetan Plateau, Central Northern, Eastern Northern, Western Northern (excluding Tibetan Plateau), and Southern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gammarus abstrusus, a new gammarid from Longmendong Cave in the southwestern part of Sichuan Province, China, is reported. A detailed description and illustrations of this freshwater amphipod are presented and differences with related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gammarus comosus, a new gammarid from Dongwandong Cave in the north part of Guizhou is reported. A detailed description and illustrations of this freshwater amphipod are given and differences with related species are discussed. Also, a key to Chinese cave-dwelling amphipods is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A new species of subterranean amphipod from China, Procrangonyx limpidus n. sp., is reported in the present paper. Detailed drawings of body parts and remarks on its affinities to related species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gammarus platvoeti, a new species of cave amphipod from Yunnan is reported. A detailed description and illustrations of this freshwater amphipod are given and differences to related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]