Asiopisinus, Hu & Wei & Liu & Xu, 2025

Hu, Changhao, Wei, Mian, Liu, Jie & Xu, Xiang, 2025, Asiopisinus gen. nov., a new genus of the family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833 (Araneae, Theridiidae) from eastern Asia, Zootaxa 5660 (4), pp. 475-504 : 477-478

Genus Asiopisinus gen. nov.

Type species. Asiopisinus cheni sp. nov. from China .

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the prefix “ Asio- ” meaning Asia, referring to the distribution of the genus, and the generic name Episinus .

Diagnosis. Asiopisinus gen. nov. is closely related to Episinus ( Liu et al. 2022) and similar in having two humps on posterior part of opisthosoma (cf. Fig. 14 and Fig. 21A‒D , also in Brunepisinus and Moneta ). Males of Asiopisinus gen. nov. can be recognized by: 1) cymbium almost as long as wide, distal margin with a process (CP), cymbial hook ( CH) located in the process and elongated posteriorly (vs. cymbium distinctly longer than wide, margin without process, cymbial hook located in anterior part of cymbium and elongated prolaterally); 2) extra tegular apophysis (ETA) absent (vs. present); 3) median apophysis (MA) longer than diameter of the bulb (vs. almost as long as the diameter of bulb); 4) tegular apophysis (TA) undeveloped, much smaller than median apophysis (vs. developed, almost as large as median apophysis); 5) conductor (C) divided into two arms (vs. undivided) (cf. Figs 2A‒D , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 and Figs 2E, F , 17 , 20 , Agnarsson et al. 2007: figs 24‒27, 180). Females of Asiopisinus gen. nov. can be recognized by: 1) epigynal septum present (Se) (vs. absent); and 2) windings of copulatory ducts (CD) equal or shorter than spermathecae (S) (vs. much longer than spermathecae) (cf. Figs 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 and Figs 18 , 20 , Knoflach & Thaler 2000: fig. 22).

The male palp of Asiopisinus gen. nov. is similar to that of Pycnoepisinus Wunderlich, 2008 in having wide embolic base (EB) located in the center of the bulb in ventral view, with filiform clockwise circular median part of embolus (E), but can be distinguished by: 1) cymbium almost as long as wide (vs. almost 1.5 times longer than wide); and 2) cymbial hook ( CH) located in anterior part of cymbium (vs. located in retrolateral margin of cymbium) (cf. Figs 2A‒D , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 and Wunderlich 2008: figs 387‒390).

Asiopisinus gen. nov. is similar to Moneta O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 in having two humps on posterior part of opisthosoma, but can be recognized by: 1) length of metatarsus I: tarsus I ca. 3:1 (vs. ca.100:6‒15); 2) cymbial process (CP) located in anterior part of cymbium (vs. located in retrolateral margin of cymbium); 3) embolic base (EB) located in center of bulb in ventral view (vs. embolic base shifted retrolaterally); 4) epigynal septum present (vs. absent) (cf. Figs 2A‒D , 6‒14 and Zhu 1998: figs 182‒191).

Description. Male ( Figs 3 , 4A, C, D, F , 14A, C, E, G , 15A, C, E, G , 16A, C, E, G ): Total length 3.20‒4.20. Carapace almost as long as wide, brown to reddish-brown, with black radial lines and yellowish-brown margins. Cephalic region red, slightly raised. Fovea vertical. Endites with gray distal parts. Chelicerae toothless. Sternum longer than wide, dark brown. Legs yellow to brown, femurs II with prolateral proximal hump (stridulatory organ). Leg formula: IV-I-II-III. Opisthosoma longer than wide, brown, with black and white stripes, posterior part of dorsum with pair of humps, posterior part of venter with white transversal stripe. Colulus small, shorter than half of length of setae.

Palp ( Figs 2A‒D , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 ): Tibia as long as wide, distal end 5 times wider than proximal part in ventral view. Cymbium as long as wide, anterior margin with process (CP), cymbial hook ( CH) located in ventral part of process. Bulb nearly spherical. Tegulum (T) almost crescent-shaped. Sperm duct (SD) thick and curved. Median apophysis (MA) lamellar, extremely long, almost 2 times longer than diameter of bulb, covering and conducting part of embolus (E). Tegular apophysis (TA) lamellar, with serrated distal margin (serration broken in some specimens). Conductor (C) divided into 2 arms: distal arm (DC) twisty, and prolateral arm (PC) nearly triangular. Embolic base (EB) wide, located in center of bulb, distal part of embolus filiform, elongated wavelike.

Female ( Figs 4B, E 14B, D, F, H , 15B, D, F, H , 16B, D, F, H ): Total length 4.10‒4.80. Colouration darker than in male. Stridulatory organ on legs absent. Other characteristics as in males.

Epigyne ( Fig. 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 ): Epigynal plate wider than long, atrium (A) with septum (Se). Windings of copulatory ducts (CD) shorter than spermathecae (S). Spermathecae variable in shape, longer than wide. Fertilization ducts (FD) arising from posterior part of spermathecae.

Composition. Asiopisinus anfu (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov., A. baoshanensis ( Liu, Irfan & Peng, 2019) comb. nov., A. cheni sp. nov., A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov., A. nubilus ( Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov., A. ornithorhynchus ( Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov., A. pseudonubilus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov., and A. yoshidai ( Okuma, 1994) comb. nov..

Biology. Species in this genus build reduced webs ( Fig. 1A, B ) and specialized on ants as prey ( Zhu 1998; Liu et al. 2016).

Relationships. The genus Asiopisinus gen. nov. is sister to the genus Episinus Walckenaer, 1809 ( Liu et al. 2022).

Distribution. East Asia ( China; Japan; Korea) ( Fig. 22 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1A‒C. Living females. A Asiopisinus cheni sp. nov. B A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. C Episinus nanyue Yin, 2012.

FIGURES 2A‒F. Cymbium of Asiopisinus spp. and Episinis spp. A A. cheni sp. nov. B A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. C A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. D A. ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. E E. longabdomenus Zhu, 1998 F E. xiushanicus Zhu, 1998. Abbreviations: Al—alveolus; CH—cymbial hook; CP—cymbial process. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 3A‒D. A‒C Legs I and II of male Asiopisinus spp., ventral view (A A. cheni sp. nov. B A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. C A. ornithorhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov.) D chelicerae of male A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov., posterior view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A‒C), 0.1 mm (D).

FIGURES 4A‒F. Chelicerae of Asiopisinus spp., anterior view A, B A. cheni sp. nov. C A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. D, E A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. F A. ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. (A, C, D, F male, B, E female). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 6A‒F. Left male palp of Asiopisinus cheni sp. nov. A prolateral view, red line shows lateral margin of prolateral arm of conductor B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, prolateral view E expanded bulb, ventral view F expanded bulb, dorsal view. Abbreviations: DC—distal arm of conductor; E—embolus; EB—embolic base; MA—median apophysis; PC—prolateral arm of conductor; SD—sperm duct; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 7A‒B. Epigyne of Asiopisinus cheni sp. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view. Abbreviations: A—atrium; CD— copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae; Se—septum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 8A‒F. Left male palp of Asiopisinus implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. A prolateral view, arrow points to the angle on lateral margin of prolateral arm of conductor B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, prolateral view E expanded bulb, ventral view F expanded bulb, dorsal view. Abbreviations: DC—distal arm of conductor; E— embolus; EB—embolic base; MA—median apophysis; PC—prolateral arm of conductor; SD—sperm duct; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 9A‒B. Epigyne of Asiopisinus implicatu (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view. Abbreviations: A—atrium; CD—copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae; Se—septum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 10A‒F. Left male palp of Asiopisinus nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. A prolateral view, red line shows lateral margin of prolateral arm of conductor B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, prolateral view E expanded bulb, ventral view F expanded bulb, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Abbreviations: DC—distal arm of conductor; E—embolus; EB— embolic base; MA—median apophysis; PC—prolateral arm of conductor; SD—sperm duct; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 11A‒B. Epigyne of Asiopisinus nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view. Abbreviations: A—atrium; CD—copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae; Se—septum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 12A‒F. Left male palp of Asiopisinus ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. A prolateral view, arrow points to the angle on lateral margin of prolateral arm of conductor B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, prolateral view E expanded bulb, ventral view F expanded bulb, dorsal view.Abbreviations: DC—distal arm of conductor; E—embolus;EB—embolicbase; MA—medianapophysis; PC—prolateral armof conductor;SD—spermduct;ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 13A‒B. Epigyne of Asiopisinus ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. A ventral view B dorsal view. Abbreviations: A—atrium; CD—copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae; Se—septum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 14A‒H. Habitus of Asiopisinus spp., dorsal view A, B A. cheni sp. nov. C, D A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. E, F A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. G, H A. ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. (A, C, E, G male B, D, F, H female). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 15A‒H. Habitus of Asiopisinus spp., ventral view A, B A. cheni sp. nov. C, D A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. E, F A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. G, H A. ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. (A, C, E, G male B, D, F, H female). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 16A‒H. Habitus of Asiopisinus spp., lateral view A, B A. cheni sp. nov. C, D A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. E, F A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. G, H A. ornithorrhynchus (Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022) comb. nov. (A, C, E, G male B, D, F, H female). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 17A‒F. Left male palp of Episinus longabdomenus Zhu, 1998, arrows point to the groove on tegulum A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, prolateral view E expanded bulb, ventral view F expanded bulb, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; EB—embolic base; ETA—extra tegular apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 18A‒B. Epigyne of Episinus nanyue Yin, 2012 A ventral view B dorsal view.Abbreviations: CD—copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 20A‒E. Left male palp of Episinus xiushanicus Zhu, 1998 A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view D expanded bulb, dorsal view E expanded bulb, ventral view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; EB—embolic base; ETA—extra tegular apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 21A‒L. Habitus of Episinus spp. A, E, I male E. longabdomenus Zhu, 1998 B, F, J female E. nanyue Yin, 2012 C, G, K female E. papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022 D, H, L male E. xiushanicus Zhu, 1998 (A‒D dorsal view E‒H ventral view I‒L lateral view). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 22. Distribution of Asiopisinus spp. 1 A. anfu (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. 2 A. baoshanensis (Liu, Irfan & Peng, 2019) comb. nov.3 A. cheni sp. nov. 4 A. implicatus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. 5 A. nubilus (Yaginuma, 1960) comb. nov. 6 A. ornithorrhynchus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. 7 A. pseudonubilus (Liang, Liu, Yin & Yu, 2025) comb. nov. 8 A. yoshidai (Okuma, 1994) comb. nov..