High level of endemism in Haiti’s last remaining forests: a revision of Modisimus (Araneae: Pholcidae) on Hispaniola, using morphology and molecules Author Huber, Bernhard A. Author Fischer, Nadine Author Astrin, Jonas J. text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2010 2010-01-25 158 2 244 299 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x journal article 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x 0024-4082 5438272 MODISIMUS TOMA HUBER & FISCHER SP. NOV. ( Figs 42 , 65 , 84, 90, 91 , 96, 97 , 108–110 , 118, 123 , 133–135 , 196 ) Type: Male holotype from near La Toma ( 18°27.5 ′ N , 70°07.2 ′ W ; ~ 70 m a.s.l. ), San Cristóbal Prov., Dominican Republic ; degraded forest, under dead leaves on ground, 7 November 2005 ( B.A. Huber ), in ZFMK ( DR 4 a) . Etymology: The species name refers to the type locality; it is used as a noun in apposition. Diagnosis: Medium-sized species, easily distinguished from known congeners by large male cheliceral apophyses ( Figs 91 , 134 ), strong spines on male cymbium ( Figs 96 , 133 ), and frontally diverging epigynal sclerites ( Fig. 42 ). Male ( holotype ): Total length, 2.1; carapace width, 1.0. Leg 1: 16.6 (4.1 + 0.3 + 4.2 + 6.6 + 1.4); tibia 2, 2.7; tibia 3, 2.1; tibia 4, 2.6. Tibia 1 L/d: 47. Habitus similar to M. jima sp. nov. (cf. Fig. 19 ), carapace pale ochre-yellow, ocular area basally brown posteriorly, clypeus light brown with lighter median band, and sternum light brown, lighter medially; legs pale ochre-yellow; abdomen bluish grey, with black spots dorsally and laterally, genital area light brown. Ocular area strongly elevated ( Fig. 84 ); thoracic furrow distinct. PME – PME , 70 Mm; PME diameter, 90 Mm; PME – ALE , 95 Mm; AME – AME , 10 Mm; AME diameter, 15 Mm. Sternum wider than long (0.6/0.4), unmodified. Chelicerae with distinctive pair of lateral apophyses, carrying many modified club-shaped hairs ( Figs 90, 91 , 134 ). Palps as in Figure 133 , coxa with retrolateral apophysis, femur with proximal flap retrolaterally, and distal apophysis ventrally; cymbium with strong spines; procursus with dorsal spine-like process and distal membranous structures ( Fig. 97 ), bulb with long apophysis ( Figs 97 , 133 ). Legs without spines, many short vertical hairs dorsally on all femora; curved hairs dorsally on tibiae 1 and 2; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 14%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~25 pseudosegments . Variation: Some males with fairly distinct darker rings on legs: distally on femora (preceded by whitish ring), and proximally and distally on tibiae (also bordered by whitish rings); some males with rather greenish abdomen. Tibia 1 in 13 other males: 4.0–5.2 (mean 4.4). Female: In general similar to male, rings on legs more distinct; sternum with a bundle of between two and four strong, long hairs on each side posteriorly ( Fig. 118 ). Tibia 1 in 12 females : 2.4–3.0 (mean 2.8). Epigynum, with distinctive pair of brown plates converging posteriorly ( Figs 42 , 108 ); dorsal view as in Figures 65 , 135 , with large membranous median structure. Distribution and habitat: Known from three localities in the southern and central Dominican Republic ( Fig. 196 ; Cuevas Pomier and La Toma are represented by a single mark in Fig. 196 ). Near La Toma, this species was found under dead curved leaves on the ground. Material examined: Dominican Republic : San Cristóbal Prov. , near La Toma , 1♂ , holotype above; same data, 6♂ and 12♀ ( ZFMK , DR 4 ) ; same data, 2♂ and 2♀ , in pure ethanol ( ZFMK , DR 100-1 ) . Borbon , Cuevas Pomier [~ 18°28 ′ N , 70°08 ′ W ], tropical deciduous forest, 200 m a.s.l. , 13–28 July 1995 ( S. & J. Peck ), 10♂ ( AMNH , #95-23); same data, but 28 July–5 August 1995 , 4♂ and 1♀ ( AMNH , #95-47) . La Vega Prov. , 10 km north-east of Jarabacoa Hotel Montana [ 19°10.9 ′ N , 70°34.8 ′ W ], forest, 550 m a.s.l. , 18 July–4 August 1995 ( S. & J. Peck ), 1♂ ( AMNH , #95-30) .