Seven new species of Psechrus and additional taxonomic contributions to the knowledge of the spider family Psechridae (Araneae)
Author
Bayer, Steffen
text
Zootaxa
2014
2014-05-16
3826
1
1
54
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3826.1.1
e7c519fb-b07e-452b-91a5-efdec51eb764
1175-5326
286429
B6414C18-599A-44CE-9FCA-F20C845DE79D
Psechrus ampullaceus
sp. nov.
Figs
12
–14
,
25
E,
26
E,
29
A,
32
A–C,
34
Type material.
Holotype
♀
(
SB
1240
):
VIETNAM
:
Lao Cai Prov
.:
Thac Bac Waterfall above Sa Pa
, secondary forest,
1850 m
,
22
°
21
'06''N
,
103
°
45
'
58
''E
,
P. Schwendinger
leg.
04.VI.
2012
, sample number
VN-
12
/
11
,
MHNG
.
–
Paratypes
(
3
♂
):
2
♂
(
SB
1241
, SB
1243
):
VIETNAM
:
Lao Cai Prov
.:
Roadside
ca.
3 km
NE of
Sa Pa
,
1450 m
,
22
°
21
'
30
''N
,
103
°
52
'
28
''E
,
P. Schwendinger
leg.
05.VI.
2012
, sample number
VN-
12
/
13
,
MHNG
;
1
♂
(
SB
1242
) with same data as for those listed above,
AMNH
.
Note.
In the vulva of the female
holotype
the distal part of each spermathecal head was broken during the removment of the infolded (thin and transparent) cuticle whilst preparing the specimen. This was necessary in order to obtain a satisfactory view of all specific vulval-structures. In
Fig.
32
B the broken distal parts of the spermathecal heads have been re-positioned close to the remaining parts of the spermathecal heads to provide an impression of their pre-dissection orientation.
FIGURE 12.
Psechrus ampullaceus
sp. nov.
, male paratype SB 1241, MHNG, from Sa Pa, Lao Cai Prov., Vietnam: left pedipalp. A. prolateral, B. ventral, C. retrolateral view.
Etymology.
The specific name refers to the epigyne of the female
holotype
, reminding on an antique flask/ bottle (Latin “
ampullaceus
” means ‘bottle- or flask-like’); adjective.
Diagnosis
(consider also diagnosis for
sinensis
-group in
Bayer
2012
, p.
96
). Males are distinguished from those of all other
Psechrus
species, except
P. senoculatus
Yin, Wang & Zhang,
1985
, by the hemispherical bulge exhibiting numerous small spines and tubercles in the basal half of the conductor (ventral view,
Figs
12
B,
13
A,
25
E). Distinguished from
P. senoculatus
by the undulated embolus, the less conspicuous and slightly narrower embolus base, the shorter tegulum, the V-shaped sperm duct and the slightly broader conductor (
Figs
12
B,
13
A).
Females are distinguished from those of all other species of the
sinensis
-group by the flask-like median septum with its anterior third narrower than the posterior half (
Figs
14
A,
29
A) and by the following vulva characters in combination: receptaculum broader than twisted/bulbous section of copulatory duct (contour of twisted/bulbous section better recognisable in medial view, see
Fig.
32
C); spermathecal heads directed anteriorly (
Fig.
14
B), not antero-medially or otherwise; copulatory duct without the snail-shell-like twisted section such as present in
Psechrus jinggangensis
Wang & Yin,
2001
.
FIGURE 13.
Psechrus ampullaceus
sp. nov.
, male paratype SB 1242, AMNH, from Sa Pa, Lao Cai Prov., Vietnam: left pedipalp. A. Pedipalp, ventral view; B. Palpal femur, retrolateral view.
Description.
Male
:
Body and eye measurements: Carapace length
6.6–8.1
, maximal carapace width
4.7–5.9
, anterior width of carapace
2.8–3.3
, opisthosoma length
7.1–9.3
, opisthosoma width 3.0–
4.4
. Eyes: AME
0.37–0.46
, ALE
0.40–0.48
, PME
0.42–0.48
, PLE
0.41–0.48
, AME–AME
0.17–0.18
, AME–ALE
0.06–0.08
, PME–PME
0.25–0.31
, PME–PLE
0.34–0.42
, AME–PME
0.51–0.58
, ALE–PLE
0.42–0.45
, clypeus height at AME
0.67–0.88
, clypeus height at ALE
0.69–0.85
.
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.
Spination: Palp:
131
(
141
),
110
(prolateral one less than half as long as dorsal one),
1101
; legs: femur I
536
(
535,526
), II
536
(
535,436
), III
545
, IV
543
(
544,553,545
); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II
3036
(3038,3037,3046),
III
2022
(2025,2123),
IV
2036
(
2034
); metatarsus I, III
3035
, II
3035
(
2025
), IV
3036
(3035,3037).
Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 8.0–
9.3
[
2.9–3.4
,
1.4–1.7
,
1.1–1.3
,
2.6–2.9
], I
58.5–64.5
[
14.7–16.8
,
3.2–3.9
,
16.6–17.9
,
17.4–18.5
,
6.6–7.4
], II
43.6
–50.0 [
12.1–13.7
,
2.8–3.4
,
11.8–13.4
,
12.2
–14.0,
4.6–5.5
], III 29.0–
32.8
[
8.5–9.6
,
2.2–2.8
, 7.0–
8.1
,
7.7–8.5
,
3.4–3.8
], IV
44.7
–49.0 [
12.3–13.5
,
2.5–3.1
,
11.3–12.5
,
12.7–14.2
,
5.5–5.7
]. Leg formula:
1423
(n=
2
),
1243
(n=
1
). FEM-I+MTT-I/CL=
4.35-4.86
, thus legs rather short in relation to other species-groups and within the range for males of the
sinensis
-group (
Bayer
2012
, p.
96
).
FIGURE 14.
Psechrus ampullaceus
sp. nov.
, female holotype (SB 1240, MHNG) from Thac Bac Waterfall, Lao Cai Prov., Vietnam: copulatory organ. A. Epigyne, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. C. Schematic course of internal duct system. CD: Copulatory duct; FD: Fertilisation duct; SB: Spermathecal base; SH: Spermathecal head; TSC: Twisted and bulbous section of copulatory duct.
Note: Distal part of each spermathecal head broken (see note in species description). The dashed zig-zag-line distally at each spermathecal head symbolises the crack. The distal parts of the spermathecal heads are broader than the central and the proximal parts. In
Fig.
32
B the broken distal parts of the spermathecal heads are shown, located close to the remaining parts of the latter.
Palpal femur ventrally modified with rounded bulge (
Fig.
13
B). However, the latter less distinct than in other species of the
sinensis
-group except
P. c l a v i
s Bayer,
2012
. Macrosetae ventrally on coxa of leg I present, but only as apical row, those of trochanter of leg I present as apical row, but indistinct.
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis above and general description for
himalayanus
-group in
Bayer
2012
): Cymbium distally broad (
Figs
12
A–C,
13
A), its dorsal scopula very dense, covering ca.
2
/
3
of cymbium (
Fig.
26
E); tegulum relatively stout, less than
1.5
times longer than broad (
Figs
12
B,
13
A,
25
E); conductor broad, apically with complicatedly folded flange (
Figs
12
B,
13
A) and arising in a
11
:
30
o’clock position on tegulum; distal, undulated section of embolus relatively narrow, embolus base exhibiting some ridges and scars dorsally (
Figs
12
B–C,
13
A,
25
E), but on the whole embolus base rather indistinct in comparison to other species of the
sinensis
-group; sperm duct in ventral view broadly V-shaped.
Female:
Body and eye measurements: Carapace length
8.3
, maximal carapace width
5.8
, anterior width of carapace
3.9
, opisthosoma length
11.5
, opisthosoma width
5.3
. Eyes: AME
0.43
, ALE
0.44
, PME
0.48
, PLE
0.46
, AME–AME
0.27
, AME–ALE
0.06
, PME–PME
0.39
, PME–PLE
0.47
, AME–PME
0.63
, ALE–PLE
0.50
, clypeus height at AME
1.27
, clypeus height at ALE
1.18
.
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Palpal claw with
16
teeth.
Spination: Palp:
131, 110
, 1101, 1014. Legs: femur I
526
, II
526
, III
535
, IV
534
; patella I–IV 000; tibia I
3036
,
II
2037
,
III
2023
, IV
3031
; metatarsus I–III
3035
,
IV
2023
.
Measurements of palp and legs. Palp
9.7
[
3.4
,
1.3
,
1.7
,
3.3
], I
48.2
[
13.3
,
3.5
, 14.0, 12.0,
5.4
], II
37.6
[11.0,
3.1
,
10.1
,
9.2
,
4.2
], III
27.1
[
8.4
,
2.5
,
6.6
,
6.4
,
3.2
], IV 38.0 [
11.2
,
2.8
,
10.2
,
9.4
,
4.4
]. Leg formula:
1423
. FEMI+MTT-I/CL=
3.05
, legs medium sized to short in relation to females of other species-groups. The legs range within the spectrum listed in
Bayer (
2012
, p.
96
)
for females of the
sinensis
-group.
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis above and general description for
sinensis
-group in
Bayer
2012
): Slits of median septum anteriorly first converging, then diverging, consequently copulatory openings underneath an almost semicircular impression (
Figs
14
A,
29
A); narrowest section of anterior third of median septum narrower than posterior half of median septum, widest section of anterior half of median septum not narrower than widest section of posterior half; muscle sigilla anterior to epigyne with irregular shape, longer than broad (
Figs
14
A,
29
A); three slit sense organs in front of epigynal field, clearly separated from the latter and close to muscle sigilla; epigynal field well developed and as long as broad (
Fig.
14
A). Spermathecal bases approximately round; spermathecal heads remarkably long and distally widened (
Fig.
32
B), located antero-medially on spermathecal bases and directed straight anteriorly (
Figs
14
B,
32
A–B). Course of internal duct system complicated (
Fig.
14
C) and characterised by the long section running within the spermathecal head.
Colouration of male and female (see also description for
sinensis
-group and
Psechrus
in
Bayer
2012
): Median bands on carapace hardly to slightly serrated, lateral bands hardly to slightly serrated and narrow (ca.
0.5–0.7
diameter of PME, in female
holotype
almost one diameter of PME). Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous, but subdistally constricted with the distalmost short section (slightly) broader than the pre-subdistal section. Longitudinal line broad, if measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is
0.7
–1.0x the width of one half of the cribellum.
Intraspecific variation of male copulatory organs.
Besides the size differences of the palps of the two males SB
1241
and SB
1242
the distal part of the conductor of SB
1242
(
Fig.
13
A) is shorter and even broader than in SB
1241
(
Fig.
12
B). The hemispherical bulge in the basal half of the conductor is more distinctly developed in SB
1242
. The male SB
1243
(not illustrated) corresponds almost completely to SB
1241
, except for its embolus, which is very slightly longer and its tip very slightly less pointed than that of SB
1241
.
Taxonomic remarks.
The male
paratypes
from NE of Sa Pa are matched with the female
holotype
from Thac Bac Waterfall. The two localities are just ca.
10 km
apart from each other and the spiders of both sexes are clearly assignable to the
sinensis
-group. It is highly probable that the specimens are conspecific.
Distribution.
Vietnam
(
Fig.
34
).