Four new species of the spider genus Physocyclus Simon, 1893 (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Mexico, with updated taxonomic identification keys Author Nolasco, Garduño DE49E0E7-9018-4274-AD07-A44FA1A310D4 Laboratory of Arachnology (LATLAX), Laboratorio Regional de Biodiversidad y Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales (LBCTV), Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), sede Tlaxcala, Ex-Fábrica San Manuel, San Miguel Contla, 90640 Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico. Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas (Doctorado), Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta (CTBC), Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala (UATx), Carretera Federal Tlaxcala-Puebla, Km. 1.5, C. P. 90062, Tlaxcala, Mexico. sam.zeppelin@hotmail.com Author Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro F043A1C7-2B83-40C9-A74E-82C92F00725A Research Fellow. Laboratory of Arachnology (LATLAX), Laboratorio Regional de Biodiversidad y Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales (LBCTV), Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), sede Tlaxcala, Ex-Fábrica San Manuel, San Miguel Contla, 90640 Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico. lat_mactans@yahoo.com.mx text European Journal of Taxonomy 2022 2022-04-19 813 173 206 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1739 journal article 60910 10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1739 9be7f121-e60d-4aed-8c95-e100f0950c9e 2118-9773 6484118 2113785B-CCA7-4412-AFE7-CCA1FF3AB3A9 Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. Valdez-Mondragón & Nolasco urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3CD7FA9C-F2F7-4E14-92BB-C2C34D04E74E Figs 38–57 Fig . 34–37 . Unpublished drawings of P. mariachi sp. nov. (= P. “ nayaritus ”) made by W.J. Gertsch, archived at AMNH. 34 . Male palp in retrolateral view. 35–36 . Left male chelicerae in frontal and retrolateral views, respectively. 37 . Female epigynum, dorsal view . Differential diagnosis Males of Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. resemble P. globosus in having LAC short, by shape of distal spine of PR, pointing to the base of palp femora, and by the half-moon shape of the EE ( Figs 42– 44 , 48–49; VM 2010: figs 42–44). In P. sikuapu sp. nov. (1) chelicerae completely flat, without sclerotized cones, with uniform beige coloration ( Figs 42–43 , 48–49); (2) LAC short, conical, pointing down, with SF occupying entire length of chelicerae ( Figs 41–43 , 48–49); (3) ES wider, shorter ( Figs 44, 46–47 , 50–51 ). Females of P. sikuapu sp. nov. with (1) bell-shaped epigynum in frontal view, with stretch marks transversally in posterior part ( Figs 55–56 ); (2) VAE small, slightly curved in lateral view ( Fig. 56 ); (3) in dorsal view, PP long, oval, with two bag-shaped structures below them ( Fig. 57 , red arrow). Figs 38–43. Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. Male ( holotype ). 38–40 . Habitus in dorsal, lateral and ventral views, respectively. 41 . Carapace in frontal view. 42–43 . Chelicerae in frontal and lateral views, respectively. Scale bars: 38–40 = 1 mm ; 41–43 = 0.5 mm . Etymology The species name is a noun in apposition that means spider (sïkuapu = spider ) in the Purépecha language from the pre-Columbian Purépecha state, which existed from the early 14 th century until 1530, and today is known as the state of Michoacan , where the type locality is found. Material examined Holotype MEXICO • ♂ ; Michoacan , Municipality of Aquila , cave at the viewpoint of Costa Aquila ; 18.5634° N , 103.6471°W ; 160 m .a.s.l. ; 19 Nov 2020 ; A. Valdez , I. Navarro , A. Juárez and S. Nolasco leg; daytime collection; CNAN-T01474 . Figs 44–47 . Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. Male (holotype). 44–46 . Right palp, prolateral, retrolateral and dorsal views, respectively. 47 . Bulb of male palp, dorsal view. Scale bars= 0.5 mm. Paratypes MEXICO • 1 ♂ ; same collection data as for holotype; CNAN-T01474 • 2 ♀♀ ; same collection data as for holotype; CNAN-T01475 . Other material MEXICO • 8 immatures ; same collection data as for holotype; LATLAX . Figs 48–51 . Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. Male (holotype). 48–49 . Detail of chelicerae, frontal and lateral views, respectively. 50 . Details of procursus, embolus and embolic sclerites of right palp, in retrolateral view. 51 . Detail of bulb, dorsal view. Scale bars= 0.5 mm. Description Male ( holotype , CNAN-T01474) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.8. Carapace 1.7 long, 1.6 wide. Clypeus 0.6 long. Diameter AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.12. Distance ALE-PME 0.06, PME-PME 0.13. Leg lengths: I (total 38.7): femur 9.8/patella 0.6/tibia 10.6/metatarsus 15.9/tarsus 1.7; tibia II: 7.5; tibia III: 5.3; tibia IV: 7.4. tibia I L/d: 61.2. Figs 52–57 . Physocyclus sikuapu sp. nov. Female (paratype). 52–54 . Habitus in dorsal, lateral and ventral views, respectively. 55–57 . Epigynum, ventral, lateral and dorsal views, respectively (red arrow indicates translucid bag-shaped structure). Scale bars: 52–54 = 1 mm; 55–57 = 0.5 mm. PROSOMA. Carapace light brown, with a Y-shaped mark around fovea and posterior part of ocular region. Fovea longitudinal. Carapace with three conspicuous irregular spots, barely visible on each side ( Fig. 38 ). Clypeus wide, with same color of carapace ( Fig. 41 ). Chelicerae light beige, without sclerotized cones, with short and conical lateral apophyses, pointing down ( Figs 42 , 48). SF laterally occupying total length of chelicerae ( Figs 42–43 , 48–49). Sternum pale grey, with four pale marks on each side. Labium brown, wider than long. Endites brown, longer than wide ( Fig. 40 ). LEGS. All segments with light beige coloration. Trochanters light brown, darker than in female. Femora and tibiae with barely visible ring-shaped marks distally. OPISTHOSOMA. Globular, longer than wide, with inconspicuous irregular marks. Spinnerets light beige ( Figs 38–40 ). PALP. DAP thin and conical. In retrolateral view, PR slightly sinuous, with basal half light brown and distal half dark, ending in a long, curved, distal spine ( Figs 44 , 50 ). PR with a notch in basal half. In retrolateral view, ES short, square-shaped ( Figs 44 , 50 ); in dorsal view curved, C-shaped ( Figs 46– 47 , 51 ). E short, square-shaped distally in prolateral view ( Figs 44 , 20 ), long and semi-conical in dorsal view ( Figs 46–47 , 51 ). Female ( paratype , CNAN-T01475) Similar to the male, differences: PROSOMA. Carapace with pale coloration ( Fig. 52 ). With a Y-shaped mark darker than in male. Clypeus slightly darker than in male. Chelicerae brown, without sclerotized cones or lateral apophyses ( Fig. 53 ). OPISTHOSOMA. With numerous and irregular grey, white and brown marks ( Figs 52–54 ). EPIGYNUM. Wider than long, bell-shaped, VAE small and slightly curved in lateral view ( Figs 55–56 ). Anterior part of epigynum has a central gray spot, between the VAE ( Fig. 55 ). Posterior part of epigynum darker than anterior part and seems to have stretch marks transversally ( Figs 55–56 ). PP oval, with a pair of bag-shaped structures below them, which have an oval shape ( Fig. 57 ). MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 3. Carapace 1.3 long, 1.3 wide. Clypeus: 0.5. Diameter AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.08, PLE 0.12. Distance ALE-PME 0.08, PME-PME 0.12. Leg lengths: I (total 27.7): femur 6.8/patella 0.6/tibia 7.8/metatarsus 11/tarsus 1.6; tibia II: 5.3; tibia III: 3.8; tibia IV:5.5; tibia I L/d: 52.3. Variation Males Male paratype collected at the same locality as male holotype is smaller, with a light beige coloration. Sternum with same color as carapace, with irregular darker marks in the periphery. The marks in the opisthosoma are slightly darker. ( N =1): tibia I: missing; tibia II: 7.6; tibia III: 5.4; tibia IV: 7.6. Females The other female paratype is a little bigger, with the VAE coloration clearer. ( N =1): tibia I: 8.6; tibia II: 6; tibia III: 4.5; tibia IV: 6.3. Natural history The specimens were collected among big boulders in a disturbed tropical deciduous forest, and inside of a small karstic cave on walls and in the ground ( Figs 72–73 ). Distribution Mexico : Michoacan ( Fig. 78 ).