On the identity of species of the huntsman spider genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae) from India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka Author Sankaran, Pradeep M. Division of Arachnology, Department of Zoology, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala 682 013, India. Author Sherwood, Danniella Arachnology Research Association, 124 City Road, London, ECIV 2 NX, United Kingdom. & Fundación Ariguanabo, 4111, Calle 58, e / ave. 41 y ave. 43, San Antonio de los Baños, Provincia Artemisa c. p. 18100, Cuba. Author Jäger, Peter Arachnology, Senckenberg Research Institut, Mertonstrasse 17 - 21, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. text Zootaxa 2024 2024-06-06 5463 3 301 338 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5463.3.1 journal article 298429 10.11646/zootaxa.5463.3.1 5390ab23-704a-4644-8307-4bfc73751bcf 1175-5326 11611277 6E261F38-7196-4C87-AE81-E09996D055F4 Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907 Figs 20 , 27 Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907: 561 ( ♂ ♀ ). Strand 1909: 31 , plate II, figs 33a–b ( ♂ ♀ ). Type material. Syntype ♂ ♀ , INDIA : Karnataka : Kodagu , Madikeri (= Merkara / Mercara ) [ca. 12°24’N , 75°44’E ; 1073 m a.s.l.], date unknown, Veil leg. ( SMNS , material destroyed in World War II ; not examined) but: right palp of syntype male in MNHN : 156 c[ollectio] St [rand]; examined . Diagnosis. Males of T . serambiformis can be distinguished from those of all other congeners examined by the shape of the tegular apophysis with two acuminate apices, and by the long RTA with a hook-shaped dorso-distal and a blunt ventro-distal apex (vs. tegular apophysis without such acuminate apices, RTA shorter or if similarly long with two branches or without such dorso-distal apex in all other species with males known) ( Figs 20A–B vs. e.g., Figs 4E–F , 5A–B , 11C , 12A–B , 13A–B , 14A–B , 15A–B , 17D–E , 18A–B , 21E–F , 22C , 23A–B , 24A–B ). FIGURES 20A–B. Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907 , syntype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral). Not to scale.Abbreviations: C—conductor; ddA—dorso-distal part of RTA; E—embolus; iT—internal tooth; pO—proximad outgrowth of tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger. Description. Male [after Strand 1907 : body length 13.8. Carapace 6.8 long, 5.5 wide. Opisthosoma 7.0 long, 4.5 wide. Leg measurements: I 24.3, II 23.1, III 19.6, IV 24.2]. Supplementary description. Palp ( Figs 20A – B ): Cymbium with moderately distinct retrolateral bulge, dorsally with cymbial scopula in distal half ( Fig. 20B ). Tibia shorter than cymbium, with massive, bifid, RTA arising distally from tibia. RTA margins with fringes of fine setae; vRTA with acute tooth internally, best seen in ventral view ( Fig. 20A ). Tegulum with round proximad outgrowth proximo-prolaterally. Tegular apophysis arising in 17.30- to 18-o’clock-position from tegulum, distinctly bifurcated, disto-retrolateral tip curved in ventral view, proximo-prolateral tip with small bend apically (best seen in proximal view) ( Fig. 20B ). Conductor arising at the base of the embolus, retrolaterad, similarly broad over its entire length, with two bulges apically. Embolus with a large, basally originating projection, arising at 10.30-o’clock-position from tegulum, simple, semicircular, tapering towards its tip, the latter proximad. Spermophor visible in ventral view proximo-prolaterally close to bulge. Distribution. India ( Karnataka ) ( Strand 1907 ) ( Fig. 27 ). Remarks. Unfortunately, the type material in SMNS was destroyed and Strand (1907) did not illustrate the epigyne. The only remnant of the syntype series was to be found in MNHN (a right male palp) ( Fig. 20 ). If topotypic material is collected, its identity can be fully resolved.