Modisimus toma, 2010

Huber, Bernhard A., Fischer, Nadine & Astrin, Jonas J., 2010, High level of endemism in Haiti’s last remaining forests: a revision of Modisimus (Araneae: Pholcidae) on Hispaniola, using morphology and molecules, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158 (2), pp. 244-299 : 268-269

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491012
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3130F-7A20-742F-DFA1-BF5AFC73400F
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Modisimus toma
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MODISIMUS TOMA HUBER & FISCHER View in CoL SP. NOV.

( Figs 42 View Figures 38–62 , 65 View Figures 63–82 , 84, 90, 91 View Figures 83–93 , 96, 97 View Figures 94–103 , 108–110 View Figures 104–114 , 118, 123 View Figures 115–123 , 133–135 View Figures 130–135 , 196 View Figure 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 View Materials a) GoogleMaps .

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 View Figures 83–93 , 134 View Figures 130–135 ), strong spines on male cymbium ( Figs 96 View Figures 94–103 , 133 View Figures 130–135 ), and frontally diverging epigynal sclerites ( Fig. 42 View Figures 38–62 ).

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 View Figures 17–37 ), 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 View Figures 83–93 ); 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 View Figures 83–93 , 134 View Figures 130–135 ). Palps as in Figure 133 View Figures 130–135 , 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 View Figures 94–103 ), bulb with long apophysis ( Figs 97 View Figures 94–103 , 133 View Figures 130–135 ). 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 View Figures 115–123 ). Tibia 1 in 12 females: 2.4–3.0 (mean 2.8). Epigynum, with distinctive pair of brown plates converging posteriorly ( Figs 42 View Figures 38–62 , 108 View Figures 104–114 ); dorsal view as in Figures 65 View Figures 63–82 , 135 View Figures 130–135 , with large membranous median structure.

Distribution and habitat: Known from three localities in the southern and central Dominican Republic ( Fig. 196 View Figure 196 ; Cuevas Pomier and La Toma are represented by a single mark in Fig. 196 View Figure 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 View Materials ) ; same data, 2♂ and 2♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-1 View Materials ) . 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) GoogleMaps . 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) GoogleMaps .