Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Sherwood, Danniella & Jäger, Peter, 2024, On the identity of species of the huntsman spider genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae) from India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5463 (3), pp. 301-338 : 328-333

Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901

Figs 1C–F , 21–24 , 27

Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901: 488 (♂).

Type material. Syntypes 1♂, 1 immature, INDIA: Kerala: Trivandrum (formerly part of Travancore), Ponmudi [ca. 8°45’58.38”N, 77°6’32.55”E; 1028 m a.s.l.], March [18]96, Ferguson leg. ( NHMUK 1899.1.17.47–48; examined) .

Other material examined. INDIA: Kerala: 1 subadult ♀, Kottayam, Palai, Areeppara in Edappady [09°42’N, 76°42’E; 27 m a.s.l.], 02 September 2013, M.S. Pradeep leg., from foliage, by hand ( ZSI / WGRC /I. R.INV.26581) ; 2 ♂, with same data as for previous specimen except 30 June 2014 ( ZSI / WGRC /I. R.INV.26582 & 26583 respectively) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Trivandrum, Ponmudi [08°45’N, 77°07’E; 640 m a.s.l.], 01 November 2014, M.S. Pradeep leg., from foliage, by hand ( ZSI / WGRC /I. R.INV.26584 & 26585 respectively) .

Diagnosis. Males of T. virescens can be distinguished from all male congeners examined by the following combination of characters: (1) short RTA, i.e., extending distally barely beyond tibia (vs. distinctly longer and extending distally far beyond tibia in T. buu , T. canescens , T. moolampilliensis , T. orichalcea ( Simon, 1880) , T. papuana , T. serambiformis ), (2) RTA with three short, almost straight apices [vs. RTA with one apex in T. bicornuta , T. nigrocephala , T. severa , T. simplerta Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 ; with two apices in T. dahanensis Zhu & Zhong , in Zhu et al. 2020, T. kaparanganensis Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 , T. maindroni , T. orichalcea , T. rufula , T. unciformis Zhu & Zhong , in Zhu et al. 2020, T. zhengi ; with three apices in T. pinmini , T. chongzu Lin & Li in Lin et al. (2024), T. kianganensis Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 , but especially dorsal apex long and additionally distinctly bent in the two former species; with more than four apices in T. salomonum ( Strand 1913) ], and (3) embolus very long, arising proproximally, running around distal half of cymbium and winding in retrolateral half, in large parts broadened with membranous flange, only in apical part filiform (vs. similarly long in T. nigrocephala , but with embolus filiform along its entire length) ( Figs 21D–F , 22C , 23A–B , 24A–B vs. e.g., Figs 4D–F , 5A–B , 11C , 12A–B , 13A–B , 14A–B , 15A–B , 17C–E , 18A–B , 20A–B ). Females resemble those of T. biroi Kolosváry, 1934 , T. hercules , T. ochracea and T. papuana in having very long lateral lobes, i.e., as long as median septum with posterior projections, and a median septum with either an invaginated posterior margin ( T. hercules ) or a similar longitudinal median ridge ( T. biroi , T. ochracea ) as well as a similar internal duct system with copulatory ducts running from anteriorly situated paramedian openings first laterally and then posteriorly, but can be distinguished from these species by (1) anterior epigynal margin unbroken (vs. discontinuous in T. biroi , T. hercules , T. ochracea and T. papuana ), and (2) presence of one pair of spherical glandular appendages in anterior half of internal duct system (vs. without such structures in T. hercules , T. ochracea and T. papuana ) ( Figs 22D–F , 24C–D vs. Pocock 1898: pl. 10, fig. 11; Järvi 1912: pl. 3, fig. 1; Kolosváry 1934: fig. 3; Figs 8D–E , 9A–B herein).

Complimentary description of non-type material. Male (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26583; Fig. 22A ). Colouration: carapace, fovea, eye field, chelicera, clypeus, gnathocoxae, labium, sternum, spinnerets dark red-brown to black-brown, most parts covered densely by pale setae; legs and palp segments brown with black shades covered partly by pale setae; opisthosoma brown with dense cover of pale grey setae dorsally and laterally and a broad black patch ventrally. Fovea short, deep, longitudinal, straight. Sternum glossy, sparsely covered with black setae. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 5–6 retromarginal teeth. Metatarsus I–III with thick scopulae along entire length, IV with weak scopulae in distal half; all tarsi with thick and complete scopulae. Opisthosoma oval. Body length 17.4. Carapace 9.0 long, 7.95 wide. Opisthosoma 8.4 long, 5.0 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.43, ALE 0.27, PME 0.24, PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.36, AME–ALE 0.66, AME–PME 0.24, ALE–PLE 0.31, PME–PME 1.01, PME–PLE 1.23. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.39, at ALEs 0.25. Chelicerae 3.5 long. Length of palp and legs: palp (right) 9.98 (2.90, 1.58, 1.34, 4.16), I 32.31 (8.83, 4.51, 8.20, 8.59, 2.18), II 30.71 (8.98, 4.24, 7.61, 7.87, 2.01), III 23.72 (7.52, 3.42, 5.54, 5.50, 1.74), IV 30.31 (8.96, 3.38, 7.21, 8.71, 2.05). Leg formula: 1243. Spination of palp: femur 131, patella 1, tibia 000, tarsus/cymbium 000; legs: femur I–III 323, IV 321; patella I–IV 000; tibia I 2129, II 212(10), III 2126, IV 2125; metatarsus I–II 1012, III 3022, IV 3034; tarsus I–IV 000. Palp ( Figs 22C , 24A–B ): Cymbium with pronounced retrolateral bulge in proximal half, with a dense brush of cymbial scopula disto-dorsally ( Fig. 24B ). Tibia short, i.e., roughly one third of cymbium length ( Figs 22C , 24A ), RTA short, with thumb-like vRTA and short bifid dRTA, with short, obtusely triangular VDL ( Figs 22C , 24A–B ). Tegular apophysis arising from tegulum in 3-o’ clock position, narrowing towards base, with small ventrad rounded apex ( Figs 22C , 24A– B ). Conductor arising medio-prolaterally from tegulum, sclerotized, broad, becoming complex towards apical tip, slightly folded to accommodate most of curved part of embolus, its tip retrolaterad, with a short process basally, with beak-like process apically ( Figs 22C , 24A–B ). Embolus long, arising proximo-prolaterally in 8-o’clock-position, first broad and prolaterad, then distad and retrolaterad, in retro-distal position proximad, with narrow, proximad tip seen only in retrolateral view ( Figs 22C , 24A–B ).

Description. Female (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26585; Fig. 22B ). In most details like male, except for the following: body length 20.53. Chelicerae with five retromarginal teeth. Carapace 10.20 long, 8.45 wide. Opisthosoma 10.35 long, 5.9 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.52, ALE 0.36, PME 0.28, PLE 0.35; AME–AME 0.51, AME– ALE 1.03, AME–PME 0.43, ALE–PLE 0.70, PME–PME 1.15, PME–PLE 1.70. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.43, at ALEs 0.20. Chelicerae 4.30 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 11.13 [3.40, 2.02, 2.13, 3.58], I 28.77 [8.03, 4.68, 7.01, 7.09, 1.96], II 27.94 [8.59, 4.51, 6.63, 6.45, 1.76], III 21.90 [6.98, 3.50, 4.95, 4.74, 1.73], IV 28.30 [8.45, 3.46, 6.72, 7.53, 2.14]. Leg formula: 1423. Spination of palp: femur 121, patella 101, tibia 312, tarsus 303; legs: femur I–III 223, IV 221; tibia I–II 212(10), III 2126, IV 2024; metatarsus I–III 1012, IV 2034. Genitalia ( Figs 22D–F , 24C–D ): Epigynal field slightly wider than long ( Figs 22D–E , 24C ). Lateral lobes large, occupying almost entire epigynal area, separated by long and narrow median septum, with posteriad projections ( Figs 22D–E , 24C ). Median septum diverging anteriorly and posteriorly ( Figs 22D–E , 24C ). Copulatory openings slit-shaped, located anterolaterally ( Fig. 24C ). Copulatory ducts less sclerotized, with multiple twists, antero-medially with spherical glandular appendages ( Figs 22F , 24D ). Spermathecae sclerotized, oval, posteriorly situated ( Figs 22F , 24D ). Fertilisation ducts sub-parallel, anteriad, their tips mediad ( Fig. 24D ).

Variation. Male 2: body length 17.95. Carapace 9.5 long, 8.15 wide. Opisthosoma 8.45 long, 4.95 wide. Male 3: body length 17.9. Carapace 9.35 long, 8.1 wide. Opisthosoma 8.6 long, 5.15 wide.

Supplementary description of holotype. Male ( Figs 21A–C , 23C–D ). Colouration: brown, opisthosoma without pattern. Chelicerae with three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth ( Fig. 23D ). Body length 17.0. Carapace 8.10 long, 7.62 wide. Opisthosoma 8.90 long, 7.46 wide.Chelicerae 1.96 long.Eye sizes and interdistances ( Fig. 23C ): AME 0.65, ALE 0.45, PME 0.26, PLE 0.40; AME–AME 0.60, AME–ALE 0.85, AME–PME 0.58, ALE–PLE 0.61, PME–PME 1.22, PME–PLE 1.74. Palp as in Figs 21D–F and 23A–B .

Distribution. India (Kerala) ( Pocock, 1901; present data) ( Fig. 27 ).

Remarks. The lateral lobes of the epigyne of the newly collected female specimen described here are about one third more separated from each other after KOH treatment than in the non-treated epigyne (cf. Fig. 22D vs. Fig. 22E ).

Species incertae sedis

Figures

FIGURES 1A–F. Field photographs of Thelcticopis moolampilliensis Sunil Jose & Sebastian, 2007 (A–B) and Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901 (C–F).A–B Female in different views; C Male; D Female; E juvenile; F retreat. Figures are not to scale. Photographs A–B by Nafin K.S. and C–F by Jimmy Paul.

FIGURES 4A–G. Thelcticopis bicornuta Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Prosoma (A dorsal, B ventral); C Opisthosoma, dorsal; D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral); G Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 5A–D. Thelcticopis bicornuta Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Right chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal part of retrolateral tibial apophysis; dSe—distal setae; E—embolus; Se—bunch of setae; Sp—spermophor; VDL—ventro-distal lobe; vRTA—ventral part of retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 8A–F. Thelcticopis hercules Pocock, 1901, holotype female. A–B Prosoma (A dorsal, B ventral); C Opisthosoma, dorsal; D Epigyne, ventral; E Vulva, dorsal; F Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars: A–E, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 9A–D. Thelcticopis hercules Pocock, 1901, holotype female. A Epigyne, ventral; B Vulva, dorsal; C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Right chelicera, ventral. Abbreviation: PP—posterior projection. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 11A–F. Thelcticopis moolampilliensis Sunil Jose & Sebastian, 2007, non-type male (A, C) and female (B, D–F) (ZSI/ WGRC/I.R.INV.26579). A–B Habitus, dorsal; C Left palp, ventral; D–E Epigyne ventral (D not dissected, E same dissected and cleared in 10% KOH); F Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A–B, 2 mm; C, 1 mm; D–F, 0.5 mm. Photographs by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 12A–D. Thelcticopis moolampilliensis Sunil Jose & Sebastian, 2007, genitalia of non-type male (A–B) and female (C–D) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26579). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Epigyne, ventral; D Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; E—embolus; FD— fertilisation duct; GA—glandular appendage; LL—lateral lobe of epigyne; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; Sp—spermophor; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis; UA—unpaired appendage; VDL—ventro-distal lobe of palpal tibia. Scale bars: A–B, 1 mm; C–D, 0.5 mm. Drawings by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 13A–D. Thelcticopis nalandica (Karsch, 1892) comb. rest., holotype male.A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical narrow part of embolus; bE—basal broad part of embolus; C—conductor; CT—conductor tip; iT—internal tooth; TA—tegular apophysis; VO—ventral outgrowth of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 14A–L. Thelcticopis nalandica (Karsch, 1892) comb. rest, holotype male of Stasina nigropicta (A–E), female (F–L). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C, I Eye arrangement, dorsal; D, J–K Chelicerae, ventral (D, K left, J right); E Habitus, dorsal; F Epigyne, ventral; G Vulva, dorsal. H Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. L Opisthosoma, dorsal. Abbreviation: CT—conductor tip. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 15A–D. Thelcticopis paripes (Karsch, 1879) comb. rest., holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical narrow part of embolus; bE—basal broad part of embolus; C—conductor; CT—conductor tip; TA—tegular apophysis; vmB—ventro-medial branch of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 17A–F. Thelcticopis rufula Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral); F Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–E, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 18A–E. Thelcticopis rufula Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral; E Habitus, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal part of RTA; TA—tegular apophysis; vRTA—ventral part of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

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.

FIGURES 21A–G. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Prosoma (A dorsal, B ventral); C Opisthosoma, dorsal; D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral). G Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 22A–F. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, non-type male (A, C) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26583) and female (B, D–F) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26585). A–B Habitus, dorsal; C Left palp, ventral; D–E Epigyne, ventral (D not dissected, E same dissected and cleared in 10% KOH); F Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A–C, 2 mm; D–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 23A–D. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical filiform part of embolus; bE—basal wide flattened part of embolus; C—conductor; Sp—spermophor; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 24A–D. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, genitalia of non-type male (A–B) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26583) and female (C–D) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26585). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Epigyne, ventral; D Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: aE—apical filiform part of embolus; bE—basal wide flattened part of embolus; bpC—basal process of conductor; C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; dRTA—dorsal part of RTA; FD—fertilisation duct; GA—glandular appendage; LL—lateral lobe of epigyne; MS—median septum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; Sp—spermophor; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis; VDL—ventro-distal lobe of palpal tibia; vRTA—ventral part of RTA. Arrow indicates beak-like process of conductor. Scale bars: A–B, 2 mm; C–D, 1 mm. Drawings by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURE 27. Distribution of the genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 in southern India and Sri Lanka.