Wanniyala agrabopath Huber & Benjamin, 2005

Huber, Bernhard A., 2019, The pholcid spiders of Sri Lanka (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 4550 (1), pp. 1-57 : 32

Wanniyala agrabopath Huber & Benjamin, 2005

Figures 126–128

Wanniyala agrabopath Huber & Benjamin, 2005: 3312 , figs 5a–e, 6, 7a–d (♂ ♀, Sri Lanka). Eberle et al. 2018 (molecular data).

Diagnosis (amendments; see Huber & Benjamin 2005). Both males and females differ from all known congeners by light sternum (either entirely ochre-yellow or with lateral dark marks). Males are distinguished from congeners by details of palp (shape of retrolateral sclerite of procursus; processes of palpal trochanter, and shape of bulbal apophysis; Huber & Benjamin 2005: figs 7a, b) and by modification of clypeus (pair of small lateral processes, with median indistinct hump; Huber & Benjamin 2005: fig. 6c). Epigyna and female internal genitalia strongly resemble those of W. mapalena sp. n. and W. labugama sp. n. (epigynum slightly projecting and evenly rounded in lateral view; internal genitalia with narrow anterior ‘valve’, pair of v-shaped membranous elements similar to W. mapalena , and roundish pore plates; Huber & Benjamin 2005: figs 5d and 7c, d).

New records. SRI LANKA: 4♂ 5♀, ZFMK (Ar 20075), and 4♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK ( SL143 ), Central Province, Hakgala Forest (6.930°N, 80.814°E), 1790 m a.s.l., 14.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber) . 1♂ (not examined but photos of palp kindly provided by S.P. Benjamin), NIFS (Pho-052), Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve (6.911°N, 80.793°E), 1915 m a.s.l., 22.i.2015 (S.P. Benjamin et al.) .

Description (amendments; see Huber & Benjamin 2005). Tibia 1 in specimens from Hakgala: four males 2.9, 3.0, 3.0, 3.2; five females: 2.1–2.5 (mean 2.4). Additional measurements in one male: palpal tibia length: 0.65; distance between tips of cheliceral apophyses: 0.71. Male palps of specimens from Hakgala appear identical in all aspects to those of the type locality illustrated in Huber & Benjamin (2005, figs 6a, b, 7a, b). There seems to be considerable variation in coloration among localities: carapace in males from Hakgala with variably distinct lateral bands, in one male divided into three marks; sternum in males from Hakgala uniformly pale ochre-yellow (as in specimens from type locality but unlike specimens from Horton Plains (cf. Huber & Benjamin 2005); subdistal dark rings on tibiae always distinct in males from Hakgala, other rings (femora subdistally, tibiae proximally) less distinct or barely visible; all rings distinct in females from Hakgala. Males and females from Hakgala with distinct pair of black bands on clypeus (unlike specimens from type locality). Abdomen in males from Hakgala either without ventral pattern (as in specimens from type locality) or with pair of small (sometimes fused) marks near spinnerets; all females from Hakgala with small marks near spinnerets (sometimes indistinct), never with large black marks behind epigynum (as in female from Horton Plains illustrated in Huber & Benjamin (2005: fig. 5e). All females (but not males) from Hakgala with distinct black round marks in book-lung area.

Natural history. The spiders were most abundant under large leaves on the ground. When disturbed, they did not vibrate nor run away but remained still on their flimsy webs on the underside of the leaf in a unique position, lying flat on their sides (cf. W. ohiya sp. n.; Fig. 139 ).

Distribution. Known from several high elevation localities in central Sri Lanka ( Fig. 226 ). The coordinates of the type locality in the original description are ~ 5 km NE of the actual collecting site, which is the Agrapatana- Bopathalawa Forest Reserve at 6.843°N, 80.678°E.

Figures

FIGURES 126–137. Wanniyala, live specimens, part 1. 126–128. W. agrabopath Huber & Benjamin, 2005, male and females with egg-sacs from Hakgala. 129–131. W. mudita sp. n., male and females with egg-sacs from Kandy. 132–134. W. orientalis sp. n., males and female with egg-sac from Inginiyagala. 135–137. W. upekkha sp. n., male from Dematagala and females with and without egg-sac from Ella.

FIGURES 138–149. Wanniyala, live specimens, part 2. 138–140. W. ohiya sp. n., males and female with egg-sac from Ohiya (Fig. 139 shows a male in typical resting position). 141–143. W. viharekele sp. n., males from Viharekele and Kottawa, female from Kottawa. 144–146. W. mapalena sp. n., male and females from between Ratnapura and Mapalena Ella. 147–149. W. labugama sp. n., males and female with egg-sac from Labugama.

FIGURES 226–227. Known distribution of Wanniyala.