Modisimus berac, 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 : 288-289

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491036
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3130F-7A14-741B-DCFB-BF79FABC4061
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Modisimus berac
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MODISIMUS BERAC HUBER View in CoL SP. NOV.

( Figs 15 View Figures 5–16 , 36 View Figures 17–37 , 59 View Figures 38–62 , 81 View Figures 63–82 , 188, 189 View Figures 185–189 , 201 View Figure 201 )

Type: Male holotype from broadleaf forest patch (‘Berac’, 18°19.7 ′ N, 72°17.7 ′ W), La Visite N. P., Dept Sud-Est, Haiti GoogleMaps , 1580 m a.s.l., domed sheet connected to underside of green fern leaves, 27 November 2007 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK ( Haiti 23a) .

Etymology: The species name refers to the type locality; it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized, pale-greenish, long-legged species, with six eyes, distinguished from close relatives ( M. palvet sp. nov. and M. miri sp. nov.) by pair of distinct dark epigynal sclerites ( Fig. 59 View Figures 38–62 ); further distinguished from M. palvet sp. nov. by the pattern of club-shaped modified hairs on male chelicerae ( Fig. 188 View Figures 185–189 ), slightly stronger bulbal apophysis, distally curved towards prolateral, and slightly shorter dorsal cymbium projection; distinguished from M. miri sp. nov. by absence of apophyses above fang joints.

Male (holotype): Total length, 2.0; carapace width, 0.8. Leg 1: 20.3, (4.8 + 0.3 + 4.9 + 7.9 + 2.4); tibia 2, 3.2; tibia 3, 2.2; tibia 4, 2.5. Tibia 1 L/d: 65. Habitus as in Figure 36 View Figures 17–37 , carapace pale ochre-yellow to whitish, clypeus with wide brown distal margin, sternum whitish; legs pale ochre-yellow, with darker patella area and tibia–metatarsus joints; abdomen pale greenish grey with black spot dorsally (smaller and more posterior than in Fig. 36 View Figures 17–37 ), ventrally monochromous. Ocular area slightly elevated; thoracic furrow distinct but shallow. PME–PME, 125 Mm; PME diameter, 70 Mm; PME–ALE, 70 Mm; no AME. Sternum slightly wider than long (0.6/0.55), unmodified. Chelicerae with around eight cone-shaped modified hairs on each side ( Fig. 188 View Figures 185–189 ). Palps very similar to M. palvet sp. nov. (cf. Fig. 185 View Figures 185–189 ), but slightly larger, with slightly shorter dorsal projection on cymbium, and bulbal apophysis stronger and strongly bent towards prolateral distally. Two long spines on each femur 1, many short vertical hairs on all femora; curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1–3; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 7%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on all other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~30 pseudosegments.

Variation: One male with large anterior black spots dorsally on abdomen ( Fig. 36 View Figures 17–37 ). Tibia 1 in three other males: 5.4, 5.4, and 5.7.

Female: In general similar to male, but paler, without darker clypeus margin, spots on abdomen variable (from monochromous to three large black spots; same in juveniles). Tibia 1 in nine females: 3.8–4.5 (mean 4.1). Epigynum, simple externally, with distinctive pair of black spots ( Fig. 59 View Figures 38–62 ); dorsal view as in Figures 81 View Figures 63–82 , 189 View Figures 185–189 .

Distribution: Known from type locality only ( Fig. 201 View Figure 201 ).

Material examined: Haiti: Dept Sud-Est, La Visite N. P., 1♂, holotype above; same data, 3♂, 9♀ and six juveniles ( ZFMK, Haiti 23); same data, 4♂, 1♀ and one juvenile in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, Haiti 69) .