Labahitha marginata (Kishida, 1936) comb. nov.

Figs 3, 16–24, 28B–C, 29D–E

Filistata marginata Kishida in Komatsu, 1936: 151, pl. 22. Syntypes from Taiwan, Tainan, Aug. 1935, K. Kishida leg., lost or untraceable, not examined.

Filistata bakeri Berland, 1938: 187, figs 159–162. Male holotype and female allotype from Vanuatu, Santo, Jun.–Jul. 1927, Baker leg., deposited in MNHN AR 3436, examined. Syn. nov.

Filistata bakeri – Berland 1942: 24.

Pritha bakeri – Lehtinen 1967: 260. — Ramírez et al. 2021: 17.

Filistata marginata – Kayashima 1943: 11, pl. 7 fig. 1. — Lee 1966: 15, fig. 2d. — Wang 1987: 252, fig. 1H–K. — Song et al. 1999: 46, fig. 17u.

Prithinae sp. Costa Rica MR11 – Wheeler et al. 2017: 583.

Prithinae IFMsp22 – Magalhaes & Ramírez 2017: 668.

Pritha marginata – Zonstein & Marusik 2019: 88.

Notes

Zonstein & Marusik (2019: 88) considered the type locality of Filistata marginata as “ Japan, Honshu, Akita Prefecture, Senboku”. This was apparently a mistake: H. Ono (in litt.) informed us that the original text in Komatsu (1936) reads “Distribution: Taiwan. In August of 1935, Mr. Kyukichi Kishida found this spider in a hotel at Tainan where he stayed. […] Afterwards, Mr. Izumi Kayashima announced that this spider is very common in houses in Taihoku.” Taihoku was an administrative region of the island while it was under Japanese rule, and corresponds to modern-day Taipei. Apparently, the old Japanese kanji ‘tai’ was misread by Zonstein & Marusik as ‘sen’, causing the confusion. Thus, the correct type locality of this species is Taiwan, Tainan. This species is cited in books on Taiwanese spiders (Kayashima 1943; Lee 1966), supporting this view. H. Ono (in litt.) kindly informed us that “after the death of Dr. Kishida in 1968, no specimen has been found, which he presumably held”, and thus we may consider that the type specimens of F. marginata have been lost. We have examined specimens from Taiwan, Pingtung (50 km to the south of Tainan) whose habitus morphology fits well with Komatsu’s (1936) illustration, thus ascertaining the identity of this species. Since this is the only filistatid known to occur in Taiwan and the original illustrations match our specimens, this name can be objectively applied to this species, precluding the need for a neotype (see International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, article 75.1). Wang (1987: fig. 1i) was the first to illustrate the female genitalia of this species, showing the single pair of receptacles with a trilobulate structure; however, the locality of the illustrated specimens is unclear.

The types of Filistata bakeri are in a bad state of preservation, and apparently have dried at some point. The palp of the holotype is deformed, especially the sperm duct; the colours are faded, but Berland’s illustration match the colour pattern of fresh specimens examined by us. Berland (1938) mentions a male paratype, but the two vials we saw contain only one male, six females and one immature. Records of this species by Berland (1942) from Austral Islands could not be checked and are not included in the map; his report of this species for Christmas Island probably refers to L. gibsonhilli . Lehtinen (1967) included two species in his Pritha bakeri group: Filistata bakeri from Vanuatu and a species from Taiwan he thought to be new (his revision did not account for F. marginata). We here show that specimens from both islands are conspecific; specimens from Taiwan (Fig. 19F) and Vanuatu (Fig. 19C) show similar female genitalia, and the differences observed in males (Fig. 18D, G) are due to the bad preservation of the holotype of Filistata bakeri .

Diagnosis

The male is most similar to L. incerta sp. nov. in the paraembolic lamina divided in two parts, with a rounded apex near the embolus; it differs by strong fimbriations in the paraembolic lamina and the bulb with a median constriction (Fig. 18) (vs smaller fimbriations, bulb without clear median constriction). Females are unique among all filistatids by the genitalia with a single pair of stalked, trilobate receptacles (Fig. 19).

Examined type material

Holotype of Filistata bakeri

VANUATU • ♂; Espiritu Santo; [15.30036° S, 166.91821° E]; Jun.–Jul. 1927; Baker leg.; MNHN AR 3436.

Allotype of Filistata bakeri

VANUATU • ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN AR 3436. Paratypes of Filistata bakeri

VANUATU • 5 ♀♀, 1 imm.; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN AR 3437 .

Additional material examined

BRAZIL – Alagoas • 3 ♀♀; Maceió; [9.64986° S, 35.70892° W]; 11 Sep. 2003; N. Lo-Man-Hung leg.; IBSP 41004 . – Pernambuco • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Tamandaré, Reserva Biológica de Saltinho; 8.72986° S, 35.17614° W; 44 m a.s.l.; 26 May 2015; L.S. Carvalho leg.; in house; CHNUFPI 1590 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1591 • 2 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, 1 imm.; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1595 .

COOK ISLANDS • 1 ♀; Aitutaki Island, Ubelia District, main village; [18.86629° S, 159.80005° W]; 27 Mar. 1987; J A. Beatty leg.; in crevices on buildings; JBJB • 4 ♀♀, 4 imm.; Mitriaro coral island; [19.87742° S, 157.70186° W]; 19–21 Jan. 1996; J. Boutin leg.; CAS 9062893 • 1 ♀; Rarotonga; 21.20525° S, 159.80218° W; 15–25 Jan. 1996; J. Boutin leg.; mixed forest; CAS 9062894 .

COSTA RICA – Alajuela • 5 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 1 imm.; Upala, San Gerardo; [10.89778° N, 85.01306° W]; 600 m a.s.l.; Jun. 2009; C. Víquez and J. Mata leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 108899 . – Guanacaste • 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Bagaces, Sendero Cantera; [10.52516° N, 85.25414° W]; 100 m a.s.l.; 19–22 Nov. 2008; C. Víquez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 104619 • 3 ♀♀; Liberia, Estación Maritza; [10.6346° N, 85.44068° W]; 600 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2004; C. Víquez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 104556 • 4 ♀♀, 1 imm.; Santa Rosa; [10.83793° N, 85.70511° W]; 21 Jun. 2006; C. Víquez leg.; INBIO . – Heredia • 1 imm.; 4 km SE of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Finca La Selva; [10.45399° N, 84.01939° W]; 27– 30 Sep. 1981; C.E. Griswold leg.; CAS 9058484 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; Oct. 1981; C.E. Griswold leg.; CAS 9058483 • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 imm.; same collection data as for preceding; Sep.–Oct. 1981; C.E. Griswold leg.; CAS 9062895 . – Limón • 8 ♀♀, 1 imm.; Moín; [9.99243° N, 83.09519° W]; 17– 18 May 1987; D. Ubick leg.; CAS 9060445 . – Puntarenas • 1 ♂; Altamira, Sendero Proyecto Agricultura Orgánica; [8.37826° N, 83.11195° W]; 1065 m a.s.l.; 6 Aug. 2003; C. Víquez and R. Gutiérrez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 74353 • 1 ♂, 11 ♀♀; Coto Brus., Jardín Botánico Las Cruces; [8.95402° N, 83.07042° W]; 7–8 Nov. 2001; C. Víquez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 77891 • 4 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀; Osa, Finca Mora Maroto; [8.94631° N, 83.53346° W]; 100 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2006; C. Víquez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 108901 • 1 ♀; Osa Peninsula, 2.5 mi SW of Rincon; 8.70758° N, 83.48703° W; 1–7 Mar. 1967; OTS Adv. Zoo. Course leg.; MCZ 145046 • 1 ♀; Parrita; [9.51864° N, 84.33054° W]; 20 m a.s.l.; 13 Jan. 1989; W. Eberhard leg.; MCZ 145044 • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; Jan. 1989; W. Eberhard leg.; MCZ 145045 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 13 Jan. 1989; W. Eberhard leg.; near oil palm plantation; MCZ 145043 . – San José • 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Puriscal, Parque Nacional La Cangreja, estación de funcionarios; [9.83214° N, 84.33317° W]; 324 m a.s.l.; 25 Jan. 2005; C. Víquez leg.; manual collecting; INBIO 79582 .

GUATEMALA • 4 ♀♀; Tijax; [15.37521° N, 89.26903° W]; 11 Jul. 2006; C. Víquez leg.; INBIO .

KIRIBATI • 1 ♀; Phoenix Islands, Kanton; [2.80427° S, 171.64329° W]; 1956; N.L.H. Krauss leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; Sep. 1950; N.L.H. Krauss leg.; AMNH .

MARQUESAS ISLANDS • 1 ♀; Nuku Hiva Island, Taiohae; [8.90895° S, 140.10112° W]; 20 Jan. 1987; J.W. Berry leg.; on building; JBJB.

MEXICO – Chiapas • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Palenque; [17.51098° N, 91.99305° W]; 24–25 Aug. 1977; C.E. Griswold and T.C. Meikle leg.; AMNH . – Nayarit • 4 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀, 1 imm.; 1 mile S of Acaponeta; [22.49611° N, 105.36281° W]; 15 Aug. 1963; W.J. Gertsch and W. Ivie leg.; AMNH • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; bridge at Río Caponeta; [22.49611° N, 105.36281° W]; 1 Aug. 1964; W.J. Gertsch leg.; AMNH • 1 ♂; San Blas, 50 yards from ocean; [21.5413° N, 105.28472° W]; 16 Mar. 1961; D. and H. Campbell leg.; CAS 9062900 . – Veracruz • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Catemaco, Estación de Biología Tropical Los Tuxtlas; 18.58644° N, 95.07514° W; 31 Jul. 2014; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 1191 • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1197 .

NICARAGUA – Chinandega • 1♂, 3♀♀; El Viejo, Sto. Thomas, Villa Argentina; 12.75° N, 87.396° W; 38 m a.s.l.; 26 Nov. 2007; C. Víquez and J. Mata leg.; INBIO NIC4 • 4 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 5 imm.; same collection data as for preceding; in house; AMNH • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; AMNH .

PANAMA • 3 ♀♀; Chiriquí, Hornitos; 8.71524° N, 82.23548° W; 6 Jun. 2006; M.J. Ramírez leg.; in houses along highway; MACN-Ar 33845 • 1 ♀; Veraguas, Santiago, El Manguito; 8.09572° N, 80.98373° W; 10 Jun. 2008; M. Ramírez leg.; MACN-Ar 33854 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Jun. 2007; CRBA, ex-MACN-Ar 33857 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 9 Jun. 2007; MACN-Ar 33846 • 1 ♀, 2 imm.; same collection data as for preceding; MACN-Ar 33847 .

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 1 ♀; Makeke Highlands; 6.48727° S, 145.59442° E; Feb. 1973; D. Kirkness leg.; AM KS.59201 .

PHILIPPINES • 1 ♀; Laguna, Los Baños, Mount Makiling; 14.13639° N, 121.19444° E; Luzon and Baker leg.; SMF 3501 .

SAMOA • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 imm.; Upolu; [13.83333° S, 171.75° W]; AMNH IFM-0885, IFM-0886 .

TAIWAN • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 18 imm.; Ping-Tung, Chao-Chow; [22.52937° N, 120.56242° E]; 6 Jun. 1956; D.E. Beck leg.; AMNH IFM-0871, IFM-0872 .

USA • 1 ♀; Hawai’i; [19.89677° N, 155.58278° W]; AM .

Description

Male (from Parque Nacional La Cangreja, San Jose, Costa Rica, INBIO 79582)

COLOURATION. Carapace light brown, with brown median pattern, and cream lateral margins. Chelicerae, labium and endites light brown. Sternum light cream. Legs cream, with very faint light brown markings on the proximal and distal ends of tibiae III–IV. Abdomen brown, with faint light brown chevron posteriorly, and a large patch of white setae anteriorly on dorsum.

HABITUS. Anterior margin of the carapace subrounded, with unsclerotized tip. Eye apodemes present. Sternum subrounded, sigilla not visible.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.49. Carapace length 1.19, width 0.93. Clypeus length 0.23. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.07, PME 0.09, ALE 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.10. Sternum length 0.73, width 0.65. Palp: femur length 0.56, height 0.17, tibia length 0.32, height 0.19. Leg I: 6.20 (1.59, 0.40, 1.80, 1.55, 0.86). II: 4.21 (1.21, 0.35, 1.14, 0.99, 0.52). III: — (0.99, 0.30, 0.87, x, x). IV: 4.85 (1.32, 0.35, 1.26, 1.31, 0.61). Abdomen: length 1.58, width 0.82.

LEG MACROSETAE. Mt I 1a.vr.

PALP (Figs 18, 20–21). Cymbium horseshoe shaped, bulb enlarged, with a median constriction, sperm duct N-shaped with a single coil, prolateral excavation very large occupying most of the tegulum, paraembolic lamina large, in two parts, with fimbriations proximally and digitiform distally, ending close to the apex of the embolus, embolus short and slightly curved.

State of the specimen: good, lacking some setae; left palp and right leg I dissected.

Female (from Parque Nacional La Cangreja, San Jose, Costa Rica, INBIO 79582)

COLOURATION. As in male, except for lack of brown markings on carapace and chevron in the abdomen.

HABITUS. Eye apodemes present. Sternum subrounded.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.86. Carapace length 1.25, width 1.02. Clypeus length 0.28. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.06, PME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.09. Sternum length 0.86, width 0.67. Palp: femur length 0.72, height 0.30, tibia length 0.39, height 0.23. Leg I: 4.89 (1.28, 0.37, 1.31, 1.13, 0.80). II: — (1.08, 0.35, 0.88, x, x). III: — (0.92, 0.35, 0.70, x, x). IV: 4.32 (1.27, 0.39, 1.11, 0.97, 0.58). Abdomen: length 2.56, width 1.63.

LEG MACROSETAE. Absent. Calamistrum with three rows with 5-5-6 setae.

EPIGASTRIC FURROW. Adorned with thick setae.

ENDOGYNE (Figs 19, 22). Median receptacles absent, lateral receptacles on a short stalk, trilobulate, sclerotized, with several glandular pores restricted to the proximal lobe. State of the specimen: good, genitalia dissected.

Variation

Female seminal receptacles may be fully sclerotized or hyaline (Fig. 19); perhaps this may depend on the maturity or reproductive status of the females. Males (N = 5): total length 2.19–2.79 (2.55), carapace length 0.99–1.2 (1.15), femur I length 1.31–1.59 (1.49), tibia I length 1.57–1.8 (1.72), femur/carapace ratio 1.18–1.34 (1.29). Females (N = 5): total length 2.73–4.96 (3.79), carapace length 1.17–1.8 (1.42), femur I length 1.1–1.58 (1.36), tibia I length 1.13–1.72 (1.4), femur/carapace ratio 0.88–1.02 (0.96).

Distribution

Widely distributed in tropical Polynesia, with other records in Taiwan, Philippines, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and in continental America from Mexico to Brazil (Fig. 1D).