Argistes velox Simon, 1897

Marusik, Yu. M., 2017, Redescription Of The Type Species Of The Genus Argistes (Aranei, Liocranidae), Vestnik Zoologii 51 (5), pp. 363-368 : 364-368

Argistes velox Simon, 1897 ( figs 1–24 )

Argistes velox Simon, 1897: 144 (Ơ); Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 403 , figs 633–641 (Ơ).

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: SRI LANKA, Central Province: 3 Ơ, 2 ♀ ( ZMMU), Matale District, Dambulla Town , arboretum and forest around, 7°51′39.2″ N, 80°40′29.8″ E, 24‒ 27.12.2011 (Y. M. Marusik) ; 1 ♀ ( ZMMU), Anuradhapura District, Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve , 8°07′02.5″ N, 80°39′58″ E, 25.12.2011 (Y. M. Marusik) .

D e s c r i p t i o n. Male. Total length 2.75 (variations 2.5‒2.85). Carapace 1.36 long, 1.0 wide with distinct pattern. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE = PLE 0.04, AME- AME 0.03, PME 0.05, PME-PME 0.10. Clypeus 0.14. Legs I‒II thinner than III‒IV, middle part of femur I 0.14 in diameter and femur IV — 0.24.

Abdomen with pattern ( figs 3 , 12 ), epigastrum with well-defined epiandrous area ( figs 12 , 23 ). Colulus triangle-shaped, with three setae ( fig. 16 ).

Palp as in figs 4‒5 , 8‒10 , 17‒18, 21 : long, longer than carapace; femur equal in length to patella + tibia; tibia 3 times longer than wide, with short, slightly bent retrolateral apophysis; cymbium long, with long apical part and basal fold (Cf); bulb oval, with long straight, not hooked, tegular apophysis (Ta); spermophore with characteristic loops ( fig. 9 ); conductor (Co) weakly sclerotized, with widened tip; embolus (Em) claw-like. Length of palp and relative length of cymbial tip vary.

Female. Total length 3.5 (variation 3.4‒3.5). Carapace 1.8 long, 1.14 wide. Colouration as in male ( figs 1‒2 , 11 ). Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, AME-AME 0.04, PME 0.09, PME-PME 0.11. Spination differs on left and right legs and in different specimens. Femora: II 1d, III 3d, IV 2d; tibia III 1p, 2r, 1–1v, IV 5p, 2r, 2–2v and 1–1va; metatarsi: II 1–1v, III 3p 3r, 1–1v, IV 3r, 2–2v, 1–1va. Legs I–II thinner than III–IV, middle part of femur I 0.17 in diameter and femur IV — 0.27.

Epigyne as in figs 11, 13‒15 , 19‒20 : plate with small median pocket (Mp) faced anteriorly, copulatory openings (bursa copulatrix, Bc) round, spaced by 4 diameters; translucent receptacles (Re) spaced by 1.5 diameters; receptacles kidney-shaped, with weakly sclerotized glands (Rg) latero-anteriorly; copulatory ducts (Cd) broad, as long as receptacles, with a kind of small and globular “accessorial” receptacle (Ar) originated from round swelling (Rs).

N o t e. Males examined are smaller in size than those described by Deeleman-Reinhold (2001): 2.5‒2.85 vs. 3.0, but have longer legs (leg I 7.0 vs. 6.0).

I thank Benjamin Suresh (Kandy, Sri Lanka) and my wife Irina Marusik (Magadan, Russia) for their help in arranging the expedition to Sri Lanka.

Figures

Figs 1‒7. Habitus and male palp of Argistes velox: 1–2 — female habitus, lateral and dorsal; 3 — male habitus, lateral; 4‒5 — male palp, retro- and prolateral; 6‒7 — prosoma frontal in female and male. Scale = 0.2 mm if not otherwise indicated.

Figs 8‒15. Copulatory organs and abdomen of Argistes velox: 8–10 — male palp, ventral, ventro-prolateral and dorsal; 11–12 — ventral side of abdomen in female and male; 13 — intact epigyne, ventral; 14–15 — macerated epigyne, ventral and dorsal. Scale = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ar — accessorial receptacle, Bc — bursa copulatrix, Cd — copulatory duct, Co conductor, Ea — epiandrus, Em — embolus, Mp — median pocket, Re — receptacle, Rg — gland of receptacle, Ta — tegular apophysis.

Figs 16–23. Somatic characters and copulatory organs of Argistes velox: 16 — innerets of male; 17–18 bulb, ventral and anterior, embolus is broken; 19 — epigyne, dorsal; 20 — right part of epigyne, antero-dorsal; 21 — tibia and cymbium of male palp, retrolateral; 22 — epiandrous region; 23 — male abdomen, ventral. Scale = 0.1 mm if not otherwise indicated. Abbreviations: Ar — accessorial receptacle, Bc — bursa copulatrix, Cd — copulatory duct, Cf — cymbial fold, Cl — colulus, Co — conductor, Ea — epiandrus, Em — embolus, Re — receptacle, Rg — gland of receptacle, Rs — round swelling, Ta — tegular apophysis.

Fig. 24. Distribution records of Argistes velox. Filled circles refer to literature data and open circles refer to present data.