Systaria procera, Jäger, 2018

Jäger, Peter, 2018, On the genus Systaria (Araneae: Clubionidae) in Southeast Asia: new species from caves and forests, Zootaxa 4504 (4), pp. 524-544 : 531-533

Systaria procera spec. nov.

Figs 19–26 , 45–46

Type material: CAMBODIA: Battambang Province: Holotype: male, ESE of Sambov Lun, Phnum Proek District, Prampi Village , Phnom Prampi , La Ang Pracheu , 13°19’9.1''N, 102°36'11.6''E, 125 m elevation, in limestone cave, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 28.1.2017, 5535- IV-3, Cambodian Cave Project 2017, 214/17 ( SMF) . Paratypes (2 males, 5 females). 2 males, Battambang Province: Sambov Lun, Roung Strang 4, 13°24’24.8''N, 102°28'17.5''E, 195 m elevation, in limestone cave, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 7.2.2018, 5435- I/46, Cambodian Cave Project 2018, 136/18 (1 male SMF / 1 male IOZ) . 1 female, with same data as for holotype ( SMF) . 1 female, Battambang Province: Phnum Proek district, Chakrey commune, Chakrey village , Roung Phnom Chakrey 8, 13°22’2.7''N, 102°22'4.7''E, 248 m elevation, in limestone cave, 49 m long, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 24.1.2017, 5435- I-13, Cambodian Cave Project 2017, 158/17 ( IOZ) . 2 females, Phnum Proek district, Chakrey commune, Chakrey village, Roung Phnom Chakrey 5, 13°22'7.9''N, 102°21'59.3''E, 237 m elevation, in limestone cave, 117 m long, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 23.1.2017, 5435- I-11, Cambodian Cave Project 2017, 151/17 ( SMF) .

Additional material examined (1 subadult male, 3 juveniles). CAMBODIA: 1 subadult male, with same data as for holotype ( SMF) . 1 female, Banteang Meanchey Province: Serei Saophoan district, Kampong Svay commune, Pongro village, Phnom Kong Wah (=Phnom Thai Hang), Roung Onkham, 13°37'55.4''N, 102°56'33''E, 30 m elevation, in limestone cave, 66 m long, D. Fröhlich leg. by hand, 8.3.2016, 5536- II-11, Cambodian Cave Project 2016, 523/16 ( SMF) . 1 juvenile, Battambang Province: Sambov Lun, Roung Strang 4, 13°24’24.8''N, 102°28'17.5''E, 195m elevation, in limestone cave, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 7.2.2018, 5435- I/46, Cambodian Cave Project 2018, 136/18 ( SMF) . 1 juvenile, Battambang Province: Sambov Lun, Roung Barang Kleah 1, 13°21’42.6''N, 102°21'40.1''E, 226m elevation, in limestone cave, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 25.1.2018, 5435- I/23, Cambodian Cave Project 2018, 159/18 ( SMF) . 1 juvenile, Battambang Province: Sambov Lun, La Ang Touch, 13°22’9.9''N, 102°22'18.4''E, 267m elevation, in limestone cave, H. Steiner leg. by hand, 27.1.2018, 5435- I/27, Cambodian Cave Project 2018, 091/18 ( SMF) .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin adjective “procerus”, meaning “slenderly grown, long, high” and referring to the slender apical part of the embolus; adjective.

Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized spiders with body length of males: 8.2–8.7, females: 8.6–11.2. So far, no Systaria species with similar copulatory organs have been found. The new species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males with stout rhomboid RTA in retrolateral view, middle part of embolus hidden behind tegular bulge in ventral view, apical part of embolus extraordinarily thin with slightly widened tip ( Figs 20–21 ); females with median posteriad protrusion at anterior atrial margin, spermathecae as large as bent ducts close to copulatory opening ( Figs 22–26 ). Females of S. scapigera Dankittipakul & Singtripop 2011 from New Guinea have also such a median protrusion, but that is much longer and extends almost along the entire epigynal length. Moreover, the conformation of the internal duct system of the latter species is distinctly different with larger spermathecae situated postero-laterally of bursae.

Description. Male (holotype): prosoma length 3.9, prosoma width 2.7, anterior width of prosoma 1.5, opisthosoma length 4.8, opisthosoma width 2.6. Eyes: AME 0.25, ALE 0.21, PME 0.16, PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.14, AME–PME 0.12, ALE–PLE 0.03. Cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Spination: Palp: femur p001, d012, r001, patella–tarsus with bristles, not counted in spination; femur I p111, d111, r1111(111), II p1111, d111(1111), r1111, III p1111, d111, r1111, IV p1111, d111, r111; patella I–IV 000; tibia I p001, v 222(1), II p011, v222, III p11, d10, r11, v222, IV p11, d10, r11(3 malformation), v222; metatarsus I v222(1), II v221, III p122, r112, v222, IV p122, r122, v222. Leg formula: 4123. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 3.9 (1.5, 0.6, 0.7, -, 1.1), I 13.2 (3.5, 1.6, 3.6, 3.0, 1.5), II 11.9 (3.3, 1.5, 3.1, 2.6, 1.4), III 10.6 (3.0, 1.3, 2.5, 2.6, 1.2), IV 14.5 (4.0, 1.5, 3.7, 3.9, 1.4). Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 20–21 ). Cymbium distinctly longer than tibia. RTA arising distally from tibia with its disto-dorsal margin slightly sulcate. Embolus arising in 8-o’clock-position from tegulum, slightly bent, with broad base, its tip situated a bit distally from rounded membranous conductor in 12- to 12.30-o’clock-position. Broad part of spermophor visible almost around entire tegulum. Colouration. Deep yellowish-brown without pattern. Fovea, chelicerae, labium, gnathocoxae, sternum and cymbium darker.

Female (paratype): prosoma length 3.7, prosoma width 2.5, anterior width of prosoma 1.5, opisthosoma length 6.2, opisthosoma width 3.6. Eyes: AME 0.19, ALE 0.20, PME 0.13, PLE 0.17, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.18, AME–PME 0.15, ALE–PLE 0.04. Cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Spination: Palp: femur p001, d012, patella p10, tibia p11, d10, metatarsus p10, d10, r10, v021; legs: femur I p011, d111, r111, II p111, d111, r111, III p1111, d111, r1111, IV p111, d111, r001; patella I–IV 000; tibia I v110, II v100, III–IV p11, d10, r11, v222; metatarsus I v210, II v220, III–IV p122, r122, v222. Leg formula: 4123. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 3.8 (1.3, 0.5, 0.9, -, 1.1), I 10.7 (3.0, 1.5, 2.8, 2.2, 1.2), II 9.8 (2.7, 1.4, 2.5, 2.1, 1.1), III 8.7 (2.4, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, 1.1), IV 12.2 (3.3, 1.4, 3.0, 3.1, 1.4). Scopulae and sternum as in male. Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 22–26 ). Epigynal field not recognisable, with 3 slit sensilla. Anterior atrial margin bipartite, arched. Sclerotised spheres (~15) visible through cuticle in ventral view. Copulatory openings located laterally from atrium. Internal duct system with huge oval bursae, touching each other medially, copulatory ducts and connecting tubes recognisable posteriorly. Spermathecae spherical, separated by almost one of their diameter, fertilisation ducts antero-laterad. Colouration. As in male, but prosoma and appendages darker. Live specimen may appear much darker ( Fig. 19 ).

Variation. Males (n=2) with prosoma length 3.9–4.0, opisthosoma length 4.3–4.6, females (n=4) with prosoma length 3.8–4.3, opisthosoma length 4.3–7.1. RTA is more distinctly pointed in male paratypes both in ventral and retrolateral view. Epigynal field may be recognisable as round patch, as wide as long or slightly wider than long, with two pairs of slit sensilla. Median protrusion may be strongly or weakly developed, more or less pointed. Atrium may be longer and with slightly recognisable remnants of atrial furrows, these latter anteriorly strongly diverging. Number of sclerotised spheres may be less (7). Distribution. Known from the type locality and 5 caves in Battambang Province as well as from a cave in Banteang Meanchey Province, all localities situated in NW Cambodia ( Figs 45–46 ).

Natural history. All specimens have been found in relatively small caves scattered in a quite dry and hot landscape. Specimens from Ang Pracheu were found in a cave with almost no aphotic zone, but with a huge amount of guano that was mined by locals. The fauna was very rich with 2 species of bats ( Emballonuridae , Molossidae), Coleoptera (Tenebrionidae) , Lepidoptera , Hymenoptera (Formicidae) , Orthoptera (Raphidophoridae) , Blattodea, Heteroptera (Reduviidae) , Siphonaptera, Araneae ( Clubionidae , Filistatidae , Salticidae , Theridiidae , Uloboridae ), Amblypygi ( Phrynichus orientalis ) and Acari. The fauna of the other sites was recorded as follows: Roung Phnom Chakrey 5 (guano, litter): Chiroptera ( Taphozous cf. melanopogon); Coleoptera , Orthoptera (Raphidophoridae) , Insecta (larvae), Diplopoda, Pholcus sp. (yichengicus group). Roung Phnom Chakrey 8: Lepidoptera , Hymenoptera (Formicidae) , Orthoptera (Raphidophoridae) , Hemiptera, Diplopoda, Gastropoda , Uloboridae , Pholcus sp. Roung Onkham (with roots and litter): bats (low hundreds), Lepidoptera (larvae of Tineidae ), Hymenoptera (Formicidae) , Orthoptera (Raphidophoridae) , Blattodea, Heteroptera (Reduviidae) , Diptera, Diplopoda , Araneae (e.g., Pholcus sp.) ( Laumanns 2016, Laumanns & Pistole 2017; Steiner, personal communication).

Figures

FIGURE 45. Records of Systaria spp. in SE Asia described in this paper. Triangles—species recorded from caves, circlesspecies recorded from forest.

FIGURE 46. All known records of the genus Systaria (World Spider Catalog 2018) including undescribed species mentioned in Deeleman-Reinhold (2001) according to habitats. Triangles—species recorded from caves, circles—species recorded from forest. See discussion.

FIGURES 18–19. Systaria spp., live habitus. 18 Systaria longinqua spec. nov., holotype female from N Laos, Tham Pathok. 19 Systaria procera spec. nov., female paratype from NW Cambodia, La Ang Pracheu (19 photo courtesy of H. Steiner).

FIGURES 20–21. Systaria procera spec. nov., holotype male from NW Cambodia, La Ang Pracheu, left palp (20 ventral, 21 retrolateral). Abbreviation: CT—Cymbial tubercle.

FIGURES 22–26. Systaria procera spec. nov., females from NW Cambodia (22–23 La Ang Pracheu, 24–25 Roung Onkham, 26 Roung Pnomh Chakrey 8). 22, 24, 26 Epigyne, ventral (26 not dissected). 23, 25 Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: COcopulatory opening, MP—median protrusion of anterior atrial margin.