Pholcus calcar, WUNDERLICH, 1987

Dimitrov, Dimitar & Ribera, Carles, 2007, The genus Pholcus (Araneae, Pholcidae) in the Canary Islands, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (1), pp. 59-114 : 90-94

PHOLCUS CALCAR WUNDERLICH, 1987 ( FIGS 195–211 )

Pholcus calcar Wunderlich, 1987: 84 , figs 157–164.

Material examined: 1 m, 2 ff, 1 juv., Tamadaba (recreation zone), Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 6.v.2004, Dimitrov & Txasko ( CCRUB 4583-172 , 4584- 172 ) .

Diagnosis: Very similar to P. corcho and P. ornatus , but distinguished by the following characteristics: well-developed apical apophysis of the procursus, which features irregular margins with small outgrowths ( Fig. 211 ); the shape of the appendix of the genital bulb ( Fig. 119 ); the longer trochanteral apophysis and the shape of the uncus, which forms an angle of nearly 90° at its inflection point ( Figs 195 , 210 ). The females are distinguished by the shape of the triangular plate of the epigynum ( Fig. 199 ) and the morphology of the vulva ( Fig. 201 ).

Description: Male: prosoma rounded with yellowish colouring. Dorsally, a brownish colouring extends over the thorax. Well-marked and yellowish fovea. Elevated ocular area with darker pigmentation around the eyes. Distance between AME and ALE slightly larger than the ALE diameter. Diameter of AME half the diameter of ALE. Yellowish-brown sternum with darker margins. Chelicerae yellowish with darker distal cheliceral apophyses. Distal apophyses have two modified hairs. Upper margin of proximolateral apophysis (proximal teeth) extends past the base of frontal prominence. Frontal prominences with darker outgrowths. Chelicerae as in Figure 200 . Palp as in Figures 195–197 . Procursus ( Figs 202, 203, 206, 209 ) with two long dorsal spines placed on a small dorsal apophysis. Dorsal apophysis with short, sharpened outgrowths near its base. Apical apophysis of the procursus features a couple of short outgrowths, close to its ventral extreme ( Fig. 211 ). Tarsal organ as in Figure 208 . Opisthosoma cylindrical with brownish-grey colouring. Dorsally, eight darker spots are divided between two longitudinal lines, the first three spots in each line oval, the last rounded and smaller. Ventrally, two small brownish spots appear above a slightly elevated genital zone. Gonopore as in Figure 207 . Spinnerets as in Figures 204, 205 .

Female: prosoma as in male but ocular elevation less pronounced. Darker colouring over thorax reduced, and the hairs on the dorsal side of the ocular elevation much shorter. Chelicerae darker than the prosoma with brownish colouring but without apophyses. Sternum as in male. Opisthosoma cylindrical with colouring and dorsal spots as in male. Ventrally triangular plate of the epigynum with dark brown colouring. The epigynum area above the plate also dark brown but lighter in tone. Epigynum and vulva as in Figures 198, 199, 201 .

Measurements: Male: Prosoma 1.1 long, 1.2 wide. Opisthosoma 3.9 long, 1.5 wide. Total body length 5.0. Leg I, femur 10.3, patella 0.7, tibia 11.7, metatarsus 19.1, tarsus 2.9, total 44.7. Palp, femur 0.9, patella 0.2, tibia 1.0, procursus 1.0. Female: Prosoma 1.5 long, 1.7 wide. Opisthosoma 3.9 long, 1.5 wide. Total body length 5.4. Leg I, femur 11.7, patella 0.7, tibia 11.9, metatarsus 21.5, tarsus 2.2, total 48.0.

Distribution: This species is endemic to Gran Canaria ( Fig. 276 ).

Natural history: The only locality where we could find P. calcar was the pine forest of the natural park of Tamadaba at altitudes above 900 m. It lives in natural cavities on the hillsides in shady and humid areas.

Comments: Wunderlich (1987) indicates that the type material of this species is in the collection of SMF but it does not occur in the catalogue and we could not find it. The illustrations in the original description proved to be sufficient to determine these specimens as conspecific with P. calcar .

PHOLCUS CORCHO WUNDERLICH, 1987

( FIGS 212–229 )

Pholcus corcho Wunderlich, 1987: 83 , figs 142–149(a); Campos & Wunderlich, 1995: 294, figs 1, 2.

Material examined: 1 m, holotype, from Cuevas del Corcho, Gran Canaria , Canary Islands, Spain ( SMF 35561) ; 1 f, paratype, same data as for holotype ( SMF 35562) ; 2 mm, 1 f, Las Cumbres, Gran Canaria, 12.viii.2002, De Mas & Delgado ( CCRUB 4585-172 ) .

Diagnosis: Distinguished from similar Canarian Pholcus species ( P. calcar and P. helenae ) by the following characteristics: short and curved apical apophysis of the procursus; the thinner apical part of the procursus ( Figs 212 , 224 ); the shapes of the appendix of the bulb and the uncus ( Figs 213 , 228 ). The females are distinguished by the following traits: the shape of the triangular plate of the epigynum ( Fig. 216 ); the semicircular darker colouring over the triangular plate (in fact, parts of the vulva, which are visible by transparency) and the morphology of the vulva ( Fig. 218 ).

Description: Male: prosoma and brownish-yellow in colour. Dorsally, P. corcho exhibits the brownish pigmentation typical of Canarian Pholcus species. Wellmarked fovea. Ocular area with two lateral triads over short cylindrical outgrowths. AME frontally in the centre of the ocular elevation. Eyes surrounded by a darker coloured area. Diameter of AME one-third the diameter of ALE. Distance between AME and ALE similar to the diameter of ALE. Distance between AME slightly larger than their diameter. Sternum coloured like the rest of prosoma with darker margins. Chelicerae ( Figs 217 , 219, 220 ) with short, thick, dark brown, distal cheliceral apophyses. Distal apophyses with two modified hairs at the tip and a small conical outgrowth ( Fig. 221 ). Apex of proximolateral apophyses extends to the base of the frontal prominences. Frontal prominences with dark brown outgrowths. Palp as in Figures 212–214 . Procursus ( Figs 224, 227 ) with two dorsal spines and numerous short, sharpened outgrowths at the base of the dorsal apophysis. Apical apophysis of the procursus with very few and very short outgrowths ( Fig. 223 ). Tarsal organ as in Figure 222 . Opisthosoma cylindrical with brownishyellow colouring. Dorsally, two longitudinal lines of darker spots are visible, four spots to each line. Ventrally, pigmentation slightly lighter with one transversal darker band visible over the genital area. Gonopore as in Figure 225 . Spinnerets as in Figures 226, 229 .

Female: prosoma as in male but ocular area less elevated and with much shorter outgrowths. Distance between AME and lateral triads shorter, not exceeding half the ALE diameter. AME closer. Chelicerae without apophyses. Shape and pigmentation of opisthosoma as in male. Epigynum and vulva as in Figures 215, 216, 218 .

Measurements: Male: Prosoma 1.0 long, 1.5 wide. Opisthosoma 2.8 long, 1.2 wide. Total body length 3.8. Leg I, femur 7.3, patella 0.6, tibia 7.6, metatarsus 11.0, tarsus 2.0, total 28.5. Palp, femur 0.7, patella 0.2, tibia 0.9, procursus 0.8. Female: Prosoma 1.5 long, 2.0 wide. Opisthosoma 4.6 long, 1.6 wide. Total body length 6.1. Leg I, femur 10.3, patella 0.7, tibia 11.0, metatarsus 16.6, tarsus 2.7, total 41.3.

Distribution: This species is endemic to Gran Canaria where it is known to inhabit Los Cumbres and Los Cazadores ( Fig. 276 ).

Natural history: P. corcho lives in the high and humid localities in the north of the island. It is found in small cavities in valleys with abundant vegetation common in this area.

Figures

Figure 276. Known distribution of Pholcus species endemic to the Canary archipelago.

Figures 195–201. Pholcus calcar: 195, male palp, prolateral; 196, male palp, retrolateral; 197, male palp, frontal; 198, epigynum, lateral; 199, epigynum, ventral; 200, male chelicerae, frontal; 201, vulva, dorsal. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figures 202–211. Pholcus calcar: 202, procursus, ventral; 203, procursus, prolateral; 204, anterior lateral spinnerets; 205, posterior median spinnerets; 206, procursus, dorso-retrolateral; 207, male gonopore, ventral; 208, male tarsal organ; 209, dorsal apophysis of the procursus, dorsal; 210, projections of the bulb, retrolateral; 211, apical apophysis of the procursus, ventral. Scale bars: 202, 203, 206, 207, 209–211, 200 µm; 204, 208, 50 µm; 207, 100 µm; 205, 20 µm.

Figures 118–124. Pholcus roquensis: 118, male palp, prolateral; 119, male palp, retrolateral; 120, male palp, frontal; 121, epigynum, lateral; 122, epigynum, ventral; 123, male chelicerae, frontal; 124, vulva, dorsal. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figures 212–218. Pholcus corcho: 212, male palp, prolateral; 213, male palp, retrolateral; 214, male palp, frontal; 215, epigynum, lateral; 216, epigynum, ventral; 217, male chelicerae, frontal; 218, vulva, dorsal. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figures 219–229. Pholcus corcho: 219, male chelicerae, frontal; 220, male chelicerae, lateral; 221, distal apophysis of male chelicerae; 222, male tarsal organ; 223, apical apophysis of the procursus, ventral; 224, procursus, prolateral; 225, male gonopore, ventral; 226, anterior lateral spinnerets; 227, apex of the procursus, dorso-retrolateral; 228, projections of the bulb, retrolateral; 229, posterior median spinnerets. Scale bars: 219, 228, 200 µm; 220, 223–225, 227, 100 µm; 221, 222, 226, 20 µm; 229, 10 µm.