Modisimus palvet, 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 : 287-288

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10545489
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3130F-7A13-741A-DC58-B8E9FC5B471A
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Modisimus palvet
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MODISIMUS PALVET HUBER & FISCHER View in CoL SP. NOV.

( Figs 9, 16 View Figures 5–16 , 35 View Figures 17–37 , 60 View Figures 38–62 , 89, 93 View Figures 83–93 , 114 View Figures 104–114 , 115, 121, 122 View Figures 115–123 , 185–187 View Figures 185–189 , 201 View Figure 201 )

Type: Male holotype from Macaya B. R., at 18°20.5 ′ N, 74°01.0 ′ W, Dept Sud , Haiti GoogleMaps ; ravine, with some broadleaf trees in pine forest, 1350 m a.s.l., domed sheets connected to undersides of green leaves, 30 November 2007 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK ( Haiti 19a) .

Etymology: The species name is derived from the Creole words pal (pale) and vèt (green), and refers to the colour of this species; it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized, pale-greenish, long-legged species, with six eyes, distinguished from close relatives ( M. miri sp. nov. and M. berac sp. nov.) by pattern and conical shape of modified hairs on male chelicerae ( Figs 89 View Figures 83–93 , 186 View Figures 185–189 ), and by epigynum shape ( Figs 60 View Figures 38–62 , 114 View Figures 104–114 ); further distinguished from M. miri sp. nov. by slightly more slender procursus, and absence of apophyses above fang joints; distinguished from M. berac sp. nov. by slightly more slender bulbal apophysis, and slightly longer dorsal cymbium projection.

Male (holotype): Total length, 1.9; carapace width, 0.73. Leg 1: 23.6 (5.7 + 0.3 + 5.7 + 9.8 + 2.1); tibia 2, 3.7; tibia 3, 2.4; tibia 4, 2.8. Tibia 1 L/d: 76. Habitus as in Figures 9 View Figures 5–16 , 35 View Figures 17–37 , carapace pale ochre-yellow, 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 some purple spots close together dorsally, ventrally monochromous. Ocular area elevated; thoracic furrow distinct, but shallow. PME– PME, 95 Mm; PME diameter, 55 Mm; PME–ALE, 95 Mm; no AME. Sternum as wide as long (0.45), unmodified. Chelicerae with four cone-shaped modified hairs on each side ( Figs 89 View Figures 83–93 , 186 View Figures 185–189 ). Palps as in Figure 185 View Figures 185–189 , coxa with retrolateral apophysis, femur with low proximal projection, and distal apophysis ventrally; procursus rather short and wide, with several membranous structures, including distinctive dorsal projection, bulb with prominent apophysis, and membranous and sclerotized subdistal elements. Legs without spines, many short vertical hairs on all femora; without curved hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 7%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on all other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~35 pseudosegments.

Variation: Tibia 1 in four other males: 5.3, 5.3, 5.7, and 5.8.

Female: In general, similar to male, but paler, without purple spots on abdomen; some females with white spots dispersed over dorsal side of abdomen, and indistinct darker rings subdistally on femora. Tibia 1 in six females: 3.8–4.5 (mean 4.1). Epigynum, simple externally ( Figs 60 View Figures 38–62 , 114 View Figures 104–114 ); dorsal view as in Figure 187 View Figures 185–189 .

Distribution: Known from type locality only

( Fig. 201 View Figure 201 ).

Material examined: Haiti: Dept Sud, Macaya B. R.: 1♂, holotype above; same data, 4♂ and 6♀ ( ZFMK, Haiti 19); same data, 4♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, Haiti 64) .