Modisimus macaya, 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 : 280

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491028
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3130F-7A1C-7412-DFD7-BB44FB104414
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Modisimus macaya
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

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

( Figs 6, 14 View Figures 5–16 , 54 View Figures 38–62 , 75 View Figures 63–82 , 163–165 View Figures 161–165 , 199 View Figure 199 )

Type: Male holotype from Macaya B. R., at 18°20.4 ′ N, 74°00.9 ′ W, Dept Sud , Haiti GoogleMaps ; broadleaf forest patch in ravine, 1290 m a.s.l., domed webs in escarpment of ravine, 29 November 2007 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK ( Haiti 42a) .

Etymology: The species name refers to the type locality; it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Large species with distinctive epigynum shape ( Fig. 54 View Figures 38–62 ), few or no spines on male femora.

Male (holotype): Total length, 4.3; carapace width, 1.7. Leg 1: 42.4 (10.4 + 0.8 + 10.5 + 16.5 + 4.2); tibia 2, 7.3; tibia 3, 5.9; tibia 4, 7.4. Tibia 1 L/d: 54. Habitus as in Figure 6 View Figures 5–16 , carapace pale ochre with brown lateral marks posteriorly, thoracic furrow also dark brown, posteriorly indistinct brown spot; ocular area and clypeus brown; sternum medially brown with small light spots, pale ochre-yellow laterally; legs light brown, darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, and in patella area; abdomen bluish grey, densely covered with black spots dorsally (except heart area) and laterally, with a few small bluish white spots; genital area with narrow transverse brown plate, area in front of spinnerets light brown. Ocular area strongly elevated; thoracic furrow distinct. PME– PME, 175 Mm; PME diameter, 170 Mm; PME–ALE, 210 Mm; AME–AME, 25 Mm; AME diameter, 25 Mm. Sternum wider than long (1.1/0.8), unmodified. Chelicerae with ~20 modified hairs on each side, some of them on small elevation ( Fig. 164 View Figures 161–165 ). Palps as in Figure 163 View Figures 161–165 , coxa with retrolateral apophysis, femur with rounded proximal and pointed distal ventral apophyses, procursus without dorsal spine-like process. Legs without spines; all femora with many short vertical hairs; curved hairs on all tibiae and metatarsi; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 10%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on all other tibiae. Tarsus 1 with ~35 pseudosegments.

Variation: Other male from type locality with two small spines distally on femur 2. Tibia 1 in two other males: 10.4 and 10.6. A further male from near the type locality has the cheliceral elevation much more proximally; it is assigned tentatively (both tibiae 1 missing in this specimen, tibia 2: 6.7).

Female: In general, similar to male, dark rings on femora preceded by additional light rings, with light margins on sternum missing in some females. Tibia 1 in five females: 6.7–8.1 (mean 7.4). Epigynum, simple transversal sclerite, whitish posteriorly and medially ( Fig. 54 View Figures 38–62 ); dorsal view as in Figures 75 View Figures 63–82 and 165 View Figures 161–165 .

Distribution and habitat: Known from Macaya Biosphere Reserve only ( Fig. 199 View Figure 199 ). This species was found in sheltered places close to the ground, also at rocks and soil in the embankment of a ravine ( Fig. 14 View Figures 5–16 ).

Material examined: Haiti: Dept Sud , Macaya B. R.: 1♂, holotype above; same data, 1♂ and 4♀ ( ZFMK, Haiti 42/43); same data, 6♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, Haiti 77); same data, one juvenile, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, Haiti 84); ravine with some broadleaf trees in pine forest (18°20.5 ′ N, 74°01.0 ′ W), 1350 m a.s.l., 30 November 2007 (B.A. Huber), 3♀ and two juveniles in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, Haiti 62); broadleaf forest patch, at 18°20.6 ′ N, 74°01.0 ′ W, 1400 m a.s.l., near ground, 30 November 2007 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ and one juvenile ( ZFMK, Haiti 21); broadleaf forest at river, at 18°21.2 ′ N, 74°02.3 ′ W, 1220 m a.s.l., near ground, 1 December 2007 (B.A. Huber), 1♀ and two juveniles ( ZFMK, Haiti 44) GoogleMaps .

Assigned tentatively: Macaya B. R., ravine at 18°20.2 ′ N, 74°01.3 ′ W, 1220 m a.s.l., 1 December 2007 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ ( ZFMK, Haiti 39) GoogleMaps .