Modisimus kiskeya, 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 : 264-268

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00559.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10545475
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3130F-7A2C-742E-DC2B-BC4EFF054778
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Modisimus kiskeya
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

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

( Figs 20 View Figures 17–37 , 41 View Figures 38–62 , 86 View Figures 83–93 , 95 View Figures 94–103 , 116, 117, 119, 120 View Figures 115–123 , 130–132 View Figures 130–135 , 196 View Figure 196 )

Type: Male holotype from near La Ciénaga (~ 19°03 ′ N, 70°53 ′ W), La Vega Prov., Dominican Republic; path along river, ~ 1100 m a.s.l., domed web in vegetation, 9 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK ( DR 20 About ZFMK a) GoogleMaps .

Etymology: The species name refers to Kiskeya (Quisqueya) , an ancient name for Hispaniola; it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized species, easily distinguished from Hispaniolan congeners by long abdomen ( Fig. 20 View Figures 17–37 ), also by pattern of modified hairs on male chelicerae ( Fig. 131 View Figures 130–135 ), and shape of epigynum ( Fig. 41 View Figures 38–62 ). Male (holotype): Total length, 3.1; carapace width, 1.0. Leg 1, 31.7 (7.7 + 0.4 + 7.6 + 13.5 + 2.5); tibia 2, 4.5; tibia 3, 3.5; tibia 4, 4.0. Tibia 1 L/d: 80. Habitus as in Figure 20 View Figures 17–37 , carapace pale ochre-yellow to whitish, with dark median line and wider dark band, visible through cuticle; ocular area posteriorly laterally brown, clypeus mostly without pattern, only distally light brown; sternum medially pale ochre-yellow, laterally wide brown bands ( Fig. 20 View Figures 17–37 ); legs light brown, tips of femora and tibiae lighter, very indistinct darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae; abdomen bluish grey with black spots dorsally, arranged in two bands, widening posteriorly, pale bluish spots dorsomedially and laterally, and genital area with pair of long brown bands laterally ( Fig. 20 View Figures 17–37 ). Ocular area strongly elevated; thoracic furrow distinct ( Fig. 86 View Figures 83–93 ). PME–PME, 95 Mm; PME diameter, 95 Mm; PME–ALE, 105 Mm; AME–AME, 10 Mm; AME diameter, 20 Mm. Sternum wider than long (0.7/0.5), unmodified. Chelicerae with about five modified hairs proximally, and two modified hairs near fang joint ( Fig. 131 View Figures 130–135 ). Palps as in Figure 130 View Figures 130–135 , coxa with retrolateral apophysis, femur with proximal flap retrolaterally and distal apophysis ventrally; procursus with dorsal spine-like process ( Fig. 95 View Figures 94–103 ) and distal membranous structures, bulb with long apophysis. Legs with only about four weak spines ventrally on femur 1, but strong spines in two ventral rows on femur 2, with ~ 20 in the prolateral row, ten in the retrolateral row, and a few distal spines on very high bases ( Fig. 119 View Figures 115–123 ); many short vertical hairs on all femora; curved hairs on all tibiae and metatarsi, especially dorsally; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 6%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~40 pseudosegments.

Variation: Smaller males with weaker and fewer spines on femur 2; a small male from 10 km north-east of Jarabacoa lacks the characteristic spines on femur 2, but its chelicerae and palps appear to be identical; some males also with a few weak spines on femur 3; modified hairs on chelicerae vary slightly in number and size. Tibia 1 in 39 other males: 6.5–8.0 (mean 7.3).

Female: In general similar to male, abdomen shorter, dark rings on legs more distinct, clypeus with small brown mark distally; tibia 1 in 40 females: 3.9–5.3 (mean 4.6). Epigynum, simple externally ( Fig. 41 View Figures 38–62 ), with a pair of small dark sclerites visible through cuticle; dorsal view as in Figure 132 View Figures 130–135 , with large pore plates.

Distribution and habitat: Widely distributed in the central Dominican Republic ( Fig. 196 View Figure 196 ). In contrast to most Hispaniolan congeners, this species is typically found higher in the vegetation, up to about 2 m above ground. Only the leaf-dwelling species and M. vittatus occur at similar levels.

Material examined: Dominican Republic: La Vega Prov., 1♂, holotype above ; same data, 8♂ and 9♀ ( ZFMK, DR 20 About ZFMK ) ; same data, 1♂ and 3♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-14 About ZFMK ) ; near La Ciénaga, path to Los Tablones (19°03.5 ′ N, 70°53.0 ′ W), ~ 1200 m a.s.l., 8 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 4♂ and 2♀ ( ZFMK, DR 15 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; 10 km north-east Jarabacoa Hotel Montana [19°10.9 ′ N, 70°34.8 ′ W], forest, 550 m a.s.l., 18 July–4 August 1995 (S. & J. Peck), 1♂ ( AMNH) GoogleMaps . San Cristóbal Prov., degraded forest near La Toma (18°27.5 ′ N, 70°07.2 ′ W), 70 m a.s.l., domed webs in vegetation, 7 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 4♂, 7♀ and one juvenile ( ZFMK, DR 2 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; same data, 2♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-4 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; Borbon, Cuevas Pomier, Cueva La Ligua , 13 July 1995 (S. & J. Peck), 1♂ #95-25 (part), ( AMNH) . Monseñor Nouel Prov., degraded forest at brook through plantation near Jima (19°01.4 ′ N, 70°28.8 ′ W), ~ 700 m a.s.l., domed webs in vegetation, 8 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 3♂ and 2♀ ( ZFMK, DR 10 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; same data, 1♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-9 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps . Monte Plata Prov., near Yamasá (18°45.9 ′ N, 70°01.2 ′ W), degraded forest along river, 70 m a.s.l., domed webs in vegetation, 20 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 15♂ and 11♀ ( ZFMK, DR 82 About ZFMK /83) GoogleMaps ; same data, 2♂, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-17 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; near Monte Plata (18°48.7 ′ N, 69°47.1 ′ W), degraded forest along river, 60 m a.s.l., in vegetation, 21 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 2♂ and 1♀ ( ZFMK, DR 90 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps . Hato Mayor Prov., north of Manchado (18°50.2 ′ N, 69°18.5 ′ W), degraded forest near river, 150 m a.s.l., vegetation, 21 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 3♂, 7♀ and one juvenile ( ZFMK, DR 93 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps . Distrito Nacional: Santo Domingo, Jardín Botánico (18°29.7 ′ N, 69°57.2 ′ W), forest along brook, 50 m a.s.l., domed webs in vegetation, 27 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 8♂, 13♀ and one juvenile ( ZFMK, DR 109 About ZFMK ) GoogleMaps ; Jardín Botánico , 18–22 March 1984 (H. & L. Levi), 1♀ ( MCZ) .