Bordea berlandi ( Fage, 1931 ) Bosmans & Cardoso & Crespo, 2010

Bosmans, Robert, Cardoso, Pedro & Crespo, Luis Carlos, 2010, A review of the linyphiid spiders of Portugal, with the description of six new species (Araneae: Linyphiidae) 2473, Zootaxa 2473 (1), pp. 1-67 : 8-10

Bordea berlandi ( Fage, 1931) new combination

( Figs 1–7)

Lepthyphantes berlandi Fage, 1931: 184 (descr. female).

Type material: Holotype female from Portugal, Estremadura, covas de Carvalhal; MNHNP 998, not examined.

Comparative material examined: Bordea cavicola ( Simon, 1884) : 1 male from France, Pyrénées Orientales , Col de Mentet, 10.VI.1982, R. Bosmans leg., 1 female from Spain, Guipuzcoa, Hernani, 12.V.2002, J. Alberdi leg. ( Figs 8–10). Bordea negrei (Dresco, 1951) : 1 male 1 female from France, Ariège, gouffre de Peillot, MNHNP ( Figs 11–13) .

Remarks: This species was previously only known by females from a cave in its type locality in Leiria, Alcobaça, Covas do Carvalhal ( Fage 1931). In the original description, it is mentioned that the species is related to Lepthyphantes cavicola Simon. The type material was not examined, but Fage’s drawing of the epigynum allows accurate identification. Two females were collected in the same province, Leiria, matching to Fage’s illustration. A male collected near Mafra has the same pale colour as the two females, and they are considered conspecific. The male palp has typical denticules on the tibia and a Fickert’s gland composed of two swellings. The epigynum has a straight, unfolded scape. These characters allow us to transfer the species to the genus Bordea Bosmans , established for the species Bordea cavicola (Simon) and B. negrei (Dresco) . Bordea berlandi is the third species of this genus limited to the Iberian Peninsula and the French Pyrénées ( Bosmans 1995). The collection of Machado at the Natural History Museum of Lisboa appears to have many specimens of this species and these data are presented here for the first time.

Diagnosis: Bordea berlandi is easily distinguished from its congeners B. cavicola and B. negrei ( Figs 8– 13) by the deep retrolateral incision of the male palpal tibia ( Fig. 2) and the much shorter distal branch of the paracymbium. Females are identified by the nearly triangular epigynum ( Fig. 4).

Description: Male: Colour: Prosoma, chelicerae and legs uniformly yellowish orange, eyes narrowly bordered with black; abdomen pale grey. Measurements: Total length 1.7; prosoma 0.88 long, 0.76 wide. Leg spinulation: Fe I pl; Ti I 2d, pl, rl; Ti II 2d pl rl; Ti III-IV 2d; Mt I–IV: d; Tb Mt I 0.21; L SpI Ti: 3.8. Male palp ( Figs 1–3): Patella and tibia without distinct long spines; tibia with large retrolateral incision and with hook– like apophysis; basal part of paracymbium with seven scattered hairs, distal part reduced to two rounded lobes; lamella composed by three, elongate, terminally pointed branches; embolus ending in a small tooth, accompanied by a rounded lobe; Fickert’s gland with two swellings, as in the other Bordea species.

Female: Measurements: Total length 2.1; prosoma 0.86 long, 0.78 wide. Colour and leg spinulation as in male. Epigynum ( Figs 4–6): Scape large and triangular, straight, unfolded; in lateral view with rectangular dorsal projection, limiting the dorsal plate. Vulva ( Fig. 7): Spermathecae oblique, with two lobes.

Previous records: Braga: Serra do Gerês ( Machado 1942) . Leiria: Alcobaça, Covas de Carvalhal (type locality; Fage 1931) . Viseu: Serra do Caramulo ( Machado 1942) .

New records: Aveiro: Mealhada , Buçaco, cave (CBM) . Faro: Monchique (CBM). Leiria: Alcanena, Minde, Lapa da Ovelha, cave (CBM); Alcobaça, Benedita, Algar do Pinheiro, cave (CBM); Alcobaça, Carvalhal, Grutas do Cabeço dos Mosqueiros, cave (CBM); Ansião, Algar da Lapa , cave (CBM); Pombal, Lapa do Sicó , cave (CBM); Pombal, Abiul, Algar do Vale da Bóia, cave (CBM); Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP , Porto de Mós, Cova da Velha, cave, 1 female, 25.VIII.2002 (CPC); idem, Lapa da Chã de Cima, cave (CBM); idem, Vila Nova de Ourém , Bairro , 1 male, pine forest, 18.VI.2002 (CPC); idem, Fátima, Algar da Cabeça Alta, cave (CBM) . Lisboa: Alenquer, Algar da Senhora das Neves, cave (CBM); Alenquer , Algarve da Terra da Rolha , cave (CBM); Alenquer , Algarve do Cabeço do Macrial , cave (CBM); Alenquer , Buracos Mineiros , cave (CBM); Alenquer , Lapa do Cabeço Redondo , cave (CNM); Cadaval , Lapas do Furadouro de Trás , cave (CBM); Cadaval , Lapa das Penhas do Relvio , cave (CBM); Mafra , Vila Pouca , 1 female, oak forest, 17.V.2001 (CGT) ; Lisboa, Monsanto , 1 male, 16.I.2005, A. Rebelo leg. (CLC); Sintra, Belas, Mina Grandela (CBM) . Porto: Matosinhos, Leça da Palmeira (CBM) . Santarém: Rio Maior, Gruta das Alcobertas, cave (CBM); Rio Maior, Gruta da Senhora da Luz , cave (CBM) . Viana do Castelo: Paredes de Coura (CBM) . Viseu: Tondela, Paredes do Guardão (CBM) .

Distribution: Widespread in Portugal.

Habitat type: Troglophilic. Like the other species of the genus, B. berlandi can be found in relatively high density inside caves. It can however also be found in damp forests with much closed arboreal cover.

Phenology: Collected in May, June and July, but as the species is troglophilic, it can probably be found throughout the year.