Psilochorus redemptus Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940

Slowik, Jozef, 2009, A review of the cellar spider genus Psilochorus Simon 1893 in America north of Mexico (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 2144, pp. 1-53 : 35-37

Psilochorus redemptus Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940

Figs. 128–137, 190

Types. ɗ holotype, Ψ allotype from Edinburg (26.30 N, 98.16 W), Hidalgo County, Texas, USA; coll: S Mulaik, 7-Nov-1934, AMNH. Not examined. ɗ and Ψ paratypes; USA, Texas, Comanche County, 15 Miles northeast of Comanche (32.01 N, 98.43 W), coll: L Davis, 14-Jul-1935, AMNH. Examined.

Specimens examined. 7 ɗ, 17 Ψ; MEXICO, Potosi, 1 Ψ, Highway to Charcas, 30 mi N of Intersection with Rt 49, Coyle, MCZ 27175, 25-May-1982, MCZ; USA, Texas, Bastrop County, 1 Ψ, Utley 8 mi W Bastrop, Vogel B, 3-Sept-1968, DMNS ZA.660; Bexar County, 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, San Antonio, L Davis, 28-Dec-1925, AMNH; Hidalgo County, 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Edinburg, S Mulaik, 07-Jan-1939, AMNH; 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Edinburg, S Mulaik, 30-Dec-1899, AMNH; 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Hidalgo County, 18-May-1935, AMNH; Kleburg County, 2 Ψ, 20 SE Kingsville, J Proszynski, 01-May-1986, CAS; Llano County, 1 Ψ, 23 m SE Llano, Vogel B, 23-Mar-1969, DMNS ZA.665; 1 Ψ, Same locale, Vogel B, 23-Mar-1969, DMNS ZA.676; San Patrico County, 1 ɗ, Welder Wildlife Foundation, 14-May-1980, DPI; Starr County, 1 Ψ, Rio Grande City, Mulaik, 01-May-1937, AMNH; Travis County, 1 Ψ, Austin, Durden B & C, 1-October-1968, DMNS ZA.9086; 1 Ψ, Austin, Vogel B, 1-Dec- 1968, DMNS ZA.674; Val Verde County, 1 Ψ, Roadside park at Pecos River and Hwy 90, P H Arnaud jr., 19- Oct-1964, CAS; Webb County, 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Laredo, S Mulaik, 09-Feb-1935, AMNH.

Diagnosis. Specimens may be distinguished by: carapace length ~ 0.8 mm, male spur truncated (Fig. 128), procursus short (Fig. 132), wide PEP projection (Fig. 134). Internal epigynal features may be used to separate it from P. pullulus .

Male: (N=3) Total length: 1.35 ± 0.49; carapace length: 0.80 ± 0.05; carapace width: 0.83 ± 0.04; leg 1: 12.16 ± 0.65 (3.39 ± 0.15 + 0.28 ± 0.02 + 3.52 ± 0.29 + 4.15 ± 0.27 + 0.82 ± 0.05); tibia 2: 2.19 ± 0.10; tibia 3: 1.68 ± 0.02; tibia 4: 2.57 ± 0.12. 15–16 leg I tarsal segments; femur1/carapace length: 4.27 ± 0.28; RT at 12.0–17.6%; DT at 7.6–9.5%. Color typical for the genus. Legs short, femur 1 four times carapace length. Spur large, robust, angled mid-length mesally in dorsal view (Fig. 128), end truncate to rounded. Procursus short, thick, dorsal tab present, end rounded (Fig. 132). Bulb apophysis bifurcate, prolateral tip sinuous, end pointed, retrolateral tip triangular, tip pointed, enclosed in retrolateral tab, tab extending to mid-length of prolateral tip (Figs. 130, 131).

PLATE 16. Figures 128–137. Psilochorus redemptus Gertsch and Mulaik. 128–132. Male. 128. Dorsal view of chelicerae. 129. Lateral view of chelicera. 130–131. Dorsal view of bulb apophysis. 132. Lateral view of procursus. 133–137. Epigynum. 133. Anterior view. 134. Ventral view. 135. Posterior view. 136. Dorsal view. 137. Lateral view.

Female: (N=5) Total length: 2.12 ± 0.18; carapace length: 0.82 ± 0.09; carapace width: 0.84± 0.04; leg 1: 9.91 ± 1.07 (2.67 ± 0.24 + 0.30 ± 0.05 + 2.87± 0.35 + 3.22 ± 0.41 + 0.84 ± 0.07); tibia 2: 1.86 ± 0.27; tibia 3: 1.59 ± 0.24; tibia 4: 2.27 ± 0.24. 15–16 leg I tarsal segments; femur1/carapace length: 3.29 ± 0.30; RT at 11.6–15.6%; DT at 9.0–12.1%. Color same as males. No AEP. MEP with large indentation for PEP projection (Fig. 133), lateral areas of MEP visible in posterior view (Fig. 135). PEP large, protruding over MEP in lateral view (Fig. 137), PEP projection wide, weakly defined, dmPEP well separated (Fig. 134). Pore plates oval, directed mesally, in line with the PEP tubes (Fig. 136).

Remarks. This species appears as a dwarf species of P. pullulus . Its appearance varies little other than its small size. The tip of the spur of P. re d e m p t u s does appear less truncated in many males but variations overlap, the step on the dorsal side of the procursus also appears less prominent. There does appear to be differences in the internal epigynal structure where the pore plates of P. re d e m p t u s are directed more mesally. See Huber, Rheims,& Brescovit 2005 for further information on speciation and size.

Distribution. Southern Texas into Mexico.

PLATE 17. Figures 138–147. Psilochorus rockefelleri Gertsch. 138–142. Male. 138. Dorsal view of chelicerae. 139. Lateral view of chelicera. 140–141. Dorsal view of bulb apophysis. 142. Lateral view of procursus. 143–147. Epigynum. 143. Anterior view. 144. Ventral view. 145. Posterior view. 146. Dorsal view. 147. Lateral view.