Psechrus khammouan Jäger, 2007

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 59-62

Psechrus khammouan Jäger, 2007

Figs 28a–d , 29a–e , 82b , 85e , 88e , 91e

Psechrus khammouan Jäger 2007: 47 , figs 54–67 (Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). [Holotype ♂ (SB 1038) from LAOS: Khammouan Province: Thakek, 9.5 km NE Thakek, N 17°26'56.2'', E 104°52'30'', 160 m, cave entrance, rock wall; P. Jäger & V. Vedel leg. 30.X.2004; SMF 56386; Paratypes: 1 ♀ (SB 1039) from Khammouan Province: Ban Thathot, N 17°37'54'', E 105°07'30'', 200 m, cave entrance of Tham Kamouk Limestone Cave; P. Jäger leg. 19.II.2003; SMF 56387; 1 ♀ (SB 1040) from same locality as SB 1039, but: primary forest between street and cave; P. Jäger leg. 19.II.2003; SMF 56388; all type material examined]. Bayer and Jäger 2010: 59.

Additional material examined (1 ♂, 4 ♀♀). LAOS: Khammouan Province: Thakek , 9.5 km NE Thakek, N 17°26'56.2'', E 104°52'30'', 160 m, cave entrance area, rock wall; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 06.XI.2009; 1 ♂ ( SB381 ), 1 ♀ ( SB 382 ), SMF . Ban Kouanphavang , N 17°27'09'', E 104°56'19'', ca. 180 m, in/ near cave; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 06.XI.2009; 1 ♀ ( SB 379 ) (in cave), 1 ♀ ( SB 380 ) (outside cave, between rocks), SMF . Ban Thathot, N 17°37'54'', E 105°07'30'', 200 m, cave entrance of Tham Kamouk Limestone Cave ; P. Jäger & F. Steinmetz leg. 10. III .2007; 1 ♀ ( SB 63 ), SMF .

Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for ancoralis -group above). Males similar to P. antraeus in having distally curved embolus (E) and long and narrow conductor (C). Distinguished by the shorter E and C ( Figs 28a–c ) and the bulky T ( Fig. 28c ). Females similar to P. steineri Bayer & Jäger, 2010 in having median septum (MS) with diverging lateral margins ( Figs 29a,e , 30e ), initial sections of copulatory ducts (CD) running transversally and spermathecal heads, which are clearly separated from spermathecae (at least 2x the diameter of one SH) ( Figs 29b,d , 30f ). Distinguished by the less diverging MS-margins ( Figs 29a,e ) and the distinctly longer CD ( Figs 29b,d ).

Description. Male (only holotype, measurements of other male not, or just insignificantly deviating):

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 5.1, carapace width 3.7, anterior width of carapace 2.0, opisthosoma length 7.5, opisthosoma width 2.8. Eyes: AME 0.30, ALE 0.35, PME 0.36, PLE 0.35, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.28, AME–PME 0.44, ALE–PLE 0.32, clypeus height at AME 0.64, clypeus height at ALE 0.58.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 6.6 [2.3, 1.1, 1.2, 2.0]; Legs: I 51.0 [13.5, 2.5, 14.5, 14.8, 5.7], II 38.0 [10.2, 2.2, 10.3, 10.9, 4.4], III 24.5 [7.0, 1.7, 6.0, 6.8, 3.0], IV 38.7 [10.4, 1.9, 9.9, 11.5, 5.0].

Spination. Palp: 131, 110 (prolateral one very small), 1101 (prolateral and ventral one very small); legs: femur I 667, II 566, III–IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3136, IV 3135; metatarsus I–IV 3035.

Palpal femur long and slim, without modification ( Fig. 28d ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for ancoralis -group). Conductor (C) distally folded ventrad ( Figs 28b,c ). Palpal tibia ( Figs 28a–c ) quite long.

Female:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 5.5–7.8, carapace width 3.7–5.4, anterior width of carapace 2.4–3.4, opisthosoma length 7.8–9.1, opisthosoma width 3.4–4.5. Eyes: AME 0.33–0.46, ALE 0.38–0.48, PME 0.39–0.49, PLE 0.38–0.49, AME–AME 0.18–0.22, AME–ALE 0.05–0.07, PME–PME 0.23–0.27, PME–PLE 0.36–0.40, AME–PME 0.59–0.63, ALE–PLE 0.36–0.45, clypeus height at AME 0.71–1.12, clypeus height at ALE 0.65–1.08.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and five (proximal of which smaller) retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 7.5–9.4 [2.6–3.2, 1.0–1.3, 1.4–1.9, 2.5–3.0]; Legs: I 40.2–46.4 [11.2–12.4, 2.4–3.2, 11.7–13.5, 10.3–12.0, 4.6–5.3], II 31.3–36.9 [8.8–10.3, 2.1–3.0, 8.7–10.2, 8.0–9.3, 3.7–4.1], III 21.3–26.3 [6.3–8.0, 1.7–2.2, 5.3–6.7, 5.5–6.5, 2.5–2.9], IV 32.2–38.5 [9.4–11.1, 1.9–2.6, 8.6–10.1, 8.3–10.1, 4.0–4.6].

Palpal claw with 13–14 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014; legs (—except for patella— variable, only most common states noted): femur I 555 (556,566), II 555 (566), III 555 (556), IV 555 (554); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3134 (3035), IV 3136 (3033,3133); metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3034 (3035).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of ancoralis -group). Epigynal muscle sigilla and slit sense organs outside epigynal field ( Figs 29a,e ). Spermathecal heads located anterio-medially ( Figs 29b,d ), at distinct bend of CD.

Colouration of male and female (see also description for ancoralis -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace not serrated ( Fig. 82b ). Lateral bands extremely narrow or not even recognisable (at most 1/4 diameter of PME), not serrated ( Fig. 82b ). Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous and narrow. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width ca. 1/3 the width of one half of the cribellum.

Variation of copulatory organs. The two males examined show no significant variation. In females there are differences in shape of MS ( Figs 29a,e , 88e ), which are not linked to geographical location. Further, there are differences in the shape of vulva. Spermathecae are slightly larger in some specimens ( Fig. 29d ). Spermathecal head position seems shifted posteriorly on copulatory duct (CD) in two of the three specimens from Thakek region ( Fig. 29d ). In the specimens from Ban Thathot the initial part of CD does not exactly run transversally, but slightly from anterio-lateral to posterio-medial ( Fig. 29b ). In the females from Thakek region it runs either transversally or slightly from posterio-lateral to anterio-medial ( Figs 29d , 91e ). In specimens from Thakek region the entire vulva half is shifted somewhat ventrally, which gives the impression that the CD was shorter ( Figs 29d , 91e ).

With few specimens available it presently cannot be clarified if the differences between the specimens from Ban Thathot region and Thakek region are species-specific or if they fall in the variation spectrum of P. khammouan . As long as there are no further specimens from Ban Thathot region available, especially no males, I consider the respective females (including the paratypes) belonging to P. khammouan .

Distribution. Laos ( Fig. 98 ).

Figures

FIGURES 28a–d. Psechrus khammouan, from Laos, Khammouan Prov. a–c ♂ holotype SB 1038. d ♂ SB 381. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 29a–e. Psechrus khammouan, from Laos, Khammouan Prov., ♀ copulatory organ. a–c ♀ paratype SB 1040. d–e ♀ SB 379. a, e Epigyne, ventral view. b, d Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system. CD: Copulatory duct; EF: Epigynal field. EM: Epigynal muscle sigilla; FD: Fertilisation duct; LL: Lateral lobe; MS: Median septum; SBA: Spermathecal base; SH: Spermathecal head; SO: Slit sense organ; W: Wrinkles anteriorly in EF.

FIGURES 30a–g. Psechrus steineri, from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. a–d ♂ paratype SB 64. e–g ♀ holotype SB 65. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view. e Epigyne, ventral view. f Vulva, dorsal view. g Schematic course of internal duct system.

FIGURES 82a–r. Psechrus spp., photos of carapace (a–g), sternum (h–k) and ventral view of coxae of legs I–II (l-r). a P. libelti. b P. khammouan. c P. kenting. d P.fuscaisp. nov. e P. ghecuanus. f P.elachys sp. nov. g, k P. tauricornis sp. nov. h, o P. antraeus. i P. annulatus. j, p P.hartmanni sp. nov., l P. himalayanus, m P. ancoralis, n P.mulu, q P. senoculatus, r P. marsyandi. a ♀ SB 969 from Brunei Darussalam. b ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. c ♀ holotype SB 615 from Taiwan, Pingtung County. d ♀ holotype SB 954 from China, Yunnan Prov. e s.a. ♀ syntype SB 222 from Myanmar, Kayin Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 861 from Thailand, Satun Prov. g ♀ paratype SB 849, k juv. SB 851, both from Sri Lanka, Central Prov. h ♀ holotype SB 8 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. i ♀ paralectotype SB 830 from Indonesia, Jawa Barat Prov. j ♀ SB 630 from Sri Lanka. l ♂ lectotype SB 14 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. m ♂ paratype SB 26 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. n ♂ paratype SB 241 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. o ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. p ♂ SB 624 from Sri Lanka. q ♂ paratype SB 537 from China, Hunan Prov. r ♂ holotype from Nepal, Gandaki Prov.

FIGURES 85a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of left ♂ palp, ventral view (a, c–o) and retrolatero-ventral view (b). a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. himalayanus. h P. marsyandi. i P. inflatus sp. nov. j P. ghecuanus. k P.pakawini sp. nov. l P. luangprabang. m P.demiror sp. nov.? n P. jaegeri sp. nov. o P.vivax sp. nov. a ♂ SB 321 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♂ SB 122 from Vietnam, Lang Son Prov. c ♂ holotype SB 367 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♂ SB 381 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♂ paratype SB 64 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♂ SB 17 from Nepal, Rapti Prov. h ♂ holotype SB 79 from Nepal, Gandaki Prov. i ♂ holotype SB 952 from China, Yunnan Prov. j ♂ SB 36 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. k ♂ paratype SB 142 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. l ♂ SB 459 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. m ♂ SB 329 from “Indochina”. n ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♂ holotype SB 367 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 88a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of epigyne, ventral view. a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 372 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 961 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 607 from Bhutan, Timphu Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 213 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 91a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of vulva, dorsal view. a P. ancoralis. b P. rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 374 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 951 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 988 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 214 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURE 98. Distribution of Psechrus in continental South East Asia. Symbols (unicoloured): species belonging to the himalayanus-group. Symbols (black, filled with light colour): species belonging to the ancoralis-group. Distribution of Psechrus in northern Vietnam, see Fig. 96. The distribution of P. demiror sp. nov. is unclear (see corresponding species description), hence the violet, unicoloured trapezes are depicted with question mark each.