Psechrus marsyandi Levi, 1982

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 68-72

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3379.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6303254
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D0272654-FFC3-5804-FF20-2DE9FDC14636
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Psechrus marsyandi Levi, 1982
status

Treatment

Psechrus marsyandi Levi, 1982 View in CoL

Figs 33a–d View FIGURES 33 , 34a–i View FIGURES 34 , 81h View FIGURES 81 , 82r View FIGURES 82 , 85h View FIGURES 85 , 88i View FIGURES 88 , 91i View FIGURES 91

Psechrus marsyandi Levi 1982: 120 View in CoL , figs 13–15 (Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). [Holotype ♂ (SB 79) from NEPAL: Gandaki Province: Lamjung District, Marsyandi stream, Senghe, 1050 m, rock wall near river bank; J. Martens & A. Ausobsky leg. 10.IV.1980; SMF 30900; Paratypes: s.a. ♂ (SB 865), with same data as for holotype; SMF 30900; 2 ♀♀ (SB 231–232) from NEPAL: Dhawalagiri Province: near Sibang, N 28°27'30'', E 83°22'30''; K.H. Hyatt leg. 18.VI.1954, ‘British Museum Nepal Expedition’; NHM 1981˙4˙10˙5,6; 2 ♀♀ (SB 226–227) from NEPAL: Dhawalagiri Province: near Darban, N 28°24'30'', E 83°23'30''; K.H. Hyatt leg. 16.VI.1954; NHM 1981˙4˙10˙7,8; 2 ♀♀ (SB 229–230) from NEPAL: Dhawalagiri Province: near Seti river, Pokhara, N 28°14', E 83°59'; K.H. Hyatt leg. 04.VIII.1954; NHM 1981˙4˙10˙9,10; all type material examined]. Jäger 2007: 45.

Psechrus himalayanus View in CoL — Griswold 1993: 7, ad part (Record of ♀ [in fact s.a. ♀] from Gandaki zone, Nepal, misidentified).

Additional material examined (1 ♀, 7 s.a. ♂♂, 12 s.a. ♀♀, 3 p. s.a. ♀♀, 3 juvs). NEPAL: Dhawalagiri Province: Dana, South of D.; M. Hubert leg. 28.I.1967 ; 3 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 747 , 750–751 ), MNHN. Darban , near D., N 28°24'30'', E 83°23'30''; K.H. Hyatt leg. 16.VI.1954 GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ ( SB 228 ), NHM. Kabre; M. Hubert leg. 17.I.1967 ; 2 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 729–730 ) , 1 juv. ( SB 728 ), MNHN. Rakhu; M. Hubert leg. 14.I.1967 ; 2 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 748–749 ), MNHN. Garamdi (near Kali Gandaki); M. Hubert leg. 15.I.1967 ; 2 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 752–753 ), 1 s.a . ♂ ( SB 754 ), MNHN . Gandaki Province: Kaski District, Kahre – Pokhara , ca. 1400 m; J. Coddington leg. 29.X.1985 ; 2 p. s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 757–758), 2 s.a. ♂♂ ( SB 759–760 ) , 1 juv. ( SB 756 ), USNM. Kaski District , W of Landrung, ca. 1600 m, forest; J. Coddington leg. 21.X.1985; 1 s.a . ♀ ( SB 761 ) , 1 juv. ( SB 762 ), USNM. Kaski District , Bhichuk, ca. 1800 m; J. Coddington leg. 20.X.1985; 2 s.a . ♀♀ ( SB 766–767 ), 3 s.a . ♂♂ ( SB 763–765 ), USNM. Kaski District , Landrung - Chomrung, 1500–1900 m; J. Coddington leg. 21.X.1985 ; 1 p. s.a. ♀ ( SB 768 ), 1 s.a . ♂ ( SB 769 ), USNM .

Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Male similar to P. himalayanus and P. inflatus sp. nov. in having the straight embolus (E) completely associated with conductor (C). Distinguished from himalayanus by the W-shaped sperm duct and the shorter E and C ( Fig. 33b View FIGURES 33 ). Distinguished from inflatus by the two equal long loops of sperm duct and the narrower C ( Fig. 33b View FIGURES 33 ). Distinguished from both by the distally structured E exhibiting a very small barbed hook ( Fig. 33b View FIGURES 33 ). Females similar to P. himalayanus in general shape of median septum (MS) and vulva (see diagnosis P. himalayanus ). Distinguished from himalayanus by the shorter copulatory ducts and the more prominent spermathecal heads (SH) ( Figs 34b,d–e View FIGURES 34 ).

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.9, carapace width 6.8, anterior width of carapace 3.4, opisthosoma length 12.7, opisthosoma width 6.3. Eyes: AME 0.38, ALE 0.43, PME 0.44, PLE 0.43, AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.38, AME–PME 0.67, ALE–PLE 0.46, clypeus height at AME 0.96, clypeus height at ALE 0.97.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1243. Palp: 11.9 [4.5, 2.2, 2.1, 3.1]; Legs: I 76.4 [20.1, 4.5, 21.4, 24.0, 9.8], II 61.6 [16.9, 4.1, 17.2, 16.2, 7.2], III 40.4 [11.3, 3.2, 9.7, 11.1, 5.1], IV 61.2 [17.3, 3.7, 15.2, 17.2, 7.8]. Spination. Palp: 141, 010, 0000; legs: femur I 566, II 556, III–IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 2034, IV 3036; metatarsus I–IV 3035.

Palpal femur without modification, broadest medially ( Fig. 33d View FIGURES 33 ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). Sperm duct prolaterally at central position of tegulum with very small curve ( Fig. 33a,b View FIGURES 33 ). Palpal tibia (in lateral view) medium sized ( Figs 33a–c View FIGURES 33 ). Cymbium dorsally with very dense scopula, covering almost ½ of the former.

Female: Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 7.7–11.7, carapace width 5.2–8.5, anterior width of carapace 3.5–5.1, opisthosoma length 10.0–17.0, opisthosoma width 4.1–11.2. Eyes: AME 0.35–0.48, ALE 0.42–0.51, PME 0.45–0.53, PLE 0.45–0.53, AME–AME 0.22–0.33, AME–ALE 0.07–0.11, PME–PME 0.28–0.46, PME–PLE 0.45–0.53, AME–PME 0.67–0.89, ALE–PLE 0.50–0.64, clypeus height at AME 0.74–1.82, clypeus height at ALE 0.89–1.79.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1243. Palp: 9.7–14.2 [3.3–5.0, 1.5–2.2, 1.9–2.6, 3.0–4.5]; Legs: I 45.9–65.6 [12.6–18.2, 3.4–5.1, 12.8–18.2, 12.2–17.4, 4.9–7.6], II 36.9–53.0 [10.5–15.0, 3.1–4.6, 10.1–14.6, 8.9–13.3, 4.3–6.0], III 26.0–37.9 [8.0–11.7, 2.3–3.5, 6.3–9.3, 6.2–9.1, 3.2–4.3], IV 36.9–51.9 [10.7–14.8, 2.7–4.1, 9.3–13.2, 9.6–13.6, 4.6–6.2].

Palpal claw with 12–15 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I 566, II 566 (556), III 555 (556), IV 555 (554,556,564); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3036 (3034), IV 3036 (3034); metatarsus I–IV 3035.

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Epigyne with bulges in the regions of the CO ( Figs 34a,f,i View FIGURES 34 , 88i View FIGURES 88 ). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field (EF). Anterior to epigyne numerous slightly curved wrinkles.

Primordial copulatory organ. Pre-epigyne: Similar to the one of P. himalayanus . Distinguished by the longer distance between distal endings of anterior margins of pre-LL ( Fig. 34g View FIGURES 34 ). Pre-EF more distinctly developed.

Pre-vulva: Similar to P. himalayanus . Distinguished by the shorter pre-copulatory ducts and the slightly protruding pre-SH ( Fig. 34h View FIGURES 34 ) (in P. himalayanus these are very flat).

Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace, if present as such, slightly serrated. However, carapace mostly completely dark brown overflown. Lateral bands, if present as such, narrow (almost diameter of PME) and slightly serrated. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma subdistally either broken or strongly constricted ( Fig. 81h View FIGURES 81 ) with most distal section (or patch) often broader than main section. This ventral median line quiet broad. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is ca. 0.9–1.2 times the width of one half of the cribellum.

Variation of copulatory organs. Females: Posterior part of MS may be slightly broader ( Fig. 34i View FIGURES 34 ) or protruding slightly more ( Fig. 34f View FIGURES 34 ) than generally ( Fig. 34a View FIGURES 34 ). Vulvae with insignificant differences ( Figs 34b,d,e View FIGURES 34 ).

Remarks: Levi (1982) matched the females from Southern Dhawalagiri Province and Eastern Gandaki Prov. with the male holotype of P. marsyandi . The latter locality is just 35 km away from type locality. I also strongly assume that these females are conspecific with the male holotype. Not only because of geographical reasons, but also due to the shorter copulatory duct, which corresponds to the shorter —in comparison to the males of the closely related P. himalayanus — embolus in the male holotype.

Distribution. Nepal ( Fig. 95 View FIGURE 95 ).