Psednocnemis, West, Rick C., Nunn, Steven C. & Hogg, Stephen, 2012

West, Rick C., Nunn, Steven C. & Hogg, Stephen, 2012, A new tarantula genus, Psednocnemis, from West Malaysia (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with cladistic analyses and biogeography of Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889, Zootaxa 3299, pp. 1-43 : 14-15

Psednocnemis gen. nov.

( Figs 1–27 , 39, 40 , 53 )

Type species: Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov.

Etymology: A compound noun whose first element is the Greek noun Psedno, meaning ‘scanty’ or ‘spare’, and whose second element is the Greek feminine noun knemis, meaning ‘shin guard’, which describes the hirsute character of leg IV. The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis: Psednocnemis gen. nov. differs from Coremiocnemis in Leg Relation Factor: RF ~ 89.03–94.81 ( Coremiocnemis leg RF ~ 78.26–83.04), lack of bottlebrush setae formation on leg IV, lack of recurved setal brush on retrolateral surface of met. IV ( Fig. 18 ), met. IV scopula on retrolateral side of division only extending 1/3 distally ( Fig. 20 ), male embolus with distal spiral form ( Fig. 39 ) and female spermathecae with lobes lacking apical swelling ( Fig. 6 ). It differs from Selenocosmia east of the Wallace Line ( Wallace 1860) by possessing female bilobed spermathecae ( Figs 6 , 40 ) and male embolus that emerges distally from the tegulum ( Fig. 39 ), hair type #4 ( West & Nunn 2010a, 2010b, Fig. 6 ) present on proximoventral abdomen, as well as possessing a small cluster of spines on retrolateral proximomedial cheliceral surfaces ( Fig. 15 ). It differs from Selenocosmia west of the Wallace Line (Java, Sumatra, Borneo, West Malaysia and Singapore) in low cephalothoracic profile, fovea smaller in width than the ocular tubercle (except P. gnathospina ), cheliceral strikers lanceolate ( Fig. 12 ), male embolus with distal “spiral curl” and no distal flaring ( Fig. 39 ), and female bilobed spermathecae with lateral bilobes that lack distal swelling ( Figs 6 , 40 ). Psednocnemis gen. nov. differs from Lyrognathus in thin build of tib. IV (incrassate in Lyrognathus ) ( Fig. 17 ) and lack of penicillate setal fringe along the retrolateral surface of tib. IV ( Fig. 17 ). It also differs from Coremiocnemis , Selenocosmia and Lyrognathus in possessing hair type 4 in a reduced and sparse patch on the proximoventral surface of abdomen and lack of swollen retrolateral scopulation on tar. IV ( Fig. 20 ). It differs from Phlogiellus and Orphnaecus in possessing female spermathecae with basally dividing paired bilobes ( Figs 6 , 40 ), lanceolate and terete male embolus that lacks a well defined single keel ( Fig. 39 ), undivided scopula on tar. III, no third claw on leg III, small cluster of spines on retrolateral proximomedial surface of chelicerae ( Fig. 15 ), and hair type 4 on proximoventral surface of abdomen (more distinct in females, Viz. West & Nunn 2010b, fig. 6). It differs from Haplocosmia in terete morphology of intercheliceral pegs ( Fig. 16 ), unordered arrangement of intercheliceral peg setae ( Fig. 14 ), female bilobed spermathecae ( Figs 6 , 40 ), male embolus lanceolate and terete ( Fig. 39 ) and lack of long setae forming fringe above maxillary lyra (but below maxillary suture). It differs from Chilobrachys in possessing longest cheliceral strikers with very long filiform ends ( Fig. 12 ), long needle-like form of cheliceral strikers ( Fig. 12 ), intercheliceral peg setae ( Figs 14, 16 ), female spermathecae bilobed ( Figs 6 , 40 ), and male embolus with distal “spiral curl” ( Fig. 39 ). It differs from Selenotypus and Selenotholus in possessing intercheliceral peg setae ( Figs 14, 16 ), retrolateral proximomedial spine cluster on chelicerae ( Fig. 15 ), and female spermathecae bilobed (figs 6, 40). Psednocnemis gen. nov. differs from Poecilotheria in lacking variegated body pattern, no tubercles on maxillary lyra ( Figs 8, 9 ), female spermathecae with bilobes ( Figs 6 , 40 ) and male embolus terete with distal “spiral curl” ( Fig. 39 ).

Description: Leg formula (length) IV, I, II, III; leg RF ~ 89.03–94.81; eyes: AME, ALE, PLE, PME; 10–90 medium length intercheliceral peg setae; maxillary lyra oval in form consisting of medium to long shafted bacillae, butterknife ( P. brachyramosa , P. jeremyhuffi ) or paddleform ( P. davidgohi sp. nov., P. gnathospina ), with or without distal blades, opposing needleform strikers on retrolateral cheliceral surface; foveal groove of less width than OT (except P. gnathospina ); tar. IV with transverse weakening medially; paired claws (unarmed) on legs I–IV, third claw on leg IV; low cephalothoracic profile; retrolateral proximomedial spine cluster (1–7 spines) on chelicerae; female with bilobed spermathecae that lack apical swelling, bilobes divide basally, with ( P. brachyramosa ) or without (all other species) apical branching ends; male with palpal bulb with proximally swollen embolus, terete, emerges distally from tegulum, with distal “spiral curl” (no distal flaring); hair type #4 ( West & Nunn 2010a, 2010b) present on ventral abdominal surface in sparse patch; long setae on legs that form scopula on legs I and II sparse ( P. jeremyhuffi ) or thick (all other species); metatarsi scopula I–III undivided, IV divided by several rows of spiniform setae; scopula on metatarsi IV on distal 1/3 or less, retrolateral surfaces of coxa I–III with median narrow brush, IV with distodorsal brush of elongate spiniform setae; metatarsi III and/or IV with 1DD, 1 DPD, 2DV, 1 DPV, 1 DRV spine arrangement; no dorsal carapace thorns; no basifemoral thorns.

Remarks: Coremiocnemis gnathospina and Coremiocnemis jeremyhuffi ( Fig. 40 ) females possess bilobed spermathecae with lobes lacking apical swelling and slight distinction of sclerotization between apical ends and lobe shafts, Leg RF ~ 89.03–94.81, no recurved retrolateral setal brush on met. IV, and met. IV scopula only extending 1/3 or less distally (both sides of scopula division), differing from Coremiocnemis cunicularia and its closest relatives. Coremiocnemis brachyramosa also shares these traits, although possesses female bilobed spermathecae with apical branching and heavy sclerotization of spermathecae entirely ( West & Nunn 2010b, Fig. 37 ). These three spider species differ from all Coremiocnemis in the above traits, which are found (in combination) in the type species of Psednocnemis , P. davidgohi sp. nov., and only within this new selenocosmiine genus. Thus, we transfer C. brachyramosa , C. gnathospina and C. jeremyhuffi to Psednocnemis , making the new combinations Psednocnemis brachyramosa comb. nov., Psednocnemis gnathospina comb. nov. and Psednocnemis jeremyhuff comb. nov. Selenocosmia imbellis is known from a single holotype male that possesses male embolus with distal spiral curl, intercheliceral pegs, lyra with pointed distal end, proximally truncate with long shafted bacillae, as well as strikers which are needleform, differing from Selenocosmia javanensis and its closest relatives. We, therefore, transfer S. imbellis to Psednocnemis , making the new combination Psednocnemis imbellis comb. nov.

Species included: Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov.; P. brachyramosa (West & Nunn 2010) new combination; P. gnathospina (West & Nunn 2010) new combination; P. imbellis (Simon 1891) new combination and P. jeremyhuffi (West & Nunn 2010) new combination.

Distribution: West Malaysia and Borneo ( Fig. 27 ).

Figures

FIGURE 27. Map showing records of Psednocnemis gen. nov. species in South-east Asia.

FIGURE 53. Single tree of Selenocosmiinae obtained with TNT: RAS & TBR searches with implied weighting (K = 6), length: 72, total fit: 40.75, adjusted homoplasy: 2.25. Node numbers in bold, character numbers above rectangles, character states (state transformations for multi-state characters) below. Hollow rectangles indicate homoplasy, solid rectangles indicate non-homoplasy. Jack-knife resampling values (F) / bremer supports (absolute) provided directly below or above each node number. Species marked with * are transferred to their respective genera.

FIGURES 1 a – b. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., a. Holotype female, QM S 88303, in life, from Fraser’s Hill, Selangor, West Malaysia. b. Paratype male, QM S 88022, in life, from Fraser’s Hill, Selangor, West Malaysia. Photos: R. West.

FIGURES 2 – 7. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 2. Carapace, dorsal view. 3. Eyes, dorsal view. 4. Labium, ventral view. 5. Sternum, labium, maxilla and coxae, ventral view. 6. Spermatheca, ventral view. 7. Abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 2, 5 and 7; 5 mm for 4; 2 mm for 3; 1 mm for 6. Photos: S. Nunn.

FIGURES 8 – 13. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 8. Left maxilla, prolateral view. 9. Maxillary lyra, prolateral view. 10. Left chelicera, retrolateral view. 11. Left chelicera, prolateral view. 12. Cheliceral strikers, retrolateral view. 13. Left cheliceral teeth. Scale bar = 10 mm for 10 and 11; 5 mm for 8, 12 and 13; 2 mm for 9. Photos: S. Nunn.

FIGURES 14 – 20. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 14. Left intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 15. Left proximomedial retrolateral cheliceral spine cluster. 16. Close up of intercheliceral pegs. 17. Left patella and tibia IV, dorsal view. 18. Left metatarsus and tarsus IV, prolateral view. 19. Left metatarsus and tarsus IV, retrolateral view. 20. Left metatarsus and tarsus IV, ventral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 17 – 19; 5 mm for 20; 2 mm for 14 and 15; 1 mm for 16. Photos: S. Nunn.

FIGURES 21 – 23. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 21. Left tarsus IV, ventral view. 22. Left tarsus and metatarsus I, retrolateral view. 23. Left coxa II and III, lateral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 22; 5 mm for 21; 2 mm for 23. Photos: S. Nunn.

FIGURES 24 – 26. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., biotope (24) and burrows (25, 26), Fraser’s Hill, Selangor, West Malaysia. Photos: 24 R. West; 25, 26 S. Hogg.

FIGURES 37 – 45. 37 a – b: a. Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock 1895, male, QM S 88361, embolus, retrolateral view. b. Lyrognathus crotalus, female, QM S 88362, spermatheca, dorsal view. 38 a – c: a. Lyrognathus lessunda West & Nunn 2010, paratype male, QM S 74066, embolus, retrolateral view. b. Lyrognathus lessunda, holotype female, QM S 74067, spermatheca, dorsal view. c. Lyrognathus lessunda, holotype female, QM S 74067, habitus, dorsal view. 39. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., paratype male, QM S 88022, embolus, retrolateral view. 40. Psednocnemis jeremyhuffi (West & Nunn 2010), paratype female, QM S 88071, spermatheca, dorsal view. 41. Coremiocnemis obscura West & Nunn 2010, male, QM S 88360, embolus, retrolateral view. 42. Coremiocnemis hoggi West & Nunn 2010, paratype female, QM S 74074, dorsal habitus. 43. Coremiocnemis kotacana West & Nunn 2010, holotype female, QM S 83759, spermatheca, dorsal view. 44 a – b: a. Selenocosmia javanensis (Walckenaer 1837), male, NHMW 173 embolus, retrolateral view. b. Selenocosmia javanensis, female, QM S 88355, spermatheca, dorsal view. 45. Selenocosmia species (A), female, RMBR ZRC. ARA. 02, spermatheca, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AC—apical spiral curl, LTE—lanceolate terete embolus, RBL—reduced basal lobe, RR—reduced retrolateral keel, TE—terete embolus. Illustrations: S. Nunn.