Pholcus saidovi Yao & Li, 2017

Dong, Tingting, Zheng, Guo, Davlatov, Abdulaziz, Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2017, Two new species of the spider genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Tajikistan, with the first description of female Pholcus sidorenkoi Dunin, 1994, European Journal of Taxonomy 301, pp. 1-14 : 3-6

Pholcus saidovi Yao & Li sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:87CC0DD5-96AF-4F51-8564-24062E686958

Figs 1–2 , 7

Diagnosis

This species resembles P. nenjukovi Spassky, 1936 (see Spassky 1936: 40, figs 4–6; Huber 2011b: 340, figs 1537, 1637–1641, 1659–1660) in having similar male chelicerae ( Fig. 2D ), appendix ( Fig. 2C ), and female external genitalia ( Fig. 2A ), but can be distinguished by the presence of a large, sclerotized retrolateral apophysis on the uncus (arrow in Fig. 2C ), by a large, blunt dorsal apophysis distally on the procursus (arrow in Fig. 1D ), and by distinctly visible oval pore plates ( Fig. 2B ). This species also resembles P. arsacius Senglet, 2008 (see Senglet 2008: 363, figs 40–46, 55–56) in having similar male chelicerae ( Fig. 2D ), procursus ( Fig. 1 A–D), appendix ( Fig. 2C ), and vulva ( Fig. 2B ), but can be distinguished by the presence of a large, sclerotized retrolateral apophysis on the uncus (arrow in Fig. 2C ) and more elongate female external genitalia ( Fig. 2A ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Professor Abdusattor Saidov for his contribution on the collaborative research in Tajikistan; noun (name) in genitive case.

Material examined

Holotype

TAJIKISTAN: ♂, Tavildara Region , Hoga Pulod Village, 38°43.307′ N, 70°26.907′ E, 1679 m, 19 Jul. 2014, Z. Yao leg.

Paratypes

TAJIKISTAN: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype.

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.42 (4.81 with clypeus), carapace 1.38 long, 1.73 wide, opisthosoma 3.04 long, 1.30 wide. Leg I: 35.65 (9.17 + 0.69 + 9.68 + 14.23 + 1.88), leg II: 24.08 (6.73 + 0.69 + 6.22 + 9.29 + 1.15), leg III: 17.53 (5.13 + 0.60 + 4.36 + 6.54 + 0.90), leg IV: 22.72 (6.86 + 0.60 + 5.83 + 8.27 + 1.16); tibia I L/d: 69. Distance PME-PME 0.31; diameter PME 0.10; distance PME-ALE 0.03; distance AME-AME 0.04; diameter AME 0.08.

COLOR. Carapace yellowish, with brown radiating marks extending to ocular area; ocular area yellowish, with brown median stripe; sternum brown. Legs yellowish, distal parts of femora and tibiae whitish, darker rings absent. Opisthosoma yellowish.

BODY. Habitus as in Fig. 2 E–F. Ocular area elevated, without eye-stalks. Thoracic furrow absent. Sternum wider than long (1.04/0.78).

CHELICERAE. As in Fig. 2D , with pair of large proximo-lateral apophyses, pair of distal apophyses provided with two teeth each, and pair of frontal apophyses.

PEDIPALPS. As in Fig. 1 A–B; trochanter with ventral apophysis; femur with dorsal apophysis proximally and distinct ventral modification; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with two prolaterodorsal spines; uncus distinctively ‘doubled’, each with scaly edge; appendix curved, with scales; embolus weakly sclerotized, with some transparent projections distally.

LEGS. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 8%; legs with short vertical setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; without spines and curved setae; tarsus I with approximately 10 distinct pseudosegments.

Female

Similar to male, habitus as in Fig. 2 G–H. Total length 5.03 (5.64 with clypeus), carapace 1.43 long, 1.72 wide, opisthosoma 3.60 long, 1.78 wide; tibia I: 8.53; tibia I L/d: 53. Distance PME–PME 0.25; diameter PME 0.10; distance PME–ALE 0.03; distance AME–AME 0.06; diameter AME 0.08. Sternum wider than long (1.04/0.86). External genitalia ( Fig. 2A ) with knob. Vulva ( Fig. 2B ) with sclerotized anterior arch and two oval pore plates.

Variation

Tibia I in one male paratype: 10.06. Tibia I in another female paratype: 8.33.

Natural history

The species was found on the underside of rocks.

Distribution

Tajikistan (Tavildara, type locality; Fig. 7 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Pholcus saidovi Yao & Li sp. nov., holotype, ♂. A–B. Pedipalp (A. Prolateral view. B. Retrolateral view). C–D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view. D. Dorsal view, arrow points at blunt dorsal apophysis distally). Abbreviations: a = appendix; b = bulb; e = embolus; pr = procursus; u = uncus. Scale bars: A–B = 0.20 mm; C–D = 0.05 mm.

Fig. 2. Pholcus saidovi Yao & Li sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (C–F) and paratype, ♀ (A–B, G–H). A. External genitalia, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. C. Bulbal apophyses, prolateral view, arrow points at large, sclerotized retrolateral apophysis on uncus. D. Chelicerae, frontal view. E–H. Habitus (E, G. Dorsal view. F, H. Ventral view). Abbreviations: a = appendix; da = distal apophysis; e = embolus; fa = frontal apophysis; pa = proximo-lateral apophysis; pp = pore plate; u = uncus. Scale bars: A–D = 0.10 mm; E–H = 0.50 mm.

Fig. 7. New distribution records of Pholcus species from Tajikistan. ① Pholcus saidovi Yao & Li sp. nov. ② P. shuguanensis Yao & Li sp. nov. ③ P. sidorenkoi Dunin, 1994.