Latouchia maculosa, Decae & Schwendinger & Hongpadharakiree, 2021

Decae, Arthur E., Schwendinger, Peter J. & Hongpadharakiree, Komsan, 2021, Descriptions of four new trapdoor spider species in the subfamily Ummidiinae from Thailand (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Halonoproctidae), Zootaxa 4984 (1), pp. 300-323 : 315-320

Latouchia maculosa spec. nov.

Figs 10 A−J, 11A−L, 13, 14B−E, 15A−B

Type material. THAILAND: Prachuap Khiri Khan Province: Holotype ♂ (PS-025, sample TA-13/13, MHNG), Pranburi District, Khao Kalok (= Skull Mountain ), 12.3380°N, 99.9972°E, 10 m elevation, P.J. Schwendinger leg. 4.1.2014 . Paratypes: 4 ♂ (sample TA-13/13; 1 ♂: PS-028, THNHM; 3 ♂: PS-029 to PS-031, MHNG) , 1♀ (PS-036, sample TA-13/13), with same data as for holotype . 2 ♀ (sample TH13/07; 1 ♀: PS-026, THNHM; 1 ♀: PS-027, MHNG), from type locality, P.J. Schwendinger leg. 25.12.2013.

Additional material examined. THAILAND: Prachuap Khiri Khan Province: 1♀, Thab Sakae District, near Huay Yang Waterfall , 11.6258°N, 99.6138°E, 90 m elevation, K. Hongpadharakiree & D. Hongpadharakiree leg. 2.7.2011 . 1♀, Hua Hin District, near Pala-U (= Pa La U) Waterfall , 12.5361°N, 99.4600°E, 290 m elevation, P.J. Schwendinger leg. 21.11.2001 (all MHNG).

Etymology. The species epithet “maculosus, -a, -um”, a Latin adjective, meaning “dappled, spotted”, refers to the light patches in the posterior half of the dorsal side of the opisthosoma of this species.

Diagnosis. Among the Latouchia species for which sufficient information is available L. maculosa spec. nov. groups together with L. schwendingeri , L. huberi and L. incerta spec. nov. by having racemose spermathecae. In L. maculosa spec. nov. these are distinctly more elongated and cone-shaped than in the other three species ( Figs 11 E−L cf. Figs 9 E−J). The new species differs from L. schwendingeri by the non-pyriform proximal part of the palpal organ and by the long, sharply pointed embolus ( Figs 10 F−J cf. Decae 2019: figs 23−26). It differs from L. incerta spec. nov. by the more slender embolus with a longer apex bent at an angle of 30° (n = 3; 45° in L. incerta spec. nov.), and by the embolus tip being slightly sigmoid and sharply pointed ( Figs 10 F−J cf. Figs 8 F−J). It also differs from other known congeners by the presence of light dorsal patches on the opisthosoma in both sexes ( Figs 10A , 11A , 13 , 14E , 15 A−B).

Description. Male (holotype): Specimen preserved for 7 years in 70% ethanol in good condition ( Fig. 10A ); right palpal organ in microvial. General colouration: carapace almost uniformly brown, with darker line along margin; chelicerae proximally and ventrally light brown, dorso-distally dark brown; dorsal side of opisthosoma purplish grey, with characteristic pattern of light-coloured patches (i.e. an indistinct, blurred anterior patch followed by three more sharply outlined polygonal or triangular patches) in posterior half, ventral side light-coloured anterior of epigastric furrow; spinnerets yellowish; legs brown, anterior ones slightly darker than posterior ones; palps almost uniformly brown; sternum uniformly yellow; labium light brown.

Morphology: Carapace ( Fig. 10A ) with anterior margin truncated; cuticle dull-coloured, with very fine wrinkles, slightly longer than wide (CW/CL = 0.9); lateral profile rather flat, with cephalic part only slightly elevated and thoracic part gradually sloping down from fovea; few bristles in cephalic part. Clypeus narrow. Eyes grouped on and around dome-shaped ocular tubercle; eye group sub-rectangular (PR/AR = 0.98), slightly more than twice as wide as long (EL/PR = 0.54), AME less than their diameter apart (disAME/diaAME = 0.71), PR straight. Chelicerae with rastellum composed of four strong teeth on ventral side of a low process; cheliceral furrow with rows of four and five triangular teeth on both sides; fangs smooth. Palpal coxae without cuspules; prolateral-distal lobe absent. Sternum anteriorly narrowing, longer than wide (SW/SL = 0.8); central fig-leaf-shaped sigillum indistinct. Labium semi-dome-shaped, proximally only slightly wider than long (LW/LL = 1.2); cuspules absent; labiosternal suture shallow. Palps ( Fig. 10B ) generally as in L. incerta spec. nov. (TibW/PTib = 0.2; PFem/PTib = 1.3; n = 5); tibia not inflated, slightly curved outward; patella proximally bent downward, distally widening; femur cylindrical, distally slightly curved downward.

Palpal organ ( Figs 10 F−J) proximally pyriform; embolus long and slender, distal third bent away from axis of embolus at an angle of about 30° (best seen in ventral and dorsal view ( Figs 10F, H ); apex of embolus slightly sigmoid, with pointed, non-ornamented tip ( Fig. 10J ).

Leg I: tarsus not inflated, with ventral scopula and with few (2−3) clavate dorsal proximal trichobothria ( Fig. 10C ); metatarsus with retroventral and apical spines; tibia cylindrical, with strong ventral and prolateral spines over entire length; patella with a group of strong ventro-distal spines and a row of three prolateral spines; femur with distal group of short, strong spines and with spiky dorsal and prolateral spines in distal half. Leg II tarsus largely as leg I tarsus but proximal retrolateral spine missing; metatarsus slightly bent proximally; tibia slightly curved, with spine patterns on tibia, patella and femur as on leg I. Leg III with numerous spines on metatarsus, tibia, patella and femur, with a single trochanter spine, no spines on coxa and tarsus; few clavate trichobothria dorso-proximally on tarsus; tibia unmodified ( Figs 10 D−E). Leg IV as leg III but spines weaker and clavate tarsal trichobothria absent. Leg formula 4123. PTC of anterior legs with a single large, sharp tooth; PTC of posterior legs with a single large tooth and a few tiny teeth. Opisthosoma ovoid; dorsal side densely covered with fine bristles. Spinnerets as in female (see below).

Measurements. TBL 11.6; CL 4.7; CW 4.3; CP 2.7; AR 0.85; PR 0.83; EL 0.45; diaALE 0.25; diaPLE 0.13; diaAME 0.14; diaPME 0.15; disALE 0.43; disPLE 0.62; disAME 0.10; disPME 0.29; SL 2.9; SW 2.3; LL 0.7; LW 0.8; palp 10.4 (0.6 + 3.1 + 2.6 + 4.1); leg I 13.6 (1.5 + 2.9 + 2.8 + 2.1 + 4.3); leg II 12.9 (1.5 + 2.9 + 2.6 + 1.9 + 4.0); leg III 11.5 (1.8 + 3.1 + 1.9 + 1.7 + 3.0); leg IV 15.6 (2.1 + 4.1 + 3.2 + 2.0 + 4.2); BuL 1.30; BuW 0.53; EmL 0.57.

Female (paratype; PS-027). Specimen preserved for seven years in 70% ethanol in good condition; spermathecae in microvial. General colouration: carapace almost uniformly brown, thoracic part slightly lighter than cephalic part; chelicerae proximally light, gradually becoming dark brown distally; dorsal side of opisthosoma purplish grey, with a pattern of differently-shaped lighter patches in posterior region ( Fig. 11A , showing paratype PS-026), ventral side purplish around the spinnerets, light-coloured in other parts; spinnerets yellow ( Fig. 11D , showing paratype PS- 026); legs and palps proximally light brown, gradually becoming dark brown distally, anterior appendages darker than posteriors; sternum with a colour gradient from light brown posteriorly to dark brown anteriorly; labium dark brown.

Morphology: Carapace widest between coxa I and coxa II (CW/CL = 0.9), posteriorly strongly narrowing, surface smooth and shiny ( Fig. 11A ); cephalic part elevated, with central group of bristles; thoracic part evenly sloping down from fovea to posterior margin. Eyes and ocular tubercle as in male (PR/AR = 0.94). Clypeus slightly protracted. Eye group mostly as in male (EL/PR = 0.55) but AME further apart from each other (disAME/diaAME = 0.88). Chelicerae with rastellum on elevated process and consisting of a triangular group of strong teeth; cheliceral furrow and fang as in male. Palpal coxae with 13−15 cuspules in compact proximal group. Sternum longer than wide (SW/SL = 0.8), anteriorly narrowing; central folium-shaped sigillum more pronounced than in male. Labium as in male. Palps as described for Ummidiinae above; palpal claw with two strong teeth on common base. Legs I−II as described for Ummidiinae above. Leg III (tibia and patella as in Figs 11 B−C, showing paratype PS-026), leg IV and PTC as described for L. incerta spec. nov. Leg formula 4132. Opisthosoma as in male. Spinnerets ( Fig. 11D ) short; PLS and PMS close to each other; PMS digitiform, less than their diameter apart; PLS with proximal article as long as median and distal article together, distal article rounded, apical spigot field carrying fine spigots.

Spermathecae racemose, quite long, roughly cone-shaped, proximally wide, distally narrowly rounded ( Fig. 11F ).

Measurements. TBL 17.4; CL 5.6; CW 4.8; CP 3.4; AR 1.09; PR 1.02; EL 0.56; diaALE 0.29; diaPLE 0.21; diaAME 0.16; diaPME 0.17; disALE 0.67; disPLE 0.72; disAME 0.14; disPME 0.42; SL 3.9; SW 3.1; LL 0.8; LW 1.1; palp 8.8 (1.5 + 2.0 + 2.1 + 3.2); leg I 9.8 (0.8 + 1.6 + 1.9 + 2.2 + 3.3); leg II 9.3 (0.9 + 1.5 + 1.7 + 2.1 + 3.1); leg III 9.7 (1.6 + 1.9 + 1.2 + 2.1 + 2.9); leg IV 12.9 (1.4 + 2.6 + 2.5 + 2.5 + 3.9).

Variation. Males (n = 5): TBL 9.4−11.6; CL 3.8−4.7; CW 3.6−4.3; CP 2.3−2.8; AR 0.70−0.85; PR 0.70−0.86; EL 0.37−0.45; diaALE 0.16−0.25; diaPLE 0.12−0.15; diaAME 0.12−0.16; diaPME 0.11−0.15; disALE 0.40−0.58; disPLE 0.48−0.63; disAME 0.08−0.12; disPME 0.24−0.31; SL 2.4−2.9; SW 2.0−2.3; LL 0.6−0.7; LW 0.7−0.8; palp 9.5−10.4; leg I 12.4−13.6; leg II 12.0−12.8; leg III 10.4−11.5; leg IV 14.1−15.6. BuL 1.02−1.16; BuW 0.42−0.48; EmL 0.48−0.64.

Males of L. maculosa spec. nov. not only show a distinct variation in size (as in L. incerta spec. nov.; see male variation above), but also in colour and general appearance ( Figs 10A , 13 ). The subject of intraspecific phenotypic variation is quite neglected in the taxonomic literature and the study thereof deserves more attention.

Females (n = 3): TBL 12.8−17.4; CL 4.4−5.6; CW 3.8−4.8; CP 2.8−3.4; AR 0.77−1.09; PR 0.77−1.02; EL 0.48−0.58; diaALE 0.29−0.30; diaPLE 0.19−0.25; diaAME 0.13−0.16; diaPME 0.17−0.19; disALE 0.39−0.67; disPLE 0.55−0.72; disAME 0.08−0.14; disPME 0.32−0.42; SL 2.7−3.9; SW 2.3−3.1; LL 0.7−1.0; LW 0.9−1.1; palp 6.5−8.8; leg I 7.5−9.8; leg II 6.9−9.3; leg III 7.3−9.7; leg IV 9.8−12.9.

Variation in the shape of the spermathecae of eight females is shown in Figs 11 E−H. Figs 11 I−L depict specimens which are presumably conspecific but were not included in type series and are not mentioned under “Additional material examined”.

Habitat and biology. The type specimens were collected from the stony, sloping floor of a dry secondary forest covering a small limestone hill next to the coast, at 5−20 m elevation ( Fig. 14A ). The two females near the Huay Yang and Pala-U waterfalls occurred in mixed evergreen-deciduous forests near streams.

The spiders lived in relatively short (up to 3.8 cm long), densely lined burrows closed by a single, rather thin (nevertheless of cork-type, with a thickened rim) trapdoor with a maximum length of 1.3 cm and a maximum width of 1.5 cm. Burrows of the five male types were 2.8−3.8 cm long, closed with a 0.7−0.9 cm long and 0.8−0.95 cm wide trapdoor.

These males matured in captivity in Geneva between 25.4. and 1.5., less than four months after being captured. A sixth male from the type locality (not examined; damaged; in private collection of the third author, KH) matured on 20.2.2021, earlier than the other conspecific males.

Figures

FIGURES 8A−J. Latouchia incerta spec. nov., holotype male. A Habitus, dorsal. B Left palp, retrolateral. C Tarsus and distal part of metatarsus of left leg I, retrolateral. D–E Left tibia and patella III (D prolateral, E retrolateral). F−I Right palpal organ, clock-wise rotated by 90° (F ventral, G prolateral, H dorsal, I retrolateral). J Embolus tip, retrolateral. Abbreviatons: el—elongated articles of palp, k—keel of embolus tip.

FIGURES 9A−J. Latouchia incerta spec. nov., females (A−D, I paratype PS-013; E Surin, prison, 150 m; F paratype PS-010; G paratype PS-012; H paratype PS-011; J Surin, Ramkhamhaeng, 150 m). A Habitus, dorsal. B–C Right tibia and patella III (B prolateral, C retrolateral). D Spinnerets, ventral. E−J Variation in the monopartite spermathecae of six specimens (note short, compact racemose structures). Abbreviatons: ds—demi-saddle, ms—macro spigots on medial article of PLS, sf—distal spigot field on PMS.

FIGURES 10A−J. Latouchia maculosa spec. nov., holotype male. A Habitus, dorsal. B Left palp, retrolateral. C Tarsus and distal part of metatarsus of left leg I, retrolateral. D–E Left tibia and patella III (D prolateral, E retrolateral). F−I Right palpal organ, clock-wise rotated by 90° (F ventral, G prolateral, H dorsal, I retrolateral). J Embolus tip, dorsal.Abbreviations: bt—bent tip of embolus, el—elongated articles of palp, sp—sharp point of embolus tip.

FIGURES 11A−L. Latouchia maculosa spec. nov., females (A−E paratype PS-026; F paratype PS-027; G Huay Yang, 90 m; H paratype PS-036; I Pala-U, 290 m, J−L presumably conspecific specimens from north of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, not listed). A Habitus, dorsal. B–C Right tibia and patella III (B prolateral, C retrolateral). D Spinnerets, ventral. E−L Variation in the monopartite spermathecae of eight different specimens (note long, conical, racemose structures). Abbreviations: ds—demisaddle, ms—macro-spigots on distal and medial article of PLS.

FIGURES 13A–D. Latouchia maculosa spec. nov., males, variation in the habitus of four ethanol-preserved paratypes. Scale line: 10 mm.

FIGURES 14A−E. Latouchia maculosa spec. nov., photos taken in the field. A Habitat at the type locality. B Closed trapdoor (indicated by white arrow). C Burrow entrance with the trapdoor fully opened (note the dense white silk lining of the burrow walls and of the inside of the trapdoor). D Characteristic defence behaviour of many fossorial trapdoor spiders: clinging onto the inside of the trapdoor and pulling it back into the closed position against an external force. E Living female outside her burrow.

FIGURES 15A−D. Living male spiders in laboratory setting. A−B Latouchia maculosa spec. nov., habitus (A adult male, B subadult male; note opisthosomal pattern referred to by the species name ‘maculosa’). C−D L. incerta spec. nov. (C defence behaviour of adult male, lateral, note strongly raised palps; D the same in rear view).