Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II Knoflach, Barbara Rollard, Christine Thaler, Konrad ZooKeys 2009 2009-07-29 16 16 227 264 7BVFV Denis, 1944 Denis. Open 1944 [140,549,1187,1214] Arachnida Theridiidae Theridion Animalia Araneae 27 254 Arthropoda species pyrenaeum   Figs 48-49, 53-55, 56    Materialexamined.   Spain: Sierra Nevada, Veletaroute,  2600 m, boulder fields, 3 ♂ 9 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 subadult ♀( CTh),  18.7.1982and  19.7.1982, leg. K. Thaler[Sp82-2, 82-7].  Sierra Nevada, Corral de Veleta,  3000 m, 1 ♀( MHNG), leg. K. Thaler[Sp82-5].   France: Pyrenees, Larruns, Arrens, E Col d’Aubisque,  1600 m, scree, 1 ♂ 4 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile( CTh),  14.7.1982, leg. K. Thaler[Py 82-11].  Pyrenees Orientales, Massif du Canigou, between Chalet de Cortalets and Cirque,  2200-2400 m, 1 ♀( NMW),  26.9.1983, leg. K. Thaler[F83-8].    Description, identification. Denis (1944), Bosmans et al. (1994).   Taxonomicstatus.The statement of Bosmans et al. (1994: 238)”.. further material of  T. pyrenaeumis needed to allow a biometric study of some parts of the palp and epigyne to decide about the status of this species” indicates its close similarity to  T. hannoniaeand the arising problem of interspecific/intraspecific classification. This requirement remains. Judging from the present specimens,  T. pyrenaeumis larger in body and leg size, although in the females this was not always clearly reliable ( Fig. 56). However, the dimensions of the male and female genitalia (cymbium length and width of epigynal cavity) from various locations show consistent differences.   Measurements.This is a similar, but larger, species compared to  Theridion hannoniae( Fig. 56). Males (n=4, min-max):Total length 2.2-2.5, carapace length 1.0, width 0.9-1.0, length femur I 1.8-2.2, tibia I 1.6-2.0 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.0-3.0, carapace length 0.8-1.0, width 0.8-1.0, length femur I 1.4-1.8, tibia I 1.1-1.5 mm.   Somaticfeatures, colouration.Not distinguishable from  Theridion hannoniae, see above.   Malepalp( Figs 48-49). Conformation of male palp: see  T. hannoniae, as palpal elements do not differ in shape. Differentiation from  T. hannoniaeby larger dimensions: Cymbium 0.50-0.52 mmlong (n=4). Distal embolus 0.38-0.40 mmlong (n=2).   Epigynum/vulva( Figs 53-55). Overall genital morphology as in  T. hannoniae, distinguished by size and proportion of following parts: Epigynal cavity larger than in  T. pyrenaeum, 0.12-0.15 mmwide (n=11), its width exceeding the distance to outside of ducts (x, Fig. 53). Receptacula seminis as long as or shorter than width of epigynal cavity.    Distribution.According to the current state of knowledge  Theridion pyrenaeumappears to be endemic to western European mountain systems, in allopatry with the widespread  T. hannoniae. Up to the present,  T. pyrenaeumhas been found only in the French and Spanish Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada ( Spain). There it is confined to the higher zones, between 2500 and 3130 maltitude in Sierrra Nevada, about 2000 min the typeregion Andorra( Denis 1957) and between 1600 and 2400in the French Pyrenees (present paper). Ecological preference and altitudinal zoning resemble that of  Theridion petraeumin the Alps. 3042939399 boulder fields 1982-07-18 1982-07-19 1982-07-18 CTh K. Thaler Spain Corral de Veleta 2600 Veleta Veleta 27 254 16 10 3 2 Sierra Nevada 3042939361 18.7. 1982 and 19.7. 1982 MHNG K. Thaler Spain Corral de Veleta 3000 Corral de Veleta Veleta 27 254 1 1 2 Sierra Nevada 3042939355 1982-07-14 CTh K. Thaler France 1600 E Col d'Aubisque Larruns 27 254 8 4 1 2 1 Pyrenees 3042939401 1983-09-26 1983-09-26 1982-07-14 NMW K. Thaler France 2300 Massif du Canigou Massif du Canigou 27 254 1 1 1 1 1 Pyrenees Orientales