Paccius mahimborondro, Pett & Escobar-Toledo & Ferreira, 2025

Pett, Brogan L., Escobar-Toledo, Jaime & Ferreira, Elodie, 2025, On the genus Paccius (Araneae, Trachelidae) in Madagascar: two new species, redescriptions, and a key to the species, Zootaxa 5716 (2), pp. 257-267 : 265-266

Key to Paccius species

Males (those of P. elevatus unknown)

1 Retrolateral expansion of cymbium distinct, of varying size, RTA without procurved tip............................. 2

- Retrolateral expansion of cymbium indistinct, simple slightly sinuous margin, RTA with distinctly anteriorly procurved tip ( Marusik, 2009: fig. 8)......................................................... P. quadridentatus Simon, 1898

2 Modified setae on retrolateral apical margin of tibia very long, longer than tibia.................................... 3

- Modified setae on retrolateral apical margin of tibia not as long as tibia, typically much shorter....................... 4

3 Retrolateral expansion of cymbium over half the length of cymbium, situated more anteriorly, and sharply squared ( Platnick, 2000: fig. 5.9)..................................................................... P. scharffi Platnick, 2000

- Retrolateral expansion of cymbium just under half the length of cymbium, situated basally, and dome-shaped ( Fig. 5C, E )........................................................................... P. madagascariensis (Simon, 1889)

4 Retrolateral expansion of cymbium long, over half cymbium length............................................. 5

- retrolateral expansion of cymbium clearly less than half cymbium length......................................... 6

5 Retrolateral expansion of cymbium smoothly round across its entire length, RTA basally narrow ( Fig. 6C, E )........................................................................................... P. mucronatus Simon, 1898

- Retrolateral expansion of cymbium subtruncate; RTA basally very broad ( Fig. 4D, F ).......... P. mahimborondro sp. nov.

6 Retrolateral expansion of cymbium clearly truncated at its margin, RTA base distinctly expanded...................... 7

- Retrolateral expansion of cymbium mostly entirely sinuous with weak truncation, RTA more gradually tapering.......... 8

7 RTA very broad basally and arising on dorsal retrolateral margin, apex directed anteriorly ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.1)....................................................................................... P. angulatus Platnick, 2000

- RTA very sharply tapering from base, not arising on dorsal margin, projected at typical 01:30 position ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.14)............................................................................ P. quinteri Platnick, 2000

8 RTA broad basally, with digitiform apex ( Fig. 3B, D ), retrolateral expansion of cymbium essentially completely round with very weak truncation ( Fig. 3A, C ).......................................................... P. haddadi sp. nov.

- RTA narrow basally, gradually tapering along its length to sharp apex ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.6), retrolateral expansion of cymbium with stronger truncation ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.5)................................ P. griswoldi Platnick, 2000

Females (those of P. angulatus , P. madagascariensis , P. mahimborondro sp. nov., P. mucronatus and P. quadridentatus unknown)

1 Epigyne with transverse single epigynal atrium.............................................................. 2

- Epigyne with lateral double epigynal atria ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.3)........................... P. elevatus Platnick, 2000

2 Epigynal atrium recurved, appearing loosely as a wide inverted V-shape.......................................... 3

- Epigynal atrium a broad straight transverse hood ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.11)..................... P. scharffi Platnick, 2000

3 CD complex, with several distinct turns.................................................................... 4

- CD running straight: looping once anteriorly before running in straight line posteriorly to ST I ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.16).................................................................................... P. quinteri Platnick, 2000

4 Epigynal atrium medially with anterior extension creating a clover-like shape, one half- loop in anterior part of CD before posterior straight portion ( Platnick 2000: fig. 5.7, 5.8).................................... P. griswoldi Platnick, 2000

- Epigynal atrium an entire U-shape without extension, several quarter loops and one half loop in the anterior part of CD ( Fig. 3G, H )................................................................................ P. haddadi sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Paccius haddadi sp. nov., genitalia.A–D Holotype male (RMCA 247821); E–H Paratype female (RMCA 247822). A, C Left palp, ventral; B, D Idem, retrolateral; E, G Epigyne, ventral; F, H Vulva, dorsal. Note: dashed line on Fig. 3A represents the line from where the size of the retrolateral expansion is taken. Scale lines: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Paccius mahimborondro sp. nov., holotype male (RMCA 247823). A Habitus, dorsal; B Idem, lateral; C Idem, ventral; D, F Left palp, ventral; E, G Idem, retrolateral. Scale lines: A = 2 mm; D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Paccius madagascariensis (Simon, 1889), holotype male (AR14401). A Habitus, dorsal; B Idem, ventral; C,E Left palp, ventral; D, F Idem, retrolateral. Scale lines: A = 2 mm; no scale bars provided for palp images.

FIGURE 6. Paccius mucronatus Simon, 1898, holotype male (AR14402). A Habitus, dorsal; B Idem, ventral; C,E Left palp, ventral; D, F Idem, retrolateral. Scale lines: A = 2 mm; no scale bars provided for palp photos.