Psechrus demiror, Bayer, 2012

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 87-90

Psechrus demiror sp. nov.

Figs 47a–c , 88l , 91l

Type material: Holotype ♀ ( SB 331 ), “ INDOCHINA ”; Collection Constantin Dawydoff; Entrée No. 23, 18.XI.1960; MNHN.

Note: This female was deposited among unidentified spider material in the ‘Zoothek’ of the Muséum National de Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Unfortunately the label contained no information, except what is listed above. The region of ‘Indochina’ formerly included the (present) countries Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. In order to get information about a detailed locality, where this specimen possibly could have been recorded, I tried to find publications where material collected by C. Dawydoff is listed. In Dawydoff (1952) the collector himself stated, that he stayed for a long period of time in a research station in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Denis (1934) treated representatives of Collembola, which were collected by C. Dawydoff in Vietnam, listed with detailed recording locality. Titova (1983) revised the Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda) and listed some material collected by C. Dawydoff in Cambodia. It is likely that the Psechrus ♀ SB 331 was collected together with specimens of the above mentioned arthropods, which are also ground-dwelling. According to the literature mentioned above, it is possible, but not certain, that ♀ SB 331 had been recorded at one of the following locations:

1) VIETNAM: Lam Dong Province, Da Lat (South-Eastern part of Vietnam)

2) VIETNAM: Khanh Hoa Province, region of Nha Trang (South-Eastern part of Vietnam)

3) CAMBODIA: Kampot Province, Bokor (Southern part of Cambodia)

4) CAMBODIA: Kampong Thom Province, Kampong Thom (Central part of Cambodia)

Identification of the following, additional material examined not absolutely certain.

“INDOCHINA”; Collection Constantin Dawydoff; Entrée No. 23, 18.XI.1960; 1 ♂ ( SB 329 , was found in separate vial, not in the same vial as ♀ SB 331 ), MNHN .

Note: As this male was found in a different vial, it is not absolutely certain that it was from the same locality as the female holotype, which is not known either. Therefore, it is also not possible to be absolutely certain if the male is conspecific with the female holotype. However, it is certainly a representative of the himalayanaus -group as it shows the diagnostic characters. Additionally, its bulb ( Fig. 46b ) strongly resembles that of P. himalayanus ( Fig. 31b ) and lacks scopula dorsally on cymbium, like in P. ghecuanus and P. jaegeri sp. nov., both of which are distributed in Laos (formerly part of Indochina).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the ‘open question’ concerning exact type locality (Latin “demiror” means “gladly wishing to know something”); term (verb) in apposition.

Diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Male (not absolutely certain if in fact conspecific with female holotype) with distinctly narrow and elongated tegulum (T) (narrower than and ca. as long as palpal tibia) and long embolus (E) and conductor (C) (ca. equal long as T) ( Figs 46a–c ). Females similar to Psechrus luangprabang in the shape of distal margins of lateral lobes (LL) —those strongly sclerotised, semicircular and extending anterio-laterally ( Figs 44a , 47a )— and shape of vulva. Distinguished by the distal endings of margins of LL pointing medially ( Fig. 47a ) and by the smaller (in relation to copulatory duct) and differently shaped spermatheca ( Fig. 47b ).

Description. Male (not absolutely certain if in fact conspecific with female holotype):

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 5.1, carapace width 3.8, anterior width of carapace 2.1, opisthosoma length 7.5, opisthosoma width 3.2. Eyes: AME 0.32, ALE 0.36, PME 0.37, PLE 0.38, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.28, AME–PME 0.49, ALE–PLE 0.38, clypeus height at AME 0.59, clypeus height at ALE 0.56.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 6.5 [2.3, 1.0, 1.1, 2.1]; Legs: I 44.9 [12.1, 2.3, 12.2, 12.3, 6.0], II 35.3 [10.0, 2.0, 9.4, 9.3, 4.6], III 24.1 [7.0, 1.6, 5.9, 6.4, 3.2], IV 38.2 [10.9, 1.9, 9.4, 10.5, 5.5].

Spination. Palp: 131, 110 (prolateral one very small), 1101 (prolateral and ventral one very small); legs: femur I 566, II 556, III 545, IV 555{554}; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3134, IV 3036; metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3036.

Palpal femur without modification, broadest subdistally ( Fig. 46d ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). Semicircular embolus base (EB) sclerotised ( Fig. 85m ). Conductor surrounds E at its distal half almost completely ( Figs 46b–c ). Palpal tibia in lateral view medium sized ( Figs 46a,c ). Cymbium dorsally without scopula.

Female:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.8, carapace width 4.7, anterior width of carapace 3.0, opisthosoma length 8.8, opisthosoma width 4.5. Eyes: AME 0.40, ALE 0.46, PME 0.46, PLE 0.44, AME–AME

0.21, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.31, PME–PLE 0.41, AME–PME 0.62, ALE–PLE 0.42, clypeus height at AME 0.83, clypeus height at ALE 0.79.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 8.2 [2.7, 1.2, 1.6, 2.7]; Legs: I 39.4 [10.8, 2.8, 10.9, 9.9, 5.0], II 31.3 [8.6, 2.6, 8.4, 7.8, 3.9], III 23.4 [6.8, 2.1, 5.7, 5.7, 3.1], IV 33.1 [9.2, 2.3, 8.5, 8.6, 4.5].

Palpal claw with 13 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I 556, II 556{566}, III 545{555}, IV 544{545}; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3034, IV 3038; metatarsus I, III–IV 3035, II 3035{3033}.

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Median septum almost as long as broad ( Fig. 47a , 88l ). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field. The latter relatively small.

Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace serrated. Lateral bands narrow (ca. ½ diameter of PME) and at most slightly lobed, not serrated. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous, subdistally constricted, its width medium-sized. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is less than the width of one half of the cribellum (ca. 0.5 of one half of the cribellum).

Distribution. ‘Indochina’ ( Vietnam and/or Cambodia and/or Laos) ( Fig. 98 ).

Figures

FIGURES 31a–d. Psechrus himalayanus, ♂ lectotype SB 14 from India, Uttarakhand Prov., Dehradun. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 44a–e. Psechrus luangprabang, from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov., ♀ adult and primordial copulatory organ. a–c ♀ paratype SB 1034. d–e s.a. ♀ SB 346. a Epigyne, ventral view. b Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system. d Pre-vulva, dorsal view. e Pre-epigyne, ventral view.

FIGURES 46a–d. Psechrus demiror sp. nov. (doubtful identification), ♂ SB 329 from “Indochina”. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 47a–c. Psechrus demiror sp. nov., ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. a Epigyne, ventral view. b Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system.

FIGURES 85a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of left ♂ palp, ventral view (a, c–o) and retrolatero-ventral view (b). a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. himalayanus. h P. marsyandi. i P. inflatus sp. nov. j P. ghecuanus. k P.pakawini sp. nov. l P. luangprabang. m P.demiror sp. nov.? n P. jaegeri sp. nov. o P.vivax sp. nov. a ♂ SB 321 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♂ SB 122 from Vietnam, Lang Son Prov. c ♂ holotype SB 367 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♂ SB 381 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♂ paratype SB 64 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♂ SB 17 from Nepal, Rapti Prov. h ♂ holotype SB 79 from Nepal, Gandaki Prov. i ♂ holotype SB 952 from China, Yunnan Prov. j ♂ SB 36 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. k ♂ paratype SB 142 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. l ♂ SB 459 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. m ♂ SB 329 from “Indochina”. n ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♂ holotype SB 367 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 88a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of epigyne, ventral view. a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 372 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 961 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 607 from Bhutan, Timphu Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 213 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 91a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of vulva, dorsal view. a P. ancoralis. b P. rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 374 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 951 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 988 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 214 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURE 98. Distribution of Psechrus in continental South East Asia. Symbols (unicoloured): species belonging to the himalayanus-group. Symbols (black, filled with light colour): species belonging to the ancoralis-group. Distribution of Psechrus in northern Vietnam, see Fig. 96. The distribution of P. demiror sp. nov. is unclear (see corresponding species description), hence the violet, unicoloured trapezes are depicted with question mark each.