Spermophora falcata, Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New and little known pholcid spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Laos, Zootaxa 3709 (1), pp. 1-51 : 43-51

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3709.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:496843C1-1D75-4B55-BFF2-370ECBAC11BB
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6158997
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FE87D2-FF97-FFC8-FF27-F9B513010D84
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Spermophora falcata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Spermophora falcata View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 38–41 View FIGURE 38 View FIGURE 39 View FIGURE 40 View FIGURE 41

Type material. Holotype: Male ( IZCAS), Sinopoda Cave [17°26.953′N, 104°52.518′E, alt. 150 m], 9.66 km north of Thakhek Town, Ban Kouanphavang Khammouane, Laos, 23 November 2012, leg. Z. Yao (Yao-LA 053– 056). Paratypes: 1 male and 2 females ( IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is from Latin falcatus (sickle-shaped), in reference to the shape of serrated ventral flap of procursus; adjective.

Diagnosis. The species resembles S. kaindi ( Huber 2005b: 69, figs 10 and 69–71), but can be distinguished by presence of a long apophysis accompanying a serrated, sickle-shaped, ventral flap on procursus ( Figs 38 View FIGURE 38 A–D and 40A–B) and different distal elements of procursus ( Figs 38 View FIGURE 38 A–D and 40A–B).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 1.46 (1.55 with clypeus), prosoma 0.59 long, 0.65 wide, opisthosoma 0.87 long, 0.62 wide. Leg I: – (3.04 + 0.25 + 3.20 + – + –), leg II: 8.54 (2.50 + 0.23 + 2.25 + 2.78 + 0.78), leg III: 6.52 (1.81 + 0.23 + 1.70 + 2.15 + 0.63), leg IV: 9.89 (2.88 + 0.26 + 2.75 + 3.36 + 0.64); tibia I L/d: 58. Habitus as in Fig. View FIGURE 39

39C. Dorsal shield of prosoma and sternum yellowish, without marks. Legs yellowish, without darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, without spots. Distance ALE-ALE 0.25, diameter ALE 0.03, AME, PLE and PME absent. Ocular area not elevated. Thoracic furrow absent. Sternum wider than long (0.50/0.43). Chelicerae as in Fig. 40 View FIGURE 40 C, with a pair of small apophyses proximally and a pair of short apophyses distally (distance between tips: 0.12). Pedipalpi as in Figs 38 View FIGURE 38 A–B and 40A–B; trochanter with a short retrolatero-ventral apophysis; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with a long apophysis accompanying a serrated, sickle-shaped, ventral flap; bulb with a large serrated apophysis provided with a hooked tip and a small apophysis, with a simple embolus. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 8%; legs with short vertical hairs on tibiae and metatarsi, without spines and curved hairs.

Variation: Tibia I in another male: 2.72.

Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 39 View FIGURE 39 D–E. Tibia I (n=2): 2.63, 2.80 (mean: 2.72). One of the specimens measured: Total length 1.66 (1.75 with clypeus), prosoma 0.59 long, 0.63 wide, opisthosoma 1.07 long, 0.75 wide; tibia I: 2.63. Distance ALE-ALE 0.17, diameter ALE 0.04, AME, PLE and PME absent. Epigynum ( Figs 39 View FIGURE 39 A and 40D) simple and flat externally, with dark internal shade, a pair of pockets 0.12 apart, and a posterior median pocket. Vulva ( Figs 39 View FIGURE 39 B and 40E) with a wavy arch anteriorly and a pair of bent pore plates. Tarsus I with about 6 distinct pseudosegments.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 41 View FIGURE 41 ).