Aetana kinabalu Huber, 2005

Figs 99–103, 111–112, 163–165

Aetana kinabalu Huber, 2005a: 75–76, figs 108–109, 121–123 (♂).

Note

The original description was based on two males. Here we present data on new material from the type locality, a description of the female, and an emended diagnosis to account for the newly described congeners.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from closest known relative ( A. lambir Huber, sp. nov.) by shape of prolatero-ventral apophysis of male palpal femur (pointed tip and subdistal branch of approximately same length; cf. Huber 2005a: fig. 121); also by presence of prolateral apophysis on femur, by details of procursus (shapes of sclerites on complex distal part; cf. Huber 2005a: figs 121–122), and by female genitalia (pair of internal pockets; position of pore plates; Figs 111–112).

New material examined

MALAYSIA-BORNEO, Sabah: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv., Mt. Kinabalu, forest along Silau Silau Trail (6.010 – 6.017 ° N, 116.537– 116.543° E), 1550–1650 m a.s.l., domed webs among vegetation, 6 Aug. 2014 (B.A. Huber, S.B. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 13961); 2♀♀, 1 juv., in pure ethanol, same data, ZFMK (Bor 211). – 1 ♀, Kinabalu N.P., 1550 m a.s.l., 2–8 Apr. 1998 (C.L. Deeleman-Reinhold, P. Zborowski), RMNH. – 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 3 juvs, Crocker Range between Kota Kinabalu and Tambuan, S-slope, forest along river (5.783° N, 116.338– 116.340° E), 1430–1480 m a.s.l., domed webs among vegetation, 3 Aug. 2014 (B.A. Huber, S.B. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 13962); 4 juvs, in pure ethanol, same data, ZFMK (Bor 171). – 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, in very poor condition, Tawau (4.406° N, 117.892° E), 6 Sep. 2009 (A. Floren), RMNH.

MALAYSIA-BORNEO, Sarawak: 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 3 juvs, Gunung Mulu N.P., forest near Deer Cave (4.027° N, 114.818° E), 60 m a.s.l., 23–24 July 2014 (B.A. Huber, S.B. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 13963-64); same data, 3 ♀♀, 5 juvs, in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Bor 182). – 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 4 juvs, Bario, forest along river W of town (3.736° N, 115.437– 115.443° E), 1150–1250 m a.s.l., domed webs among vegetation, 30 July 2014 (B.A. Huber, S.B. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 13965). – 1 ♀, 1 juv., Bario, forest along river N of town (3.765 – 3.771 ° N, 115.444– 115.448° E), 1170–1250 m a.s.l., domed webs among vegetation, 29 July 2014 (B.A. Huber, S.B. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 13966); 9 juvs, in pure ethanol, same data, ZFMK (Bor 233).

Description (amendments to Huber 2005a)

Male

Thoracic furrow absent (contra Huber 2005a); clypeus slightly protruding (more than in female). Tibia 2 slightly longer than tibia 4 (e.g., 5.1/4.9; 4.9/4.8); curved hairs on metatarsi 2; tibia 1 in 7 males: 7.6–8.8 (mean: 8.3).

Female

Eye triads much closer together than in male (distance PME-PME ~ 235 µm vs. 375 µm), not on stalks. Tibia 1 in 15 females: 5.9–7.3 (mean 6.4). Epigynum simple plate, darker laterally anteriorly; anterior

internal arc and internal sclerotized pockets visible through cuticle (Figs 111, 163–164). Internal genitalia as in Figs 112 and 165, with pair of sclerotized pockets and more lateral pair of membranous pockets.

Variation

In males from Gunung Mulu, the tiny cone-shaped process on the genital bulb (cf. Huber 2005a: figs 121 and 122) is absent. Males from Bario with small additional process at basis of prolatero-ventral apophysis of femur.

Natural history

Webs were in most cases made of two sheets: an upper sheet in which the spider hung, and a lower sheet that had to be removed in order to catch the spider. At most localities, webs were found high among the

vegetation, even in the sunlight. At Gunung Mulu, webs were found among mosses and low vegetation on perpendicular rock surfaces about 2 m above the ground. At several localities, A. kinabalu was sympatric with a ground-dwelling congener: with A. poring Huber, sp. nov. at Mt. Kinabalu and Poring; with A. indah Huber, sp. nov. at Crocker Range.

Distribution

Widely distributed in Sabah and eastern Sarawak (Fig. 5).