Calapnita vermiformis Simon, 1892

Bernhard A. Huber, 2017, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Southeast Asian leaf-dwelling spider genus Calapnita Simon (Araneae, Pholcidae), Zootaxa 4219 (1), pp. 1-63 : 44-45

Calapnita vermiformis Simon, 1892

Figs 126–127 , 196–219

Calapnita vermiformis Simon, 1892: 42 , pl. 2, figs 5–6 (♂).

Micromerys vermiformis— Simon 1893: 474, fig. 463.

Calapnita vermiformis— Deeleman-Reinhold 1986b: 212–213 (only specimens from Luzon), figs 26–31, 59a (♂ ♀). Huber 2011: 45–48 (only specimens from Luzon), figs 41–42, 62–63, 139–144 (not figs 141, 147–152; see C. bugis ).

Note on previous misidentifications. Most previous records of Calapnita vermiformis (all those from outside Luzon in Deeleman-Reinhold 1986a, 1986b and in Huber 2011) are now considered different species. The SEM photos in Huber 2000 (figs 34, 69, 124, 177) were made from specimens from Sumatra that belong to C. saluang Huber, 2011 . The SEM photos in Huber 2011 (figs 147–152) were made from specimens from Sulawesi that belong to C. bugis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of the vermiformis group by details of procursus: ventral flap membranous and tip curved towards dorsal ( Figs 196–197 ); distinctive prolateral sclerite (arrow in Fig. 196 ). From C. bario and C. bariengi also by distal cheliceral apophyses clearly bipartite ( Fig. 200 ); from C. saluang and C.

bugis also by wide proximal part of bipartite cheliceral apophyses ( Fig. 200 ); from several species also by continuous wide connection between epigynal plate and ‘knob’ ( Fig. 203 ), and by pale male sternum.

New material examined. PHILIPPINES: 2♂ 2♀, ZFMK (Ar 16041), Luzon , Camarines Sur Prov., Mount Isarog , W slope (13.664°N, 123.34– 123.35°E), ~ 600–900 m a.s.l., forest, on leaves, 23.ii.2014 (B.A. Huber).

Assigned tentatively. PHILIPPINES: 1♂ 1♀, ZFMK (Ar 16042), Luzon , Laguna Prov., Mount Banahaw , forest near Taytay Falls (14.110°N, 121.507°E), 560 m a.s.l., on leaves, 26.ii.2014 (B.A. Huber) ; 1♀ in absolute ethanol, ZFMK (Phi 219), same data . 3♂ 13♀ 7 juvs, ZFMK (Ar 16043–44) and 1♂ 1♀, MSU-IIT, Negros Island, Negros Oriental Prov., Twin Lakes National Park (9.368– 9.365°N, 123.181– 123.182°E), 850–950 m a.s.l., forest above Baliansasayao Crater Lake , on leaves, 9.iii.2014 (B.A. Huber); 8 juvs in absolute ethanol, ZFMK (Phi 191), same data .

Variation. Males from Mount Isarog (~ 30 km from type locality) appear indistinguishable from the male holotype and from males from Atimonan (examined in Huber 2011). Tibia 1 in 2 males: 7.3, 7.6; in 2 females: 6.3, 6.7. Male palpal femur ( Fig. 199 ) distal process at 41% of femur length. Male palpal tibia length/width in 1 male: 0.75/0.38; tibia 2/tibia 4 length in 2 males: 0.92; bulb length: 0.44; embolus length: 0.89.

The specimens from Mount Banahaw are slightly different ( Figs 204-211 ): the procursus is slightly longer while the distal widened part is slightly smaller ( Figs 204–205 ); the male cheliceral apophyses, the palpal trochanter and femur, and the epigynum are all very slightly different in shape ( Figs 206–211 ). These specimens are therefore assigned tentatively. Tibia 1 in 1 male: 8.1; in 1 female: 6.8. Male palpal tibia length/width: 0.80/0.39; bulb length: 0.59; embolus length: 1.00.

Specimens from Negros differ more strongly ( Figs 212–219 ; especially smaller palps and shorter epigynum) but the tip of the procursus is strikingly similar; these specimens are provisionally assigned to this species, pending further collecting in the large gap between Luzon and Negros. Tibia 1 in 7 males: 6.5–7.6 (mean 7.1); in 13 females: 5.8–6.3 (mean 6.0). Male palpal tibia length/width in one male from Negros: 0.60/0.34; bulb length: 0.41; embolus length: 0.61.

Distribution. Possibly widespread in the Philippines ( Fig. 284 ), but note that specimens from two localities are assigned tentatively.

Figures

FIGURE 284. Known distribution of the Calapnita vermiformis group, part 2 (cf. Fig. 283).

FIGURES 120 – 127. Live specimens, Calapnita vermiformis group. 120 – 121. C. bario sp. nov., ♂ and ♀ with egg-sac from Bario. 122 – 123. C. magaseng sp. nov., ♂ and ♀ with egg-sac from Mount Penrissen. 124 – 125. C. saluang Huber, ♂ from Berastagi and ♀ with egg-sac from Phanom Bencha. 126 – 127. C. vermiformis Simon, ♂♂ from Mount Isarog and Mount Banahaw.

FIGURES 188 – 203. Calapnita saluang Huber (188 – 195; ZFMK, Ar 16031) and C. vermiformis Simon from Mount Isarog (196 – 203; ZFMK, Ar 16041). 188 – 189, 196 – 197. Left procursi, prolateral and retrolateral views (arrow points at distinctive sclerite). 190, 198. Left palpal trochanters, retrolateral views. 191, 199. Left palpal femora, prolateral views. 192 – 193, 200 – 201. Right male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 194, 202. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 195, 203. Epigyna, ventral views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 204 – 219. Calapnita vermiformis Simon from Mount Banahaw (204 – 211; ZFMK, Ar 16042) and from Negros Island (212 – 219; ZFMK, Ar 16043 – 44). 204 – 205, 212 – 213. Left procursi, prolateral and retrolateral views. 206, 214. Left palpal femora, prolateral views. 207, 215. Left palpal trochanters, retrolateral views. 208 – 209, 216 – 217. Right male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 210, 218. Epigyna, ventral views. 211, 219. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.