Pholcoides monticola ( Spassky, 1941 ) Spassky, 1941

Sergei Zonstein & Yuri M. Marusik, 2016, A revision of the spider genus Zaitunia (Araneae, Filistatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 214, pp. 1-97 : 86

Pholcoides monticola ( Spassky, 1941) comb. nov.

Fig. 45

Filistata monticola Spassky, 1941: 12 (♀).

Filistata monticola – Spassky 1952: 194.

Zaitunia monticola – Zonstein 1990: 50 (transfer from Filistata ).

Material examined

Lectotype (designated here)

TAJIKISTAN: ♀, Western Pamir, “ Kalaj-Chumb ”, Kalaikhum : 38°28’ N, 70°47’ E, 1340 m, 30 Jul. 1935, S. Nenjukov ( ZISP).

Paralectotypes

TAJIKISTAN: 1 juv., “ Kalaj-Vamar ”, Rushan: 37°57' N, 71°34' E, 2000 m, 2 Sept. 1937, E. Luppova ( ZISP) ; 1 juv., “Pamir occidentalis”, 11 Aug. 1937, E. Luppova (ZISP). All specimens are in a poor condition, dried and damaged.

Additional material examined

TAJIKISTAN: 2 ♀♀, Western Pamir, Yazgulem Canyon near Andarbag , 38°13' N, 71°33' E, 2100 m, 18 Jul. 1988, S. Zonstein ( TAU).

Remarks

Unlike Zaitunia , females of Pholcoides monticola lack the metatarsal crest on leg IV ( Fig. 45 C), typical for the Filistatinae. However, this species shares relatively long legs, a rounded carapace and sternum (cf. Fig. 45 A and Zonstein et al. 2013: figs 1–2, respectively), spinnerets located closer to the posterior tip of the abdomen ( Fig. 45 B and Zonstein et al. 2013: fig. 3) and a characteristic calamistrum with two posteriorly convergent rows of setae with P. afghana ( Fig. 45 C and Zonstein et al. 2013: fig. 6). The structure of the endogyne in these two species is also similar, although not identical (cf. Figs 45 D–E and Zonstein et al. 2013: figs 11–12), and differs drastically from that in Zaitunia . Based on these reasons, the aforementioned species is transferred from Zaitunia to Pholcoides . Its relationship to P. afghana and other congeners (some of which are still undescribed) will be considered in detail in a taxonomic revision of Pholcoides (Zonstein & Marusik, in prep.).

Figures

Fig. 45. Somatic characters and endogyne of Pholcoides monticola comb. nov., ♀ from Andarbag. A. Habitus, dorsal. B. Abdomen, ventral. C. Calamistrum of both metatarsi IV, all setae lost. D. Endogyne, dorsal. E. Same, anterior. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B – E = 0.2 mm.