Pandava Lehtinen, 1967

Almeida-Silva, Lina M., Griswold, Charles E. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2010, Revision of the Asian spider genus Pandava Lehtinen (Araneae: Titanoecidae): description of five new species and first record of Titanoecidae from Africa, Zootaxa 2630, pp. 30-56 : 32-33

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.276087
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6211645
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CB1965-7210-FFE5-FF5B-B63FFB47FC19
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Pandava Lehtinen, 1967
status

Treatment

Pandava Lehtinen, 1967 View in CoL View at ENA

Pandava Lehtinen, 1967: 255 View in CoL , figs. 425–426, 440. Type-species by monotypy and original designation: Amaurobius laminatus Thorell, 1878: 168 ; Lehtinen, 1967: 255; Platnick, 2010.

Diagnosis. Males of Pandava differ from Anuvinda , Goeldia , Nurscia and Titanoeca by the reduced tegular process near the base of the embolus ( Figs. 16–17 View FIGURES 15 – 20 ); by the thumb-shaped median apophysis ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 15 – 20 ), which is absent in P. shiva sp. nov. ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 ) and divided in all other Titanoecidae ( Griswold et al. 2005: 275, figs. 174B, 174C; Almeida-Silva et al. 2009a: 365, figs. 2, 3; Almeida-Silva et al. 2009b: 63, figs. 1, 2, 4). Females differ from other Titanoecidae by the anteriorly positioned epigynal rims ( Figs. 21 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 36 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 48, 50 View FIGURES 46 – 52 , 56 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 73 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 88 View FIGURES 84 – 89 , 90 View FIGURES 90 – 96 , 99 View FIGURES 99 – 100 , 101 View FIGURES 101 – 102 , 103 View FIGURES 103 – 104 ), which sometimes cover the copulatory openings; epigynum round and elevated in the median region; spermathecae elongated and varying in number: more than six in P. laminata ( Figs. 22–25 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 37 View FIGURES 33 – 37 ), P. ganesha sp. nov. ( Fig. 104 View FIGURES 103 – 104 ) and P. sarasvati sp. nov. ( Figs. 89 View FIGURES 84 – 89 , 91–93 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ); three or four in Pandava ganga sp. nov. ( Fig. 100 View FIGURES 99 – 100 ) and P. kama sp. nov. ( Fig. 102 View FIGURES 101 – 102 ), or reduced to a single lobe in P. shiva sp. nov. ( Figs. 74–77 View FIGURES 70 – 74 View FIGURES 75 – 77 ) and P. hunanensis ( Figs. 48–52 View FIGURES 46 – 52 , 57 View FIGURES 53 – 57 ).

Description. Total length (males and females): 4.00–8.60. Carapace: cephalic area high and thoracic fovea reduced ( Figs. 38, 39 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 46 View FIGURES 46 – 52 ). Eyes round, AME smaller than ALE, PME and PLE ( Figs. 40 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 47 View FIGURES 46 – 52 ). Cheliceral fang 1/3 the length of the paturon. Chilum entire, reduced, smaller than outer border of the median eyes and without setae ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1 – 6 ). Endites oblong, with regular serrula ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1 – 6 ), labium square ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 38 – 45 ). Cheliceral promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 97 – 98 ) and retrolateral face with stridulatory setae ( Figs. 3 View FIGURES 1 – 6 , 98 View FIGURES 97 – 98 ). Anterior border of sternum straight, laterally round and posteriorly acute, projecting between coxae IV ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 38 – 45 ). Leg formula variable but always with leg III shortest. One spine distally positioned on prolateral surface of femur I and II, except in P. s h i v a sp. nov. and P. hunanensis . Distribution and presence of other spines variable. Male tibial crack, when present, positioned after the first spine of tibiae I and II as described by Griswold (1993: 2, figs. 3–4) in Zoropsidae and Zorocratidae ( Griswold et al. 2005: 242, fig. 141F), and by Almeida-Silva et al. (2009b) for Anuvinda . Prolateral surface of the palpal femur with stridulatory files ( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURES 1 – 6 , 19–20 View FIGURES 15 – 20 ). Tarsal claw with 10 to 14 narrow denticles ( Figs. 6 View FIGURES 1 – 6 , 94 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ). Tarsal organ of the male palp on the prolateral distal part of the cymbium, with transverse ridges ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7 – 12 ). Tarsal organ of legs and female palp capsulate, with small, round opening ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 7 – 12 ). One single metatarsal trichobothrium with transverse ridges on basal hood ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7 – 12 ), trichobothria absent from tarsi. All leg claws with multiple teeth including three to four denticles on the third claw ( Figs. 10 View FIGURES 7 – 12 , 95–96 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ). Calamistrum uniseriate and extending the entire length of metatarsus IV ( Figs. 11–12 View FIGURES 7 – 12 ). Distally curved setae present on femur, tibia and metatarsus of some males ( Figs. 13–14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ) as in Anuvinda ( Almeida-Silva et. al. 2009b: 64, figs. 8–9) and also in females of Pandava ganga sp. nov. Abdomen oval. Cribellum divided, as broad as spinneret area ( Figs. 27–28 View FIGURES 27 – 32 , 78, 80 View FIGURES 78 – 83 ). Two major ampullate gland spigots ( Figs. 29 View FIGURES 27 – 32 , 81 View FIGURES 78 – 83 ) and 21 to 38 piriform gland spigots ( Figs. 29 View FIGURES 27 – 32 , 79, 81 View FIGURES 78 – 83 ) on the ALS, MAP recessed into PI spinning field; PMS with one mAP, six to 12 aciniform and two to three cylindrical gland spigots, paracribellar spigots absent ( Figs. 30 View FIGURES 27 – 32 , 82 View FIGURES 78 – 83 ); PLS with four paracribellar, one to two cylindrical and 13 to 14 aciniform gland spigots ( Figs. 31–32 View FIGURES 27 – 32 , 83 View FIGURES 78 – 83 ).

Palpal tibial apophysis with RLT ear-shaped; MLT divided, with an indistinct base; PLT divided as in Pandava laminata and P. sarasvati sp. nov. ( Figs. 15 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 33, 35 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 84, 87 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ), or entire and enlarged as in P. hunanensis and P. s h i v a sp. nov. ( Figs. 41, 43 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 53, 55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 58–60 View FIGURES 58 – 63 , 70, 72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 ). Prolateral face of femur with stridulatory files made up of small, round protuberances and with few setae ( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURES 1 – 6 , 19–20 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 66–69 View FIGURES 64 – 69 ). Cymbium with prolateral furrow as an inverted “L” ( Figs. 15–16 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 33, 35 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 41, 43 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 70, 72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 84, 87 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ). Median apophysis entire ( Figs. 15, 17, 18 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 33–35 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 42, 44 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 53–55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 84–87 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ) or absent ( Figs. 61–63 View FIGURES 58 – 63 ). Tegular process reduced ( Figs. 16–17 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 35 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 44 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 87 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ). Spermatic duct bent once as an “S” ( Figs. 35 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 44 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 ). Pars pendula very reduced. Tegular furrow typical of Titanoecidae ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 34 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 54 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 62–63 View FIGURES 58 – 63 , 71 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 86 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ), serving as a resting place for the embolus. Embolus filiform ( Figs. 16–17 View FIGURES 15 – 20 , 34 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 42, 44 View FIGURES 38 – 45 , 54–55 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 71–72 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 86 View FIGURES 84 – 89 ).

Epigynum with copulatory openings and rim anteriorly positioned ( Figs. 21 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 36 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 48–50 View FIGURES 46 – 52 , 56 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 73 View FIGURES 70 – 74 , 88 View FIGURES 84 – 89 , 90 View FIGURES 90 – 96 , 99 View FIGURES 99 – 100 , 101 View FIGURES 101 – 102 , 103 View FIGURES 103 – 104 ). Copulatory ducts with pores ( Figs. 24–25 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 75– 76 View FIGURES 75 – 77 , 93 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ). Fertilization duct filiform, may be partially covered by cuticle obscuring its connection with the spermathecae, e.g., Fig. 74 View FIGURES 70 – 74 . Spermathecae elongated with lobes forming a bunch ( Figs. 22–25 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 37 View FIGURES 33 – 37 , 89 View FIGURES 84 – 89 , 91–93 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ) except in P. s h i v a sp. nov. and P. hunanensis , whose spermatheca is limited to a single lobe ( Figs. 49, 51–52 View FIGURES 46 – 52 , 57 View FIGURES 53 – 57 , 74–77 View FIGURES 70 – 74 View FIGURES 75 – 77 ). Spermathecae with two kinds of pores: one enlarged, with the edges covered by a folded tissue, here called giant pore ( Figs. 22–25 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 91–93 View FIGURES 90 – 96 ), which is located in the intersection among spermathecae and copulatory ducts; the other kind is a “primary pore” according to Bennett (1992: 6 and 17, fig. 32) which in Pandava is commonly located near the giant pore ( Figs. 75–77 View FIGURES 75 – 77 ), except in P. s h i v a sp. nov. The primary pore is also found in other spiders ( Bennett, 1992: 17, fig. 32; Wang, 2002: 16, fig. 41).

Remarks. The homology of the Pandava giant pore with the so-called “dictynoid” pore described by Bennett (1992) is uncertain. The “dictynoid” pore has been described as a single, porous plate in the bottom of a shallow, circular concavity ( Bennett, 1992, figs. 2, 6) or recessed into a deep hole ( Bennett, 1992, figs. 7, 9, 28). The giant pore of Pandava is oblong and does not have an obvious flat poreplate. Notably, the “dictynoid” pore has not been described from Dictyna . Understanding the homology among such giant pores must await optimization of this character on a comprehensive phylogeny of the relevant taxa.

Geographical distribution. Asia: China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand; Pacific: Marquesas Islands, New Guinea. Introduced in Germany. New records from Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Composition. Seven species: Pandava laminata ( Thorell, 1878) ; P. hunanensis Yin & Bao, 2001 ; P. shiva sp. nov., P. sarasvati sp. nov., P. ganga sp. nov., P. kama sp. nov., P. ganesha sp. nov.