Pelecopsis indus, V. & Tanasevitch, 2011

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2011, Linyphiid spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from Pakistan and India, Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (3), pp. 561-598 : 583-585

Pelecopsis indus sp. n. Figs 73-80

HOLOTYPE: Ƌ, INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Garhwal, above Pauri , northern slope, 1900 m a.s.l., Quercus dry forest, sifting leaf litter and moss; 28.X.1979; leg. I. Löbl [28].

PARATYPES: 1 Ƌ, 3 ♀, from same locality, collected together with the holotype. – 1 Ƌ , 4 ♀, Uttar Pradesh , Kumaon, Rangarh, 2000 m a.s.l., forest in ravine, sifting leaf litter; 9.X.1979; leg. I. Löbl [6b]. – 1 ♀, Garhwal , 2 km E of Dhanolti, northern slope, 2250 m a.s.l., near brook, Abies & Rhododendron forest, sifting leaf litter; 21.X.1979; leg. I. Löbl [19]. – 1 ♀, Kumaon , Naini Tal, 2000-2100 m a.s.l., forest in ravine, sifting leaf litter and moss; 8.X.1979; leg. I. Löbl [5b]. – 1 Ƌ, Himachal Pradesh , Kulu Valley , Naggar, 1850 m a.s.l., rotten stump of Cedrus, under bark; 16.X.1988; leg. S. Vit [25]. – 1 Ƌ, Kulu Valley , Vashisht Baths (N of Manali), 1900 m a.s.l.; 13.X.1988; leg. S. Vit [18]. – 1 ♀, PAKISTAN, Swat District , Kalam, 2100 m a.s.l., Quercus forest, sifting leaf litter; 12. V.1983; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [9b]. – FIGS 73-80

Pelecopsis indus sp. n., Ƌ & ♀ paratypes from Pauri, Uttar Pradesh. (73-74) Male carapace, lateral and dorsal views, respectively (not to scale). (75-76) Right palp, retrolateral and prolateral views, respectively. (77) Palpal tibia, dorsal view. (78-80) Epigyne and vulva, ventral, dorsal (inclined 90º) and anterodorsal views, respectively .

1 ♀, S of Saidu Sharif , Murghazar , leaf litter under Platanus , 1300 m a.s.l.; 8.V.1983; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [2b]. – 1 Ƌ, Ushu Valley , upper reaches of Kalam River, 2300 m a.s.l., Cedrus forest, sifting leaf litter under Corylus; 15.V.1983; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [13b] . – 1 ♀, Malam Jabba , 2300 m a.s.l., Pinus forest , sifting under Pinus and Corylus; 9.V.1983; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [4c]. COMPARATYVE MATERIAL EXAMINED: Pelecopsis minor, SMF 60195, 3 Ƌ , 2 ♀ paratypes,

Dundgovi Aimak , 20 km S of Somon Delgertsogt, 1480 m a.s.l.; 9.VI.-13.VII.1967; leg. Z. Kaszab , det. J. Wunderlich.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name, a noun in apposition, refers to an inhabitant of India.

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is characterized by the smooth surface of its carapace (without pits), by the shape of the male palpal tibia, as well as by the peculiar shape of the ventral plate of the epigyne.

DESCRIPTION: Male (paratype). Total length 1.65. Carapace 0.78 long, 0.58 wide, modified as shown in Figs 73-74; pale brown, with indistinct grey radial stripes. Surface of carapace smooth, without pits. Chelicerae 0.33 long, unmodified. Legs yellow. Leg I 2.16 long (0.60+0.20+0.50+0.48+0.38), IV 2.22 long (0.63+0.20+0.58+ 0.48+0.33). Chaetotaxy 0.0.0.0. TmI 0.39. All metatarsi with trichobothrium. Palp (Figs 75-77): Tibia with a long, narrow, prolateral process. Cymbium without posterodorsal outgrowth. Distal suprategular apophysis relatively short, wedge-shaped. Embolic division fusiform, with a narrow, long and curved membranous process starting near base of embolus, running forward and covering end of embolus. Abdomen 0.90 long, 0.63 wide, grey, scutum absent.

Female. Total length 1.75. Carapace 0.88 long, 0.63 wide, unmodified. Chelicerae 0.38 long, unmodified. Leg I 2.18 long (0.65+0.20+0.55+0.45+0.33), IV 2.31 long (0.70+0.20+0.63+0.45+0.33). Chaetotaxy 0.0.0.0. TmI 0.44. Abdomen 1.00 long, 0.75 wide. Epigyne and vulva as in Figs 78-80. Body and leg coloration, as well as chaetotaxy, as in male.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS: The new species is similar to the Mongolian P. minor Wunderlich, 1995 , but differs by bigger body size of both sexes, by the presence a trichobothrium on metatarsus IV, by the smooth carapace surface without pits, as well as by some details of the genitalia.

RANGE: Himalayan.