Anguliphantes nepalensis ( Tanasevitch, 1987 )

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2011, Linyphiid spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from Pakistan and India, Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (3), pp. 561-598 : 567-568

Anguliphantes nepalensis ( Tanasevitch, 1987)

MATERIAL: 1 ♀, PAKISTAN, Hazara District, Kāghān Valley, 1450 m a.s.l., Malkandi Forest , near foot of rock; 29. VI.1985; leg. S. Vit [PAK-85/2]. – 1 Ƌ, INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Garhwal, above Pauri , 1900 m a.s.l., dry Quercus forest on N slope, sifting leaf litter and moss; 28.X.1979; leg. I. Löbl [28]. – 1 ♀, West Bengal, Darjeeling District, Tiger Hill , 2500-2600 m a.s.l., near top, sifting litter in forest; 18.X.1978; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [19].

COMPARATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED: 1 Ƌ, NEPAL, Goropani Forest between Kali Gandaki Valley and Pokhara Valley , Punhill near Goropani , 3050-3100 m a.s.l., edge of Rhododendron and Abies forest , sifting litter and mosses; 8.X.1983; leg. I. Löbl & A. Smetana [31] (new locality) .

VARIABILITY: This species shows some variability in certain genital structures, such as size of the rounded swelling on the paracymbium, and shape and density of the fringed margin of the embolus (see Tanasevitch & Saaristo, 2006). Nevertheless the shape of the distal part of the lamella characteristica is consistent enough and is a good, well-visible character to distinguish this species.

REMARKS: A. nepalensis was previously known from numerous localities in Nepal ( Tanasevitch, 1987; Tanasevitch & Saaristo, 2006). The species is here recorded from Pakistan and India for the first time.

RANGE: Himalayan.

Anguliphantes nepalensoides sp. n. Figs 26-31 HOLOTYPE: Ƌ, INDIA, West Bengal, Darjeeling District, Tiger Hill , 2500-2600 m a.s.l.,

near top, sifting in forest; 18.X.1978; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [19].

ETYMOLOGY: The species name, an adjective, points out the similarity of the new species and A. nepalensis ( Tanasevitch, 1987) .

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is characterized by the peculiar shape of the lamella characteristica.

DESCRIPTION: Male. Total length 2.20. Carapace 0.98 long, 0.83 wide, pale brown, almost yellow, with a greyish margin. Chelicerae 0.43 long. Legs yellow. Legs or its distal segments mostly lost, FeI & II 1.23 long. Chaetotaxy unclear, but probably equal to that of A. nepalensis , i.e. Fe I: 0-1-0-0: Ti I: 2-1-1-0, II: 2-0-1-0, III-IV: 2-0-0-0; Mt I-III: 1-0-0-0. TmII 0.11. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp (Figs 26-31): Tibia flattened distally. Cymbium with a small posterodorsal conical tubercle. Paracymbium with a rounded swelling in mesal part. Distal part of lamella characteristica fork-shaped, upper branch twice longer than lower one, with a small tooth between both branches. Upper edge of lamella characteristica carrying a spear-shaped outgrowth directed backward. Embolus fringed at margin. Abdomen 1.18 long, 0.88 wide, pale grey.

Female unknown.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS: The new species is very similar to A. nepalensis , but can be easily distinguished by the shape of the distal part of the lamella characteristica. See also above, under Remarks to A. nepalensis .

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the type locality only.

FIGS 26-31

Anguliphantes nepalensoides sp. n., Ƌ holotype. (26) Right palp, retrolateral view. (27) Palpal tibiaandparacymbium, dorsalview. (28) Embolicdivision. (29) Embolus. (30-31) Lamella characteristica, different aspects.