Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1999

Huber, Bernhard A. & Villarreal, Osvaldo, 2020, On Venezuelan pholcid spiders (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 718, pp. 1-317 : 228-233

Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1999

Figs 796–799 , 804–813 , 818 , 820–822 , 1027, 1060

Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1999: 128 , figs 1–9 (♂ ♀).

Priscula andinensis – Huber 2000: 139, figs 536–538 (♂).

Notes

This species is very similar to and possibly a synonym of P. piedraensis González-Sponga, 1999 (see Notes under P. piedraensis below). The MAGS collection has three vials with this species:

MAGS 955 (MIZA 105738), containing the types ( not separated into 955a and 955b as indicated in the original description), 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, 4 juvs ( not 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 5 juvs), Mérida, La Cuchilla [8.634° N, 71.356° W, i.e., 4.5 km SW of the locality indicated in the original description), 2260 m a.s.l., 12 Dec. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González-S.).

MAGS 812 (MIZA 105693), with 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 3 juvs, Mérida, “ Valle Grande” [= El Valle, approximately 8.68° N, 71.09° W], 1 Sep. 1981 and 18 Jun. 1987 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González-S.).

MAGS 1069 (MIZA 105774), with 2 ♂♂, 3 juvs, Mérida, Monumento Natural Chorrera de las González [8.586° N, 71.299° W], 1750 m a.s.l., 19 Jun. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.).

The two males in MAGS 955 appear identical, so there is currently no need to specify which is the holotype and which the paratype. The measurements in the original description are at least partly wrong (e.g., tibia 3 length in holotype: 1.76; should be ~5).

The four males described in Huber (2000) (deposited in AMNH; not reexamined) are from along Laguna El Suero trail in Mucuy, near Tabay, i.e., from the same locality as the newly collected specimens from Laguna El Suero trail listed below.

Diagnosis (amendments; see Huber 2000)

Females of P. andinensis and P. piedraensis appear indistinguishable ( Figs 820–825 ). Females of P. piapoco with dark areas at posterior epigynal margin more distinct and closer together and pore plates slightly more angular anteriorly laterally ( Figs 819 , 828 ).

New records

VENEZUELA – Mérida • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 22083), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18- 218), near Escaguey, NE Mérida (8.6918° N, 70.9950° W), 2220 m a.s.l., 23 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 22084–85), and 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-220), Mucuy , along Laguna El Suero trail (between 8.629° N, 71.039° W and 8.623° N, 71.034° W), 2270–2690 m a.s.l., 24 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 22087), El Valle , along road cut (8.6512° N, 71.1184° W), 1970 m a.s.l., 25 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-226), El Valle , cloud forest along river (8.703° N, 71.077° W), 2650 m a.s.l., 25 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂, ZFMK (Ar 22088), El Valle , forest above road (8.700° N, 71.094° W), 2430 m a.s.l., 25 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 22089), and 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-125), between Tovar and Guaraque (8.2578° N, 71.7184° W), 2490 m a.s.l., forest along stream, 11 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 22090), and 1 ♀, 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20- 131), forest above Mesa Bolívar (8.467° N, 71.614° W), 1300 m a.s.l., 12 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Táchira • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 22091), and 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 juvs in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-118), SE Pregonero, forest near La Trampa (7.9236° N, 71.7152° W), 1300 m a.s.l., 10 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Trujillo • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 22092), and 2 ♀♀, 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-207), near Boconó, Laguna Negra (9.3054° N, 70.1752° W), 1870 m a.s.l., 21 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 3 juvs, ZFMK (Ar 22093–94), and 2 ♀♀, 2 juvs in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-215), between Boconó and Burbusay (9.3945° N, 70.2674° W), 1820 m a.s.l., 22 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.). – Lara • 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 2 juvs, ZFMK (Ar 22095), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven02/100-58), Yacambú National Park , Sendero Ecológico (9.708° N, 69.583° W), ~1550 m a.s.l., 15–16 Dec. 2002 (B.A. Huber, A. Pérez González, O. Villarreal, B. Striffler, A. Giupponi) • 3 juvs in pure ethanol (identity confirmed by CO1 data), ZFMK (Ven18-205), between Barquisimeto and Boconó (9.5906° N, 69.8343° W), 1370 m a.s.l., 20 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) .

Redescription (amendments; see González-Sponga 1999 and Huber 2000)

Eye measurements in male from near Escaguey: distance PME–PME 340 µm; diameter PME 230 µm; distance PME–ALE 230 µm; diameter AME 80 µm; distance AME–AME 60 µm. ALE and PLE larger than PME (diameter ALE 310 µm). All specimens with pair of brown marks (sometimes touching medially) ventrally on abdomen anterior of spinnerets. Male ocular area without hump on posterior side. Thoracic furrow deep, reaching posterior carapace margin. Male (but not female) chelicerae with distinct white area laterally, bordered distally by sclerotized rim. Posterior margin of sternum in males and females slightly indented (but not as strongly as in P. lagunosa González-Sponga, 1999 females). Femur-patella joints in male palp in dorsal position (i.e., not shifted toward one side). Procursus ( Figs 808–810 ) with distinctive bifid apophysis distally, dorsal part strongly curved toward prolateral. One or both parts of bifid apophysis broken in some males. Genital bulb ( Figs 811–813 ) with small proximal sclerite connecting to tarsus, strong main apophysis with dorsal sclerotized ridge, with large whitish area ventrally between strong ventral proximal sclerite and main apophysis. Legs with more than usual short vertical hairs (but not in high density). Prolateral trichobothrium present on all leg tibiae. Tibia 1 in 25 males (including the 4 ♂♂ in Huber 2000): 8.8–11.1 (mean 10.1).

Females also with curved hairs on all legs (femora, tibiae, metatarsi). Epigynum ( Figs 806–807 , 820 ) large oval plate slightly bulging, with small anterior extensions, short posterior plate widened laterally. Internal genitalia ( Figs 818 , 821–822 ) simple, with pair of large pore plates and distinctive pair of partly sclerotized lateral posterior elements (asterisk in Fig. 818 ). Tibia 1 in 28 females: 6.8–8.9 (mean 7.6).

Distribution

Known from several localities in the Venezuelan states Mérida, Táchira, Trujillo, and Lara (Fig. 1060). All localities are at about 1300–2700 m a.s.l.

Natural history

Near Escaguey, the spiders were found in a disturbed forest, in large almost flat webs that transformed into a funnel that led into some hole or crevice in a rock, log, or fern thicket. At Mucuy, the species was abundant both in large webs near the ground leading into hollow trees or logs, and (at higher elevation) in large bromeliads about 1–2 m above the ground (Fig. 1027; together with Mecolaesthus mucuy Huber, 2000 ). In El Valle, the species was collected both in a very pristine environment (cloud forest) and along the paved road outside the forest, under overhangs (the kind of habitat also described for the type specimens; González-Sponga 1999). At Laguna Negra, the spiders were found in sheet webs that transformed into funnels leading into dense organic material on a live tree-trunk (exactly the same microhabitat as the smaller Priscula lagunosa González-Sponga, 1999 in the same locality). Between Boconó and Burbusay the spiders were collected among roots and under overhangs, from weakly domed webs that transformed into funnels. In Yacambú, the spiders were found along the trail in sheet webs that transformed into funnels that led back and up into the ground and under logs. Between Tovar and Guaraque the species seemed to be abundant (judging by the webs at the rock walls) but the spiders were mostly hidden deep in rock crevices and difficult to collect. At Mesa Bolívar, the spiders were found ~ 1–2 m above the ground, in large webs funneling into a retreat, while the syntopic P. bolivari Huber sp. nov. lived in holes and cavities in the ground. At La Trampa, adult specimens lived in the typical large webs that transformed into funnels leading into shelters, while juveniles were lighter and more exposed, sometimes even on the undersides of live leaves.

Some epigynal plates with pair of small perforations, possibly resulting from the male cheliceral apophyses during mating. Egg sacs large, relatively densely covered by silk ( Fig. 798 ), in one case with approximately 50 eggs.

Figures

Figs 796–803. Priscula Simon, 1893; live specimens. 796–799. P. andinensis González-Sponga, 1999; male and female from Mérida, Mucuy (796, 797), female with egg sac from Trujillo, between Boconó and Burbusay (798), light juvenile from Lara, between Barquisimeto and Boconó (799, ZFMK Ven18-205). 800–801. P. piedraensis González-Sponga, 1999; females from Mérida, Las Piedras. 802–803. P. piapoco Huber, 2000; females with egg sacs from Mérida, La Carbonera.

Figs 804–807. Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1999; types from Mérida, La Azulita (MIZA 105738; MAGS 955). 804–805. Left male pedipalp, prolateral and retrolateral views (arrow: distinctive ventral protrusion of procursus; compare Fig. 815). 806–807. Epigynum, ventral and lateral views. Scale lines: 1 mm.

Figs 808–813. Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1999; from Mérida, Mucuy (ZFMK Ar 22084). 808–810. Left procursus, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. 811–813. Left genital bulb, dorsal, retrolateral, and ventral views. Scale lines: 1 mm.

Figs 818–819. Priscula Simon, 1893; cleared female genitalia, dorsal views (asterisks: distinctive lateral posterior elements). 818. P. andinensis González-Sponga, 1999; from Mérida, Mucuy (ZFMK Ar 22085). 819. P. piapoco Huber, 2000; from Mérida, La Carbonera (type locality; ZFMK Ar 22098). Scale lines: 1 mm.

Figs 820–828. Priscula Simon, 1893; epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. 820–822. P. andinensis González-Sponga, 1999; from Mérida, Mucuy (ZFMK Ar 22085). 823–825. P. piedraensis González-Sponga, 1999; from Mérida, Las Piedras (type locality; ZFMK Ar 22096). 826–828. P. piapoco Huber, 2000; from Mérida, La Carbonera (type locality; ZFMK Ar 22098).