Fecenia protensa Thorell, 1891

Malamel, Jobi J., Pradeep, Moothedathu S. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2013, Fecenia travancoria Pocock is recognised as a junior synonym of Fecenia protensa Thorell (Araneae: Psechridae): A case of intraspecific variation, Zootaxa 3741 (3), pp. 359-368 : 360-365

Fecenia protensa Thorell, 1891

Fecenia protensa Thorell, 1891: 31 (Description of immature ♀). Levi 1982: 136 (Synonymy with F. macilenta ). Bayer 2011: 29 (Description and illustration of ♂ and ♀, removed from synonymy with F. macilenta ).

Fecenia travancoria Pocock, 1899: 750 (Description of ♀). Lehtinen 1967: 234 (Synonymy with F. macilenta ). Murphy 1986: 65 (Removed from synonymy with F. macilenta ). Sebastian and Peter 2009: 277 (Description of ♀). Bayer 2011: 36 (Description and illustration of ♀). New synonymy.

Fecenia sumatrana Kulczyński, 1908: 568 , pl. 23, fig. 20 (Description and illustration of ♀). Lehtinen 1967: 234 (Synonymy with F. macilenta ). Murphy 1986: 65 (Removed from synonymy with F. macilenta , Synonymy with F. travancoria ). Bayer 2011: 30 (Removed from synonymy with F. travancoria , Synonymy with F. protensa ).

Psechrus nicobarensis Tikader, 1977: 208 , fig. 27A–E (Description and illustration of ♂ and ♀). Bayer 2011: 31 (Synonymy with F. protensa ).

Fecenia nicobarensis —Levi 1982: 138 (Transfer from Psechrus ). Bayer 2011: 31 (Synonymy with F. protensa , see above).

Fecenia macilenta —Levi 1982: 136, figs 83–87, ad part, figs 83, 86–87 misidentified (figs 83, 86–87: Illustration of s.a. ♀ and ♀).

Material examined: (DASHC 821105) - 5 adult males: India, Kerala, Kottayam, Kumarakom bird sanctuary (9o37'35''– 9o37'60''N and 76o25'5''– 76o26'44''E), 1600 m alt., Jobi J. Malamel leg. 30. June. 2013, by hand; (DASHC 821205): 4 subadult males, same data as for male specimens; (DASHC 821305): 4 adult females, same data as for male specimens.

Description. MALE: ( Fig. 1 ). Body length 9.12–10.14 mm. Prosoma length 3.11–3.71 mm, prosoma width 2.98–3.12. Opisthosoma length 6.01–6.42 mm, opisthosoma width 2.60–2.84. Eyes diameter: AME 0.24–0.28 mm. ALE 0.12–0.13 mm. PME 0.17–0.19 mm. PLE 0.11–0.13 mm. Eye interdistance: AME–AME 0.16–0.18 mm. PME–PME 0.22–0.24 mm. AME–ALE 0.97– 0.10 mm. ALE–PLE 0.01–0.03 mm. PME–PLE 0.19–0.21 mm. AME–PME 0.13–0.14 mm. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.25–0.28 mm. Measurements of palp and legs. Palp 4.97– 5.27 [1.99–2.11, 0.83–0.87, 0.54–0.59, 1.61–1.70], I 32.44–38.76 [11.82–13.65, 1.98–2.01, 11.70–13.84, 4.82– 6.03, 2.12–3.23], II 19.51–23.6 [5.58–6.65, 1.22–1. 70, 5.76–6.81, 4.98–5.53, 1.97–2.91], III 8.91–12.82 [2.19– 3.03, 1.02–1.36, 2.2–3.32, 2.36–3.30, 1.14–1.81], IV 16.89–20.72 [5.18–6.34, 1.19–1.51, 5.02–6.16, 3.28–3.98, 2.22–2. 73]. Leg formula: 1243. Spination. Palp: 0 0 0 0, 0 0 0 0, 0000; legs: femur I 0 0 0 0 (right: 1000), II 0 0 0 0, III 0 0 0 0, IV 0000; patellae I–IV 0000; tibia I 0 0 0 0 (right: 0200), II 0 0 0 0 (right: 0100), III–IV 0000; metatarsi I–II 0 601, III 0 300 (right: 1400), IV 0501; tarsi I–IV 0 0 0 0. Copulatory organ ( Figs 2–3 ): conductor membranous and transparent with expanded distal portion and narrow proximal part; the arising point of conductor is at 12’o clock position, while its tip directed at 1’o clock position. Median apophysis large with a small distinct bulge at its proximal third; median apophysis arises more or less centrally, its distal portion curved prolaterally to touch the distal part of the conductor. Embolus long and narrow (almost filiform) and with semi-circular course; distal portions of embolus and MA lie confronting each other; membranous process of tegulum with wavy- inner margin and wide middle portion; retrolateral tibial apophysis stout and somewhat club-shaped, lies near the basal part of cymbium; ventral patellar apophysis finger shaped and originates from the proximal part of patella; retrolateral patellar apophysis is short.

FEMALE: (For description of female, see Bayer 2011; Photos and illustrations of the female copulatory organ of specimens from Kumarakom, Kerala Province, are provided herein, see Figs 4–5 ).

Intraspecific variation. In the present study five males ( Figs 6–10 ) and four females ( Figs 11–14 ) of F. travancoria (= F. protensa , see above) collected from the Kumarakom bird sanctuary were examined. It was found that the copulatory organs of all the observed male and female specimens showed some morphological variations. The male copulatory organs showed minimal differences in the size and shape of cymbium, the degree of curvature and direction of median apophysis as well as its size and shape and the direction of embolus tip; size and direction of VPA varied slightly, size of RPA varied a little more. The epigynes and vulvae differed in size and shape of AS and PS, size of AML, size and direction of copulatory duct. However, all these fine morphological differences are recognised as intraspecific variation existing within this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Fecenia protensa Thorell. Male habitus, lateral view.

FIGURES 2 a – c: Fecenia protensa Thorell. Left male palp. 2 a ventral view; 2 b prolateral view; 2 c retrolateral view.

FIGURES 3 a – 3 c: Fecenia protensa Thorell. Left male palp. 3 a ventral view; 3 b prolateral view; 3 c retrolateral view. C = Conductor; E = Embolus; MA = Median apophysis; MP = Membranous process of tegulum; RPA = Retrolateral patellar apophysis; RTA = Retrolateral tibial apophysis; T = Tegulum; VPA = Ventral patellar apophysis. Scale bars: 3 a – 3 c, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 4 a – 4 b: Fecenia protensa Thorell. Female copulatory organ. 4 a Epigyne, 4 b Internal duct system.

FIGURES 5 a – 5 b: Fecenia protensa Thorell. Female copulatory organ. 5 a Epigyne, 5 b Internal duct system. AML = Anterior margin of lateral lobe; AS = Anterior part of median septum; EM = Epigynal muscle sigilla; FD = Fertilization duct; LL = Lateral lobe of epigyne; PS = Posterior part of median septum; SH = Spermathecal head-area; SO = Slit sense organ; SSI = Strongly sclerotised section of internal duct system; TR = Transversal edge / ridge of median septum. Scale bars: 5 a – 5 b, 0.06 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 10: Fecenia protensa Thorell. Left male palps of five specimens in order to illustrate intraspecific variation.

FIGURES 11 – 14. Fecenia protensa Thorell. Female copulatory organs of four specimens in order to illustrate intraspecific variation. Left side: epigynes; Right side: internal duct systems.