Liphistius batuensis, Abraham, 1923

Peter J. Schwendinger, 2017, A revision of the trapdoor spider genus Liphistius (Mesothelae: Liphistiidae) in peninsular Malaysia; part 1, Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2), pp. 391-445 : 426

The batuensis -group

Diagnosis: Small to medium-sized spiders (carapace length of males 4.42-6.46, carapace width 4.02- 5.87). Distinguished from species of other groups by males with a strongly reduced proximal edge on the tegulum ( Figs 19H , 21B , 23I ) and with an elongated prodorsal-apical lobe on the cymbium ( Figs 19C , 21H , 23J ). Females similar to those of the linang -group in possessing a vulval plate with reduced pigmentation and sclerotisation, distinguished by a relatively wider vulval plate with the poreplate only partially connected to the large and wide posterior stalk or separated by a short distance ( Figs 20 , 22 , 24 ).

Species included: Liphistius batuensis , L. tempurung and L. priceae sp. nov.

Relationships: The reduced pigmentation and sclerotisation of the vulval plate and the reduced posterior edge of the tegulum point to a close relationship with the linang -group, but a loss or reduction is only a weak indication for common ancestry. At present the relationships of the batuensis - group with other groups are unclear, but there is strong morphological evidence for close relationship among the species of the batuensis -group. Moreover, all three species have a strong association with caves (much more so than in species of the tioman -group).

Distribution: Western and central part of peninsular Malaysia ( Fig. 1 , localities 15-18). All species are known exclusively from limestone caves.

Figures

Fig. 1. Localities of Liphistius species of the malayanus - group, tioman - group, linang - group and batuenis - group in peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand (coast of Sumatra omitted): 1 - Gunung Angsi (type locality of L. malayanus); 2 - Templer Park and Gua Anak Takun (L. malayanus, L. batuensis); 3 - Genting Highlands (L. malayanus); 4 - Fraser’s Hill (L. malayanus); 5 - Cameron Highlands (type locality of L. malayanus cameroni); 6 - Sungai Jasin in Endau Rompin National Park (type locality of L. endau); 7 - Gunung Belumut (L. endau); 8 - Gunung Muntahak (L. endau; type locality of L. gracilis sp. nov.); 9 - Sungai Rengit (type locality of L. johore); 10 - Gunung Kajang on Tioman Island (type locality of L. tioman); 11 - Gua Charas in Bukit Charas (type locality of L. panching); 12 - Nusa Camp in Taman Negara (type locality of L. negara sp. nov.); 13 - Jeram Linang Waterfall (type locality of L. linang sp. nov.); 14 - Sankalakhierie Mountains (type locality of L. indra); 15 - Batu Caves (type locality of L. batuensis); 16 - Gua Tempurung (type locality of L. tempurung); 17 - Gua Cicak (L. tempurung); 18 - Gua Keris (type locality of L. priceae sp. nov). Localities with conspecific populations are encircled. Colours distinguish species groups.

Fig. 19. Liphistius batuensis, details of left palp of two males from type locality: specimen collected 24. VII. 1969 (A-B, F, I), specimen matured 8. II. 2002 (C-E, G-H). (A) Distal part of palp (palpal organ not indicated), ventral view. (B) Paracymbium, retrolateral view. (C) Distal part of cymbium, prolateral view. (D) Palpal organ, distal view (dorsal side up; arrow indicating proventral angle at base of para-embolic plate). (E) Palpal organ, proventral view (arrow indicating same structure as in D). (F) Embolus complex, proventral view. (G) Palpal organ, retroventral and slightly proximal view (arrow indicating same structure as in D-E). (H) Same, retrodorsal view. (I) Same, prolateral view. Abbreviation: T - tegulum. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A, C; B) and 0.5 mm (D-I).

Fig. 20. Liphistius batuensis, vulval plate of five females from the type locality: exuvia, moult 24. I. 2002 (A-B); specimen SMF 13907 (C); exuvia, moult 12. VII. 2001 (D-E); specimen leg. XI. 1976 (F); exuvia, moult 13. I. 2002 (G-H). (A, C-D, F-G) Dorsal view. (B, E, H) Ventral view. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A-B, D-E, G-H; C, F).

Fig. 21. Liphistius tempurung, details of left palp of four males: specimen from type locality, matured 13. XI. 2005 (A-F, I); from Gua Cicak, matured 23. I. 2005 (G, J); from type locality, matured 26. IX. 2004 (H, K); from type locality, matured 25. IX. 2004 (L). (A) Cymbium and palpal organ, ventral view. (B) Palpal organ, retrodorsal and slightly distal view. (C) Distal margin of cymbium and palpal organ, prolateral view. (D) Paracymbium, retrolateral view. (E) Distal part of palpal tibia, ventral view. (F) Tibial apophysis, retrodorsal and slightly proximal view. (G) Same, retrolateral and slightly proximal view. (H) Distal part of cymbium, prolateral view. (I-L) Palpal organ, distal view (dorsal side up). Abbreviations: T - tegulum; vp - ventral process of contrategulum. Scale lines: 0.5 mm (A, D-G; B-C, H-L).

Fig. 22. Liphistius tempurung, details of copulatory organ and genital sternite of six females: Gua Cicak, specimen moulted 8. I. 2005 (A- B, N); Gua Tempurung, exuvia, moult 22. I. 2007 (C-D, M); Gua Tempurung, exuvia, moult 9. XII. 2004 (E-F); Gua Tempurung, exuvia, moult 21. X. 2004 (G-H); medium-sized female from Gua Cicak (I-J); small female from Gua Tempurung (K-L). (A, C, E, G, I, K) Vulval plate, dorsal view. (B, D, F, H) Same, ventral view. (J, L) Receptacular cluster, ventral view. (M-N) Posterior margin of genital sternite, ventral view. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A-D, I-L; E-H; M-N).

Fig. 23. Liphistius priceae sp. nov., details of palp of six males; holotype (A-D, H-K), male paratype collected mature (E), paratype matured 20. VII. 2004 (F), paratype matured 1. VIII. 2004 (G), paratype matured 18. IX. 2004 (L-M) and paratype matured 11. VIII. 2005 (N-O). (A) Left cymbium and palpal organ, ventral view. (B) Distal part of left tibia, ventral view. (C) Left paracymbium, retrolateral view. (D-E) Left palpal organ, distal view (dorsal side up). (F-G) Dorsal apex of contrategulum of right palpal organ, distal view (dorsal side to the left). (H) Distal part of left palpal organ, prolateral view. (I) Same, retrodorsal and slightly distal view. (J) Distal part of cymbium, prolateral view. (K-L, N) Left tibial apophysis, retrolateral and slightly proximal view. (M, O) Right tibial apophysis, same view. Abbreviations: T - tegulum; vp - ventral process of contrategulum. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A-C, K-O), 0.5 mm (D-I; J).

Fig. 24. Liphistius priceae sp. nov., vulval plate of four female paratypes (all from exuviae): paratype, moult 1. I. 2006 (A-B), allotype, moult 24. XI. 2004 (C-D), paratype, moult 13. XI. 2005 (E), paratype, moult 2. IV. 2005 (F). (A, C, E-F) Dorsal view. (B) Lateral view. (D) Ventral view. Scale lines: 0.5 mm (A-F).