Malayathele cameronensis Schwendinger, 2020

Schwendinger, Peter J., Lehmann-Graber, Christina, Hongpadharakiree, Komson & Syuhadah, Nurul, 2020, New euagrid spider species from Thailand and Malaysia, and new localities of Leptothele bencha (Arachnida: Araneae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 423-453 : 441-442

Malayathele cameronensis Schwendinger , sp. nov.

Figs 10-11

Holotype: MHNG; male; MALAYSIA, Pahang, Cameron Highlands, near Tanah Rata , Gunung Jasar , 4°28.4-28.7’N, 101°21.6-22.1’E, 1470-1700 m; 18.IV.- 11.V.2009; leg. P. Banar.

Allotype: MHNG; 1 female; same collecting data as for holotype.

Other material: MHNG; 2 juveniles; collected together with the types .

Etymology: The species epithet is a Latinised adjective referring to the type locality of this species.

Diagnosis: Male distinguished from those of the other three congeneric species by the presence of a corkscrew-shaped embolus ( Fig. 11 A-D) and of a keelshaped retroventral process on metatarsus II ( Fig. 11 G- J), tibia I with only two ventral spines ( Fig. 11 E-F); additionally distinguished from males of M. ulu sp. nov. by the presence of two (instead of one) ventral processes on metatarsus II ( Fig. 11 G-J cf. Fig. 8 I-J), and from males of M. kanching sp. nov. by a series of bristles (instead of a single spine) retroventrallydistally on patella I ( Fig. 11F cf. Fig. 15E ). Female distinguished from those of all other congeners by possessing very wide spermathecal trunks with reduced, boss-like lateral receptacles and with strongly convoluted, quite wide and strongly sclerotised stalks of the median receptacles ( Fig. 11K ); additionally distinguished from females of M. maculosa sp. nov. (and to a lesser extent also of M. kanching sp. nov.) by the lack of a dark colour pattern on the opisthosoma.

Description: MALE (holotype). Colour in alcohol mostly light brown; sternum and opisthosoma (including spinnerets) lighter; palpal organ and cheliceral claws darker; eye mound black.

Body 3.13 long. Carapace 1.46 long, 1.18 wide, oval, thoracic part equally high as cephalic part; few hairs present (many abraded during sieving from leaf litter), a few stronger ones in front of eye mound and in two paramedian rows behind it; pits of two bristles in front of pitlike fovea. Eyes on low mound; eye group 0.20 long, anterior eye row slightly procurved, 0.29 wide, posterior eye row moderately recurved, 0.32 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.14, PME 0.09, PLE 0.11; AME-AME 0.02, PME-PME 0.05. MOQ 0.12 long, 0.10 wide anteriorly, 0.20 posteriorly.

Chelicerae weak, grooves with over 10 teeth on promargin (not all visible). Palpal coxae 0.40 long, 0.26 wide. Labium 0.10 long, 0.29 wide. Sternum 0.84 long, 0.78 wide.

Palps ( Fig. 11 A-D). Total length 2.05 (0.71 + 0.46 + 0.53 + 0.35). Several long strong bristles dorsally and ventrally on all articles, especially on femur and tibia; tarsus with 2 dorsodistal spines, plus one short and rather indistinct (in comparison with males of other congeners) strong bristle prolaterally-distally and retrolaterallydistally. Palpal organ with corkscrew-shaped embolus.

Legs 3214. Leg I 3.97 long (1.14 + 0.69 + 0.83 + 0.75 + 0.56); leg II 3.51 long (1.05 + 0.63 + 0.65 + 0.68 + 0.50); leg III 3.46 long (0.98 + 0.54 + 0.65 + 0.78 + 0.51); leg IV 4.68 long (1.25 + 0.69 + 0.98 + 1.11 + 0.65). Tarsi not pseudosegmented and without spines; with a few scopuliform hairs in distal portion of anterior legs ( Fig. 10 C-E). Metatarsal preening combs on legs II-IV. Leg I: Tibia carrying only 2 ventral spines plus 5 strong ventral bristles ( Fig. 11 E-F; one spine fallen off on left tibia, Fig. 10A ). Femur with quite short band of hooked spinules retrodorsally ( Fig. 10A ). Leg II: Metatarsus with two small ventral processes, the retroventral one a low, short longitudinal keel situated subproximally, the proventral one a small cone situated more distally ( Figs 10B , 11 G-J). Tibia with a low ventral spur carrying a single megaspine plus a long strong ventral bristle more proximally; a series of fine transversal wrinkles subdistally on ventral side ( Figs 10B , 11 G-J). Band of hooked spinules proventrally on femur II slightly longer than corresponding band on femur I but not reaching distal margin of article, the spinules more widely spaced ( Fig. 10B cf. Fig. 10A ).

Spines, trichobothria and claws of legs. All femora with numerous long strong bristles dorsally; I: tibia v2; metatarsus v1. II: tibia p2, v1 (megaspine); metatarsus v1. III: patella d1, r1; tibia d2, p2, r2, v4; metatarsus d4, p2, v2. IV: patella d1, r1; tibia d2, p2, r2, v4; metatarsus d5, p1, r1, v3. Trichobothria not counted (difficult to see). Paired tarsal claws with 6-8 teeth on anterior legs, 4-5 on posterior legs; unpaired tarsal claws with 2-3 teeth.

Opisthosoma 1.38 long, 0.95 wide; most hairs abraded, some long dark bristles remaining on anterior margin. PMS 0.26 long, 0.09 wide in the middle, separated from each other by 0.23. PLS 1.28 long (proximal article 0.48 long and 0.18 wide, median article 0.36 long and 0.14 wide, distal article 0.44 long and 0.09 wide in the middle), separated from each other by 0.40.

FEMALE (allotype). Colour in alcohol as in male; no dark colour pattern on opisthosoma discernible.

Body 3.20 long. Carapace 1.38 long, 1.15 wide; thoracic part at same level as cephalic part; only few hairs present (abraded during sieving?), a few stronger ones in front of eye mound and in two paramedian rows behind it; a distinct pit of a single bristle in front of pitlike fovea. Eye group 0.16 long, anterior eye row essentially straight, 0.24 wide, posterior eye row moderately recurved, 0.26 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.12, PME 0.08, PLE 0.09; AME-AME 0.03, PME- PME 0.05. MOQ 0.09 long, 0.08 wide anteriorly, 0.17 posteriorly.

Chelicerae stronger than in male, grooves with 13 teeth on promargin. Palpal coxae 0.40 long, 0.26 wide. Labium 0.10 long, 0.29 wide. Sternum 0.79 long, 0.80 wide.

Palps. Total length 2.04 (0.69 + 0.40 + 0.44 + 0.51). No spines, but several long strong bristles dorsally and ventrally on all articles, especially on femur and tibia; tarsus with three strong bristles ventrally. Claws with about 12 teeth.

Legs 32(?)14. Leg I 3.24 long (0.95 + 0.60 + 0.64 + 0.60 + 0.45); leg II missing on both sides; leg III 2.89 long (0.84 + 0.49 + 0.51 + 0.61 + 0.44); leg IV 3.75 long (1.09 + 0.61 + 0.75 + 0.80 + 0.50). Tarsi not pseudosegmented and without spines; without scopuliform hairs. Metatarsal preening combs on legs (II?)III-IV.

Spines, trichobothria and claws of legs. All femora with numerous long strong bristles dorsally; I: metatarsus v2 (plus v2 strong bristles). II: missing. III: patella d2 r1; tibia d3, p2, r2, v4; metatarsus d4, p1, v3. IV: patella d1 r1; tibia d1/2, p2, r2, v5; metatarsus d4/5, p1, v5. Trichobothria not counted (difficult to see). Paired tarsal claws with about 8 teeth on anterior legs and 5 on posterior legs; unpaired tarsal claws with 2-3 teeth.

Opisthosoma 1.40 long, 1.10 wide. PMS 0.25 long, 0.09 wide in the middle, separated from each other by 0.24. PLS 1.29 long (proximal article 0.45 long and 0.16 wide, median article 0.44 long and 0.14 wide, distal article 0.40 long and 0.10 wide in the middle), separated from each other by 0.48.

Vulva with very wide spermathecal trunks; lateral receptacles strongly reduced, boss-like; median receptacles with wide, strongly sclerotised, quite wide and strongly convoluted stalks, these seemingly (to be confirmed when additional females become available) originating on dorsal side of spermathecal trunk ( Fig. 11K ; in all congeners on ventral or prolateral side).

Variation: The larger one of the two juveniles has two paramedian rows of relatively long bristles between the eye mound and the fovea. The rest of the carapace is only sparsely covered with fine hairs. This is probably the normal hair cover of this species.

Biology: The specimens examined were sieved from the leaf litter of a montane rain forest.

Distribution: Malayathele cameronensis sp. nov. is known only from the type locality, below the summit of Gunung Jasar in the Cameron Highlands. Surprisingly it occurs only a few kilometres away from localities where M. ulu sp. nov. was collected.

Figures

Fig. 10. Malayathele cameronensis sp. nov., male holotype. (A) Left leg I, retrolateral view; one ventral spine on tibia fallen off. (B) Left leg II, prolateral view. (C) Unpaired claw and scopuliform hairs of left leg II, prolateral view. (D) Ventrally bulged tarsus of left leg II, prolateral view. (E) Scopuliform hair on left tarsus II. Not to scale.

Fig. 11. Malayathele cameronensis sp. nov., male holotype (A-J) and female allotype (K). (A) Distal part of left palp, prolateral view. (B) Same, ventral view. (C) Distal part of right palp, proventral and slightly distal view. (D) Same, prolateral view. (E) Patella to metatarsus of right leg I, prolateral view. (F) Patella to tibia of right leg I, ventral view. (G) Patella to metatarsus of right leg II, prolateral view. (H) Same of left leg II, prolateral view. (I) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (J) Same of right leg II, ventral view. (K) Vulva, dorsal view. Arrows indicate keel-shaped retroventral process on metatarsus II. Scale lines 0.5 mm (A-J), 0.1 mm (K).

Fig. 8. Malayathele ulu sp. nov.; male paratype (A-B, J-K) and male holotype (C-I). (A, C) Distal part of left palp, prolateral view. (B, D) Same of right palp, prolateral view. (E) Distal part of left palp, ventral view. (F) Patella to metatarsus of right leg I, prolateral view. (G) Right tibia I, ventral view. (H) Patella to metatarsus of right leg II, prolateral view. (I) Same, retroventral view. (J) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (K) Same, prolateral view. Scale line 0.5 mm.

Fig. 15. Malayathele kanching sp. nov.; male holotype (A-B, D-G) and male paratype (C, H). (A) Distal part of right palp, ventral view. (B-C) Same of left palp, prolateral view. (D) Patella to metatarsus of left leg I, prolateral view. (E) Patella and tibia of left leg I, ventral view. (F) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (G-H) Same, prolateral view. Arrow indicates single spine retroventrally-distally on patella I. Scale line 0.5 mm.