Psechrus libelti Kulczy

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 21-24

Psechrus libelti Kulczy ń ski, 1908, stat. nov.

Figs 5a–e , 6a–e , 82a , 84b–c , 87b , 90b

Psechrus libeltii Kulczy ṅski 1908: 561, pl. 23, fig. 31 (Description and illustration of ♀). [Syntypes: 2 ♀♀ (light one SB 337, dark one SB 338), 2 s.a. ♂ (the one just before final moult SB 339, other one SB 340), all from INDONESIA: Sumatra, Sumatera Selatan Province: Palembang; Dr. S. Libelt leg. before 1908; 46/51U; MIZ, all type material examined]. Berland and Berland 1914: 133. Hogg 1914: 56; 1915: 436. Fage 1929: 360. Reimoser 1929: 132. Lehtinen 1967: 261. Levi 1982: 125 (Syn. with P. singaporensis , rejected).

Psechrus argentatus — Simon 1901: 47, misidentified.

Psechrus libelti — Bonnet 1958: 3804 (Emendation). Platnick 1989: 428.

Psechrus singaporensis — Levi 1982: 125, figs 40–53, ad part, figs 42–43, 48–53 misidentified (figs 48–51: illustration of ♀♀). Jocque and Dippenaar-Schoeman 2006: 219, figs 86a–f (Illustration of ♂ and ♀, misidentified).

Additional material examined (2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀). THAILAND: Phuket Province: Phuket, Ton Sai waterfall, N 8°01', E 98°25', forest ; M. Andersen, O. Martin & N. Scharff leg. 12.X.1991; 1 ♀ ( SB 611 ), ZMUC 4537 . Songkhla Province: Hat Yai, Khao Khor Hong, small mountainous area behind Prince of Song Khla University campus, ca. N 7°00'30'', E 100°30'40'', ca. 140 m ; B. Phongsee leg. 15.IX.2005; 1 ♂ ( SB203 , deformed, presumably died immediately after final moult), SMF . MALAYSIA: Pahang Province: No further details ; Coll. Sherriffs; Tilg. 27-9-1962; 1 ♀ ( SB 1004 ), ZMUC 5726. Selangor Province: Templer’s Park, secondary forest, under roof of hut; C.L. Deeleman leg. 03.XII.1990; 1 ♀ ( SB130 ) , Deeleman Coll. in RMNH. Borneo : Sabah Province: Danum Valley (ca. 70 km W of Lahad Datu), ca. N 5°02', S 117°45', primary lowland rainforest; [observation no. 905] ; P. Koomen leg. 13. IV.2003; 1 ♀ ( SB 1141 , checked via photos of dorsal and ventral habitus and epigyne kindly provided by Peter Koomen ), [Photos were made in the field, specimen was released afterwards] . INDONESIA: Sumatra: ‘ Kouan Dam’ ; Burbon leg. 1913–1916; 1 ♀ ( SB 330 ), MNHN AR20193 . Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province: Gunung Leuser National Park , in tunnel next to cacao plantation ; P.R. & C.L. Deeleman leg. 03.I.1984; 1 ♀ ( SB 109 ), Deeleman Coll. in RMNH . Sumatera Barat Province: Mentawei Islands, Sipora ; Coll. Roewer; C.F. Roewer det.; 1 ♀ ( SB 87 ), SMF 2565 . BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: Tutong District: Tasek Merimbum Heritage Park, area C1, 45 km W of Bandar Seri Bagawan , N 4°35'39'', E 114°40'25'', 30 m, secondary peat forest ; C. Griswold & J.K.H. Koh leg. 13.–14.X.2009, at night; TM 002 ; 1 ♀ ( SB 969 ), CAS 9036347.

Doubtful locality: INDIA? [sic; Remark: If really India, then Nicobar Islands; Up to now representatives of argentatus -group have never been recorded in (continental-) India or on Sri Lanka]; Hassan leg.; 1 ♂ ( SB 612 ), ZMUC 5720 .

Doubtful material examined. MALAYSIA: Borneo: Sarawak Province: Gunung Pueh ( Mt. Poi ); E. Mjöberg leg. 1920–1925; 1 juv. ( SB 1160 ), AMNH . PHILIPPINES: Palawan Province: Balabac Island; Dalawan Bay; ‘ Noona Dan Expedition 61–62’, leg. 09.X.1961; 1 ♂ ( SB 1006 ), ZMUC 5723 .

Revised diagnosis. Males and females similar to P. argentatus ( Doleschall, 1857) (see diagnostic character states described for argentatus -group above). Males with conductor (C) more than half as long as embolus (E) ( Figs 6b–d ). Females with median septum (MS) almost as long as broad and with continuous lateral margins ( Figs 5a–b ). Epigynal field (EF) less than three times longer than MS.

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 4.8–6.9, carapace width 3.5–5.2, anterior width of carapace 2.2–3.5, opisthosoma length 5.7–10.2, opisthosoma width 1.7–3.3. Eyes: AME 0.31–0.47, ALE 0.33–0.45, PME 0.33–0.45, PLE 0.32–0.45, AME–AME 0.17–0.24, AME–ALE 0.06–0.14, PME–PME 0.19–0.27, PME–PLE 0.27–0.31, AME–PME 0.44–0.46, ALE–PLE 0.41–0.43, clypeus height at AME 0.84–0.86, clypeus height at ALE 0.68–0.77.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423 or 1243. Palp 8.2–9.0 [2.7–3.0, 1.1–1.3, 1.1–1.2, 3.3–3.5], I 68.0–81.0 [17.8–20.9, 2.7–3.3, 18.0–21.3, 20.7–25.4, 8.8–10.1], II 46.9–56.7 [11.9–15.6, 2.4–2.9, 12.1–14.3, 13.8–16.9, 6.7–7.0], III 29.9–36.1 [8.5–10.4, 1.7–2.1, 7.3–8.8, 8.5–10.3, 3.9–4.5], IV 47.5–55.5 [12.0–13.7, 2.0–2.6, 12.0–13.9, 14.4–17.2, 7.1–8.1].

Spination. Palp: 131 (141), 110, 1101; legs: femur I 667 (878), II 767 (766) III 545 (656), IV 655 (665); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3036 (3038), III 3134 (3136), IV 3036 (3136); metatarsus I 3037 (3035), II–III 3035, IV 3034. Palpal femur modified with ventral extension. The latter rather pointed ( Fig. 6e ).

Copulatory organ. As in diagnosis and general description for argentatus -group.

Female:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.3–9.2, carapace width 4.1–6.5, anterior width of carapace 2.3–3.9, opisthosoma length 8.1–15.9, opisthosoma width 3.5–7.7. Eyes: AME 0.41–0.46, ALE 0.41–0.50, PME 0.43–0.50, PLE 0.42–0.50, AME–AME 0.27–0.37, AME–ALE 0.07–0.14, PME–PME 0.32–0.37, PME–PLE 0.30–0.52, AME–PME 0.46–0.71, ALE–PLE 0.47–0.71, clypeus height at AME 0.94–1.78, clypeus height at ALE 0.78–1.49.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 8.1–11.0 [2.8–3.9, 1.1–1.5, 1.5–2.0, 2.7–3.6]; Legs: I 54.5–69.6 [14.5–18.9, 2.9–4.1, 15.2–19.6, 15.2–19.5, 6.7–7.5], II 38.2–49.5 [10.8–14.4, 2.6–3.5, 10.3–12.8, 10.4–13.4, 4.1–5.4], III 25.8–34.2 [7.4–10.3, 1.8–2.7, 6.4–8.5, 7.0–8.8, 3.2–3.9], IV 39.1–52.2 [11.2–15.0, 2.3–3.2, 10.3–13.6, 10.8–14.2, 4.5–6.2].

Palpal claw with 12–14 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 141 (rarely 131), 110, 1101, 1014; legs (—except for patella— variable, only most common states noted): femur I 768 (667), II 767 (777) III 656 (756), IV 765 (856); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3036, III 3134 (3136,3035), IV 3034 (3134); metatarsus I 3035, II 3035 (3037), III 3035, IV 3034 (3035).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of argentatus -group). Lateral margins of MS converging anteriorly ( Figs 5a–b , 87b ). Slit sense organs (SO) may be within or outside EF, epigynal muscle sigilla generally associated with EF.

Colouration of male and female. See description for argentatus -group and Psechrus .

Variation of copulatory organs. Males: No statement possible, because only two individuals have been examined. One of which with deformed tegulum (T). In females the shape of MS varies. In some specimens the lateral margins are slightly more curved ( Fig. 5b ). Further, in some specimens the spermathecae and the lateral parts of CD are shifted somewhat in dorsal direction ( Fig. 5e ). Directions of SH may differ slightly ( Figs 5c,e , 90b ).

Remarks: The two adult males (SB 203, SB 612) examined herein were assigned to P. libelti because their palps show the same diagnostic character states as the subadult male syntype SB 339. This latter specimen must have been collected just a few hours before adult moult. The bulb structures, including the long C, are visible through the cuticle ( Fig. 84b ).

This species is removed from synonymy with P. singaporensis Thorell, 1894 because it shows clear differences in copulatory organs, which indicate that it does not even belong to the same species-group (singaporensis-), but to the argentatus -group. Levi (1982) synonymised this species with P. singaporensis , possibly based his decision on cursory similarities of MS of both species. He in fact illustrated the clear differences in vulvae (figs 44, 46 cf. figs 48, 50), but misinterpreted them. He probably had overseen the bulb structures of the s.a. male syntype (SB 339) visible through the cuticle, which additionally indicate that this species is more closely related to P. argentatus than to P. singaporensis . In the paragraph of his note concerning the synonymy he states that his decision “may be wrong” and that the females in his figs 48–51 “possibly belong to P. argentatus ” ( Levi 1982) .

The male from Balabac, Philippines (SB 1006, details see above) has a distinctly shorter cymbium (in relation to T) than the other males (and the males of argentatus examined herein). Its C is only slightly more than half as long as E. As long as there are no females available from that island, the identification of this specimen remains doubtful.

Distribution. Thailand [Southern part], Malaysia, Indonesia [Sumatra], Brunei Darussalam ( Figs 99–100 ).

Figures

FIGURES 5a–e. Psechrus libelti, ♀ syntypes from Indonesia, Sumatera Selatan Prov. a, c–d ♀ SB 338. b, e ♀ SB 337. a–b Epigyne, ventral view. c, e Vulva, dorsal view. d Schematic course of internal duct system.

FIGURES 6a–e. Psechrus libelti, ♂ palp and palpal femur. a–c, e ♂ SB 612 from India?, Nicobar Islands? d ♂ SB 203 from Thailand, Songkhla Prov. a–d ♂ palp (a prolateral, b, d ventral, c retrolateral view). e ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view. Remark: In Fig. 6d tegulum deformed (specimen presumably died directly after final moult).

FIGURES 82a–r. Psechrus spp., photos of carapace (a–g), sternum (h–k) and ventral view of coxae of legs I–II (l-r). a P. libelti. b P. khammouan. c P. kenting. d P.fuscaisp. nov. e P. ghecuanus. f P.elachys sp. nov. g, k P. tauricornis sp. nov. h, o P. antraeus. i P. annulatus. j, p P.hartmanni sp. nov., l P. himalayanus, m P. ancoralis, n P.mulu, q P. senoculatus, r P. marsyandi. a ♀ SB 969 from Brunei Darussalam. b ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. c ♀ holotype SB 615 from Taiwan, Pingtung County. d ♀ holotype SB 954 from China, Yunnan Prov. e s.a. ♀ syntype SB 222 from Myanmar, Kayin Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 861 from Thailand, Satun Prov. g ♀ paratype SB 849, k juv. SB 851, both from Sri Lanka, Central Prov. h ♀ holotype SB 8 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. i ♀ paralectotype SB 830 from Indonesia, Jawa Barat Prov. j ♀ SB 630 from Sri Lanka. l ♂ lectotype SB 14 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. m ♂ paratype SB 26 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. n ♂ paratype SB 241 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. o ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. p ♂ SB 624 from Sri Lanka. q ♂ paratype SB 537 from China, Hunan Prov. r ♂ holotype from Nepal, Gandaki Prov.

FIGURES 84a–i. Psechrus spp., photos of left ♂ palp, ventral view. a P. argentatus. b–c P. libelti. d P. kinabalu. e P.mulu. f P. ulcus sp. nov. g P. decollatus sp. nov. h P. singaporensis. i P.elachys sp. nov. a ♂ SB 1107 from Papua New Guinea. b s.a. ♂ syntype SB 339 from Indonesia, Sumatera Selatan Prov. c ♂ SB 203 from Thailand, Song Khla Prov. d ♂ holotype SB 237 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah Prov. e ♂ holotype SB 242 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. f ♂ holotype SB 141 from Indonesia, Kalimantan Selatan Prov. g ♂ paratype SB 857 from Indonesia, Jawa Timur Prov. h ♂ SB 507 (syntype of P. curvipalpis) from Malaysia, Selangor Prov. i ♂ paratype SB 862 from Thailand, Satun Prov.

FIGURES 87a–k. Psechrus spp., photos of epigyne, ventral view. a P. argentatus. b P. libelti. c P. mulu. d P. borneo. e P. annulatus. f P. aluco sp. nov. g P. decollatus sp. nov. h P. singaporensis. i P. elachys sp. nov. j P.norops sp. nov. k P. arcuatus sp. nov. a ♀ SB 608 from Indonesia, Maluku Prov. b ♀ SB 969 from Brunei Darussalam. c ♀ paratype SB 239 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. d ♀ holotype SB 279 from Indonesia, Kalimantan Timur Prov. e ♀ lectotype SB 829 from Indonesia, Jawa Tengah Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 123 from Indonesia, Jawa Barat Prov. g ♀ holotype SB 501 from Indonesia, Jawa Timur Prov. h ♀ SB 864 from Malaysia, Selangor Prov. i ♀ holotype SB 861 from Thailand, Satun Prov. j ♀ holotype SB 860 from Malaysia, Pahang Prov. k ♀ holotype SB 333 from Indonesia, Sumatera Barat Prov.

FIGURES 90a–k. Psechrus spp., photos of vulva, dorsal view. a P. argentatus. b P. libelti. c P. mulu. d P. borneo. e P. annulatus. f P. aluco sp. nov. g P. decollatus sp. nov. h P. singaporensis. i P. elachys sp. nov. j P.norops sp. nov. k P. arcuatus sp. nov. a ♀ SB 551 from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov. b ♀ SB 87 from Indonesia, Sumatra, Mentawei Islds. c ♀ SB 253 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. d ♀ holotype SB 279 from Indonesia, Kalimantan Timur Prov. e ♀ lectotype SB 829 from Indonesia, Jawa Tengah Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 123 from Indonesia, Jawa Barat Prov. g ♀ holotype SB 501 from Indonesia, Jawa Timur Prov. h ♀ SB 220 from Singapore. i ♀ holotype SB 861 from Thailand, Satun Prov. j ♀ holotype SB 860 from Malaysia, Pahang Prov. k ♀ holotype SB 333 from Indonesia, Sumatera Barat Prov.

FIGURE 99. Distribution of Psechrus in western Malaysia and Sumatra. Symbols: species belonging to the singaporensis- group. Arrow: Distribution of P. libelti (argentatus-group).

FIGURE 100. Distribution of Psechrus in eastern Malaysia and central Indonesia. Symbols (unicoloured): species belonging to the annulatus-group. Symbols (black, filled with light colour): species belonging to the mulu-group. Arrows: species belonging to the argentatus-group.