Perania robusta Schwendinger, 1989

Schwendinger, Peter J., 2013, A taxonomic revision of the spider genus Perania Thorell, 1890 (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae: Pacullinae) with the descriptions of eight new species, Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (4), pp. 585-663 : 596-597

Perania robusta Schwendinger, 1989 Figs 2A-D, 36E

Perania robusta Schwendinger, 1989: 577-579 (description of male and female). – Lian, 2009: 31-33, figs 1-3 (description of male and female); Platnick, 2013 (listing).

HOLOTYPE: MHNG; Ƌ; Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Doi Angkhang (19°53’39”N, 99°02’28”E), 1450 m; 22.IV.1987; leg. P. J. Schwendinger.

PARATYPES: 2 Ƌ and 1 ♀; 22.IV.1987, 30.X.1987, otherwise same data as for holotype .

NEW MATERIAL EXAMINED: MHNG; 1 ♀ (25.VIII.1990), 2 Ƌ , 2 ♀, 1 juv. (2.XI.1990); same locality and altitude as for holotype; leg. P. J. Schwendinger.

DIAGNOSIS: See Schwendinger (1989: 677).

NEW CHARACTERS: Metatarsus I of males more strongly curved than in males of other species; axis of tarsus I not in line with axis of metatarsus I. Males and females with a broad band of proximally swollen, straight setae rising from ventral side of metatarsus I and metatarsus II (on the latter less pronounced) at an unusually acute angle. Anterior pair of ventrolateral plates in males free, not connected with pulmonary plate. Postgenital plate of males relatively large, with angular posterior margin, completely fused to pulmonary plate, both plates linked by a suture. This suture usually sclerotised, in one paratype only lightly sclerotised in a narrow zone behind gonopore; in one non-type male a small unsclerotised slit on the left side of the suture. Anterior opisthosomal plate and preanal plate of all females completely fragmented into isolated microplates. Apex of embolus shallow (only slightly deeper than median portion of embolus) and indistinctly bifid: subterminal lamella broadly truncate and ventraddirected, separated from short and triangular embolic part by a small indentation (Fig. 2B-C). Vulva with spermathecae separated by a wide unpigmented median zone (Fig. 2D). Spermathecae slightly bulged ventrally, with pores situated mostly in anterior portion, posterior portion (especially anteromedially) with very few or no pores. Ventral wall of genital atrium largely unpigmented apart from a short zone along posterior margin of genital orifice.

DISTRIBUTION: Originally described from northern Thailand, this species was later also recorded from Yunnan Province in southern China ( Lian, 2009; Fig. 1, localities 1-3). It most likely also occurs in Burmese territory between these localities. FIG. 2

Perania robusta (A-D), P. siamensis (E-G), P. nasuta (H-L) and P. nasicornis (M-P); new specimens (A-K; H-K from Doi Suthep) and paratypes (L-P). (A, E, H) Left chelicera of male, anterior view. (B, J) Apex of left embolus, retrolateral view. (C, F, I, M-N) Same, prolateral view. (D, G, L, P) Vulva, anterior view. (K, O) Same, ventral view. Abbreviations: a = atrium, ac = anterior collar, b = distolateral boss, dp = dorsal projection on embolic part of apex of palpal organ, ep = embolic part of apex of palpal organ, h = distolateral hump, sl = subterminal lamella, t = trench. Scale lines 1.0 mm (A, E, H), 0.5 mm (B-C, F, I-J, M-N; D, G, K-L, O-P).