Plebs yanbaruensis, (TANIKAWA, 2000), 2012

Joseph, Mathew M. & Framenau, Volker W., 2012, Systematic review of a new orb-weaving spider genus (Araneae: Araneidae), with special reference to the Australasian-Pacific and South-East Asian fauna, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (2), pp. 279-341 : 337

PLEBS YANBARUENSIS ( TANIKAWA, 2000)

COMB. NOV.

Eriophora yanbaruensis Tanikawa 2000: 26–28 , figs 9–10, 22–25; Tanikawa, 2007: 67, figs 144–149, 569–571; Tanikawa, 2009: 443, figs 149–151.

Types: Holotype: ♂ from Okinawa Prefecture ( Japan), near Benoki Dam , Okinawajima Island, 30.iii.1997, A. Tanikawa (NSMT-Ar 4427). Not examined . Paratypes: one ♂, same data as the holotype (NSMT-Ar 4433) ; two ♀, one ♂ from Okinawa Prefecture ( Japan), Oku , Okinawajima Island, 31.iii.1997, A. Tanikawa leg. (NSMT-Ar 4428) ; one ♂ from Okinawa Prefecture ( Japan), Yona , Okinawajima Island, 28.iii.1997, A. Tanikawa (NSMT-Ar 4429) ; two ♀, same locality, 8.iv.1998, T. Sasaki (NSMT-Ar 4430) ; one ♀ from Okinawa prefecture ( Japan), Mount Yonahadake , Okinawajima Island, 2.iv.1997, A. Tanikawa (NSMT-Ar 4431) ; one ♂ from Okinawa Prefecture ( Japan), U.S. Marine Corps Northern Training Area Section 11, Kunigami-son, Okinawajima Island, 2.iv.1997, T. Sasaki (NSMT-Ar 4432). Not examined. Material examined: Five males and nine females from eight records (Appendix S1).

Remarks: This species was only recently added to the genus Eriophora of the Japanese fauna ( Tanikawa, 2000). We have examined multiple males and females that all agree with our generic concept of Plebs . In addition, our phylogenetic analysis places this species in the Asian clade of Plebs and we therefore propose its transfer to Plebs , P. yanbaruensis ( Tanikawa, 2000) comb. nov.

Distribution: Japan ( Tanikawa, 2000).