Queliceria discrepantis González-Sponga, 2003: 98 On Venezuelan pholcid spiders (Araneae, Pholcidae) Huber, Bernhard A. Villarreal, Osvaldo European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 2020-10-01 718 1 317 99BX7 2974390 (Gonzalez-Sponga, 2003) Huber & Villarreal 2020 Gonzalez-Sponga 2003 [412,1039,659,686] Arachnida Pholcidae Mecolaesthus Animalia Araneae 96 97 Arthropoda species discrepantis comb. nov.   Figs 309–311, 321–330, 334–337, 1042      Queliceria discrepantis González-Sponga, 2003: 98, figs 4a–j (♂ ♀).    Diagnosis Easily distinguished from known congeners by armature of male chelicerae ( Fig. 329; pair of large frontal processes, each with subdistal ventral branch) and epigynum with pair of large pointed posterior processes ( Figs 334–337); also by two distinctive elements distally on procursus ( Figs 323–325) and genital bulb with distinctive prolateral distal apophysis and membranous distal elements ( Figs 326–328).     Typematerial    VENEZUELA–  Trujillo• 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, and 3 juvs(+ 3 ♀♀, misidentified) types(see Notes below), MIZA 105754( MAGS 1383), Boconó, Laguna Negra[approximately 9.305° N, 70.177° W],  28 Feb. 1993( A.R. Delgado, M.A. González S.); examined.   New record    VENEZUELA–  Trujillo• 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK(Ar 21898), and 3 ♀♀in pure ethanol, ZFMK(Ven18- 206), near Boconó, Laguna Negra( 9.3054° N, 70.1752° W),  1870 ma.s.l.,  21 Nov. 2018( B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.).   Notes The original description mentions 1 ♂ holotype( MAGS1383a) and 1 ♀, 6 juvs paratypes( MAGS1383b), i.e., eight specimens. However, the MIZAhas only one vial numbered “1383” (i.e., the holotypeis notseparated) and the vial contains 13 specimens: 3 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 3 juvs. Since there is no doubt about the identity of this species there is no need for a lectotype, and the type specimens are treated as ‘types’. Three females in the type vial are misidentified  Canaima locaHuber sp. nov. The coordinates in the original description are wrong, i.e., ~ 15 kmSW of Laguna Negra. Figures 4i–j in the original publication show the femaleabdomen (contrary to the legend of this figure).    Redescription  Male(ZFMK Ar 21898) MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 2.9, carapace width 1.3. Distance PME–PME 120 µm; diameter PME 115 µm; distance PME–ALE 100 µm; diameter AME 30 µm; distance AME–AME 15 µm. Leg 1: 23.2 (5.2 +0.4 +5.5+10.1 + 2.0), tibia 2: 3.3, tibia 3: 2.5, tibia 4: 3.1; tibia 1–4 diameters: 135 µm, 150 µm, 165 µm, 160 µm; tibia 1 L/d: 41. COLOR (in ethanol). Carapace ochre, darker brown frontally including ocular area and clypeus; sternum dark brown; legs ochre to light brown, with darker rings on femora subdistally and on tibiae proximally and subdistally, femora and tibiae with light tips; abdomen pale bluish-gray, dorsally and laterally densely covered with dark bluish marks, ventrally with brown mark in gonopore area, brown book lung covers, and bluish mark behind gonopore. BODY. Habitus as in Figs 309–310. Ocular area distinctly raised. Carapace anteriorly with shallow but distinct thoracic groove, posteriorly slightly inflated. Clypeus unmodified. Sternum wider than long (0.88/0.60). Abdomen slightly elongated and pointed at spinnerets. CHELICERAE. As in Fig. 329, with pair of large frontal apophyses, each with subdistal ventral branch; processes dark on dorsal side, whitish on ventral side. PALPS. As in Figs 321–322; coxa with strong retrolateral apophysis, trochanter with rounded ventral process, femur proximally with retrolateral process, distally with prominent rounded ventral process, retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia in very distal position; procursus ( Figs 323–325) proximally very simple, distally with two distinctive elements; genital bulb ( Figs 326–328) large, with distinctive prolateral distal apophysis and membranous distal elements. LEGS. Without spines and curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all leg tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~30 pseudosegments, mostly distinct.   Figs 321–322.  Mecolaesthus discrepantis( González-Sponga, 2003); type from Trujillo, Laguna Negra (MIZA 105754; MAGS 1383); left male pedipalp, prolateral and retrolateral views. Scale line: 0.5 mm.   Figs 323–330.  Mecolaesthus discrepantis( González-Sponga, 2003); from Trujillo, Laguna Negra (type locality; ZFMK Ar 21898). 323–325. Left palpal tarsus and procursus, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. 326–328. Left genital bulb, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. 329. Male prosoma, lateral view. 330. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 323–328, 330=0.3 mm; 329=0.5 mm.  Male(variation) Tibia 1 inone other measured male: 5.5.  Female In general similar to male ( Fig. 311). Tibia 1 intwo females (newly collected specimens): 3.9, 4.1. Epigynum large, heavily sclerotized, with pair of large pointed posterior processes; angle between processes slightly variable (compare Figs 334 and 336). Internal genitalia ( Figs 330, 336–337) with pair of anterior sclerites extending towards lateral, median receptacle, pair of large pore plates converging anteriorly and tilted into almost vertical position, and narrow median sclerite connecting anterior structures with posterior processes.    Distribution Known from typelocality only, in Venezuela, Trujillo(Fig. 1042).   Figs 331–337.  MecolaesthusSimon, 1893; epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. 331–333.  M. piedrasHuber sp. nov.; from Mérida, Las Piedras (type locality; ZFMK Ar 21897). 334–337.  M. discrepantis( González-Sponga, 2003); from Trujillo, Laguna Negra (type locality; epigyna: MIZA 105754 / MAGS 1383; cleared female genitalia: ZFMK Ar 21898).   Natural history In the original description, González-Sponga (2003)mentions the underside of petioles of dead palm leaves as microhabitat of this species. We found only one female in this microhabitat.All other specimens were collected from small webs at the bases of sedges ( Cyperaceae) in the forest, very close to the ground. 4989416363 1993-02-28 DD, R A. R. Delgado, M. A & Gonzalez S. Venezuela 9.305 Laguna Negra 77 -70.177 Bocono 96 97 MIZA 105754, MAGS 1383 13 7 3 Trujillo types 4989416696 2018-11-21 ZFMK B. A. Huber & O. Villarreal M. Venezuela 1870 9.3054 Laguna Negra 7 -70.1752 Bocono 96 97 7 5 2 Trujillo