Polyboea zonaformis Wang 1993

Jäger, Peter, 2007, Spiders from Laos with descriptions of new species (Arachnida: Araneae), Acta Arachnologica 56 (1), pp. 29-58 : 43

Polyboea zonaformis Wang 1993

Figs. 39-43

Material examined. 1 female ( SMF 56217 ), between L11 and L12 . 1 female ( SMF 56220 ), L3, by day, sweeping, 6.XI.2004 .

Zhang et al. (2004) note as diagnostic characters for males the lobate carina (straight in Polybaea vulpina Thorell 1895 , cf. Sierwald 1997: fig. 88) and the small anterior depression (= fossa; larger in P. vulpina ). Both specimens from Laos show a distinct variation of both characters: The carina is distinctly lobate in the specimen from Luang Prabang ( Fig. 40 ) while the female from Muang Sing ( Fig. 39 ) exhibits only a slight lobe. Moreover, the anterior depression is in both specimens larger, especially the fossae vary strongly in shape and size ( Figs. 39 _40). One diagnostic character for distinguishing between the two species could be the missing median fold between the lateral lobes in the posterior half of the epigynum. It is present in P. vulpina (cf. Sierwald 1997: fig. 88), both lobes seem to be fused in P. zonaformis . In both Lao specimens only one slit sense organ was present at the right half of the epigynum, laterally close to the epigynal field ( Figs. 39- 40 ). Further material should show, whether these characters are stable or vary as those listed above.

Figures

Figs. 39 - 45. 39 - 42 Polyboea sp. cf. zonaformis Zhang, Zhu & Song 2004 from Muang Sing (L 3). 39 - 40 Epigynum, ventral view (variation); 41 internal duct system, dorsal view; 42 schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal view; 43 female carrying egg-sac (in original habitat). 44 - 46 Thalassius sp. cf. paralbocinctus Zhang, Zhu & Song 2004 from Vang Vieng (L 23). 44 Epigynum, ventral view; 45 internal duct system, dorsal view (left side partly broken off); 46 female (in original habitat, in foliage about 1 m above ground), ab — accessory bulb, am — anterior margin of lateral lobe, ca — carina, fo — fossa (pits on carina), hs — head of spermathecae, ss — slit sense