Lyrognathus Pocock 1895

West, Rick C. & Nunn, Steven C., 2010, A taxonomic revision of the tarantula spider genus Lyrognathus Pocock 1895 (Araneae, Theraphosidae), with notes on the Selenocosmiinae, Zootaxa 2362, pp. 1-43 : 5-6

Lyrognathus Pocock 1895

( Figs 1–114 )

Lyrognathus Pocock 1895: 170 , 175, 1900: 187, 202; Simon 1903: 954, 956; Gravely, 1915a: 415; 1915b: 284; 1935: 83, Roewer, 1942: 6; Raven 1985: 38, 118; Smith 1986, 1987: 121; Platnick, 2009.

Diagnosis: Lyrognathus differs from other Selenocosmiinae genera in having dense penicillate retrolateral setal brushes along tibiae and metatarsi IV ( Figs 3 , 20 , 54 , 71 , 98 ), very incrassate tibiae IV ( Figs 8 , 21 , 53 , 71 , 99 ), retrolateral surface of coxae IV entirely hirsute (except L. robustus ) and undivided metatarsi IV scopula in females ( Figs 19 , 54 , 74 ), except L. robustus , which shows a possibly unique form of division of the metatarsi IV scopula by extremely stout, spiniform setae ( Fig. 98 ). Lyrognathus further differs in that the male embolus is entirely lanceolate with a singular prolateral keel extending ventrally and proximally ( Figs 5 , 40 , 89, 90 ). Differs from Selenocosmia from Java and Sumatra and from Coremiocnemis from Malaysia (males and females) in the above traits, in the large size of posterior sternal sigilla and that the clavate trichobothrial field on tarsi I–IV occur in distal 1/2 (in Malaysian, Javan and Sumatran species of Selenocosmia and Coremiocnemis , clavates extend to distal 3/4 of all tarsi), and general leg morphology as diagnosed above.

Type species: Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock 1895 , by original designation and monotypy.

Description: A selenocosmiine theraphosid genus with incrassate leg IV combined with penicillate retrolateral setal brushes in both sexes (except in male L. robustus ), leg length formula IV, I, II, III (both sexes), leg width formula IV, III, I, II (females), circular ocular tubercle–higher posteriorly, with fovea of equal width, clypeus absent, retrolateral surface of coxae IV entirely hirsute (except in L. robustus ),>2 DV, 1DPV, 1DRV, 1DD metatarsal III/IV spine arrangement, no basofemoral spines, retrolateral basomedial spine cluster on chelicerae (present/absent), keeled/terete lanceolate embolus with small basoventral projection present/absent, intercheliceral peg or spiniform setae, bilobular spermathecae with lateral lobes at 2/3 to 3/4 length of medials (most species) or unilobular spermathecal receptacles ( L. crotalus ), spermathecae heavily sclerotized distally, grading to clear shafts proximally, metatarsi IV scopula divided ( L. robustus ) or undivided, metatarsi IV scopula in distal 1/3 ( L. robustus ) or for full length, unarmed paired claws, third claw on leg IV present ( L. robustus ) or absent (all other species) and clavate trichobothria on distal 1/2 of all tarsi, very long. No dorsal carapace thorns.

Species included:

Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock 1895

Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov.

Lyrognathus fuscus sp. nov.

Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov.

Lyrognathus robustus Smith 1988

Lyrognathus saltator Pocock 1900

Distribution: Northeastern India, West Malaysia, Borneo and Lombok Island, Indonesia ( Fig. 114 )

Figures

FIGURE 114. Records of Lyrognathus species in Southeast Asia. C. Senescall

FIGURES 1 – 2. 1. Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock, female in life. 2. L. crotalus, male in life. Photos: J-M. Verdez.

FIGURES 3 – 10. 3. Lyrognathus species. L. crotalus Pocock, female habitus, dorsal view. 4. L. pugnax, holotype female habitus, dorsal view. 5. L. crotalus, male embolus, prolateral view. 6. L. crotalus, paratype female spermathecae, dorsal view. 7. L. crotalus, holotype maxillae, prolateral view. 8. L. crotalus, holotype right tib. IV, dorsal view. 9. L. crotalus, holotype chelicerae, ectal view showing strikers. 10. L. crotalus, holotype chelicerae, prolateral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 3, 4; 1 mm for 5; 0.5 mm for 6. Figs: 3 – 6: S. C. Nunn; Photos: 7 – 10, R. Raven.

FIGURES 11 – 12. 11. Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock, biotope, William Nagar, Meghalaya, India. 12. Detail of burrow entrance in open soil. Photos: J-M. Verdez.

FIGURES 13 – 14. 13. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov. 13. Holotype female in life. 14. Paratype male in life. Photos: R. C. West.

FIGURES 15 – 19. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov., holotype female: 15. Carapace, dorsal view. 16. Eyes, dorsal view. 17. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxa, ventral view. 18. Labium, ventral view. 19. Abdomen, legs IV, ventral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 15, 17, 19; 2 mm for 16, 18. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 20 – 23. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov., holotype female: 20. Leg IV, dorsal view. 21. Leg IV, prolateral view. 22. Tar. IV, ventral view. 23. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 20, 21; 5 mm for 22; 2 mm for 23. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 24 – 28. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov., paratype female QM S 88047: 24. Left chelicerae, retrolateral view. 25. Cheliceral strikers, ectal view. 26. Basomedial cheliceral spine, prolateral view. 27. Left chelicerae, prolateral view. 28. Intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. Scale bar = 5 mm for 24, 25, 27; 1 mm for 26, 28. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 29 – 34. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov., paratype female QM S 88047 for 29, L. achilles sp. nov. paratype male all others: 29. Left maxillae, prolateral view. 30. Right maxillae, prolateral view. 31. Carapace, dorsal view. 32. Eyes, dorsal view. 33. Labium, ventral view. 34. Leg IV, prolateral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 34; 5 mm for 31; 2 mm for 29, 30, 32, 33. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 35 – 40. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov., paratype male: 35. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxa, ventral view. 36. Right maxillae, retrotrolateral view showing strikers. 37. Right chelicerae, intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 38. Right distal palp showing bulb, prolateral view. 39. Right distal palp showing bulb, retrolateral view. 40. Right bulb and embolus, ventro-anterior view showing keeled embolus. Scale bar = 10 mm for 35; 2 mm for 38, 39; 1 mm for 36, 37, 40. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 41 – 44. 41. Lyrognathus achilles sp. nov. Upper slopes of Gunung Nibung, Borneo, Indonesia. 42. Biotope, Gunung Nibung. 43. Biotope with arrow pointing to burrow entrance. 44. Detail of burrow entrance among foliage. Photos: 41 – 44: H. Yanto.

FIGURES 45 – 46. Lyrognathus fuscus sp. nov. 45. Holotype female in life. 46. Male in life. Photos: 45, R. C. West; 46, H. Yanto.

FIGURES 47 – 52. Lyrognathus fuscus sp. nov. holotype female: 47. Carapace, dorsal view. 48. Eyes, dorsal view. 49. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxa, ventral view. 50. Labium, ventral view. 51. Spermathecae, dorsal view. 52. Abdomen, ventral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 47, 49, 52; 2 mm for 48, 50; 1 mm for 51. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 53 – 57. Lyrognathus fuscus sp. nov. holotype female (except paratype QM S 88051; 56 – 57): 53. Left leg IV, dorsal view. 54. Left leg IV, retrolateral view. 55. Left met, tar. IV, prolateral view. 56. Left maxillae, prolateral view. 57. Maxillary lyra, prolateral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 53 – 55; 2 mm for 56; 1 mm for 57. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 58 – 62. Lyrognathus fuscus sp. nov. paratype female QM S 88051: 58. Left chelicerae, retrolateral view. 59. Left cheliceral strikers, ectal view. 60. Basomedial cheliceral spines, retrolateral view. 61. Left chelicerae, prolateral view. 62. Left intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. Scale bar = 5 mm for 58, 61; 2 mm for 59; 1 mm for 60, 62. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURE 63. Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov., holotype, female in life. Photo: R. C. West.

FIGURES 64 – 70. Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov. holotype female: 64. Carapace, dorsal view. 65. Eyes, dorsal view. 66. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxa, ventral view. 67. Labium, ventral view. 68. Left palp, legs I, II, ventral view. 69. Abdomen, legs IV, ventral view. 70. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 64, 66, 69; 5 mm for 68; 2 mm for 65, 67, 70. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 71 – 76. Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov., holotype female (except: paratype female QM S 74066; 75, 76): 71. Abdomen and legs IV, dorsal view. 72. Left leg IV, retrolateral view. 73. Left leg IV, prolateral view. 74. Left met. and tar. IV, ventral view. 75. Left maxillae, prolateral view. 76. Left maxillary lyra, prolateral view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 71 – 73; 5 mm for 74; 2 mm for 75; 1 mm for 76. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 77 – 80. Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov. paratype female QM S 74066: 77. Left chelicerae, prolateral view. 78. Left intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 79. Left cheliceral strikers, ectal view. 80. Left basomedial cheliceral spines, retrolateral view. Scale bar = 2 mm for 77; 1 mm for 78, 79; 0.5 mm for 80. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 81 – 90. Lyrognathus lessunda sp. nov. paratype male QM S 74069: 81. Habitus, dorsal view. 82. Carapace, dorsal view. 83. Eyes, dorsal view. 84. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxa, ventral view. 85. Right intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 86. Right cheliceral strikers, ectal view. 87. Right maxillae showing lyra, prolateral view. 88. Left bulb, retrolateral view. 89. Left bulb, prolateral view. 90. Left bulb, anterior view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 81; 5 mm for 82, 84; 2 mm for 83, 86, 87; 1 mm for 85, 88 – 90. Photos: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURE 91. Lyrognathus robustus, adult female habitus, dorsolateral view. Photo: R. C. West.

FIGURES 92 – 101. Lyrognathus liewi (jun. syn. L. robustus), paratype female QM S 19651.15461. 92. Habitus, dorsal view. 93. Eyes, dorsal view. 94. Sternum, labium and right maxillae, ventral view. 95. Intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 96. Right chelicerae, lower retrolateral view showing strikers and arrow pointing to retrolateral basomedial cheliceral spines. 97. Right maxillae showing lyra, prolateral view. 98. Right leg IV, ventral view. 99. Right leg IV, retrolateral view. 100. Right tar. IV, prolateral view showing transverse suture and reduced third claw. 101. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 92, 98, 99; 5 mm for 100; 2 mm for 93 – 97; 1 mm for 101. Illustrations: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURES 102 – 112. Lyrognathus robustus male QM S 74340. 102, Habitus, dorsal view. 103. Eyes, dorsal view. 104. Sternum, labium and right maxillae, ventral view. 105. Right intercheliceral pegs, prolateral view. 106. Right lower retrolateral cheliceral surface showing strikers and retrolaeral basomedial spines. 107. Right maxillae showing lyra, prolateral view. 108. Right leg IV, ventral view. 109. Right palpal tibia, prolateral view. 110. Right bulb, retrolateral view. 111. Right bulb, prolateral view. 112. Left embolus, transverse cross section. Scale bar = 20 mm for 102; 10 mm for 108; 5 mm for 109; 2 mm for 104, 107, 110, 111; 1 mm for 103, 105, 106; 0.5 mm for 112. Photo & illustrations: S. C. Nunn.

FIGURE 113. Lyrognathus species (possibly L. saltator) from North Bangladesh. Photo: S. Molur.