Lyrognathus saltator Pocock 1900

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 : 36-38

Lyrognathus saltator Pocock 1900

( Figs 113 , 114 )

Lyrognathus saltator Pocock 1900: 203 .

Types: Lyrognathus saltator Pocock 1900 , female holotype, 1897.6.24.24, North Khasi Hills, Meghalaya State, Northeast India, NHM.—images, illustrations (A. Smith, von Wirth, pers. comm.).

Diagnosis: Differs from L. crotalus in the 6 apical spines on metatarsi lV and only mildly incrassate tibiae IV. Differs from L. achilles sp. nov., L. fuscus sp. nov., L. lessunda sp. nov. and L. robustus in the intercheliceral spiniform setae (not pegs) and absence of retrolateral basomedial cheliceral spines. Legs: Leg formula length, IV, I, II = III (49, 37, 32, 32) and width, IV, III, I, II. Leg RF ~75.51. Male unknown.

Description: Female holotype with body length: 32.

Color (in life, Fig. 113 ): dark grey to black except pat., tib., met. and tar. of legs I and II, ventrally dark grey to black, except pat., tib., met. and tar. of legs I and II.

Carapace ( Fig. 1 ): length 15, width 12.5. Fovea wide, procurved, deep, equal in width to OT. Eyes: AME, ALE, PLE, PME. Anterior row transverse, posterior row recurved. OT highest posteriorly behind AME, sloping gradually anteriorly.

Chelicerae: ectal lyrate region a series of strikers (>70) in 7 horizontal rows. Strongest and longest strikers on lowest rows. Each striker needle-form. Teeth, 10,>50 basomesal teeth. Intercheliceral spines (>7) in tight cluster on basodorsal surface. Retrolateral surface lacks basomedial spine cluster.

Maxillae: prolaterally plano-convex, anterior lobe well pronounced, numerous cuspules (> 125) on inner basoventral surface. Lyra : bacilliform rods (>160) form a dense, ovoid patch on prolateral maxillary surface, lowest row with>25 bacillae, longest rods medially in lowest row. Rods distally paddle-shaped with medium to long shafts, largest rods lacking distal blades. At widest point, lyrate patch 11 rows deep with smallest rods dorsally. Posterior end of patch truncate but rounded, anterior end rounded. Immediately above maxillary suture>2 small spines on anterior margin, disordered arrangment. Labium: numerous small cuspules (>450) along anterior 1/4 surface.

Sternum (damaged): saddle-form. Posteriorly between left and right coxae IV, border highly acuminate, lateral sternal points slightly acuminate. Sigilla: 3 pairs (not including labio-sternal sigilla), posterior, large in size. Ovular, 1.5 of their length apart, 0.8 (left sigilla only) of length from sternal margin. Median pair, 1/2 size of posterior, similar in form and 0.6 (left sigilla only) of length from sternal margin. Anterior pair very small, somewhat obscured and border l margin. Labio-sternal sigilla damaged.

Legs ( Fig. 113 ): formula (length); IV, I, II, III: (width); IV, III, I, II. Leg RF ~75.51. Leg lengths: palp: 22.5, I: 37, II: 32, III: 32, IV: 49. Tib. IV shows strong retrolateral villous setal fringe, proximally to distally uniform–entire ( Fig. 113 ).

Scopula: met. I–IV undivided, tar. I-III. undivided, tar. IV divided by 2-3 rows of setae. Met. I–IV, cover full length ventrally.

Trichobothria: on all tarsi basal filiform field slightly wider than clavate field, merges evenly. Clavates on tar. I in distal 1/2 (very dark), long filiforms only in basal 2/3, shorter filiforms intermixed with clavates distally. Clavate extent on tar. II–IV cf. I, in distal 1/2. Shorter filiforms for length. Short epitrichobothrial field on I shorter than clavates, increasing in length proximally.

Spines: met. I with 1 DV, met. II with 1 DV, 1 DPV, 1 DRV, met. III with 2 DV, 1DPV, 1 DRV, 1 DD, 1 DPL and met. IV with 2 DV, 1DPV, 1 DRV, 1 DPD, 1 DD.

Claws: unarmed claws on all legs and palps. Reduced third claw absent on leg IV.

Abdomen ( Fig. 113 ): ovular, elongated, yellow brown in alcohol, black in life.

Genitalia: unknown.

Distribution and natural history ( Fig. 114 ): Known only from the type locality North Khasi Hills, Meghalaya State, Northeast India. Found in sympatry with L. crotalus . The natural history of this species is unknown.

Remarks: The holotype female of L. saltator , 1897.6.24.24, NHM, was originally a dry specimen with abdomen stuffed with cotton wool that is now preserved in alcohol. It is too brittle for dissection and examination of spermathecae.

Von Wirth (2007, pers. comm.) noted the 6 apical spines on metatarsi IV in Pocock’s L. saltator holotype. This is the only confirmed example from this species known (to the authors), whether or not this is just an example of L. crotalus could not be determined by the authors through external examination of the type alone, spermathecae have never been extracted due to brittle condition of the specimen. Variation of leg segment widths (following Pocock 1900) is dubious, M. Siliwal and S. Rafn (2008, pers. comm.) have noted similar variation in L. crotalus specimens gathered from type locations. No other variation from L. crotalus is noted. Due to limited material representing L. saltator , and fragile condition of the type, no further attempt to recognise or transfer this species has been undertaken here (other than noting the significance of the 6 apical metatarsi IV spines).

Figures

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

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.