Psechrus jaegeri, Bayer, 2012

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 90-94

Psechrus jaegeri sp. nov.

Figs 48a–d , 49a–g , 50f , 81g , 83c , 85n , 88n , 91n

Type material: Holotype ♀ ( SB 530 ), LAOS: Champasak Province: Muang Bachieng, Ban Lak 38, That Fane , N 15°11'03.0'', E 106°07'36.9'', 952 m, very small, narrow valley in marginal primary forest, rock with moss; P. Jäger leg. 14.III.2010; SMF . Paratypes (1 ♂, 6 ♀♀, 3 s.a. ♀♀): 1 ♂ ( SB 302 ), 5 ♀♀ ( SB 531 , 534 , 536 , 539 , 905 ), same data as for holotype, except collectors: P. Jäger leg. 13.–17.III.2010 (all females), P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 27.XI.2009 (male); SMF ; 1 ♀ ( SB 300 ), 2 s.a . ♀♀ ( SB 301 , 405 ), LAOS: Champasak Province: Muang Bachieng, Ban Lak 35, That Itou , N 15°11'37.7'', E 106°06'06.3'', 810 m, secondary forest, close to small river, in tree holes and between tree roots [ SB 300 in tube underneath road]; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 26.XI.2009; SMF ; 1 s.a. ♀ ( SB 304 ), LAOS: Champasak Province: Muang Bachieng, That Paxuam , N 15°10'35.5'', E 105°55'21.0'', 197 m, secondary forest, in tree holes and between tree roots; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 25.XI.2009; SMF .

Additional material examined (1 s.a. ♂, 2 s.a. ♀♀, 1 p. s.a. ♂, 1 p. s.a. ♀, 4 juvs). LAOS: Champasak Province: Muang Bachieng, That Paxuam, N 15°10'35.5'', E 105°55'21.0'', 197 m, secondary forest, in tree holes and between tree roots; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 25.XI.2009; 1 s.a. ♀ ( SB 307 ), 1 p. s.a. ♀ ( SB 347 ), 1 s.a. ♂ ( SB 306 ), 1 p. s.a. ♂ ( SB 399 ), 1 juv. ( SB 309 ), SMF. LAOS: Champasak Province: Muang Pathoumphone, Ban Tha Hou , N 14°46'09.6'', E 105°59'34.5'', 132 m, rock wall; P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. 22.XI.2009; 3 juvs ( SB 311–312 , 348 ), SMF .

Doubtful material examined: THAILAND: Kanchanaburi Province: Si Sawat, Erawan National Park, Cave Phra Dath ; C.L. & P.R. Deeleman leg. 13. III.1986; 1 ♀ ( SB 121 ), Deeleman Coll. in RMNH .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of the collector of the type material, Peter Jäger, who I admire for his great knowledge and special skills in arachnology; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Males similar to P. vivax sp. nov. in having strongly curved embolus (E) with several ridges and an almost square course of sperm duct ( Figs 48a–c , 50a–c ). Distinguished by the narrower, distinctly curved distal section of E and the flat lobe ventrally at its subdistal part ( Fig. 50f ). Moreover, in the tegulum (T) the distal half is narrower than the basal half ( Fig. 48b ). Females similar to P. vivax sp. nov. in having mushroom-like shape of median septum (MS) ( Fig. 49a , 51a,f ), very short copulatory ducts (CD) and compact spermathecae with their heads (SH) on top ( Fig. 49b , 51b,g ). Distinguished by the broader anterior part of MS (ratio anterior part / posterior part> 2.6) ( Fig. 49a ) and the even more compact spermatheca ( Fig. 49b ).

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.4, carapace width 4.7, anterior width of carapace 2.6, opisthosoma length 9.1, opisthosoma width 3.4. Eyes: AME 0.36, ALE 0.43, PME 0.43, PLE 0.42, AME–AME 0.16, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.33, AME–PME 0.55, ALE–PLE 0.40, clypeus height at AME 0.73, clypeus height at ALE 0.66.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 8.1 [2.9, 1.4, 1.1, 2.7]; Legs: I 57.0 [15.2, 3.1, 15.7, 16.1, 6.9], II 43.9 [12.9, 2.8, 12.2, 11.5, 4.5], III 30.6 [8.8, 1.9, 7.7, 8.2, 4.0], IV 47.3 [12.7, 2.6, 12.4, 13.5, 6.1].

Spination. Palp: 131, 010, 0100; legs: femur I–III 566, IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3035, IV 3035{3036}; metatarsus I–II, IV 3035, III 3034.

Palpal femur without modification ( Fig. 48d ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). Conductor (C) narrow, distal section slightly broader ( Fig. 48b ). Palpal tibia in lateral view short ( Fig. 48a,c ). Cymbium dorsally without scopula ( Fig. 83c ).

Female (Measurements of holotype first, those of paratype females as range in parentheses):

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.5 (7.0–8.4), carapace width 5.6 (3.3–5.8), anterior width of carapace 3.2 (2.1–3.5), opisthosoma length 10.2 (6.6–10.4), opisthosoma width 5.2 (3.6–5.8). Eyes (only those of holotype listed, no significant size variation in paratype females): AME 0.39, ALE 0.50, PME 0.53, PLE 0.49, AME–AME 0.24, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.43, AME–PME 0.65, ALE–PLE 0.50, clypeus height at AME 0.97, clypeus height at ALE 0.86.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 9.7 (8.8–9.9) [3.3 (3.0–3.3), 1.4 (1.3–1.5, 1.8 (1.7–1.9), 3.2 (2.8–3.2)]; Legs: I 47.8 (42.2–49.3) [12.8 (11.4–13.1), 3.7 (3.1–3.9), 13.0 (11.3–13.2), 12.5 (11.2–13.1), 5.8 (5.2–6.0)], II 38.5 (34.7–38.6) [10.7 (9.8–10.9), 3.2 (2.7–3.4), 10.0 (9.2–10.1), 9.9 (8.9–10.3), 4.7 (4.1–4.9)], III 28.0 (24.7–28.8) [8.3 (7.2–8.3), 2.5 (2.1–2.5), 6.7 (6.0–6.9), 7.0 (6.3–7.5), 3.5 (3.1–3.6)], IV 40.4 (36.0–41.7) [11.5 (10.1–11.5), 2.8 (2.5–3.1), 10.1 (9.1–10.5), 10.8 (9.6–11.3), 5.2 (4.7–5.3)]. Thus, legs in females, in relation to other Psechrus species , quite short: FEM-I+MTT-I/CL: 2.9–3.0.

Palpal claw with 15 (13–15) teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131 (131), 110{010} (110,010), 1101 (1101), 1014 (1014); legs (—except for patella— variable, only most common states noted): femur I 567{566} (566,655), II 656{556} (566) III 555 (555), IV 555 (555,554); patella I–IV 000; tibia I 4038{3038} (3038), II 3038 (3038), III 3034 (3034,3035), IV 3036{3035} (3036,3035); metatarsus I 3037{3035} (3037,3035), II 3035 (3037,3035), III 3035 (3035), IV 3034 (3034,3035).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Spermathecal heads ( Fig. 49b ) shorter than in P. vivax sp. nov. (but in P.vivax only two ♀♀ available). MS smooth and glossy ( Fig. 88n ). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field ( Fig. 49a ).

Primordial copulatory organ. Pre-epigyne: Similar to P. vivax sp. nov. in shape of pre-MS. The latter almost as long as broad and with curved anterior margins ( Figs 49d , 51d ). Distinguished by the broader anterior part of pre- MS ( Fig. 49d ).

Pre-vulva: Similar to P. vivax sp. nov. Distinguished by the more voluminous pre-spermatheca and the less extending pre-SH ( Fig. 49e ).

Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace may be slightly serrated or not. Lateral bands narrow (ca. 0.7 diameter of PME) and not serrated. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous and rather narrow. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is less than the width of one half of the cribellum (ca. 0.3–0.6 of one half of the cribellum).

Variation of copulatory organs. Females: Width of median septum varies slightly ( Figs 49a , 88n ). In vulva the length of SH may differ slightly ( Figs 49b , 91n ).

Remark: In the female SB121 from Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, the MS ( Fig. 49f ) is narrower than in the specimens from Laos. The spermatheca are even a bit more compact and located closer to each other ( Fig. 49g ). It cannot be fully excluded that this specimen belongs to a closely related, different species. However, it is more likely that those differences fall in the range of intraspecific variation of P. jaegeri sp. nov., as they are just small in regards to interspecific differences. To confirm this, more material —especially males— from that region and from Thailand in general are required.

Distribution. Laos, Thailand (?) ( Fig. 98 ).

Figures

FIGURES 48a–d. Psechrus jaegeri sp. nov., ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 49a–g. Psechrus jaegeri sp. nov., ♀ adult and primordial copulatory organ. a–c ♀ holotype SB 530, d–e s.a. ♀ paratype SB 301, both from Laos, Champasak Prov. f–g ♀ SB 121 (doubtful identification) from Thailand, Kanchanaburi Prov. a, f Epigyne, ventral view. b, g Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system. d Pre-epigyne, ventral view. e Pre-vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURES 50a–f. Psechrus spp. a–e Psechrus vivax sp. nov., ♂ holotype SB 310 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang Island. f Psechrus jaegeri sp. nov., ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view. e–f Embolus, ventral view.

FIGURES 51a–g. Psechrus vivax sp. nov., from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang Island, ♀ adult and primordial copulatory organ. a–c ♀ paratype SB 366, d–e s.a. ♀ paratype SB 366, f–g ♀ paratype SB 293. a, f Epigyne, ventral view. b, g Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system. d Pre-epigyne, ventral view. e Pre-vulva, dorsal view. Remark: SB 366: subadult female with already completely developed epigyne underneath cuticle bearing pre-epigyne, so it is listed here sub s.a. ♀ and ♀.

FIGURES 81a–j. Psechrus spp., photos of dorsal habitus (a–d) and ventral view of opisthosoma (e–j). a P. ancoralis. b P. hartmanni sp. nov. c P. sp. out of mulu-group. d P. luangprabang. e P. singaporensis. f P. annulatus. g P. jaegeri sp. nov. h P. marsyandi. i P. kunmingensis. j P. tauricornis sp. nov. a ♀ SB 75 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ holotype SB 1007 from Sri Lanka, Central Prov. c ♂ from Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak Prov. d ♀ SB 508 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. e s.a. ♀ SB 559 from Indonesia, Sumatera Utara Prov. f ♀ paralectotype SB 830 from Indonesia, Jawa Barat Prov. g ♀ holotype SB 530 from Laos, Champasak Prov. h s.a. ♀ SB 748 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. i ♀ SB 953 from China, Yunnan Prov. j ♀ SB 633 from Sri Lanka. Photos 81a by Helmut Steiner, Hanau, 81c by Peter Koomen, Leeuwarden (copyright owner).

FIGURES 83a–g. Psechrus spp., photos of left (b–g) and right (a) ♂ palp, prolateral view. a P. ancoralis. b P. luangprabang. c P. jaegeri sp. nov. d P.elachys sp. nov. e P. kinabalu. f P. hartmanni sp. nov. g P. crepido sp. nov. a ♂ paratype SB 24 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. b ♂ holotype SB 1030 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. c ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. d ♂ paratype SB 862 from Thailand, Satun Prov. e ♂ holotype SB 237 from Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah Prov. f ♂ SB 624 from Sri Lanka. g ♂ holotype SB 644 from India, Tamil Nadu Prov. Remark: cymbium dorsally with moderate dense- (a–b), very dense-scopula (d–g) or without any scopula (c).

FIGURES 85a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of left ♂ palp, ventral view (a, c–o) and retrolatero-ventral view (b). a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. himalayanus. h P. marsyandi. i P. inflatus sp. nov. j P. ghecuanus. k P.pakawini sp. nov. l P. luangprabang. m P.demiror sp. nov.? n P. jaegeri sp. nov. o P.vivax sp. nov. a ♂ SB 321 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♂ SB 122 from Vietnam, Lang Son Prov. c ♂ holotype SB 367 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♂ SB 381 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♂ paratype SB 64 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♂ SB 17 from Nepal, Rapti Prov. h ♂ holotype SB 79 from Nepal, Gandaki Prov. i ♂ holotype SB 952 from China, Yunnan Prov. j ♂ SB 36 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. k ♂ paratype SB 142 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. l ♂ SB 459 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. m ♂ SB 329 from “Indochina”. n ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♂ holotype SB 367 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 88a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of epigyne, ventral view. a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 372 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 961 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 607 from Bhutan, Timphu Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 213 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 91a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of vulva, dorsal view. a P. ancoralis. b P. rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 374 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 951 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 988 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 214 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURE 98. Distribution of Psechrus in continental South East Asia. Symbols (unicoloured): species belonging to the himalayanus-group. Symbols (black, filled with light colour): species belonging to the ancoralis-group. Distribution of Psechrus in northern Vietnam, see Fig. 96. The distribution of P. demiror sp. nov. is unclear (see corresponding species description), hence the violet, unicoloured trapezes are depicted with question mark each.