Physocyclus peribanensis, Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2014

Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2014, A reanalysis of the morphological phylogeny of the spider genus Physocyclus Simon (Araneae: Pholcidae) with the description of a new species and description of the female of Physocyclus paredesi Valdez-Mondragón from Mexico, Zootaxa 3866 (2), pp. 202-220 : 205-208

Physocyclus peribanensis sp. nov.

Figures 1–17

Type data. MEXICO: Michoacán: Municipio Peribán: 8.4 kilometers on the road Copetiro-Jalpa (N 19.4677°, W 102.5308°; 1277 m): 1 male holotype (CNAN-T0823), 1 female paratype (CNAN-T0824), 1 June 2010, J. Ponce- Saavedra, A. Quijano-Ravell, V. Guzmán-Pérez cols.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the Municipio of the type locality: Peribán, Michoacán, Mexico.

Diagnosis. Similar to Physocylus palmarus ( Jiménez & Palacios-Cardel, 2013; figs 5–16), male distinguished by the lateral apophyses of chelicerae, smaller and conical ( Figs 6, 7 ); embolus shorter and darker, with a sharp tip ( Fig. 8 ); long and thin distal spine on the procursus ( Figs 8–10 ); three distal, sharp projections on procursus (arrow, Fig. 9 ; Fig. 10 ); and by smaller notch between embolic sclerites and embolus ( Figs 8, 9 ). Female distinguished by epigynum with paired apophyses, longer and wider, more separated from each other ( Figs 15, 16 ), and by pore plates of epigynum longer and wider, finger-shaped ( Fig. 17 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Prosoma: Carapace orange, with an irregular, T-shaped brown pattern around the fovea, fovea long and deep ( Figs 1, 5 ). Carapace with numerous long and slightly curved marginal setae ( Fig. 5 ); each seta has a brown spot in the insertion. Ocular region slightly elevated, with a brown Y-shaped pattern on posterior region towards the fovea ( Fig. 5 ). Clypeus with a wide brown pattern ( Fig. 4 ). Chelicerae with>30 cones each chelicerae ( Fig. 6 ). Chelicerae with stridulatory files laterally ( Figs 6, 7 ). Chelicerae with long setae, frontally each seta arising from a sclerotized cone ( Fig. 6 ). Sternum wider than long, with numerous and scattered long setae, each one has a brown spot in the socket ( Fig. 3 ). Labium wider than long, with numerous scattered short setae ( Fig. 3 ). Endites longer than wide, considerably wider basally than distally, with scattered long setae ( Fig. 3 ).

Legs: Coxae orange. Trochanters with a wide and black prolateral spot. Femora with numerous long and straight setae, each one with a brown spot in the socket ( Figs 1, 2 ). Femora with sub-distal dark-brown rings. Patellae brown. Tibiae with short straight setae [different to vertical “hairs” mentioned by Huber (2000)] and long curved setae [the same curved “hair” on legs mentioned by Huber (2000)], each one with a brown spot in the socket. Tibiae with one basal dark-brown ring and one distal dark-brown ring. Metatarsi with numerous short and straight setae, and long curved setae, without rings and spots on the setae sockets. Tarsi with long paired claws. Opisthosoma: Globular, higher than long ( Fig. 2 ), with numerous small gray spots dorsally ( Fig. 1 ). Plate of genital gonopore orange, rectangular, wider than long ( Fig. 3 ). Spinnerets black ( Fig. 3 ). Palp: Femur wide, slightly curved ventrally; with large distinct setae sockets prolaterally which look like pores (arrow, Fig. 11 ). Patella short ( Fig 8, 9 ). Tibia wide, with long and curved scattered setae ( Figs 8, 9 ). Procursus brownish, long, with conical dorsal apophysis and deep ventral notch ( Fig. 8 ). Procursus with distal spine, dark, thin and long, which points toward base of femur ( Fig. 8 ). Procursus with brush of pseudotrichia distally, next to the spine (arrow, Fig. 10 ). Bulb wide and oval, with a sclerotized line retrolaterally ( Fig. 8 ). Bulb with wide embolic sclerites, curved in dorsal view ( Fig. 9 ), located on retrolateral part ( Figs 8, 9 ). Embolus brownish, with a dark conical tip, wide, with spermatic operculum sub-distally ( Fig. 9 ). Measurements: Total length 6.2 (prosoma+opisthosoma). Carapace 2.9 long, 2.7 wide. Clypeus 1.2 long. Diameter AME 0.22, ALE 0.24, PME 0.19, PLE 0.22. Distance AME-PME 0.14, ALE-PME 0.12, PME-PME 0.26. Leg I: 44.8 (11.6+1.2+12.3+17.6+2.1). Tibia II: 8.8, tibia III: 5.9, tibia IV: 8.2; tibia I L/d: 33.

Female (Paratype). Similar to the male, differences: Prosoma: Carapace paler orange than on male, dorsal Tshaped pattern around fovea paler brown than on male ( Fig. 12 ). Clypeus with the brown pattern wider and more marked than on male. Basal third of chelicerae yellow, middle third brown, and distal third orange. Chelicerae with numerous, scattered small setae. Labium and endites paler orange than on male ( Fig. 14 ). Femora yellow, with subdistal rings paler brown than the male. Patellae darker brown distally. Tibiae pale orange, with the basal and distal rings paler brown than on the male. Metatarsi and tarsi I–II darker brown than metatarsi and tarsi III–IV. Opisthosoma: Longer than high, bigger than on the male ( Fig. 13 ). Epigynum: Wider than long ( Fig. 15 ). Ventral apophyses of epigynum paired and conical ( Figs 15, 16 ). Pore plates long and wide ( Fig. 17 ). Measurements: Total length 7.8. Carapace 2.7 long, 2.9 wide. Clypeus 0.9 long. Diameter AME 0.20, ALE 0.22, PME 0.16, PLE 0.21. Distance AME-PME 0.14, ALE-PME 0.14, PME-PME 0.20. Leg I: 32.5 (9.4+1.0+8.5+12.2+1.3). Tibia II: 5.9, tibia III: 4.1, tibia IV: 6.2; tibia I L/d 21.

Natural history. The type specimens were collected in a dry tropical forest. The specific microhabitat where the specimens were collected is unknown.

Distribution. Peribán, Michoacán, Mexico, type locality ( Fig. 34 ).

Figures

FIGURE 34. Distribution records of Physocyclus peribanensis sp. nov. (square) and Physocyclus paredesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 (diamonds).

FIGURES 1 – 11. Physocyclus peribanensis sp. nov. Male (holotype). 1 – 3, Habitus, dorsal, lateral, and ventral views respectively. 4, Carapace and chelicerae, frontal view. 5, Carapace dorsal view. 6 – 7, Chelicerae, frontal and lateral views respectively. 8, 9, 11, Left palp, retrolateral, dorsal, and prolateral views respectively (left arrow on Fig. 8 indicates the dorsal apophysis on the procursus, right arrow indicates the ventral notch basally on the procursus; arrow on Fig. 9 indicates the three distal projections on procursus; arrow on Fig. 11 indicates the setae sockets which look like pores). 10, Detail of the three distal projections on procursus (arrow indicates the brush of pseudotrichia). Scales: 0.5 mm (Figs 6, 7), 1 mm (Figs 1 – 5, 8, 9, 11). Abbreviations: BU, bulb of the palp; ES, embolic sclerites; LAC, lateral apophyses of chelicerae; SF, stridulatory files of chelicerae; SO, spermatic operculum.

FIGURES 12 – 17. Physocyclus peribanensis sp. nov. Female (paratype). 12 – 14, Habitus, dorsal, lateral, and ventral views respectively. 15, Epigynum, ventral view. 16, Epigynum, left lateral view. 17, Epigynum, dorsal view. Scales: 0.5 mm (Figs 15 – 17), 1 mm (Figs 12 – 14). Abbreviations: PP, pore plates; VAE, ventral apophyses of epigynum.