Liphistius tioman, Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984

Peter J. Schwendinger, 2017, A revision of the trapdoor spider genus Liphistius (Mesothelae: Liphistiidae) in peninsular Malaysia; part 1, Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2), pp. 391-445 : 410

The tioman -group

Diagnosis: Medium-sized to large (carapace length of males 6.23-11.30, carapace length 6.01-10.04), uniformly dark-coloured spiders. Similar to species of the malayanus -group, distinguished by distal edge of contrategulum proventrally not ending in a V-shaped or U-shaped row of denticles; ventral process of contrategulum well-developed, basally wide ( Figs 10B , 11F , 14 C-D); para-embolic plate more elevated ( Figs 11 B-E, 14E-F); poreplate with CDO medium-sized and undivided ( Fig. 12A, C, F ) or large and divided by a more or less distinctly developed longitudinal bridge ( Figs 13A , C-D, G; 14I); receptacular cluster mediumsized, more or less distinctly divided into two halves by a longitudinal trench ( Figs 12B , D-E, G; 13B, E-F, H; 14J).

Species included: Liphistius negara sp. nov., L. panching and L. tioman .

Relationships: Species of the tioman -group are similar and probably closely related to species of the malayanus -group. Liphistius panching and L. negara sp. nov. from the mainland are more similar to each other than they are to the very distinct island-dwelling L. tioman .

Distribution: Eastern part of peninsular Malaysia and an offlying island ( Fig. 1 , localities 10-12).

Figures

Fig. 1. Localities of Liphistius species of the malayanus - group, tioman - group, linang - group and batuenis - group in peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand (coast of Sumatra omitted): 1 - Gunung Angsi (type locality of L. malayanus); 2 - Templer Park and Gua Anak Takun (L. malayanus, L. batuensis); 3 - Genting Highlands (L. malayanus); 4 - Fraser’s Hill (L. malayanus); 5 - Cameron Highlands (type locality of L. malayanus cameroni); 6 - Sungai Jasin in Endau Rompin National Park (type locality of L. endau); 7 - Gunung Belumut (L. endau); 8 - Gunung Muntahak (L. endau; type locality of L. gracilis sp. nov.); 9 - Sungai Rengit (type locality of L. johore); 10 - Gunung Kajang on Tioman Island (type locality of L. tioman); 11 - Gua Charas in Bukit Charas (type locality of L. panching); 12 - Nusa Camp in Taman Negara (type locality of L. negara sp. nov.); 13 - Jeram Linang Waterfall (type locality of L. linang sp. nov.); 14 - Sankalakhierie Mountains (type locality of L. indra); 15 - Batu Caves (type locality of L. batuensis); 16 - Gua Tempurung (type locality of L. tempurung); 17 - Gua Cicak (L. tempurung); 18 - Gua Keris (type locality of L. priceae sp. nov). Localities with conspecific populations are encircled. Colours distinguish species groups.

Fig. 10. Liphistius johore, female holotype (A); Liphistius panching, male from type locality (B). (A) Dorsal view of vulval plate (redrawn from Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984: fig. 79) (arrows indicating anterolateral invaginations in margin of poreplate). (B) Distal view of left palpal organ (dorsal side up) (redrawn from Sedgwick & Platnick, 1986: fig. 5).

Fig. 11. Liphistius tioman, details of left and right palp of a male (matured 3. I. 2002) from the type locality; left palp (A-C, E-H) and right palp (D, I). (A) Distal part of tibia and base of tarsus, retroventral view. (B) Palpal organ and tips of bristles on cumulus, retrolateral view. (C) Distal part of cymbium and palpal organ, prolateral view. (D) Palpal organ, retrolateral view. (E) Same, retroventral view. (F) Same, distal view (dorsal side at 1 o’clock). (G) Tibial apophysis, ventral view. (H) Same, retroventral view. (I) Same, retrolateral and slightly proximal view. Abbreviations: e - embolus proper; pe - para-embolic plate; rd - retrodorsal part of tibial apophysis; rv - retroventral part of tibial apophysis; vp - ventral process of contrategulum. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A, G-H; B-E, I; F).

Fig. 12. Liphistius tioman, vulval plate of three females from the type locality: specimen moulted 17. XII. 2001 (A-B); exuvia, moult 7. VI. 2003 (C-E); exuvia, moult 16. II. 2002 (F-G). (A, C, F) Entire structure, dorsal view. (B, D, G) Same, ventral view (vesicles in G omitted). (E) Receptacular cluster, ventral and slightly posterior view. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A-B; C-G).

Fig. 13. Liphistius panching, vulval plate of four female specimens from the type locality: specimen moulted 16. X. 2002 (A-B), moulted VIII. 2005 (C), built egg case 16. VII. 2001 (D-F), moulted 30. XII. 2005 (G-H). (A, C-D, G) Entire structure, dorsal view. (B, E, H) Same, ventral view. (F) Receptacular cluster, ventral and slightly posterior view. Scale lines 1.0 mm: (A-C, F-H; D-E).

Fig. 14. Liphistius negara sp. nov., details of left palp of male holotype (A-C, E-H) and of male paratype (D); vulval plate of female allotype (I-J). (A) Distal part of palp, ventral view. (B) Distal part of tibia and base of tarsus, retroventral view. (C-D) Palpal organ, distal view (dorsal side up). (E) Same, proventral view. (F) Same, retrodorsal view. (G) Tibial apophysis, retrolateral and slightly proximal view. (H) Distal part of cymbium, prolateral view. (I) Vulval plate, dorsal view. (J) Same, ventral view. Abbreviation: t - tooth on distal edge of contrategulum. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (A; B, G-H; C-D; E-F; I-J).