Pholcus taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992

Yang, Lan, He, Qiaoqiao & Yao, Zhiyuan, 2024, Taxonomic study of four closely-related species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from China's Qinling Mountains: An integrated morphological and molecular approach, Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (1), pp. 279-289 : 279

Pholcus taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992

Pholcus taibaiensis Wang and Zhu (1992: 20), figs 1-6. Song, Zhu and Chen (1999: 63), fig. 25I-K. Zhang and Zhu (2009: 90), fig. 52A-I. Huber (2011b: 451), figs 2097-2099, 2124, 2125, 2178-2183, 2185 and 2199. Yao and Li (2012: 34), figs 169A-D, 170A-C.

Material examined.

3♂ (SYNU-Ar00130F-Ar00132F) 3♀ (SYNU-Ar00133F-Ar00135F), China, Shaanxi, Baoji, Mei County, Yingtou Town , near Haopingsi Temple (type locality) (34°5.32'N, 107°42.33'E, 1101 m elev.), 30 July 2022, Z. Yao, L. Yang & L. Zhang leg.

Diagnosis.

The species resembles P. ovatus Yao & Li, 2012 ( Yao and Li 2012: 28, figs 134A-D, 135A-E, 136A-D, 137A-D) with similar male chelicerae and epigyne (fig. 170A in Yao and Li (2012)), but it can be distinguished by sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis of procursus not widened prolatero-proximally (fig. 169C in Yao and Li (2012); strongly widened in P. ovatus , figs 134C, 137A in Yao and Li (2012)), by raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge of procursus laterally angular (fig. 169D in Yao and Li (2012); laterally strongly curved in P. ovatus , figs 134D, 137B in Yao and Li (2012)), by appendix median branch length/appendix length ratio: 0.2 (fig. 169A in Yao and Li (2012); 0.5 in P. ovatus , figs 134A, 136A in Yao and Li (2012)) and by vulval anterior arch not protruding postero-medially (fig. 170B in Yao and Li (2012); strongly protruding in P. ovatus , figs 135B, 137D in Yao and Li (2012)).

Natural history.

The species was found on the underside of an overhang on rocky cliffs.

Distribution.

China (Shaanxi, Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution records of four closely-related species of Pholcus from the Qinling Mountains, China. 1. Pholcus ankang sp. nov.; 2. P. baoji sp. nov.; 3. P. ovatus; 4. P. taibaiensis.