Sphingius vivax ( Thorell, 1897 )

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, Neotype designation for Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890, synonymies, new records and descriptions of six new species from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Liocranidae), Zootaxa 3066, pp. 1-20 : 18-19

Sphingius vivax ( Thorell, 1897)

Figure 4

Thamphilus vivax Thorell: Thorell, 1897 : 233; description of female.

Alaeho linoi Barrion & Litsinger: Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 : 170, figs 97a–d; description of male. Sphingius vivax (Thorell) : Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 494, figs 840–842.

Type material. Holotype, S. vivax (Thorell, 1897) : ♀, MAYANMAR: Moulmein: 1885-1889, leg. L. Fea ( MSNG, examined). Original label: Thamphilus vivax Thor. Birmania: Moulmein. Fea .

Syntypes ( S. tristiculus Simon, 1903 ): ♂, ♀, VIETNAM: Phuc Son: no date, no collector ( MNHN AR 22089, examined) .

New material. THAILAND: Surat Thani Province: Khao Sok NP, sifting leaf and decomposing organic litter, 25. March 2000, leg. P. Dankittipakul, 1♂, 1♀ ( THNM, 6569) . MALAYSIA: Kedah State: Langkawi Island, Mt. Raya, 700–800 m, 31 August 2004, A. Schulz, 1♀ ( MHNG, AS- 04/18) .

Remarks. The female holotype of S. vivax is recognized by an oval epigynal atrium which is situated anterior to a pair of spherical spermathecae ( Fig. 4 ). The female syntype of S. tristiculus Simon, 1903 , described from northern Vietnam ( Fig. 3 ), closely resembles that of S. vivax . However, the anterior margin of the epigynal atrium is evenly arched instead of triangular. The male palpal structures are almost identical between these two species except a slight difference in the shape of the median apophysis. This is probably due to expansion of the palp in S. tristiculus which appears inflated and somewhat twisted. Although S. tristiculus falls within the distribution range of a widely distributed S. vivax , which was also reported from Vietnam ( Deeleman-Reinhold 2001), the synonymy of S. tristiculus seems premature at this stage. Further resolution of the affinities of these two species must await an intensive collecting.

Distribution. Myanmar, Thailand (new record), Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Sphingius scrobiculatus Thorell, holotype male from Palon, Myanmar (1). Sphingius gracilis (Thorell), female specimen from Palon, Myanamar (2). Sphingius tristiculus Simon, syntype female from Vietnam (3). Sphingius vivax (Thorell), holotype female from Moulmein, Myanmar (4). Sphingius superbus sp. nov., holotype male (5). 1 Left male palp, retrolateral. 2 – 4 Epigyne, ventral. 5 Ventral scutum of male showing group of bristles.