Pholcus ovatus Yao & Li, 2012

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 ovatus Yao & Li, 2012

Pholcus ovatus Yao and Li (2012: 28), figs 134A-D, 135A-E, 136A-D, 137A-D.

Material examined.

1♂ (SYNU-Ar00120F) 1♀ (SYNU-Ar00121F), China, Shaanxi, Xi’an, Zhouzhi County, Banfangzi Town (type locality), roadside of G108 (33°48.02'N, 107°59.08'E, 1165 m elev.), 31 July 2022, Z. Yao, L. Yang & L. Zhang leg.

Diagnosis.

The species resembles P. taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992 ( Yao and Li 2012: 34, figs 169A-D, 170A-C) with similar male chelicerae and epigyne (figs 135A, 136B, C, 137C in Yao and Li (2012)), but it can be distinguished by sclerotised prolatero-subdistal apophysis of procursus prolatero-proximally strongly widened (figs 134C, 137A in Yao and Li (2012); not widened in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169C in Yao and Li (2012)), by raised prolatero-subdistal membranous edge of procursus laterally strongly curved (figs 134D, 137B in Yao and Li (2012); laterally angular in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169D in Yao and Li 2012), by appendix median branch length/appendix length ratio: 0.5 (figs 134A, 136A in Yao and Li (2012); 0.2 in P. taibaiensis , fig. 169A in Yao and Li (2012)) and by vulval anterior arch postero-medially strongly protruding (figs 135B, 137D in Yao and Li (2012); not protruding in P. taibaiensis , fig. 170B in Yao and Li (2012)).

Natural history.

The species was found on the underside of an overhang on rock 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.