Psechrus steineri Bayer & Jäger, 2010

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 62-64

Psechrus steineri Bayer & Jäger, 2010

Figs 30a–g , 85f , 88f , 91f

Psechrus steineri Bayer and Jäger 2010: 59 , figs 1–9, 54, 57 ( Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). [Holotype ♀ ( SB 65 ) from LAOS: Khammouan Province: Ban Nong Ping, Xe Bangfai cave system, Tham Pha Leusi, N 17°22'23.4'', E 105°50'28.4'', ca. 300 m, inside cave; H. Steiner leg. 15.II.2007; SMF; Paratype: 1 ♂ ( SB 64 ), same data as for holotype; SMF; all type material examined].

Additional material examined. LAOS: Khammouan Province: Ban Nong Ping, Xe Bangfai cave system, Tham Pha Leusi , N 17°22'23.4'', E 105°50'28.4'', ca. 300 m, inside cave; H. Steiner leg. 15. II.2007; 1 juv. ( SB 66 ), SMF .

Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for ancoralis -group above). Males similar to P. khammouan in having bulky tegulum (T) and narrow conductor (C). Distinguished by the shorter embolus (E) and C, the even more bulky and larger T ( Figs 30a–c ), the differently shaped embolus base (EB) and the median ridge distally on conductor ( Fig. 30b ). Females similar to P. khammouan in having median septum (MS) with lateral margins diverging ( Figs 29e , 30e ), initial sections of copulatory ducts (CD) running transversally and spermathecal heads clearly separated from spermathecae ( Figs 29b , 30f ). Distinguished by the strongly diverging margins of MS causing anterior sections running almost parallel with epigastric furrow ( Fig. 30e ). Moreover, CD distinctly shorter ( Fig. 30f ).

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.4, carapace width 5.8, anterior width of carapace 3.1, opisthosoma length 9.6, opisthosoma width 3.8. Eyes: AME 0.42, ALE 0.48, PME 0.52, PLE 0.49, AME–AME 0.22, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.35, PME–PLE 0.39, AME–PME 0.62, ALE–PLE 0.43, clypeus height at AME 1.04, clypeus height at ALE 0.95.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 9.8 [3.6, 1.8, 1.6, 2.8]; Legs: I 65.9 [16.9, 3.9, 18.5, 19.5, 7.1], II 49.0 [13.0, 3.6, 13.5, 13.2, 5.7], III 33.9 [9.8, 2.8, 8.3, 9.1, 3.9], IV 50.6 [13.5, 3.0, 13.0, 14.7, 6.4].

Spination. Palp: 131, 010, 0100; legs: femur I 666, II 566, III 656{555}, IV 565; patella I–IV 000; tibia I 3037{3038}, II 3038, III–IV 3035; metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3034.

Palpal femur not very slim, without modification ( Fig. 30d ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for ancoralis -group). Conductor (C) distally folded ventrad ( Figs 30b–c ). Tegulum with rounded “corner” ( Fig. 30b ) close to the arising point of E. Palpal tibia ( Figs 30a–c ) relatively short and bulky ( Figs 30a–c ).

Female:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.2, carapace width 5.5, anterior width of carapace 3.4, opisthosoma length 10.2, opisthosoma width 4.6. Eyes: AME 0.47, ALE 0.50, PME 0.50, PLE 0.49, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.48, AME–PME 0.65, ALE–PLE 0.50, clypeus height at AME 1.19, clypeus height at ALE 1.04.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four (five, right) retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 9.5 [3.3, 1.5, 1.9, 2.8]; Legs: I 50.1 [13.9, 3.4, 14.2, 13.0, 5.6], II 40.0 [11.4, 3.2, 10.8, 10.2, 4.4], III 27.6 [8.3, 2.3, 6.8, 7.1, 5.1], IV 41.1 [11.8, 2.8, 10.6, 10.8, 5.1].

Palpal claw with 13 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131{141}, 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I–II 556, III 555, IV 554; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3134(dorsal one small), IV 3135(dorsal one small); metatarsus I–IV 3035.

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of ancoralis -group). Epigynal muscle sigilla and slit sense organs outside epigynal field ( Fig. 30e ). Spermathecal heads located anterio-medially. Spermatheca irregularly shaped ( Fig. 30f , 91f ).

Colouration of male and female (see also description for ancoralis -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace not serrated. Lateral bands extremely narrow or not even recognisable (at most 1/4 diameter of PME), not serrated. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous and narrow. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is ca. 1/2 the width of one half of the cribellum.

Distribution. Laos ( Fig. 98 ).

Figures

FIGURES 29a–e. Psechrus khammouan, from Laos, Khammouan Prov., ♀ copulatory organ. a–c ♀ paratype SB 1040. d–e ♀ SB 379. a, e Epigyne, ventral view. b, d Vulva, dorsal view. c Schematic course of internal duct system. CD: Copulatory duct; EF: Epigynal field. EM: Epigynal muscle sigilla; FD: Fertilisation duct; LL: Lateral lobe; MS: Median septum; SBA: Spermathecal base; SH: Spermathecal head; SO: Slit sense organ; W: Wrinkles anteriorly in EF.

FIGURES 30a–g. Psechrus steineri, from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. a–d ♂ paratype SB 64. e–g ♀ holotype SB 65. a–c ♂ palp (a prolateral, b ventral, c retrolateral view). d ♂ left palpal femur, retrolateral view. e Epigyne, ventral view. f Vulva, dorsal view. g Schematic course of internal duct system.

FIGURES 85a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of left ♂ palp, ventral view (a, c–o) and retrolatero-ventral view (b). a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. himalayanus. h P. marsyandi. i P. inflatus sp. nov. j P. ghecuanus. k P.pakawini sp. nov. l P. luangprabang. m P.demiror sp. nov.? n P. jaegeri sp. nov. o P.vivax sp. nov. a ♂ SB 321 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♂ SB 122 from Vietnam, Lang Son Prov. c ♂ holotype SB 367 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♂ paratype SB 7 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♂ SB 381 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♂ paratype SB 64 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♂ SB 17 from Nepal, Rapti Prov. h ♂ holotype SB 79 from Nepal, Gandaki Prov. i ♂ holotype SB 952 from China, Yunnan Prov. j ♂ SB 36 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. k ♂ paratype SB 142 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. l ♂ SB 459 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. m ♂ SB 329 from “Indochina”. n ♂ paratype SB 302 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♂ holotype SB 367 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 88a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of epigyne, ventral view. a P. ancoralis. b P.rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 372 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 961 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 607 from Bhutan, Timphu Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 213 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURES 91a–o. Psechrus spp., photos of vulva, dorsal view. a P. ancoralis. b P. rani. c P.laos sp. nov. d P. antraeus. e P. khammouan. f P. steineri. g P. inflatus sp. nov. h P. himalayanus. i P. marsyandi. j P. pakawini sp. nov. k P. ghecuanus. l P. demiror sp. nov. m P. luangprabang. n P.jaegeri sp. nov. o P. vivax sp. nov. a ♀ SB 324 from Laos, Luang Prabang Prov. b ♀ SB 818 from China, Hongkong. c ♀ paratype SB 374 from Laos, Bolikhamsay Prov. d ♀ SB 294 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. e ♀ SB 382 from Laos, Khammouan Prov. f ♀ holotype SB 65 from Laos, Khammouan Prov., Xe Bangfai cave system. g ♀ paratype SB 951 from China, Yunnan Prov. h ♀ SB 988 from India, Uttarakhand Prov. i ♀ paratype SB 227 from Nepal, Dhawalagiri Prov. j ♀ paratype SB 214 from Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. k ♀ SB 39 from Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov. l ♀ holotype SB 331 from “Indochina”. m ♀ SB 424 from Laos, Vientiane Prov. n ♀ paratype SB 300 from Laos, Champasak Prov. o ♀ paratype SB 366 from Thailand, Trat Prov., Koh Chang.

FIGURE 98. Distribution of Psechrus in continental South East Asia. Symbols (unicoloured): species belonging to the himalayanus-group. Symbols (black, filled with light colour): species belonging to the ancoralis-group. Distribution of Psechrus in northern Vietnam, see Fig. 96. The distribution of P. demiror sp. nov. is unclear (see corresponding species description), hence the violet, unicoloured trapezes are depicted with question mark each.