The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae: Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level
Rix, Michael
Harvey, Mark
ZooKeys
2010
2010-02-22
36
36
1
321
Rix & Harvey
Rix & Harvey
2010
[140,600,1433,1460]
Arachnida
Micropholcommatidae
Normplatnicka
Animalia
Araneae
64
65
Arthropoda
species
chilensis
sp. nov.
Figs 99C, 102–103, 212
Typematerial. Holotypemale: Parque Nacional Queulat, near Puerto Cisnes, Aisén province, Región Ibáñez del Campo, Chile, 500 m, wet forest, 6.II.1985, N. Platnick, O. Francke( AMNH). Paratypes: Allotypefemale, same data as holotype ( AMNH); 1 female, same data as holotype( AMNH). Othermaterial examined. CHILE: Región XI (Ibáñez del Campo): Aisén: 30 kmN. of Puyuhuapi, 100 m, sifted moss on logs, 29.I.1985, S. & J. Peck, 1♀( AMNH). Región X ( Los Lagos): Chiloé:Chiloé Island, 5 kmN. of Quellon, 105 m, Berlese from modified forest, floor litter and moss, 1.XII.1981, N. Platnick, T. Schuh, 2♀( AMNH). Llanquihue:Alerce Andino, near Laguna Fria, Berlese from mixed forest with Fitzroya cupresoides, 41°30'30"S, 72°37'00"W, 21.XII.2000, J. Miller, F. Alvarez, J. Coddington, 2♁ ( NMNH).
Etymology.The specific epithet refers to the distribution of this species in Chile.
Diagnosis.Males of Normplatnicka chilensiscan be distinguished from all other described congeners by the presence of a broad, flange-like distal apophysis on the pedipalpal patella (Fig. 103B). Females can be distinguished from all other described congeners by the distinctive shape of the external epigyne (Fig. 102D). Both sexes can also be recognised by the Chilean distribution (Fig. 212). In the field this species is likely to be confused only with the sympatric species Eperiella alsophila, which has a very different male pedipalp and female epigyne.
Description. Holotypemale: Total length 0.88. Carapace 0.48 long, 0.37 wide. Abdomen 0.49 long, 0.33 wide. Leg I femur 0.33. Cephalothorax, legs tan-yellow; abdomen cream dorsally with chequered olive and cream pattern laterally and ventrally. Carapace raised anteriorly, not fused to sternum except around petiole; dorsal surface of pars cephalica slightly convex in lateral view. Eight eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica; AME 0.6x diameter of ALE; PME separated by their own diameter. Chelicerae each with bulging anterior projection; promargin with three peg teeth. Legs relatively short (leg I femur-carapace ratio 0.69); macrosetae absent. Abdomen oval, covered with hair-like setae; dorsal scute and lateral sclerotic strips absent. Pedipalpal patella with retrolaterally-directed, hooked lRPA, broad, flange-like distal apophysis and ornate, ridged cuticular microstructure; tegulum smooth, with excavate ETR and large, ventrally-pronounced tegular extension; embolus short (length <5× width), spur-like, situated at apical margin of tegular extension adjacent to small, pointed process (Fig. 103). Allotypefemale: Total length 1.04. Carapace 0.47 long, 0.39 wide. Abdomen 0.73 long, 0.49 wide. Leg I femur 0.35. Cephalothorax, legs tan-yellow; abdomen cream with darker tan-yellow epigyne. Carapace raised anteriorly, not fused to sternum except around petiole; dorsal surface of pars cephalica slightly convex in lateral view. Eight eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica; AME 0.5x diameter of ALE; PME separated by slightly less than their own diameter. Chelicerae without bulging anterior projections; promargin without peg teeth. Legs relatively short (leg I femurcarapace ratio 0.74); macrosetae absent. Abdomen oval, covered with hair-like setae; dorsal scute and lateral sclerotic strips absent. Pedipalp entire, five-segmented. Epigyne with distinctive external morphology (Fig. 102D); spermathecae globular, spherical; insemination ducts proximally triangular, heavily sclerotised; fertilisation ducts simple, curved ( Fig. 99C).
Distribution.Known only from southern Chile, in Región Ibáñez del Campo ( Aisén province) and Región de los Lagos(Chiloé and Llanquihue provinces) (Fig. 212).
Remarks. Normplatnicka chilensisis a remarkable Chilean textricellin, clearly congeneric with, and very similar to, the Australian species N. lamingtonensis. It is known only from the cool-temperate rainforests of southern Chile, in the regions surrounding Chiloé Island, and has usually been collected in direct sympatry with Eperiella alsophila(Fig. 212).
2608826046
1985-02-06
AMNH
N. Platnick & O. Francke
Chile
Region Ibanez del Campo
500
Parque Nacional Queulat
Puerto Cisnes
64
65
1
Aysen
holotype
2608826051
1985-02-06
AMNH
N. Platnick & O. Francke
Chile
Region Ibanez del Campo
500
Parque Nacional Queulat
Puerto Cisnes
65
66
1
1
Aysen
allotype