Psechrus ghecuanus Thorell, 1897

Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), Zootaxa 3379 (1), pp. 1-170 : 75-80

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3379.1.1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6303166

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D0272654-FFCA-580C-FF20-2A5AFC91464E

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Psechrus ghecuanus Thorell, 1897
status

 

Psechrus ghecuanus Thorell, 1897 View in CoL

Figs 37a–g View FIGURES 37 , 38a–f View FIGURES 38 , 39a–h View FIGURES 39 , 40a–d View FIGURES 40 , 82e View FIGURES 82 , 85j View FIGURES 85 , 88k View FIGURES 88 , 91k View FIGURES 91

Psechrus ghecuanus Thorell 1897: 101 View in CoL (Description of s.a. ♀). [Syntypes: 2 s.a. ♀♀ (SB 221–222) from MYANMAR ( BIRMA): Kayin Province: Ghecu, Mt. Carin (presently near Dedako), ca. N 19°17', E 96°42'30'', 500–1000 m; Leonardo Fea leg. 1885–1889; Thorell det. 20.X.1896; Thorell Coll. No. 68; Mus. civ. Gen. ded.; NRS; 1 p. s.a. ♀ (SB 772) with same data as above; ZMUC 13112; 1 p. s.a. ♀ (SB 773) with same data as above; ZMH, all type material examined]. Pocock 1900: 211. Kulczyṅski 1908: 567. Berland and Berland 1914: 133. Fage 1929: 360. Lehtinen 1967: 260 (Syn. with Psechrus torvus View in CoL , rejected by subsequent authors). Levi 1982: 123, figs 29–33, ad part, figs 32–33 misidentified (Description of ♀, figs 29–31: illustration of s.a. ♀ and ♀). Yin et al. 1985: 19, figs 1A–I (Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). Song et al. 1999: 397, figs 232A–B, M–N (Illustration of ♂ and ♀). Wang and Yin 2001: 333, figs 5–8 (Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). Jäger 2007: 45. Sebastian and Peter 2009: 528.

Additional material examined (6 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, 7 s.a. ♂♂, 5 s.a. ♀♀, 4 juvs). MYANMAR: Kayin Province: Tenasserim, Mulayit Taung ( Mt. Mooleyit ), 1600–1900 m; L. Fea leg. 1885–1889; T. Thorell det. 1898; 2 ♀♀ ( SB 820–821 , checked via photos of dorsal and ventral habitus and epigyne, kindly provided by Pakawin Dankittipakul ), MCSN . LAOS: Luang Nam Tha Province: Muang Sing, Nam Det , N 21°10'11.6'' – 21°09'59'', E 101°14'26.7'' – 101°14'44.5'', 820–1100 m, secondary forest, along path; P. Jäger & V. Vedel leg. 06.XI.2004; 3 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 2 , 837–838 ), 4 s.a. ♂♂ ( SB 832–835 ), 3 juvs ( SB 60 , 836 , 839 ), SMF GoogleMaps . Vieng Phoukha , N of V.P., N 20°41'36.9'', E 101°02'17.5'', ca. 700 m, between villages, slope at wayside; P. Jäger leg. 05. III GoogleMaps .2008; 2 ♂♂ ( SB 28 , 36 ), 5 ♀♀ ( SB 29–31 , 37 , 39 ), 1 s.a. ♀ ( SB 37 , with fully developed adult epigyne underneath cuticle) SMF . THAILAND: Mae Hong Son Province: Sop Pong, Tham Lot Cave (8 km N of S.P.), ca. N 19°34', E 98°18'; V. & B. Roth leg. 05.–11. III GoogleMaps .1990; 1 ♂ ( SB 780 ), 2 s.a. ♂♂ ( SB 779 , 781 ), USNM . Chiang Mai Province: Chiang Mai District, Mae Rim (near Chiang Mai ), secondary Ficus forest on a ridge of hill, in a small tree hole; H. Ono leg. 14.X.2009 as immature, reared, adult III .2010; 1 ♂ ( SB 613 ), NSMT. Chiang Mai District, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park , N 18°48'46'', E 98°56'34'', 450 m, evergreen rainforest; P. Schwendinger leg. 30.XII.2009; 1 s.a. ♂ ( SB 421 ), SMF GoogleMaps . Chiang Rai Province: Phan District, Doi Luang National Park, Poo Kaeng Waterfalls , 500 m, 50 m W of WF, trail through evergreen forest; P. Dankittipakul leg. 20. II .2007; 1 ♂ ( SB 207 ), 1 s.a. ♀ ( SB 208 ), MHNG . Lam Pang Province: Ban Dong District , Tham Pha Thai, 300 m, secondary forest in front of cave entrance; P. Dankittipakul leg. 24.VI.2002; 1 ♀ ( SB 201 ), 1 juv. ( SB 786 ), SMF . Lamphun Province: Mae Tha District, Doi Khuntan National Park , 750 m; P. Schwendinger leg. 30.I.1997; 1 ♂ ( SB 145 ), MHNG .

Doubtful material examined. MYANMAR: Sagaing Province: Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Log Cabin , N 22°19'08'', E 94°28'32''; J. Coddington & R. Babtista leg. 20.–25.X.1998; 1 p. s.a. ♀ ( SB 774 ), 4 juvs ( SB 775–778 ), USNM GoogleMaps . CHINA: Yunnan Province: Baoshan Prefecture, Bawan , N 24°57', E 98°50', 950 m, weedy vegetation and road cuts; C. Griswold & D. Kavanaugh leg. 08.XI.1998; 2 s.a. ♀♀ ( SB 957–958 ), 1 p. s.a. ♂ ( SB 956 ), CAS 9023974 GoogleMaps .

Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Males similar to P. pakawini sp. nov. in having a quite strongly sclerotised, semicircular extension apically on tegulum (T) (see asterisk in Fig. 39g View FIGURES 39 ). Distinguished by the shorter embolus (E) and conductor (C) (the former with proximal section in ventral view compress) and the less proximally extending sperm duct ( Fig. 37b View FIGURES 37 ). Moreover, E arising distal to arising point of C. Females similar to P. pakawini in shape of epigyne and vulva. Distinguished by the margins of lateral lobes (LL), which are at most 100° curved anteriorly and point medially ( Fig. 37d View FIGURES 37 ) or at least almost medially, and by the shorter copulatory ducts (should be viewed from frontal, Fig. 37g View FIGURES 37 ) extending less medially.

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.2–9.4, carapace width 4.4–7.3, anterior width of carapace 2.3–3.3, opisthosoma length 7.7–12.9, opisthosoma width 2.6–5.1. Eyes: AME 0.32–0.38, ALE 0.35–0.46, PME 0.39–0.47, PLE 0.37–0.47, AME–AME 0.13–0.17, AME–ALE 0.04–0.06, PME–PME 0.22–0.28, PME–PLE 0.24–0.35, AME–PME 0.53–0.57, ALE–PLE 0.38–0.54, clypeus height at AME 0.69–0.99, clypeus height at ALE 0.58–0.93.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 7.8–10.4 [2.9–3.7, 1.3–2.1, 1.2–1.5, 2.4–3.1]; Legs: I 46.0–61.3 [12.0–16.9, 2.8–4.4, 12.4–16.6, 12.8–16.4, 6.0–7.0], II 37.5–49.1 [10.0–14.3, 2.6–3.9, 9.8–12.9, 10.2–12.6, 4.9–5.4], III 26.3–34.3 [7.6–10.2, 2.0–3.1, 6.4–8.1, 6.9–8.8, 3.4–4.1], IV 39.5–51.3 [10.5–14.7, 2.4–3.6, 9.9–12.6, 11.3–14.0, 5.4–6.4].

Spination (most common pattern, the second most common state in parentheses).

Palp: 131, 110 (010), 1101 (0000); legs: femur I 566 (666), II–III 555, IV 555 (565); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3034 (3134), IV 3036 (3034); metatarsus I 3035 (4035,4037), II–IV 3035.

Palpal femur without modification, broadest distally ( Fig. 39d View FIGURES 39 ).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). Conductor slightly Sshaped medially, with flat protrusion subdistally ( Figs 37a–c View FIGURES 37 ). Tegulum in lateral view apically pointed ( Figs 37a,c View FIGURES 37 , 39f,h View FIGURES 39 ). Palpal tibia in lateral view short to medium sized ( Figs 37a,c View FIGURES 37 ). Cymbium dorsally without scopula.

Female:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.1–11.2, carapace width 5.5–7.8, anterior width of carapace 3.2–4.4, opisthosoma length 10.2–13.1, opisthosoma width 4.7–7.5. Eyes: AME 0.38–0.46, ALE 0.42–0.51, PME 0.47–0.53, PLE 0.46–0.53, AME–AME 0.20–0.29, AME–ALE 0.07–0.08, PME–PME 0.24–0.38, PME–PLE 0.40–0.48, AME–PME 0.71–0.81, ALE–PLE 0.52–0.64, clypeus height at AME 0.92–1.14, clypeus height at ALE 0.86–1.13.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 9.4–11.2 [3.1–4.0, 1.4–1.8, 1.8–2.0, 3.1–3.4]; Legs: I 47.3–53.6 [13.1–15.1, 3.6–4.6, 12.8–14.7, 12.3–13.4, 5.5–5.8], II 39.2–44.8 [11.4–13.3, 3.2–4.2, 10.2–11.6, 9.9–10.8, 4.5–4.9], III 28.2–32.3 [8.6–9.8, 2.6–3.3, 6.8–7.6, 6.9–7.8, 3.3–3.8], IV 40.1–46.0 [11.6–13.3, 2.8–3.6, 10.2–11.8, 10.3–12.0, 4.9–5.3]. Thus, legs in females, in relation to other Psechrus species , short: FEM-I+MTT-I/ CL: 2.5–3.1.

Palpal claw with 12–15 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I 566 (556,667), II 566, III–IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3036 (3035,3026), IV 3036; metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3035 (3024).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Epigyne with bulges in the regions of the CO. Median septum with fine transversal ridge with both ends curved anteriorly ( Fig. 37d View FIGURES 37 ). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field (EF). Anterior to epigyne many slightly curved wrinkles.

Primordial copulatory organ. Pre-epigyne: In general shape cross rectangular ( Figs 38a–b,d View FIGURES 38 ) and similar to P. pakawini sp. nov. Distinguished by the presence of an imhomogeneous pre-EF consisting of two parts ( Figs 38a–b,d View FIGURES 38 ).

Pre-vulva: Pre-vulva similar to P. pakawini sp. nov. Distinguished by the further developed pre-SH ( Fig. 38c View FIGURES 38 ).

Pre-pre-epigyne ( Fig. 38f View FIGURES 38 ) resembles already the pre-epigyne, but pre-pre-EF ( Fig. 38f View FIGURES 38 ) far less distinct than pre-EF ( Fig. 38b View FIGURES 38 ).

Pre-pre-vulva: Less structured ( Fig. 38e View FIGURES 38 ) than pre-vulva.

Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus ). Median bands on carapace serrated ( Fig. 82e View FIGURES 82 ). Some specimens with narrow, dark extensions connecting them (median bands) with the lateral bands. Lateral bands narrow (ca. diameter of PME) and serrated ( Fig. 82e View FIGURES 82 ). Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous, its width medium-sized. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is less than the width of one half of the cribellum (ca. 0.5–0.8 of one half of the cribellum).

Variation of copulatory organs. In males E and C may be a bit longer ( Figs 39a–c View FIGURES 39 ) than is generally found ( Figs 37a–c View FIGURES 37 ). Direction of semicircular extension of T slightly differs ( Figs 37b View FIGURES 37 , 39b,e,g View FIGURES 39 ). Females: Distal parts of margins of LL may be extending less medially ( Fig. 40c View FIGURES 40 ). MS may be slightly longer ( Fig. 40a View FIGURES 40 ). In vulva SH may be longer ( Fig. 40b View FIGURES 40 ) than is generally found ( Figs 37e View FIGURES 37 , 40d View FIGURES 40 ).

Remarks: Levi (1982) was the first to illustrate the female copulatory organ of this species. He examined an adult female from Doi Suthep, Thailand and considered it conspecific with the subadult syntypes of P. ghecuanus . As a reason for that, he stated that “The leg proportions were identical...” and “...the recording localities of the mature females from Thailand are close to the type locality in Burma ” ( Levi 1982). In the present study eight females and five subadult females were examined. In some cases subadults and adults from exactly the same recording locality. In one case (SB 37) a subadult female was close to adult moult and the epigyne was already fully developed underneath the old cuticle. The pre-epigynes of all five subadults corresponded to those of the syntypes. Moreover, Thorell himself identified adult females from (the present) Kayin Prov., Myanmar sub P. ghecuanus . This material still exists, was examined for the present study (see SB 820–821 in material list, above) and the epigynes corresponded to the ones of the other females examined herein. So the females examined in Levi (1982, figs 30–31), Yin et al. (1985), Song et al. (1999), Wang and Yin (2001) and in the present study unambiguously belong to P. ghecuanus . Yin et al. (1985) first described and illustrated the male of P. ghecuanus . They identified female Psechrus specimens collected together with —at that time— unknown males from Southern China as P. ghecuanus by using the revision of Levi (1982). In the present study (among others) material from Chiang Rai Province, Thailand was checked, a subadult female and an adult male from exactly the same locality. As the subadult female could be identified as P. ghecuanus , it is certain, that the males examined in Yin et al. (1985), in Song et al. (1999), in Wang and Yin (2001) and in the present study unambiguously belong to P. ghecuanus .

Distribution. Myanmar, China, Laos, Thailand ( Fig. 98 View FIGURE 98 ).

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

SMF

Forschungsinstitut und Natur-Museum Senckenberg

MHNG

Museum d'Histoire Naturelle

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Psechridae

Genus

Psechrus

Loc

Psechrus ghecuanus Thorell, 1897

Bayer, Steffen 2012
2012
Loc

Psechrus ghecuanus

Sebastian, P. A. & Peter, K. V. 2009: 528
Jager, P. 2007: 45
Wang, X. P. & Yin, C. M. 2001: 333
Song, D. X. & Zhu, M. S. & Chen, J. 1999: 397
Yin, C. M. & Wang, J. F. & Zhang, Y. J. 1985: 19
Levi, H. W. 1982: 123
Lehtinen, P. T. 1967: 260
Fage, L. 1929: 360
Berland, J. & Berland, L. 1914: 133
Pocock, R. I. 1900: 211
Thorell, T. 1897: 101
1897
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