Modisimus cuadro, 2010

Huber, Bernhard A., Fischer, Nadine & Astrin, Jonas J., 2010, High level of endemism in Haiti’s last remaining forests: a revision of Modisimus (Araneae: Pholcidae) on Hispaniola, using morphology and molecules, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158 (2), pp. 244-299 : 283-284

MODISIMUS CUADRO HUBER & FISCHER SP. NOV.

( Figs 56, 78, 99, 111, 112, 173–175, 200)

Type: Male holotype from near La Toma ( 18°27.5 ′ N, 70°07.2 ′ W), San Cristóbal Prov., Dominican Republic;

degraded forest at 70 m a.s.l., near ground, 7 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK (DR 5a).

Etymology: The name is derived from the Spanish cuadro (square), and refers to the square-shaped epigynum; it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized species, distinguished from congeners by barely modified male chelicerae ( Fig. 174; similar to M. pelejil sp. nov.), simple squareshaped epigynum ( Fig. 56), and procursus shape ( Figs 99, 173).

Male ( holotype): Total length, 2.7; carapace width, 1.4. Leg 1: 22.8 (5.9 + 0.4 + 6.1 + 8.8 + 1.6); tibia 2, 4.1; tibia 3, 3.1; tibia 4, 3.8. Tibia 1 L/d: 57. Habitus similar to M. jima sp. nov. (cf. Fig. 19), carapace pale ochre-yellow, with pair of light-brown marks on posterior half, and smaller indistinct pair in front of them; dark median line and wider dark median band visible through cuticle; ocular area laterally brown, clypeus with pair of brown stripes; sternum mostly light brown, whitish medially; legs light brown, tips of femora and tibiae lighter, very indistinct darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae; abdomen bluish grey, densely covered with small black spots dorsally and laterally, with pale-bluish lines dorsally (medially) and laterally (two pairs). Ocular area elevated; thoracic furrow distinct. PME–PME, 135 Mm; PME diameter, 115 Mm; PME–ALE, 150 Mm; AME–AME, 20 Mm; AME diameter, 20 Mm. Sternum wider than long (0.8/0.6), unmodified. Chelicerae barely modified, with slightly stronger hairs proximally, and paler area with few hairs ( Fig. 174). In general, palps very similar to M. kiskeya sp. nov. and M. femoratus (cf. Figs 124, 130), but procursus with distinctive mostly membranous projections distally ( Figs 99, 173). Legs with short spines in single rows on femur 1 (~30 spines) and femur 2 (~20); many short vertical hairs on all femora; no curved hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 11%; prolateral trichobothrium missing on tibia 1, present on other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~25 pseudosegments.

Variation: Tibia 1 in nine other males: 5.2–7.0 (mean 6.1). In some males, the brown marks on the carapace and/or the white-bluish lines on the abdomen are very indistinct; the male from near La Mula and two of the four males from Cuevas Pomier lack spines on femora 1 and 2, but have identical palps and chelicerae.

Female: In general, similar to male; colour variation as in males. Tibia 1 in 12 females: 4.0–4.5 (mean 4.3). Epigynum, a simple brown plate ( Fig. 56); dorsal view as in Figures 78 and 175, with anteriorly converging pore plates.

Distribution and habitat: Known from several localities in the Dominican Republic ( Fig. 200). This species typically occurs close to the ground, under logs and dead leaves, and in low vegetation.

Material examined: Dominican Republic: San Cristóbal Prov., near Toma , 1♂, holotype above; same data, 4♂, 4♀ and four juveniles ( ZFMK, DR 5 ) ; same data, 1♀, in pure ethanol ( ZFMK, DR 100-3 ) ; Borbon, Cuevas Pomier , tropical deciduous forest, 200 m a.s.l., 13–28 July 1995 ( S. & J. Peck), 1♂, #95-23 ( AMNH) ; same data but 28 July–5 August 1995, #95-47, 3♂ ( AMNH) . Borbon, Cuevas Pomier, Cueva Puente , twilight zone, 13 July 1995 ( S. & J. Peck), 1♀, #95-24 ( AMNH) ; Borbon, Cuevas Pomier, C. Funeraria , 250 m a.s.l., 14 July 1995 ( S. & J. Peck), 6♂, 2♀ and three juveniles, #95-28 ( AMNH) ; Borbon, Cuevas Pomier, Cueva La Ligua , 13 July 1995 ( S. & J. Peck), 1♂, #95-25 (part) ( AMNH) . Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Jardín Botánico ( 18°29.7 ′ N, 69°57.2 ′ W), forest along brook, 50 m a.s.l., low vegetation, near ground, 27 November 2005 ( B.A. Huber), 3♀ ( ZFMK, DR 108 ) ; Jardín Botánico , under roof of shelter, 18–22 March 1984 ( H. & L. Levi), 1♂ and 2♀ ( MCZ) . Peravia Prov., near Nizao ( 18°36.0 ′ N, 70°29.2 ′ W), degraded forest along river, 670 m a.s.l., 19 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ ( ZFMK, DR 78 ) . Monte Plata Prov., near Monte Plata ( 18°48.7 ′ N, 69°47.1 ′ W), degraded forest along river, 60 m a.s.l., near ground, 21 November 2005 ( B.A. Huber), 1♂, 2♀ ( ZFMK, DR 92 ) . San Pedro de Macorís Prov., near La Mula ( 18°30.2 ′ N, 69°36.7 ′ W), degraded forest at entrance to cave, 30 m a.s.l., 26 November 2005 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ and 2♀ ( ZFMK, DR 107 ) . La Romana Prov., forest at Rio Chavón ( 18°26.5 ′ N, 68°53.3 ′ W), 20 m a.s.l., 23 November 2005 ( B.A. Huber), 2♀ and one juvenile ( ZFMK, DR 101 ) . La Vega Prov., 10 km north-east of Jarabacoa Raquet Club , 550 m a.s.l., mixed forest, 20 July–4 August 1995 ( S. & J. Peck), 3♂ and one juvenile #95-37 ( AMNH) . María Trinidad Sánchez Prov., near La Entrada, forest above rocks at Santuario de La Virgen ( 19°34.9 ′ N, 69°54.0 ′ W), 15 m a.s.l., 12 November 2005 ( B.A. Huber), 1♀ ( ZFMK, DR 42 ) .