Malayathele maculosa Schwendinger, 2020

Schwendinger, Peter J., Lehmann-Graber, Christina, Hongpadharakiree, Komson & Syuhadah, Nurul, 2020, New euagrid spider species from Thailand and Malaysia, and new localities of Leptothele bencha (Arachnida: Araneae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 423-453 : 444-448

Malayathele maculosa Schwendinger , sp. nov.

Figs 12 A-D, 13-14

Holotype: MHNG (sample AS-04/12); male; MALAYSIA, Pahang (see comment in paragraph “Distribution”), Fraser’s Hill , 1 km south of town, 3°41’N, 101°45’E, 1250 m; 27.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz.

Paratypes: MHNG (sample WM93-5); 1 male; Selangor, 1 km below Fraser’s Hill, 1280 m; 15.III.1993; leg. I. Löbl & F. Calame. – MHNG (sample AS-04/10); 2 females; Pahang, Fraser’s Hill, south side, 3°42’N, 101°45’E, 1300 m; 26.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz. – MHNG (sample AS-04/14); 1 male; Pahang, Fraser’s Hill , 2 km south of town, 3°41’N, 101°45’E, 1200 m; 28.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz. – MHNG (sample AS-04/16); 1 female; Pahang, Fraser’s Hill , 2 km south of town, 3°43’N, 101°44’E, 1300 m; 29.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz. – MHNG (sample MAL-04/02); 3 females; Pahang, Genting Highlands , Gunung Ulu Kali , below hotel complex , 3°25’42”N, 101°47’41”E, 1650 m, montane rain forest ; 18./ 19.V.2004; leg. P.J. Schwendinger.

Other material: MHNG (sample AS-04/10); 1 juvenile; MALAYSIA, Pahang, Fraser’s Hill , south side, 3°42’N, 101°45’E, 1300 m; 26.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz. – MHNG (sample AS-04/12); 2 juveniles; Pahang, Fraser’s Hill , 1 km south of town, 1250 m; 27.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz. – MHNG (sample AS-04/14); 1 juvenile; Pahang, Fraser’s Hill , 2 km south of town; 28.VIII.2004; leg. A. Schulz.

Etymology: The Latin adjective “maculosus, -a, -um” (= spotted, mottled) refers to the distinct dark colour pattern on the opisthosoma of females ( Fig. 12 A-D).

Diagnosis: Males quite similar to those of M. ulu sp. nov., distinguished by longer embolus ( Fig. 13 A-G cf. Fig. 8 A-E) and by the presence of two ventral processes on metatarsus II ( Fig. 13 J-M; proventral one absent in M. ulu sp. nov., Fig. 8 I-J); distinguished from males of M. cameronensis sp. nov. by a curved embolus ( Fig. 13 A-G; instead of corkscrew-shaped, Fig. 11 A-D), by a small conical retroventral process on metatarsus II ( Fig. 13 J-M; instead of keel-shaped, Fig. 11 G-J) and by 5-7 ventral spines on tibia I ( Fig. 13 H-I; instead of only two, Fig. 11 E-F); distinguished from males of M. kanching sp. nov. by an only slightly curved embolus ( Fig. 13 A-G; instead of strongly curved, Fig. 15 A-C). Females distinguished from those of all other congeners by a distinct dark colour pattern dorsally and posteroventrally on opisthosoma ( Fig. 12 A-D; in some M. kanching sp. nov. females a faint dorsal pattern confined to dorsal surface); vulva different from that of M. cameronensis sp. nov. and M. kanching sp. nov. by possessing well developed lateral receptacles with constricted stalks ( Fig. 14 cf. Figs 11K , 16 ), and from that of M. ulu sp. nov. by median receptacular stalks shorter and originating more anteriorly ( Fig. 14 cf. Fig. 9 ).

Description: MALE (holotype). Colour in alcohol mostly light brown; palpal organ and cheliceral claws darker; eye mound black; no dark pattern on opisthosoma.

Body 2.73 long. Carapace 1.18 long, 0.90 wide, oval, thoracic and cephalic part at same level; few hairs on carapace (many abraded during sieving), a few stronger hairs in front of eye mound and in two paramedian bands behind it; two long bristles in front of pitlike fovea. Eyes on low mound; eye group 0.14 long, anterior eye row very slightly procurved, 0.20 wide, posterior eye row moderately recurved, 0.23 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.09, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07; AME-AME 0.02, PME- PME 0.04. MOQ 0.10 long, 0.09 wide anteriorly, 0.14 posteriorly.

Chelicerae weak, grooves with over 10 teeth on promargin (not all visible). Palpal coxae 0.35 long, 0.23 wide. Labium 0.05 long, 0.19 wide. Sternum 0.69 long, 0.60 wide.

Palps ( Fig. 13 A-C). Total length 1.59 (0.60 + 0.38 + 0.43 + 0.18). Several long strong bristles dorsally and ventrally on all articles, especially on femur and tibia; tarsus with 2 dorsodistal spines, plus one strong bristle prolaterallydistally and one retrolaterally-distally. Palpal organ with comparatively long, moderately curved embolus.

Legs 3214. Leg I 3.00 long (0.89 + 0.51 + 0.61 + 0.55 + 0.44); leg II 2.78 long (0.83 + 0.50 + 0.53 + 0.51 + 0.41); leg III 2.73 long (0.75 + 0.44 + 0.50 + 0.60 + 0.44); leg IV 3.64 long (0.95 + 0.55 + 0.73 + 0.88 + 0.53). Tarsi not pseudosegmented and without spines; with a few scopuliform hairs in distal portion of anterior legs. Metatarsal preening combs on legs II-IV. Leg I: Tibia carrying 5/6 ventral spines plus one strong ventral bristles subbasally ( Fig. 13 H-I). Femur with quite short band of hooked spinules retrodorsally. Leg II: Metatarsus with two small conical ventral processes, the proventral one situated at mid-length, the retroventral more proximally ( Fig. 13 J-K). Tibia with a single megaspine on a low ventral spur and with a long strong ventral bristle more proximally; a series of fine transversal wrinkles subdistally on ventral side ( Fig. 13 J-L). Band of hooked spinules proventrally on femur II longer than corresponding band on femur I, remote from distal margin of article.

Spines, trichobothria and claws of legs. All femora with numerous long strong bristles dorsally; I: tibia v5/6. II: tibia v1 (megaspine; plus v1 and p2 strong bristles); metatarsus v2. III: patella p2, r1; tibia d1, p2, r1, v3 (plus v1 strong bristle); metatarsus d4, p2, v3. IV: patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p2, r2, v5 (plus v1 strong bristle); metatarsus d4, p2, r1, v4. Trichobothria not counted (difficult to see). Paired tarsal claws with 8 teeth on anterior legs, 6-7 on posterior legs; unpaired tarsal claws with 1-3 teeth.

Opisthosoma 1.28 long, 0.81 wide; most hairs on dorsal side abraded, some long dark bristles remaining on anterior margin. PMS 0.20 long, 0.06 wide in the middle, separated from each other by 0.18. PLS 1.11 long (proximal article 0.39 long and 0.14 wide, median article 0.33 long and 0.11 wide, distal article 0.39 long and 0.09 wide in the middle), separated from each other by 0.31.

FEMALE (allotype). Colour in alcohol mostly light brown, with a long, anteriorly widening pair of dark bands between fovea and eye mound, shorter such paired bands on coxal elevations, and an unpaired band running into posterior margin of carapace ( Fig. 12A showing female paratype). Opisthosoma with a dark speckled pattern on entire dorsal side and on posterior quarter of ventral side, leaving light rings around anal tubercle and bases of all spinnerets; lateral sides and anterior three quarters of ventral side cream-coloured ( Fig. 12 A-D showing female paratype).

Body 4.25 long. Carapace 1.66 long, 1.38 wide; thoracic part level with cephalic part; only few hairs (some abraded?) spread over carapace, a few stronger hairs in front of eye mound and in two paramedian bands behind it; two long bristles anterior of pitlike fovea ( Fig. 12A, C showing female paratype). Eye group 0.17 long, anterior eye row very slightly procurved, 0.29 wide, posterior eye row moderately recurved, 0.30 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.11, PME 0.07, PLE 0.09; AME-AME 0.04, PME-PME 0.08. MOQ 0.12 long, 0.10 wide anteriorly, 0.19 posteriorly.

Chelicerae stronger than in males, grooves with 14/15 teeth on promargin. Palpal coxae 0.48 long, 0.31 wide. Labium 0.10 long, 0.35 wide. Sternum 0.95 long, 0.88 wide.

Palps. Total length 2.67 (0.84 + 0.55 + 0.63 + 0.65). Several long strong bristles on all articles; 5 weak ventral spines on tibia and 7 weak ventral spines on tarsus. Claws with 11 denticles.

Legs 3214. Leg I 4.17 long (1.20 + 0.74 + 0.89 + 0.79 + 0.55); leg II 3.83 (1.13 + 0.70 + 0.74 + 0.73 + 0.53); leg III 3.73 long (1.04 + 0.61 + 0.71 + 0.86 + 0.51); leg IV 4.97 long (1.38 + 0.78 + 1.00 + 1.15 + 0.66). Tarsi not pseudosegmented and without spines; without scopuliform hairs. Metatarsal preening combs on legs II- IV.

Spines, trichobothria and claws of legs. All femora with numerous long strong bristles dorsally; I: metatarsus v2. II: metatarsus v2. III: patella d1; tibia d2, p2, r1/2, v2/3; metatarsus d4, p2, v3/4. IV: patella d1; tibia d2, p2, r2, v4; metatarsus d4, p2, r1, v4. Trichobothria not counted (difficult to see). Paired tarsal claws with 10-12 teeth on anterior legs and 7-8 on posterior legs; unpaired tarsal claws with 1-3 teeth.

Opisthosoma 1.88 long, 1.28 wide. PMS 0.31 long, 0.10 wide in the middle, separated from each other by 0.40. PLS 1.67 long (proximal article 0.54 long and 0.20 wide, median article 0.50 long and 0.18 wide, distal article 0.63 long and 0.13 wide in the middle), separated from each other by 0.55.

Vulva with anteriorly narrowing spermathecal trunks; lateral receptacles well developed, stalks wide but clearly constricted, heads globular; median receptacles with medium-long, moderately curved stalks with sclerotised walls, originating quite high up on ventral side of spermathecal trunk, heads globular ( Fig. 14A ).

Variation: Carapace lengths in males (n = 3) range 1.11-1.26, carapace widths 0.84-0.98. The largest female (from the Genting Highlands) has a 1.73 long and 1.45 wide carapace. No noteworthy variation can be seen in the shape of the palpal organs of three males ( Fig. 13 A-G). There are 5-7 ventral spines on tibia I of males. Distal wrinkles on the ventral side of tibia II are indistinct in all three males examined; few of them are visible in the holotype ( Fig. 13 J-K), distinctly more in the male from sample AS-04/14 ( Fig. 13M ). Variation in the shape of the vulvae of three females is shown in Fig. 14 . The specimen from sample AS-04/10 is a small female and its vulva appears to be not fully developed ( Fig. 14C ).

Biology: The specimens examined were sifted from the leaf litter of montane rain forests.

Distribution: Malayathele maculosa sp. nov. is known from a few localities between 1200 m and 1300 m on Fraser’s Hill, at the border between Pahang and Selangor, and from a locality at 1650 m in the Genting Highlands ( Fig. 2 , localities 15-16). Although some are given as situated in Pahang State, all localities (including the type locality) on Fraser’s Hill probably lie on the Selangor side of the border.

Figures

Fig. 12. Malayathele maculosa sp. nov., female paratype from Genting Highlands (A-D), M. kanching sp. nov., male holotype (E-G), female allotype (H-I) and male paratype (J-K). (A, E, H) Habitus, dorsal view. (B, F, I) Habitus, ventral view. (C) Habitus, dorsolateral view. (D) Opisthosoma, posteroventral view. (G) Tibia and metatarsus of right leg II, prolateral view. (J) Distal part of proximal article and entire median and distal articles of PLS, lateral view. (K) Same, ventral view. Not to scale.

Fig. 13. Malayathele maculosa sp. nov., male holotype (A-C, H-L) and two male paratypes (D-E; F-G, M). (A) Distal part of left palp, prolateral view. (B) Same, ventral view. (C, E, G) Palpal organ of right palp, prolateral view. (D, F) Palpal organ of left palp, prolateral view. (H) Patella to metatarsus of left leg I, prolateral view. (I) Patella to tibia of left leg I, ventral view. (J) Patella to metatarsus of right leg II, ventral view. (K) Same of left leg II, prolateral view. (L) Same of right leg II, retrolateral view. (M) Same of left leg II, retrodorsal view. Scale line 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8. Malayathele ulu sp. nov.; male paratype (A-B, J-K) and male holotype (C-I). (A, C) Distal part of left palp, prolateral view. (B, D) Same of right palp, prolateral view. (E) Distal part of left palp, ventral view. (F) Patella to metatarsus of right leg I, prolateral view. (G) Right tibia I, ventral view. (H) Patella to metatarsus of right leg II, prolateral view. (I) Same, retroventral view. (J) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (K) Same, prolateral view. Scale line 0.5 mm.

Fig. 11. Malayathele cameronensis sp. nov., male holotype (A-J) and female allotype (K). (A) Distal part of left palp, prolateral view. (B) Same, ventral view. (C) Distal part of right palp, proventral and slightly distal view. (D) Same, prolateral view. (E) Patella to metatarsus of right leg I, prolateral view. (F) Patella to tibia of right leg I, ventral view. (G) Patella to metatarsus of right leg II, prolateral view. (H) Same of left leg II, prolateral view. (I) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (J) Same of right leg II, ventral view. (K) Vulva, dorsal view. Arrows indicate keel-shaped retroventral process on metatarsus II. Scale lines 0.5 mm (A-J), 0.1 mm (K).

Fig. 15. Malayathele kanching sp. nov.; male holotype (A-B, D-G) and male paratype (C, H). (A) Distal part of right palp, ventral view. (B-C) Same of left palp, prolateral view. (D) Patella to metatarsus of left leg I, prolateral view. (E) Patella and tibia of left leg I, ventral view. (F) Patella to metatarsus of left leg II, ventral view. (G-H) Same, prolateral view. Arrow indicates single spine retroventrally-distally on patella I. Scale line 0.5 mm.

Fig. 14. Malayathele maculosa sp. nov., vulvae of three females (all drawn from dissected specimens), dorsal view. (A) Allotype. (B) Paratype from Genting Highlands. (C) Juvenile female paratype from Fraser’s Hill. Scale lines 0.1 mm.

Fig. 16. Malayathele kanching sp. nov.; vulvae of four female paratypes, dorsal (A-B) to increasingly more postero-dorsal view (C- D). (A, C-D) Specimens from the Templer Park. (B) Specimen from Ulu Gombak. Scale lines 0.05 mm.

Fig. 9. Malayathele ulu sp. nov.; vulvae of seven females (all drawn from dissected specimens), dorsal view. (A) Allotype. (B-C) Paratypes from the type locality (Ulu Groh). (D-G) Paratypes from the Cameron Highlands: Parit Falls, 26.IV.2009 (D); Tanah Rata, 7.VIII.1972 (E); Gunung Perdah, 2.-14.V.2009 (F); trails 4 & 13, 23.III.1993, heads of median receptacles collapsed and right lateral receptacle torn off (G). Scale lines 0.1 mm.

Fig. 2. Localities of Leptothele spp. and Malayathele spp. on the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The coast of Sumatra is omitted. 1 - Ko Sirey (L. bencha); 2 - Ko Yao Noi (L. bencha); 3 - Khao Phanom Bencha (L. bencha, type locality); 4 - Thab Khaek - Hang Nak Hill and Khlong Jilat (L. bencha); 5 - Ban Chong Phlie (L. bencha); 6 - Ko Lanta (L. bencha); 7 - Ko Muk (L. bencha); 8 - Ko Libong (L. bencha); 9 - Ko Sukon (L. bencha); 10 - Ko Tarutao (L. bencha); 11 - Tham Khao Chang Hai (L. chang sp. nov., type locality); 12 - Ulu Groh (M. ulu sp. nov., type locality); 13 - Chenderiang (Malayathele sp.); 14 - Cameron Highlands (M. cameronensis sp. nov., type locality; M. ulu sp. nov.); 15 - Fraser’s Hill (M. maculosa sp. nov., type locality); 16 - Genting Highlands (M. maculosa sp. nov.); 17 - Templer Park (M. kanching sp. nov.; type locality); 18 - Ulu Gombak (M. kanching sp. nov.); 19 - Jeram Pasu Waterfall (Malayathele sp.); 20 - Singapore (Euagridae/Dipluridae gen. sp.).