Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, Neotype designation for Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890, synonymies, new records and descriptions of six new species from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Liocranidae), Zootaxa 3066, pp. 1-20 : 4-6

Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890

Figures 6–11

Sphingius thecatus Thorell: Thorell, 1890 : 285; description of male.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA: Penang ( MSNG). We were unable to locate the male holotype designated by Thorell (1890) in the collection of MSNG and it is presumably lost, probably from devastating floods in 1970 which also destroyed several spider specimens that were stored in the underground floor of MSNG. Other museum collections were also affected from this flood ( Lanza 2003) .

Neotype: ♂, MALAYSIA: Kedah State: Penang Island, Penang Hill, 650–700 m, 9 November 1992, leg. G. Cuccodoro & I. Löbl ( MSNG), here designated .

New material. MALAYSIA: Kedah State: Penang Island, data as neotype, 1♂ ( MHNG, 7456) . Penang Island, 650 m, 19 November 1999, leg. P.J. Schwendinger, 2♀ ( MHNG, 10a) .

Diagnosis. Males of S. thecatus can be easily recognized by the long, acicular-shaped conductor ( Fig. 6 ) and the elongate retrolateral fold on the median apophysis (Figs 6, 8–9). Females resemble those of S. elongatus sp. nov. in having the elongate insemination ducts running mid-longitudinally but can be distinguished by the superficial epigynal atrium, the spatulate anterior bursae, and the spherical spermathecae ( Figs 10–11 ).

Description. Male (neotype, MSNG). Total length 3.16. Prosoma 1.52 long, 1.02 wide. Opisthosoma 1.64 long, 0.96 wide. Spination: femora I–III 1 d, IV 1-1 d; tibia I–III 1-0v, 1p, IV 2- 2v, 1-1r; metatarsi III–IV 1 pv, 2v. Eye size and interdiatances: All eyes with black ring. Eye size and interdistances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 2/3 d of PLE; AME-AME their d apart; AME-ALE 1/2 d of AME; PME-PME 1 d of AME; PME-PLE 2/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 2/3 d of AME; ALE-PLE 1/3 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.

Prosoma orange-brown, lateral margin rebordered, posterior margin slightly invaginated; carapace integument smooth and shiny. Fovea deep, longitudinal. Sternum yellowish brown, punctated. Chelicerae dark brown. Labium and gnathocoxae orange-brown, pale distally. Legs yellowish brown.

Opisthosoma ovoid. Dorsal scutum covering almost entire length of opisthosoma, orange-brown, heavily sclerotized, integument granulated. Epigastric scutum extending anteriorly, represented by short collar in dorsal view. Ventral scutum slightly shorter than dorsal one, connected to epigastric scutum.

Palp ( Figs 6–9 ): RTA triangular, gradually narrowing towards its sharply pointed apex, reaching half length of cymbium, slightly curving ectad in ventral view. Embolus filiform, elongated; embolic base digitiform, originating posterior medially. Conductor acicular-shaped, distinctly elongated, pointing anteriorly. Median apophysis rostrated, provided with thin, sharply pointed prolateral beak directed mesad and broad retrolateral fold.

Female (MHNG-10a). Total length 3.34. Prosoma 1.62 long, 1.12 wide. Opisthosoma 1.72 long, 1.02 wide. Spination: femora I–IV 1 d; tibia I–III 1- 1v, 1p; metatarsi III–IV 1 pv, 1-1v. Eye size and interdistances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 2/3 d of PLE; AME-AME 1/2 d apart; AME-ALE 1/2 d of AME; PME-PME 1 d of AME; PME-PLE 3/4 d of AME; PME-PLE 2/3 d of AME; ALE-PLE 1/2 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.

General appearance as in male except prosoma strongly rebordered posteriorly; carapace and sternum smooth and shiny; opisthosoma dark greyish, sparsely covered with black pubescence.

Genitalia ( Figs 10–11 ): Epigynal plate elongated, weakly sclerotized. Atrium elongate-ovoid, shallow, situated medially. Copulatory orifices situated on anterior lateral border of epigynal atrium. Insemination ducts long, curving anteriorly then descending in parallel mid-longitudinal axis, connected to outer surface of spermathecae. Bursae spatulate-shaped, stalks elongated, originating on proximal portion of insemination ducts. Spermathecae spherical, situated posteriorly. Fertilization ducts lanceolated.

Natural history. Specimens of S. thecatus were collected from evergreen and semi-evergreen lowland rainforest.

Distribution. Known only from Penang Island, Malaysia ( Fig. 40 ).

Figures

FIGURE 40. Map of some Sphingius species treated in the present study. ̻ S. thecatus Thorell; ● S. rama sp. nov.; ˔ S. elongatus sp. nov.; ․ S. spinosus sp. nov.; * S. superbus sp. nov.; ♢ S. bifurcatus sp. nov.; ♦ S. prolixus sp. nov.

FIGURES 6 – 11. Sphingius thecatus Thorell, neotype male (6 – 9) and new material female (10 – 11). 6 – 7 Left male palp, ventral (6) and retrolateral (7). 8 – 9 MA, proventral (8) and prolateral (9). 10 Epigyne, ventral. 11 Internal genitalia, dorsal.