Pholcus phui Huber, 2011

Bernard A. Huber, Joseph K. H. Koh, Amir-Ridhwan M. Ghazali, Kamil A. Braima, Olga M. Nuñeza, Charles Leh Moi Ung & Booppa Petcharad, 2016, New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 200, pp. 1-45 : 5-6

Pholcus phui Huber, 2011

Figs 2–3

Pholcus phui Huber, 2011: 178 –180, figs 749–752, 779–780, 809–813 (♂♀).

Diagnosis

Easily distinguished from most similar known relatives (other species of the P. ethagala group on the Malay Peninsula) by morphology of male palps (figs 809–810 in Huber 2011; procursus with two distinctive dorsal processes and curved distal process; large appendix distally with whitish element and with sclerotized element set with small scales), and by details of female internal genitalia (figs 812–813 in Huber 2011; distinctive pair of anterior lateral structures; roundish pore plates close together).

New material examined

THAILAND: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv., ZFMK ( Ar 15691 ), and 1 ♂, 1 ♀, PSUZC, Narathiwat Province, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, ‘site 3’ (5.808°N, 101.823°E), 220 m a.s.l., forest near road, leaf litter, 2 Mar. 2015 (B.A. Huber, B. Petcharad) ; 4 ♀♀, 3 juvs, in absolute ethanol, ZFMK ( Mal 309 ), same data .

Description – amendments

Tibia 1 in three newly collected males: 9.3, 9.6, 9.7; tibia 2/tibia 4 length: 1.08.

Natural history

All specimens were collected within a small swampy area in the forest that was characterized by numerous large dead leaves on the ground. Almost each of the largest leaves had an adult Pholcus phui on its lower surface, while the more numerous smaller leaves were mostly either unoccupied or occupied by juveniles. No further specimens were found during three days of collecting in various parts of the forest.

Figures

Figs 2 – 9. Live specimens. 2 – 3. Pholcus phui Huber, 2011, Hala Bala, ♂ and ♀ with egg-sac. 4 – 7. P. tanahrata Huber sp. nov., Cameron Highlands, ♂, penultimate ♂, and ♀. 8 – 9. P. uludong Huber sp. nov., Ulu Dong, ♂ and ♀.