Tissahamia maturata (Huber, 2011)

Figs 99–100, 112–113, 118, 122–123

Pholcus maturata Huber, 2011: 177, figs 745–748, 777–778, 805–808 (♂ ♀, Sri Lanka).

Tissahamia maturata — Eberle et al. 2018 (molecular data). Huber et al. 2018: fig. 10.

Diagnosis (amendments; see Huber 2011). Males are easily distinguished from T. karuna by shape of main bulbal process (‘appendix’) (Fig. 118; strong distal spines; large prolateral process) and by details of procursus (Figs 112– 113; longer but with smaller distal hinged sclerite; with sclerotized prolateral process). Females differ from T. kottawagamaensis by trapezoidal rather than triangular epigynal plate and by shorter internal genitalia (Figs 122– 123); females are difficult to separate from T. karuna (more heavily sclerotized epigynal plate; anterior epigynal margin medially straight; slightly shorter internal genitalia.

Description (amendments; see Huber 2011). Most males with large, posteriorly divided, dark mark on carapace and with dark clypeus and sternum; one male with ‘female pattern’: carapace light with small U-shaped dark mark and clypeus and sternum whitish. Males from Namunukula and Mausagalla with tip of appendix slightly different (pointed processes shorter and more uniform in length). Tibia 1 in 13 newly examined males: 7.2–9.4 (mean 8.0); in 9 females: 6.0–7.0 (mean 6.4).

New records. SRI LANKA: 1♂ 1♀, NMSL, 11♂ 12♀ 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 20069–70) and 1♂ 3♀ 2 juvs in pure ethanol, ZFMK (SL142), Central Province, Hakgala Forest (6.930°N, 80.814°E), 1790 m a.s.l., 14.iii.2017 (B.A. Huber) . 2♂ 1♀, ZFMK (Ar 20071), Uva Province, Badulla District, along Passara-Ella road (B113), Namunukula Peak (6.867°N, 81.117°E), ~ 2000 m a.s.l., beating, 23.i.2014 (S.P. Benjamin, N. Athukorala) . 1♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Benj 49), Uva Province, Badulla District, Passara-Ella road (B113), Mausagalla [=Maussagolla] (6.909°N, 81.132°E), 22.i.2014 (S.P. Benjamin, N. Athukorala) .

Natural history. This species was found under large live leaves along a brook in the forest. The webs were very indistinct, in contrast to those of T. ethagala .

Distribution. Known from several high elevation localities in central Sri Lanka (Fig. 225). The single female from Avissawella (ZFMK, Ar 5088) assigned to T. maturata in Huber (2011) is here considered to represent T. karuna . The identity of the single female from Eastern Sinharaja assigned to T. maturata in Huber (2011) is dubious.