Pholcus papillatus, Zhang, Bao-Shi, Zhang, Feng & Liu, Jing-Ze, 2016

Zhang, Bao-Shi, Zhang, Feng & Liu, Jing-Ze, 2016, Three new spider species of the genus Pholcus from the Taihang Mountains of China (Araneae, Pholcidae), ZooKeys 600, pp. 53-74 : 56

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Pholcidae

Pholcus papillatus sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 3, 4

Type material.

Holotype: male (MHBU), CHINA: Hebei Province, Fuping County, Longquanguan Town, Liaodaobei Village, 38°16'N, 114°17'E, alt. 1700 m, 6 August 2014, B.S. Zhang leg. Paratypes: 1 male and 3 females (MHBU), same data as in holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is from Latin word “papillatus”, in reference to the shape of epigynal apophysis; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Narrow, long pseudo-appendix originating from the uncus (Fig. 2B). Distinguished from similar species with a pseudo-appendix by: palpal bulb with longer uncus, procursus with one spine-shaped projection and one hook-shaped membranous projection on tip (Figs 1 A–D, 2 A–B, 3 A–D). The females of the new species are distinguished from females of similar species by the larger teat-shaped epigynal apophysis (Figs 2E, 4F).

Description.

Male (holotype): Total length 4.90 (5.10 with clypeus), prosoma 1.40 long, 1.52 wide, opisthosoma 3.36 long, 1.68 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 4 A–C. Dorsal shield of prosoma pale grey, with dark brown radiated stripes and bands marginally; thoracic groove distinct; ocular area elevated, with short eye-stalks; ocular area yellow-brown, with a median dark brown band and two lateral dark brown bands beside PLEs, dorsal prosoma and ocular area both with dispersed dark brown spots, of them, two distinct spots behind PMEs; clypeus 0.23 high, dark brown, with light margin. Diameter AME 0.08, ALE 0.13, PME 0.12, PLE 0.13. Distance AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.10, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.04, ALE-ALE 0.62, PLE-PLE 0.78. MOA 0.23 long, front width 0.23, back width 0.46. Chelicerae as in Figs 2 C–D and 4 D–E, with pair of black apophyses distally, pair of unsclerotized, small and nearly nipple-shaped apophyses proximolaterally and frontally. Labium and endites dark brown, distal part pale, labium wider than long (0.32/0.15). Sternum wider than long (1.04/0.77), dark brown, median part of sternum light. Legs long, brown, but dark brown on proximal parts of tibiae, and on distal parts of femora and tibiae, with whitish on subdistal parts of femora and tibiae. Measurements of legs: I 36.78 (9.59 + 0.59 + 9.69 + 15.43 + 1.48), II 26.81 (7.37 + 0.55 + 5.89 + 11.61 + 1.39), III 22.46 (6.55 + 0.61 + 5.42 + 8.59 + 1.29), IV 24.58 (7.06 + 0.53 + 5.74 + 9.89 + 1.36); tibia I L/d: 62. Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma pale grey, with dark spots dorsally and laterally. Pedipalpi illustrated in Figs 1 A–D and 3 A–D; trochanter with a long ventral apophysis; tibia with a small projection prolaterally; procursus simple proximally and complex distally, dorsal spines present; uncus with a pseudo-appendix, the tip of uncus long and bent; embolus weakly sclerotized.

Female. Generaly similar to male. One specimen measured: total length 4.58 (4.80 with clypeus), prosoma 1.34 long, 1.46 wide, opisthosoma 3.09 long, 1.44 wide. clypeus 0.23 high. Diameter AME 0.06, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.11. Distance AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.19, PME-PLE 0.04, ALE-ALE 0.50, PLE-PLE 0.64. MOA 0.24 long, front width 0.18, back width 0.39. labium wider than long (0.31/0.18). Sternum wider than long (1.00/0.74). Measurements of legs: I 36.60 (9.55 + 0.58 + 9.59 + 15.41 + 1.47), II 26.66 (7.33 + 0.54 + 5.88 + 11.54 + 1.37), III 22.32 (6.51 + 0.58 + 5.38 + 8.58 + 1.27), IV 24.49 (7.01 + 0.52 + 5.72 + 9.88 + 1.36); tibia I L/d: 60. Leg formula: 1243. Epigynum (Figs 2E and 4F) brown, roughly triangular, with distinct patterns and a teat-shaped apophysis on the top. Dorsal view of vulva (Figs 2F and 4G) with a rainbow-shaped, sclerotized arch anteriorly and two long ovoid pore plates, and a nearly meniscate sclerite.

Variation.

Male: Total body length: 4.58, 4.90. Tibia I (n = 2): 8.96, 9.59 (mean: 9.28). Female: Total body length: 4.58, 4.63, 4.81. Tibia I (n = 3): 9.55, 9.70, 9.78 (mean 9.68).

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality.

Remarks.

The females also resemble Pholcus foliaceus Peng & Zhang, 2013, but can be distinguished by the precurved margin of anterior plate of the epigynum and the long ovoid pore plates (Figs 2 E–F, 4 F–G).