Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Sherwood, Danniella & Jäger, Peter, 2024, On the identity of species of the huntsman spider genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae) from India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5463 (3), pp. 301-338 : 326-328

Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907

Figs 20 , 27

Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907: 561 (♂ ♀). Strand 1909: 31, plate II, figs 33a–b (♂ ♀).

Type material. Syntype ♂ ♀, INDIA: Karnataka: Kodagu, Madikeri (= Merkara / Mercara ) [ca. 12°24’N, 75°44’E; 1073 m a.s.l.], date unknown, Veil leg. ( SMNS, material destroyed in World War II; not examined) but: right palp of syntype male in MNHN: 156 c[ollectio] St [rand]; examined .

Diagnosis. Males of T. serambiformis can be distinguished from those of all other congeners examined by the shape of the tegular apophysis with two acuminate apices, and by the long RTA with a hook-shaped dorso-distal and a blunt ventro-distal apex (vs. tegular apophysis without such acuminate apices, RTA shorter or if similarly long with two branches or without such dorso-distal apex in all other species with males known) ( Figs 20A–B vs. e.g., Figs 4E–F , 5A–B , 11C , 12A–B , 13A–B , 14A–B , 15A–B , 17D–E , 18A–B , 21E–F , 22C , 23A–B , 24A–B ).

Description. Male [after Strand 1907: body length 13.8. Carapace 6.8 long, 5.5 wide. Opisthosoma 7.0 long, 4.5 wide. Leg measurements: I 24.3, II 23.1, III 19.6, IV 24.2].

Supplementary description. Palp ( Figs 20A – B ): Cymbium with moderately distinct retrolateral bulge, dorsally with cymbial scopula in distal half ( Fig. 20B ). Tibia shorter than cymbium, with massive, bifid, RTA arising distally from tibia. RTA margins with fringes of fine setae; vRTA with acute tooth internally, best seen in ventral view ( Fig. 20A ). Tegulum with round proximad outgrowth proximo-prolaterally. Tegular apophysis arising in 17.30- to 18-o’clock-position from tegulum, distinctly bifurcated, disto-retrolateral tip curved in ventral view, proximo-prolateral tip with small bend apically (best seen in proximal view) ( Fig. 20B ). Conductor arising at the base of the embolus, retrolaterad, similarly broad over its entire length, with two bulges apically. Embolus with a large, basally originating projection, arising at 10.30-o’clock-position from tegulum, simple, semicircular, tapering towards its tip, the latter proximad. Spermophor visible in ventral view proximo-prolaterally close to bulge.

Distribution. India (Karnataka) ( Strand 1907) ( Fig. 27 ).

Remarks. Unfortunately, the type material in SMNS was destroyed and Strand (1907) did not illustrate the epigyne. The only remnant of the syntype series was to be found in MNHN (a right male palp) ( Fig. 20 ). If topotypic material is collected, its identity can be fully resolved.

Figures

FIGURES 4A–G. Thelcticopis bicornuta Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Prosoma (A dorsal, B ventral); C Opisthosoma, dorsal; D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral); G Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 5A–D. Thelcticopis bicornuta Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Right chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal part of retrolateral tibial apophysis; dSe—distal setae; E—embolus; Se—bunch of setae; Sp—spermophor; VDL—ventro-distal lobe; vRTA—ventral part of retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 11A–F. Thelcticopis moolampilliensis Sunil Jose & Sebastian, 2007, non-type male (A, C) and female (B, D–F) (ZSI/ WGRC/I.R.INV.26579). A–B Habitus, dorsal; C Left palp, ventral; D–E Epigyne ventral (D not dissected, E same dissected and cleared in 10% KOH); F Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A–B, 2 mm; C, 1 mm; D–F, 0.5 mm. Photographs by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 12A–D. Thelcticopis moolampilliensis Sunil Jose & Sebastian, 2007, genitalia of non-type male (A–B) and female (C–D) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26579). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Epigyne, ventral; D Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; E—embolus; FD— fertilisation duct; GA—glandular appendage; LL—lateral lobe of epigyne; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; Sp—spermophor; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis; UA—unpaired appendage; VDL—ventro-distal lobe of palpal tibia. Scale bars: A–B, 1 mm; C–D, 0.5 mm. Drawings by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 13A–D. Thelcticopis nalandica (Karsch, 1892) comb. rest., holotype male.A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical narrow part of embolus; bE—basal broad part of embolus; C—conductor; CT—conductor tip; iT—internal tooth; TA—tegular apophysis; VO—ventral outgrowth of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 14A–L. Thelcticopis nalandica (Karsch, 1892) comb. rest, holotype male of Stasina nigropicta (A–E), female (F–L). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C, I Eye arrangement, dorsal; D, J–K Chelicerae, ventral (D, K left, J right); E Habitus, dorsal; F Epigyne, ventral; G Vulva, dorsal. H Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. L Opisthosoma, dorsal. Abbreviation: CT—conductor tip. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 15A–D. Thelcticopis paripes (Karsch, 1879) comb. rest., holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical narrow part of embolus; bE—basal broad part of embolus; C—conductor; CT—conductor tip; TA—tegular apophysis; vmB—ventro-medial branch of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 17A–F. Thelcticopis rufula Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral); F Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–E, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 18A–E. Thelcticopis rufula Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral; E Habitus, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal part of RTA; TA—tegular apophysis; vRTA—ventral part of RTA. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 20A–B. Thelcticopis serambiformis Strand, 1907, syntype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral). Not to scale.Abbreviations:C—conductor; ddA—dorso-distal part of RTA; E—embolus; iT—internal tooth; pO—proximad outgrowth of tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 21A–G. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Prosoma (A dorsal, B ventral); C Opisthosoma, dorsal; D–F Left palp (D prolateral, E ventral, F retrolateral). G Labels in the holotype vial. Scale bars:A–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Danniella Sherwood, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

FIGURES 22A–F. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, non-type male (A, C) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26583) and female (B, D–F) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26585). A–B Habitus, dorsal; C Left palp, ventral; D–E Epigyne, ventral (D not dissected, E same dissected and cleared in 10% KOH); F Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A–C, 2 mm; D–F, 1 mm. Photographs by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURES 23A–D. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, holotype male. A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Eye arrangement, dorsal; D Left chelicera, ventral. Abbreviations: aE—apical filiform part of embolus; bE—basal wide flattened part of embolus; C—conductor; Sp—spermophor; TA—tegular apophysis. Drawings by Peter Jäger.

FIGURES 24A–D. Thelcticopis virescens Pocock, 1901, genitalia of non-type male (A–B) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26583) and female (C–D) (ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.26585). A–B Left palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Epigyne, ventral; D Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: aE—apical filiform part of embolus; bE—basal wide flattened part of embolus; bpC—basal process of conductor; C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; dRTA—dorsal part of RTA; FD—fertilisation duct; GA—glandular appendage; LL—lateral lobe of epigyne; MS—median septum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; S—spermatheca; Sp—spermophor; T—tegulum; TA—tegular apophysis; VDL—ventro-distal lobe of palpal tibia; vRTA—ventral part of RTA. Arrow indicates beak-like process of conductor. Scale bars: A–B, 2 mm; C–D, 1 mm. Drawings by Pradeep Sankaran.

FIGURE 27. Distribution of the genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 in southern India and Sri Lanka.