Psechrus Thorell 1878
Creators: name: Bayer, Steffen
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Psechridae
Psechrus

description: Genus Psechrus Thorell, 1878
For genus diagnosis, general description and for type species see Bayer (2012). The basic colouration pattern is very similar in all Psechrus species. In the present paper only the few interspecific variations of the basic pattern are listed in each species description.
The following key to species of Psechrus is a modification of that in Bayer (2012: 11), with the new species described herein integrated at their respective positions. Moreover, a few additions and modifications have become necessary and are here proposed.
Note: The prolateral superior claw and the claw tuft were each removed to give view on the inferior claw.
Key to species of Psechrus
[Note: Males of huberi sp. nov., borneo, annulatus, aluco, norops, arcuatus, jinggangensis, fuscai, kenting, taiwanensis, and tauricornis are unknown; identifications of the males of demiror and zygon are not certain, included here with question mark; females of insulanus sp. nov., omistes sp. nov., wade sp. nov., ulcus, kinabalu, and schwendingeri are unknown]
1 Male................................................................................................ 2
- Female............................................................................................. 37
2 Harpago (Bayer 2012, figs 70b–c, 72b–c, 74b–c) present...................................................... 3
- Harpago absent.......................................................................................5
3 C longer than width of T............................................................................ torvus
- C shorter than width of T...............................................................................4
4 C centrally as broad as in distal fourth and located medially in upper half of T.............................. hartmanni
- C broadest in distal fourth and located in retrolateral half of T........................................... zygon (?)
5 C absent or strongly reduced............................................................................. 6
- C well developed......................................................................................9
6 C absent.............................................................................................7
- C rudimentary (a very short and stout structure still recognisable), E quite broad and strongly sclerotised, resting in CA (Bayer 2012, figs 78a–c).......................................................................... .. schwendingeri
7 With three apophyses close to E (Bayer 2012, figs 7a–b)................................................... mulu
- With less than three apophyses close to E................................................................... 8
8 E retrolaterad; E and EB constitute an extremely bulky structure (Bayer 2012, fig. 10b).......................... ulcus
- E rather slim, prolatero-apicad..................................................................... kinabalu
9 C with numerous small or very small, short spines or tubercles.................................................31
- C without such structures.............................................................................. 10
10 Palpal femur modified with ventral bulge (the latter may be flat) or with pointed, ventral extension....................11
- Palpal femur without modification....................................................................... 16
11 E dorsally with one distinct, pointed apophysis (Bayer 2012, fig. 79b)......................................... cebu
- E different.......................................................................................... 12
12 C strongly sclerotised and narrow, its distal half just as broad as (distal third of) E.................................13
- C membranous and/or fleshy (CB may be different!), its distal half (distinctly) broader than (at least distal third of) E..... 14
13 C more than half as long as E....................................................................... .. libelti
- C less than half as long as E..................................................................... argentatus
14 C ca. as long as T.............................................................................. decollatus
- C shorter or far shorter than T........................................................................... 15
15 Distal half of T distinctly narrower than proximal half and E with broad and conspicuous EB....................... 15a
- At least one of the two aspects listed in 15 different (“at least” meaning: Either “T different” or “broad and conspicuous EB missing”).......................................................................................... 15b
15a EB in ventral view in alignment with upper retrolateral margin of T (Bayer 2012, fig. 15b)................. singaporensis
- EB protruding beyond upper retrolateral margin of T (Bayer 2012, fig. 17b).................................. elachys 15b C with conspicuous large, elongate, dark and sclerotised CB (Figs 18 B, 27A)......................... omistes sp. nov.
- C without such a CB................................................................................ 15c
15c Palpal femur ventrally modified with virtually pointed extension (Fig. 19 D), C arising in retrolateral half of T, palpal tibia dis-tally with conspicuous hump ventrally, directly in front of intersegmental membrane (Figs 19 A, C)........ quasillus sp. nov.
- Palpal femur ventrally modified with rather rounded bulge, C arising in prolateral half of T, palpal tibia distally without hump (Figs 22 A, C)............................................................................... wade sp. nov.
16 Bulb with elongated EB possessing a distinct ventral protrusion basally (Bayer 2012, figs 76a–c)................. crepido
- Bulb different....................................................................................... 17
17 E arising medially on upper half of T, coxa of leg I or proximal part of palpal femur ventrally (generally) with distinct field of macrosetae.......................................................................................... 23
- E arising retrolaterally on T, neither coxa of leg I nor proximal part of palpal femur ventrally with distinct field of macrosetae (may be with few unconspicuous macrosetae subdistally in addition to an apical row of macrosetae).................. 18
18 C with distinct, broadened base (Bayer 2012, figs 23b, 25b)...................................................19
- C without distinct, broadened base.......................................................................20
19 E longer than T..................................................................................... laos
- E shorter than T..................................................................................... rani
20 C broader than 1/3 the width of T................................................................. ancoralis
- C narrower than 1/3 the width of T...................................................................... 21
21 E longer than width of T.......................................................................... antraeus
- E shorter than width of T.............................................................................. 22
22 E longer than half the width of palpal tibia........................................................ .. khammouan
- E shorter than half the width of palpal tibia............................................................ steineri
23 E (virtually) straight..................................................................................26
- E curved............................................................................................24
24 EB with particular flat, elongated and proximally curved extension (Bayer 2012, fig. 43b)............... .. luangprabang
- EB different........................................................................................ 25
25 Retrolateral section of distal, narrower part of tegulum in ventral view still visible (see arrow in Fig. 11 B).. insulanus sp. nov.
- Retrolateral section of distal part of tegulum in ventral view not visible......................................... 25a
25a Distal section of E curved and distinctly narrower than central section (Bayer 2012, fig. 50f).................... jaegeri
- Distal section of E hardly curved and not significantly narrower than central section (Bayer 2012, fig. 50e)........... vivax
26 C as long as T............................................................................... demiror (?)
- C shorter than T...................................................................................... 27
27 T apically with quite strongly sclerotised, semicircular extension (Bayer 2012, figs 37b, 39g, 41b)....................28
- T apically without such an extension..................................................................... 29
28 Retrolateral edge of semicircular tegulum-extension distinctly extending proximally, ending clearly proximal to the arising point of embolus (Fig. 8 B), basal fourth of tegulum distinctly narrower than central section of tegulum (Fig. 8 B).................................................................................................. arietinus sp. nov.
- Retrolateral edge of semicircular tegulum-extension ending at the same level or at most slightly proximal to the arising point of embolus, basal fourth of tegulum as broad as central section................................................. 28a
28a E arising distinctly further distally than C........................................................... ghecuanus
- E arising at most at the same level as C, but mostly further proximally...................................... pakawini
29 Sperm duct simply U-shaped................................................................... himalayanus
- Sperm duct with at least two loops....................................................................... 30
30 C with broad and large proximal section and small and narrow distal section (Bayer 2012, fig. 35b)............... inflatus
- C broadest distally.............................................................................. marsyandi
31 C apically (at least slightly) bifid (Figs 15 A–C; Bayer 2012, figs 56a–c, 57a–c)................................... 32
- C apically not bifid................................................................................... 33
32 EB with apophyses only in its distal half (Bayer 2012, figs 55b–c, 56b–c).............................. .. tingpingensis
- EB with apophyses only in its proximal half (Figs 15 A, C)............................................... obtectus
33 C in ventral view proximally with striking, hemispherical bulge (Figs 12 B, 13A; Bayer 2012, fig. 62b)............... 33a
- C without such a bulge................................................................................ 34
33a E in ventral view more or less straight, EB with platform-like dorsal section, proximal loop of sperm duct long and distinctly U-shaped.................................................................................... senoculatus
- E in ventral view undulated (Figs 12 B, 13A), EB rather simple and without platform-like sections, proximal loop of sperm duct rather short and broad V-shaped......................................................... ampullaceus sp. nov.
34 Sperm duct with distinctly U-shaped section in prolateral half of T (Bayer 2012, fig. 66b)........................ clavis
- Sperm duct different (e.g. as in Bayer 2012, figs 52b, 54b, 86m,o)............................................. 35
35 EB with long, apically bifurcated apophysis (Bayer 2012, fig. 86n).................................... kunmingensis
- EB without long, apically bifurcated apophysis............................................................. 36
36 E in ventral view short, broad and blunt (Bayer 2012, fig. 54b).......................................... triangulus
- E in ventral view with filiform distal section (Bayer 2012, fig. 52b)....................................... sinensis
37 Epigyne complex, tegimentum present (Bayer 2012, figs 69a,d, 71a,d, 73a,e, 75a,e, 89m –p)......................... 38
- Epigyne without tegimentum...........................................................................41
38 Branches of tegimentum distally rounded (Bayer 2012, figs 69a, 73a)........................................... 39 - Branches of tegimentum distally pointed, resembling the horns of a bull (Bayer 2012, figs 75a,e).............. tauricornis
39 Branches of tegimentum directed anterio-mediad........................................................ torvus
- Branches of tegimentum directed laterad or anterio-laterad....................................................40
40 Distal section of CD located medial to SH.............................................................. zygon
- Distal section of CD located lateral to SH.......................................................... hartmanni
41 Epigyne with flat, large-area bulge in front of MS (Fig. 29 D; Bayer 2012, figs 77a,e, 89k)...................... crepido
- Epigyne without such a bulge in front of MS...............................................................42
42 MS longer than broad (Regard its widest section! In some species anterior section of MS extremly widened)............. 43
- MS broader than long (Regard its widest section! Note: in P. quasillus sp. nov. only slightly broader than long)......... 51
43 Anterior half of MS broader than posterior half............................................................. 44
- Posterior half of MS broader than anterior half; or if not broader than entire anterior half, then definitely broader than anterior third............................................................................................... 48
44 CD with either twisted or bulbous section................................................................44a
- CD without twisted or bulbous sections....................................................... arietinus sp. nov.
44a CD with twisted section (Bayer 2012, fig. 61b), the latter narrower than spermatheca...................... jinggangensis
- CD with bulbous section, the latter broader than spermatheca..................................................45
45 MS distinctly longer than broad (more than 1.6 times, Bayer 2012, fig. 63a), initial section of CD straight (Bayer 2012, fig. 63b)....................................................................................... senoculatus
- MS less than 1.6 times longer than broad, initial section of CD either integrated within bulbous section (Bayer 2012, fig. 67b) or anteriorly curved mediad (Bayer 2012, figs 64b, 65b)..................................................... 46
46 Initial section of CD integrated in kidney-shaped, bulbous section........................................... clavis
- Initial section of CD anteriorly curved mediad.............................................................. 47
47 Bulbous section of CD anteriorly with small bulge (Bayer 2012, fig. 65b)................................ taiwanensis
- Bulbous section of CD anteriorly without small bulge.................................................... kenting
48 Posterior half of MS broader than anterior third, but not or not distinctly broader than entire anterior half (Fig. 14 A), distal parts of spermathecal heads clearly wider than central/proximal parts (Fig. 32 B).................... ampullaceus sp. nov.
- Posterior half broader than entire anterior half, distal parts of spermathecal heads not or not significantly wider than central/ proximal parts......................................................................................48a
48a CD with twisted section (Figs 14 B, 16B, 32C; Bayer 2012, figs 55f, 58b, 59b).................................... 51
- CD without twisted section (Bayer 2012, figs 53b, 54f, 60b,d).................................................49
49 MS and LL complicatedly folded interleaved (Bayer 2012, figs 60a,e).................................. kunmingensis
- MS and LL different.................................................................................. 50
50 Posterior half of MS anteriorly rounded (Bayer 2012, figs 53a,d).......................................... sinensis
- Posterior half of MS triangular (Bayer 2012, fig. 54e)................................................. triangulus
51 Epigyne anteriorly with two rounded, flattened, glossy fields near CO (Bayer 2012, figs 59a, 89e)................. fuscai
- Epigyne without rounded, flattened, glossy fields near CO.................................................... 52
52 CD at least 4x longer, but less than 2x broader than diameter of receptaculum.................................... 53
- CD different........................................................................................ 54
53 MS of epigyne laterally on each side with large, concave impression (Figs 20 A, D); receptaculum seminis broader than CD, the two CD clearly separated from each other (gap at least 2/3 of the diameter of one receptaculum) (Figs 20 B,E)................................................................................................ .. quasillus sp. nov.
- MS of epigyne laterally without impressions; receptaculum seminis not or hardly broader than CD, the two CD in contact or almost in contact with each other...................................................................... 53a
53a Twisted sections of CD, located anteriorly beyond transversal, initial sections of CD, shorter than half the diameter of one receptaculum (Fig. 16 B)......................................................................... .. obtectus
- Twisted sections of CD, located anteriorly beyond transversal, initial sections of CD, as long or almost as long as diameter of one receptaculum (Bayer 2012, figs 55f, 56f)..................................................... tingpingensis
54 CD with voluminous, spherical/bulbous section, the latter distinctly larger than receptaculum........................47
- CD different, may be large and broad (Bayer 2012, figs 2h, 5c), but rather flat and without voluminous, spherical/bulbous sec- tion................................................................................................55
55 Epigyne and EF strongly sclerotised, with dark red-brown colour (Bayer 2012, figs 87c,d).......................... 56
- At least EF different.................................................................................. 57
56 CD running transversally and straight (Bayer 2012, figs 7e, 8f).............................................. mulu
- CD curved and flowing into receptaculum from anterior (Bayer 2012, fig. 9b)................................ .. borneo
57 Epigyne protruding, CO large (Bayer 2012, figs 12a,b, 13a, 15f, 87e–g)......................................... 58
- Epigyne not or hardly protruding, CO rather small.......................................................... 60
58 Vulva with spherical SH............................................................................... 59
- Vulva without spherical SH (Bayer 2012, fig. 14h).................................................. .. decollatus
59 CD distinctly larger than receptaculum (Bayer 2012, fig. 12c)........................................... annulatus
- CD not larger than receptaculum (Bayer 2012, fig. 13b, 90f)............................................... aluco
60 CD very large, broad and flat (CD at least 5x larger than receptaculum, Bayer 2012, figs 2h, 5c, 20b).................. 61
- CD not or not distinctly larger than receptaculum........................................................... 63
61 CO located anterior to SH, receptacula round........................................................ arcuatus
- CO located posterior to SH, receptacula cross-oval..........................................................62 62 MS at most half as long as broad and with notches laterally (Bayer 2012, figs 2g, 3i)........................ argentatus
- MS not distinctly broader than long, with continuous lateral margins (Bayer 2012, figs 5a–b)..................... libelti
63 Lateral, dark bands on carapace clearly broader than diameter of PME (Bayer 2012, fig. 82a, f–g), receptacula remarkably round (Bayer 2012, figs 15f, 17e), CD curved medially (Bayer 2012, figs 15h,f, 19b)..............................64
- At least one of the features listed in item 63 different....................................................... 68
64 CD ca. 4– 5 x larger than receptaculum............................................................... arcuatus
- CD at most 2x larger than receptaculum.................................................................. 65
65 Anterior margins of LL strongly diverging (Bayer 2012, fig. 80a; Attention: anterior margins of LL may be confound with the anterior margins of MS, but the latter are short and pointing more or less anteriad).............................. .. cebu
- Anterior margins of LL not or hardly diverging............................................................. 66
66 SH located upon spermathecae (Fig. 3 B).............................................................. norops
- SH located upon CD (may upon final part of CD)...........................................................67
67 CO small, pointing anteriorly (Bayer 2012, fig. 17d), penetration of E frontal................................ elachys
- CO elongated (Bayer 2012, fig. 15e,i), penetration of E lateral........................................ singaporensis
68 Lateral bands on carapace quite broad (1.5–2.5x diameter PME)............................................ .. cebu
- Lateral bands on carapace narrow to medium-sized (at most 1.2x diameter PME)..................................69
69 MS shaped like a mushroom cap (Bayer 2012, figs 49a, 51a).................................................. 70
- MS differently shaped................................................................................71
70 Anterior half of MS more than 2.5x broader than posterior section.......................................... jaegeri
- Anterior half of MS less than 2.5x broader than posterior section........................................... .. vivax
71 Lateral margins of MS anteriorly diverging................................................................ 72
- Lateral margins of MS anteriorly converging............................................................... 73
72 Lateral margins of MS strongly diverging anteriorly (Bayer 2012, fig. 30e), CD at most 1.5x longer than receptaculum.................................................................................................... steineri
- Lateral margins of MS moderately diverging anteriorly (Fig. 6 A; Bayer 2012, figs 29a,e), CD 2.5– 3 x longer than receptaculum........................................................................................... khammouan
73 MS ca. 2x broader than long, its anterior margins running transversally mediad, parallel with anterior margins of LL (Bayer 2012, figs 32a, 34a, 88h–i)............................................................................. 74
- MS and/or anterior margins of LL different................................................................ 75
74 CD shorter than distance in between both CO........................................................ marsyandi
- CD longer than distance in between both CO....................................................... himalayanus
75 MS more than 2x broader than long................................................................. ancoralis
- MS less than 2x broader than long.......................................................................76
76 Epigyne without EF................................................................................... 77
- Epigyne with EF..................................................................................... 79
77 Initial parts of CD clearly located anterior to spermathecae (Bayer 2012, fig. 27f)............................ antraeus
- Initial parts of CD located posterior to spermathecae or at most at the same level.................................. 78
78 Helical section of spermatheca high, with more than three windings (Bayer 2012, figs 25d, 26d).................. .. laos
- Helical section of spermathecae not or just slightly higher than broad, with less than two windings (Fig. 5D; Bayer 2012, fig. 24b).............................................................................................. rani
79 Spermathecae high, with at least three helical windings (Bayer 2012, figs 25d, 26d)............................. laos
- Spermathecae compact, without helical winding, or, if considered as such, at most with one........................ 80
80 MS anteriorly bordered with concave transverse ridges (Fig. 21 A) and laterally with small pointed extensions (extending “cor- ners”) (Fig. 21 A)......................................................................... huberi sp. nov.
- MS different...................................................................................... 80a
80a CD longer than diameter of one spermatheca............................................................. 80b
- CD shorter than diameter of one spermatheca...............................................................82
80b Anterior margins of LL constitute strongly sclerotised clasps, initial section of CD running laterally or antero-laterally (Bayer 2012, figs 44b–c, 47b–c)............................................................................. 81
- Anterior margins of LL not clasp-like, initial section of CD running postero-medially (Figs 9 B–C)........ arietinus sp. nov.
81 CD ca. two times longer than diameter of one spermatheca (Bayer 2012, fig. 47b)............................ demiror
- CD at most 1.5x longer than diameter of one spermatheca (Bayer 2012, fig. 44b, 45b)..................... luangprabang
82 SH very flat, hardly protruding out of spermathecae..................................................... inflatus
- SH regularly spherical, protruding out of spermathecae........................................................83
83 CD extending medially (clearer in frontal view) (Bayer 2012, figs 41f,h)................................. .. pakawini
- CD constitutes one compact structure together with spermathecae (Bayer 2012, fig. 37e,g).................... ghecuanus
description: Published as part of Bayer, Steffen, 2014, Seven new species of Psechrus and additional taxonomic contributions to the knowledge of the spider family Psechridae (Araneae), pp. 1-54 in Zootaxa 3826 (1) on pages 4-8, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3826.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/286429