Psechrus himalayanus Simon 1906
Creators: name: Bayer, Steffen
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Psechridae
Psechrus
Psechrus himalayanus

description: Psechrus himalayanus Simon, 1906
Figs 31a–d, 32a–k, 82l, 85g, 88h, 91h
Psechrus himalayanus Simon 1906: 287 (Description of ♂). [Lectotype ♂ (SB 14), here designated, from INDIA: Uttarakhand Province: Dehradun; Smythier leg. before 1905; Simon Coll.-No. 17595; MNHN AR5206; Paralectotype p.s.a. ♀ (SB 724), with same data as for lectotype; MNHN AR5206, all type material examined]. Kulczyṅski 1908: 568. Berland and Berland 1914: 132. Fage 1929: 360. Lehtinen 1967: 261. Hubert 1973: 678, figs 7–12 (Description of ♂ and ♀, illustration of ♂ and ♀). Levi 1982: 119, figs 7–12 (Description of ♂ and s.a. ♀, illustration of ♂ and s.a. ♀). Griswold 1993: 7, ad part (Record of ♂ from Kooloo valey, India; other record from Nepal misidentified, see P. marsyandi). Jäger 2007: 45. Sebastian and Peter 2009: 528.
Additional material examined (5 ♂♂, 19 ♀♀, 2 s.a. ♂♂, 10 s.a. ♀♀, 2 juvs). Without any note on recording locality: GVOT Museum Madras; Coll. H. Wiehle; Wiehle det. Psechrus alticeps Pocock; 1 ♀ (SB 1), SMF. INDIA: Himachal Pradesh Province: Kooloo valley; M.M. Carleton leg. [1870’s?]; 1 ♂ (SB 172), MCZ 82515. Uttarakhand Province: Pulna, 2200 m, forest, between rocks; S. Quasin leg. 27.X.2009; 1 ♀ (SB 908), WII. Govind Ghat, 1800–2400 m; forest, between rocks; S. Quasin leg. 25.X.2009; 1 ♀ (SB 907), SMF; 1 s.a. ♂ (SB 909), WII. Dehradun, Wildlife Institute of India, Campus, N 30°16'59.8'', E 77°58'31.4'', 587 m, forest, wall; P. Jäger leg. at night 14. III.2011; 1 ♀ (SB 988), SMF; P. Jäger leg. at night 13. III.2011; 6 s.a. ♀♀ (SB 989–994), 1 juv. (SB 995), SMF; P. Jäger leg. at night 19. III.2011; 1 s.a. ♀ (SB 987), SMF. Rudraprayag, riverside Alaknanda river, N 30°17'12.0'', E 78°58'44.9'', 667 m, between rocks; P. Jäger & S. Quasin leg. at night 18. III.2011; 1 juv. (SB 996), SMF. Kathgodam, 10 minutes N of this town, 1240 m; E. Ross & D.Q. Cavagnaro leg. 01.XII.1961; 1 s.a. ♀ (SB 975), CAS 9032234. NEPAL: Rapti Province: Near Daban (‘apres Dhoban’); M. Hubert leg. 07.V.1970; 1 ♂ (SB 17), MNHN. Liwang (‘ Libang’), 1500–1600 m; M. Hubert leg. 17.V.1970; 1 ♂ (SB 731), MNHN AR5159; M. Hubert leg. 19.V.1970; 1 ♀ (SB 732), MNHN AR5162; M. Hubert leg. V.1970; 3 ♀♀ (SB 744–746), MNHN AR5163. Liwang (‘ Libang’), Tobeiem; M. Hubert leg. 02.V.1970; 2 ♂♂ (SB 725–726), 1 ♀ (SB 727), MNHN AR5157. Liwang (‘ Libang’), Ninguana, jungle; M. Hubert leg. 22. IV.1970; 3 ♀♀ (SB 738–740), MNHN AR5158; M. Hubert leg. 02.V.1970; 3 ♀♀ (SB 733–735), MNHN AR5161. Liwang (‘ Libang’), Taktem; M. Hubert leg. 04.V.1970; 3 ♀♀ (SB 741–743), MNHN AR5160. Bagmati Province: Kathmandu Valley; 1956–1958; 1 s.a. ♀ (SB 770), MCZ 82518. Patan (Kathmandu); X.1956, III.–IV.1957; 1 s.a. ♀ (SB 771), MCZ 82510. Narayani Province: Chitawan District, 15 km S of Meghauli, Sauraha, Chitawan National Park, forest near Rapti R., 200 m; J. Coddington leg. 31.V.1985; 1 s.a. ♂ (SB 755), USNM. BHUTAN: Timphu Province: Timphu river; leg. 28. IV.1972, ‘ Bhutan Expedition 1972’; [7/5]; 1 ♀ (SB 607), NHMB 2738a.
Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Males similar to P. marsyandi Levi, 1982 and P. inflatus sp. nov. in having the straight embolus (E) completely associated with conductor (C) (Figs 31b, 33b, 35b). Distinguished from marsyandi by the U-shaped sperm duct and the longer E and C (Fig. 31b). Distinguished from inflatus by the U-shaped sperm duct and the narrower C (Fig. 31b). Females similar to P. marsyandi in general shape of median septum (MS) and vulva. The former with anteriorly curved margins facing each other medially (Fig. 32a, 34a), running parallel with the margins of the lateral lobes (LL) (Fig. 32a, 88h) at those transversal sections. Distally both margins end by diverging (Fig. 32a, 34a), thereby building the copulatory openings (CO). Vulva with copulatory ducts (CD) flowing into spermatheca transversally from medial (Fig. 32b, 34d). Distinguished from marsyandi by the longer copulatory ducts and the flatter spermathecal heads (SH) (Fig. 32b).
Description. Male (measurements of lectotype first, those of other specimens given as ranges in parentheses): Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.9 (6.7–8.9), carapace width 5.0 (4.8–6.4), anterior width of carapace 2.5 (2.5–3.3), opisthosoma length 9.5 (7.8–10.9), opisthosoma width 3.7 (3.4–4.0). Eyes: AME 0.33 (0.32–0.38), ALE 0.37 (0.36–0.46), PME 0.40 (0.38–0.45), PLE 0.39 (0.37–0.44), AME–AME 0.13 (0.12–0.23), AME–ALE 0.05 (0.05–0.06), PME–PME 0.24 (0.22–0.29), PME–PLE 0.30 (0.29–0.38), AME–PME 0.52 (0.49–0.63), ALE–PLE 0.38 (0.37–0.48), clypeus height at AME 0.75 (0.68–0.90), clypeus height at ALE 0.73 (0.64–0.89).
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth (one specimen with five retr.m. t.).
Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp 8.7 (8.3–9.3) [3.2 (3.0–4.0), 1.4 (1.4–1.6), 1.4 (1.3–1.7), 2.7 (2.6–3.4)], I 64.1 (59.6–78.5) [16.9 (15.5–20.4), 3.3 (3.2–4.5), 17.8 (16.2–21.7), 18.0 (16.9–22.6), 8.1 (7.8–9.3)], II 49.2 (45.9–61.2) [13.7 (12.6–16.8), 3.0 (2.5–3.8), 12.9 (12.0–16.4), 13.4 (13.1–17.1), 6.2 (5.7–7.1)], III 32.6 (30.7–40.9) [9.5 (9.1–12.2), 2.3 (2.2–3.0), 8.0 (7.3–9.9), 8.7 (8.1–11.0), 4.1 (4.0–4.8)], IV 49.4 (46.4–61.6) [13.7 (12.7–17.1), 2.7 (2.3–3.4), 12.4 (11.7–15.8), 14.0 (13.6–17.4), 6.6 (6.1–7.9)].
Spination. Palp: 131 (131), 110 (110), 1101 (1101); legs: femur I 655 (566,556,646), II 655 (566) III 555 (555), IV 655 (545,555); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038 (3038), III 3034 (3034), IV 3036 (3035,3045); metatarsus I–IV 3035 (3035).
Palpal femur without modification, distally slightly broader than proximally (Fig. 31d).
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). In male bulb subtegulum (ST) protruding distinctly underneath tegulum (T) (Fig. 31a,b). In comparison to P. marsyandi and P. inflatus sp. nov. T rather elongated. Palpal tibia in lateral view relatively slim (Fig. 31c). Cymbium dorsally with very dense scopula, covering ½ of the former.
Female: Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 6.3–9.1, carapace width 4.4–6.5, anterior width of carapace 2.7–3.6, opisthosoma length 11.0–13.9, opisthosoma width 6.4–7.2. Eyes: AME 0.32–0.38, ALE 0.39–0.46, PME 0.41–0.49, PLE 0.40–0.48, AME–AME 0.19–0.25, AME–ALE 0.06–0.07, PME–PME 0.23–0.31, PME–PLE 0.32–0.42, AME–PME 0.59–0.73, ALE–PLE 0.45–0.61, clypeus height at AME 0.73–0.96, clypeus height at ALE 0.70–1.02.
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.
Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 7.9–10.8 [2.7–3.6, 1.1–1.6, 1.5–2.1, 2.6–3.5]; Legs: I 43.6–54.4 [12.0–15.0, 3.0–4.1, 12.1–15.2, 11.0–13.6, 5.5–6.5], II 34.4–42.8 [9.9–12.4, 2.6–3.5, 9.2–11.5, 8.5–10.5, 4.2–4.9], III 23.6–30.8 [7.2–9.2, 2.0–2.8, 5.5–7.7, 5.9–7.5, 3.0–3.6], IV 34.6–44.5 [9.9–13.1, 2.4–3.2, 8.9–11.3, 8.8–11.3, 4.6–5.6].
Palpal claw with 14–15 teeth.
Spination. Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I 566 (556), II 556, III–IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3034 (3024,3036), IV 3036 (3034,3035); metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3034 (3035).
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Epigyne with flat bulges posterior to the CO (Fig. 32a,h,k). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field. Anterior to epigyne lots of slightly curved wrinkles.
Primordial copulatory organ. Pre-epigyne: Pre-septum (Fig. 32g) not as cross-rectangular in appearance as in adult MS. Distinguished from the similar P. marsyandi by the shorter distance between distal endings of anterior margins of pre-LL (Fig. 32g).
Pre-vulva: Pre-vulva (Fig. 32f) already similar to adult one. Distinguished from the similar P. marsyandi by the longer pre-copulatory ducts.
The pre-pre-epigyne (Fig. 32d) is similar to the pre-epigyne, but distinctly smaller. The pre-pre-vulva (Fig. 32e) also, but the pre-pre-receptacula are just recognisable as very small balls.
Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus). Median bands on carapace serrated and often broader than in other Psechrus species. Lateral bands narrow (almost diameter of PME) and serrated. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous and medium-sized to broad. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is ca. 0.7–1.1 times the width of one half of the cribellum.
Variation of copulatory organs. Males: In one male (SB 725 from Tobeiem, Nepal, not illustrated) T with darker colour than generally. Females: In some specimens flat bulges below CO more distinct (Fig. 32k). Curves of lateral margins of MS may be less sharp (Fig. 32h). SH in some specimens (Fig. 32b) flatter than in others (Figs 32i–j).
Remarks: Hubert (1973) first described the female of P. himalayanus. He recorded males, which were unambiguously conspecific with the male type specimen. Some of them had been recorded at exactly the same localities as females he had determined as P. himalayanus. This material was also examined herein. Moreover, a female from the type locality Dehradun was available for the present study (Figs 32a–c). This specimen matches the females examined in Hubert (1973). Consequently, the females described in Hubert (1973) and in the present study unambiguously belong to P. himalayanus.
Distribution. India, Nepal, Bhutan (Fig. 95).
description: Published as part of Bayer, Steffen, 2012, The lace-sheet-weavers — a long story (Araneae: Psechridae: Psechrus), pp. 1-170 in Zootaxa 3379 (1) on pages 64-68, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3379.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6039832