Liphistius negara Peter J. Schwendinger 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Peter J. Schwendinger
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Liphistiidae
Liphistius
Liphistius negara

description: Liphistius negara sp. nov.
Fig. 14
Types: MHNG, sample MAL-04/14; male holotype (matured 9.VII.2006), 1 male paratype (matured end of July 2005), female allotype, 2 juv. males; Malaysia, Pahang, Taman Negara, trail from Nusa Camp to Abai Waterfall, 4°23’49”N, 102°25’50”E, 110 m; 16.-17. VI.2004; leg. P.J. Schwendinger.
Etymology: The species epithet, a name in apposition, is taken from the Malay name of the type locality: taman (= park), negara (= national).
Diagnosis: Large, uniformly dark-coloured species in both sexes. Similar to L. panching, distinguished by slightly larger size (carapace length of males 10.28- 11.30, width 8.70-10.04 versus 9.8 and 8.4, respectively, in male of L. panching, see Sedgwick & Platnick (1986: 205). Males with tibial apophysis in ventral view narrower at base, more distinctly set back from anterior margin of tibia (Fig. 14A cf. Sedgwick & Platnick, 1986: fig. 3); paracymbium deeper (Fig. 14B cf. Sedgwick & Platnick, 1986: fig. 2); ventral process of contrategulum narrower and more pointed (Fig. 14 C-D cf. Fig. 10B and Sedgwick & Platnick, 1986: fig. 5); distal edge of contrategulum with a large triangular tooth, dorsal apex rounded instead of pointed (Fig. 14 C-D cf. Fig. 10B and Sedgwick & Platnick, 1986: fig. 5). Female distinguished from those of L. panching by vulval plate wider than long; poreplate anteriorly distinctly narrower than posteriorly instead of anteriorly wider than posteriorly (Fig. 14 I-J cf. Fig. 13 and Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984: figs 77-78).
Description of male (holotype): Colour in alcohol (much darker in life): Most sclerotised parts uniformly chestnut-brown, on ventral side slightly lighter than on dorsal side; carapace reddish chestnut-brown; proximal portion of chelicerae cream-coloured; membranes of opisthosoma greyish cream, other membranes white. Bristles on carapace: Stiff bristles along all margins (longest anteriorly); many weaker and shorter ones on coxal elevations and behind fovea, fewer of them on both sides of eye mound and in a W-shaped arrangement behind it.
Cheliceral teeth: Eleven and twelve small ones on promargin of cheliceral groove on right and left chelicera, respectively.
Scopula: Tarsus I with thin scopula confined to distal third of ventral side, divided for its entire length by narrow pale, glabrous longitudinal median stripe and by some bristles; tarsus II with thin scopula in distal half, only distally divided by median stripe; tarsi III-IV with dense scopula covering distal four-fifths, only distally divided by median stripe.
Claws: Paired tarsal claws on anterior legs with 4-5 denticles, on posterior legs with 4-6 denticles; unpaired claws in most cases carrying a single denticle.
Palp: Tibial apophysis slightly set back from distal margin of tibia (Fig. 14A), carrying four medium-sized pointed megaspines (Fig. 14B, G). Both apical lobes of cymbium indistinct and equally rounded (Fig. 14E, H). Paracymbium basally deep (Fig. 14B), its cumulus indistinctly elevated, carrying moderately long stiff bristles (Fig. 14 A-B). Subtegulum without apophysis. Tegulum short and wide, coarsely dentate along entire proximal margin (Fig. 14F). Contrategulum with distinct conical ventral process, its rounded apex directed proventrad (Fig. 14C); distal edge with several oblique ribs and with a large triangular tooth prodorsally, ending in spatulate asymmetrical dorsal apex (Fig. 14C). Paraembolic plate short (Fig. 14A, E-F); retrolateral side of sclerotised part of embolus proper without longitudinal keels or ribs and not carrying denticles, dorsal wall much wider than ventral wall and sharply bent prodorsad, thus opening of spermophor forming an L (Fig. 14A, C, E); membranous part of embolus proper distally wider than proximally, with only slightly pigmented proximal portion (Fig. 14E).
Measurements: Total length 27.94; carapace 11.30 long, 10.04 wide; opisthosoma 11.55 long, 9.04 wide; eye mound 1.51 long, 1.61 wide, AME well-developed; palpal coxae 3.68 long, 2.26 wide; labium 1.00 long, 2.01 wide; sternum 5.35 long, 3.01 wide (1.34 on ventral surface); palp 18.76 long (5.69 + 3.18 + 6.44 + 3.45); leg I 32.80 long (9.20 + 4.69 + 7.20 + 8.28 + 3.43); leg II 35.06 long (9.45 + 4.69 + 7.70 + 9.54 + 3.68); leg III 38.66 long (9.45 + 4.69 + 8.20 + 12.05 + 4.27); leg IV 47.53 long (11.55 + 4.85 + 9.79 + 15.48 + 5.86).
Description of female (allotype): Colour in alcohol (much darker in life) as in male. Carapace with stiff bristles as in male, plus a pair of bristles anterior of fovea. Eleven strong teeth on promargin of cheliceral groove on both sides. Paired tarsal claws on anterior legs with three denticles, on posterior claws with 3-4 denticles; unpaired claws in most cases with a single denticle (claws worn on all limbs). Tarsi without scopula.
Vulva (Fig. 14 I-J): Posterior margin of genital sternite slightly and widely invaginated. Vulval plate distinctly sclerotised and pigmented, wider than long. Genital atrium with several lateral and median hairs. Posterior stalk wide, with micropores, fused with poreplate. Poreplate entirely and distinctly pigmented, its anterior margin indistinctly invaginated and clearly narrower than posterior margin. Two central dorsal openings (CDO) separated by a longitudinal bridge; two longitudinal receptacular clusters on ventral side completely separated from each other.
Measurements: Total length 22.00; carapace 9.62 long, 8.28 wide; opisthosoma 10.29 long, 8.62 wide; eye mound 1.22 long, 1.42 wide; palpal coxae 3.18 long, 2.01 wide; labium 1.17 long, 2.18 wide; sternum 4.35 long, 2.59 wide (1.59 on ventral surface); palp 16.23 long (5.35 + 3.01 + 4.02 + 3.85); leg I 19.76 long (5.86 + 3.60 + 4.27 + 4.02 + 2.01); leg II 20.57 long (6.02 + 3.68 + 4.35 + 4.43 + 2.09); leg III 22.25 long (6.19 + 3.68 + 4.52 + 5.35 + 2.51); leg IV 30.37 long (8.03 + 3.85 + 6.11 + 8.70 + 3.68).
Variation: Carapace lengths in males (n=2) 10.28- 11.30, widths 8.70-10.04. The male paratype has the same reduced scopula on anterior legs (especially on tarsus I) as the holotype. Variation in the shape of the palpal organ, see Fig. 14 C-D.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality in central peninsular Malaysia (Fig. 1, locality 12).
Biology: The types were collected from sloping soil and from decaying wood in a rain forest. The largest burrow (of juvenile male, not yet penultimate) had a 2.6 cm long ad 4.1 cm wide trapdoor. The trapdoors of old females thus must be of similar size as those of L. malayanus and L. endau. The female allotype of L. negara sp. nov. appears to be mature (judging from the degree of sclerotisation of its vulval plate), but not yet fully grown. Most burrow entrances had eight signal lines, one had nine. Both males became mature in July, after one and two years of captivity, respectively.
The male paratype has a pronounced pathological outgrowth on the right cheliceral fang, and bite marks of parasitic Ljungia bristowi mites on its carapace (many) and opisthosomal tergites (few), but not elsewhere.
description: Published as part of Peter J. Schwendinger, 2017, A revision of the trapdoor spider genus Liphistius (Mesothelae: Liphistiidae) in peninsular Malaysia; part 1, pp. 391-445 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2) on pages 415-417, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.893555