Psechrus mulu Levi 1982
Creators: name: Bayer, Steffen
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Psechridae
Psechrus
Psechrus mulu

description: Psechrus mulu Levi, 1982
Figs 7a–f, 8a–h, 82n, 84e, 87c, 90c
Psechrus mulu Levi 1982: 128, figs 58–61 (Description and illustration of ♂ and ♀). [Holotype ♂ (SB 242) from MALAYSIA: Borneo, Sarawak Province: Mulu National Park, Deer cave, Gua Payau; P. Chapman leg. 25.IV.1978, ‘ R. Geogr. Soc. - Sarawak Govt. Gunung Mulu Expedition’; NHM 1981˙4˙10˙1–4; Paratypes: 1 ♂ (SB 241), 2 ♀♀ (SB 239–240), same data as for holotype; NHM 1981˙4˙10˙1–4, all type material examined].
Additional material examined (4 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀). MALAYSIA: Borneo, Sarawak Province: Mulu National Park, Deer cave, Gua Payau; P. Chapman leg. 07.III.1978, ‘ R. Geogr. Soc. - Sarawak Govt. Gunung Mulu Expedition’; Wanless det. Psechrus sp.; 2 ♂♂ (SB 243–244), 2 ♀♀ (SB 245–246), NHM. Deer cave, boulder & way up, Main Arexenia bat guano pile; P. Chapman leg. 25.IV.1978; 2 ♂♂ (SB 251–252), 6 ♀♀ (SB 247–249, 253–255), NHM.
Revised diagnosis (see also diagnosis for mulu -group above). Males with three apophyses close to embolus (E). One at embolus base (EB), another more basally in the area of EB and one apically at tegulum (T), next to E. Females similar to P. borneo Levi, 1982 in diagnostic character states described for mulu -group (see above). Distinguished by the lateral margins of median septum (MS) running less steep than in borneo and by the copulatory openings (CO), which are larger than in borneo and facing each other medially (Fig. 7f, 8g –h). Consequently, copulatory duct (CD) of vulva running transversally and straight (Figs 7e, 8d–e).
Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those of other specimens given as ranges in parentheses): Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 5.7 (5.0–6.3), carapace width 4.3 (3.5–4.5), anterior width of carapace 2.0 (1.8–2.2), opisthosoma length 7.6 (7.2–8.5), opisthosoma width 3.6 (3.0–3.6). Eyes: AME 0.30 (0.29–0.36), ALE 0.32 (0.31–0.39), PME 0.32 (0.32–0.37), PLE 0.35 (0.34–0.42), AME–AME 0.18 (0.17–0.18), AME–ALE 0.08 (0.06–0.08), PME–PME 0.24 (0.23–0.24), PME–PLE 0.29 (0.28–0.31), AME–PME 0.34 (0.27–0.40), ALE–PLE 0.29 (0.26–0.32), clypeus height at AME 0.76 (0.53–0.76), clypeus height at ALE 0.48 (0.44–0.60).
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.
Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp 6.7 (6.7–7.6) [2.0 (2.0–2.2), 1.5 (1.4–1.8), 0.9 (0.8–0.9), 2.3 (2.3–2.8)], I 61.8 (58.8–88.8) [16.4 (15.6–23.6), 2.5 (2.2–3.1), 16.6 (16.0–23.4), 17.6 (16.7–26.6), 8.7 (8.3–12.1)], II 49.6 (45.9–68.3) [13.9 (12.5–18.9), 2.3 (2.1–2.7), 12.8 (11.9–17.1), 13.9 (12.9–20.4), 6.7 (6.5–9.2)], III 34.1 (31.6–44.2) [9.9 (9.3–12.8), 1.8 (1.6–2.0), 8.4 (7.7–11.1), 9.4 (8.9–12.5), 4.6 (4.1–5.8)], IV 52.3 (48.4–70.7) [14.5 (12.7–19.4), 2.2 (1.9–2.4), 13.1 (12.3–17.6), 15.0 (14.3–21.3), 7.5 (7.2–10.0].
Spination. Palp: 021 (021), 110 (110), 1101 (0100); legs (—except for patella— variable, in parentheses only most common states noted): femur I 747 (646,655), II 656 (646) III 556 (656), IV 545 (555); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3036 (3036,3038), III 3136 (3135), IV 3135 (3136); metatarsus I–III 3035 (3035), IV 3034 (3035).
Palpal femur extremely bulky and modified with two ventral extensions. Distal femur extension (actually located centrally) quite pointed, with its tip slightly shifted distally (Fig. 7d). Proximal femur extension broader, also pointed and more strongly sclerotised. Palpal patella also very bulky. Palpal tibia distinctly short and with ventral process. The latter with long bristles directed retrolaterally (Fig. 7b).
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for mulu -group). T more than two times longer than broad and distinctly constricted in apical half. Cymbium dorsally with very dense scopula, covering almost ½ of cymbium.
Female:
Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 5.6–6.5, carapace width 4.1–4.9, anterior width of carapace 2.4–2.7, opisthosoma length 9.8–11.1, opisthosoma width 4.3–5.9. Eyes: AME 0.32–0.35, ALE 0.38–0.39, PME 0.39–0.40, PLE 0.40–0.42, AME–AME 0.18–0.23, AME–ALE 0.08–0.09, PME–PME 0.21–0.26, PME–PLE 0.28–0.36, AME–PME 0.39–0.48, ALE–PLE 0.32–0.38, clypeus height at AME 0.97–1.23, clypeus height at ALE 0.71–0.94.
Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.
Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 7.8–8.4 [2.5–2.8, 1.1–1.2, 1.5–1.6, 2.7–2.9]; Legs: I 42.4–48.4 [11.4–13.3, 2.4–2.8, 11.3–13.1, 11.1–12.4, 6.2–6.8], II 33.5–37.8 [9.5–11.1, 2.2–2.5, 8.4–9.8, 8.6–9.3, 4.8–5.1], III 24.8–28.3 [7.2–8.5, 1.7–2.0, 6.0–6.8, 6.4–7.2, 3.5–3.8], IV 35.2–39.0 [9.8–11.4, 2.0–2.3, 8.9–10.1, 9.3–9.8, 5.2–5.4].
Palpal claw with 12–14 teeth.
Spination. Palp: 121 (131), 110 (120), 1101, 1013 (1014); legs (except for variable patella length, only most common states noted): femur I 757 (747,657), II 656 (736,647) III 646 (656), IV 556 (645,665); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3036, III 3134, IV 3136 (3134,3133); metatarsus I–III 3035, IV 3034 (3035).
Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of mulu -group). MS posteriorly ca. three times broader than anteriorly, transversally generally with slightly curved ridge (Fig. 7f, 8g –h, 87c). MS-section posterior to that ridge generally lighter than anterior section. Epigynal muscle sigilla within or associated with epigynal field (EF), slit sense organs within EF or close by. Spermathecal heads (SH) with ‘stalks’ distinctly shorter than those of females belonging to argentatus -group.
Colouration of male and female. See description for mulu -group and Psechrus.
Variation of copulatory organs. In males the two apophyses proximal to E may vary in length (Figs 7a–c, 8a–c). In females the size of anterior width of MS may differ (Figs 7f, 8g –h). In some specimens an additional SH arises at base of SH-stalk (Figs 7e, 8f). Mostly this applies to only one vulva-half. Lengths of SH-stalks may differ slightly (Figs 7e, 8d).
Distribution. Malaysia [Borneo, Sarawak Province] (Fig. 100).
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 24-27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3379.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6039832