Ixchela Huber 2000, new species
Creators: name: Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Pholcidae
Ixchela

description: Key to identification of species of Ixchela Huber, 2000
Males
1. Chelicerae with well developed SAC (Figs 21, 49, 62)..................................................... 2 – Chelicerae without or with inconspicuous SAC (Figs 34, 74, 100)............................................ 9 2 (1). SAC distally, near the fang of chelicera (Figs 21, 62, 136).................................................. 3 – SAC on basal half of chelicera, apically on FAC (Figs 50, 89, 176)........................................... 7 3 (2). Chelicerae with FAC conical and long (Figs 22, 63, 137)................................................... 5 – Chelicerae with FAC conical and small (Figs 150, 205).................................................... 4 4 (3). Chelicerae with FAC wide basally with tip slightly curved (Figs 149, 150); embolus with basal protuberance conical, ending in round tip near PAB (Figs 153, 154); palp with small PAB (Figs 153, 154); palp femur wide and short, 2X longer than wide (Figs 152, 153); distal spine of procursus long, curved basally and straight distally (Figs 152, 153)........................................................................................ Ixchela franckei new species – Chelicerae with FAC small and narrowing evenly (Figs 204, 205); embolus without basal protuberance (Fig. 208); palp with large PAB (Figs 207, 208); palp femur thin and long (Figs 207, 208); distal spine of procursus long, straight basally and curved distally J-shaped (Figs 207–209)...................................... Ixchela viquezi new species 5 (3). Palp femur without ventral protuberances (Fig. 25, 65), chelicerae with FAC moderate, located on basal one third (Figs 22, 63)............................................................................................. 6 – Palp femur with a ventral conical protuberance (arrow Fig. 140); chelicerae with FAC large and curved, located basally (Figs 136, 137)............................................................... Ixchela taxco new species 6 (5). FAC straight (Fig. 22); palp femur with retrolateral face with several setae medially (Fig. 25); PAB straight and wide, not forming a distinct notch between PAB and embolus (Fig. 26).................... Ixchela abernathyi (Gertsch, 1971) – FAC slightly curved apically (Fig.63); palp femur with retrolateral face without setae medially (Fig. 65); PAB narrow and curved, forming a distinct notch between PAB and embolus (Fig. 66)................ Ixchela placida (Gertsch, 1971) 7 (2). PAB small and non-protruding (Figs 54, 181); SAC claw-shaped, long and pointing forward (Figs 49, 175)........... 8 PAB strongly developed, distinctly protruding (Fig. 92); SAC hook-shaped, short, pointing towards each other (Figs 88–90)....................................................................... Ixchela mixe new species 8 (7). FAC short, located slightly distal to middle of chelicerae (Fig. 50), SAC oblique to mid-line of chelicerae (Fig. 49); SAC located in the middle of a large pale patch (Fig. 49)............................... Ixchela pecki (Gertsch, 1971) – FAC strongly developed, located on basal third of chelicerae (Fig. 176); SAC parallel to mid-line of chelicerae (Fig. 175); SAC basal to a small pale patch (Fig. 175)..................................... Ixchela santibanezi new species 9 (1). Chelicerae with SAC vestigial, but readily distinguished (Figs 74, 162)....................................... 10 – Chelicerae without SAC (Figs 34, 100, 124)............................................................ 13 10 (9). Palp femur ≤2.5 X longer than wide (Figs 78, 192)....................................................... 11 – Palp femur>2.6 X longer than wide (Figs 115, 167)...................................................... 12 11 (10). In lateral view, FAC short and blunt (Fig. 75); ventral-distally, embolus with long and wide projection, leaf-shaped (Fig. 80); marginal pattern of coloration each side on carapace distinct, wide (Fig. 73)............................................................................................ Ixchela simoni (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898) – In lateral view, FAC rounded and protruding (Fig. 190); ventral-distally, embolus with long, thin, curved projection (Fig. 191); marginal pattern of coloration each side on carapace diffuse, narrow (Fig. 187)..... Ixchela huasteca new species 12 (10). FAC rounded, blunt; with narrow base (Fig. 113); frontal face of chelicerae angled, meeting medially at oblique angles (Fig. 112); palp femur distinctly angled on basal fourth (Figs 115, 116); embolus distally broad and blunt (Figs 115, 116); PAB long and thin, finger-like (Fig. 116); in frontal view, chelicerae evenly colored, pale (Fig. 112)............................................................................................. Ixchela juarezi new species – FAC conical; with broad base (Fig. 162); frontal face of chelicerae flat, meeting medially on the same plane (Fig. 162); palp femur not angled on basal fourth (Figs 167, 168); embolus distally tapering and narrow (Figs 166–168); PAB widebased and short, thumb-like (Fig. 168); in frontal view, chelicerae with FAC region distinctly darker, contrasting with pale basal and distal regions (Fig. 162)................................................ Ixchela tzotzil new species 13 (9). Chelicerae with a pale region distal to FAC (Figs 33, 34); FAC long, conical, claw-shaped distally (Figs 34, 35); PAB with a distinct medial contriction (Fig. 38).......................... Ixchela furcula (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902) – Chelicerae without pale region distal to FAC (Figs 100, 124); FAC wide, short, blunt (Figs 101, 125); PAB tapering evenly, without a distinct medial constriction (Figs 104, 129).................................................... 14 14 (13). In lateral view, FAC wide and flat apically (Fig. 101); FAC directed frontally (Figs 100, 102); FAC distal face densely setose (Fig. 101); palp femur wide, <2.5 X longer than wide (Figs 103, 104); palp bulb oblongated (Fig. 104)....................................................................................... Ixchela huberi new species – In lateral view, FAC small and rounded apically (Fig. 125); FAC directed towards each other (Figs 124, 126); FAC distal face sparsely setose (Fig. 125); palp femur thin,> 3 X longer than wide (Figs 128, 129); palp bulb rounded (Fig. 129)................................................................................. Ixchela grix new species Females
1. Epigynum considerably longer than wide (Figs 41, 95, 119)................................................. 2
– Epigynum as longer as wide or slightly wider than long (Figs 28, 56, 82)...................................... 5
2 (1). Epigynum with a single long apophysis or without apophysis (Figs 121, 185)................................... 3
– Epigynum with paired apophyses (Figs 39, 95)........................................................... 4
3 (2). Epigynum with a ventral apophysis, very long, curved and conical (Figs 118–121); without pale region and without a con- cavity in posterior part (Figs 119, 121)............................................ Ixchela juarezi new species
– Epigynum without apophysis, pear-shaped in ventral view (Fig. 183), with a small pale region in posterior part (Fig. 183), with a posterior concavity in lateral view (arrow, Fig. 185)........................ Ixchela santibanezi new species
4 (2). Epigynum wider anteriorly, with VAE close together (Figs 43, 44); VAE in anterior part, without rounded protuberance (Figs 39, 41, 43, 44)....................................... Ixchela furcula (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902)
– Epigynum wider medially, with VAE separated from each other (Fig. 94); VAE on anterior rounded protuberance (Figs 94, 95, 97)....................................................................... Ixchela mixe new species
5 (1). Epigynum with a conspicuous conical apophysis medially (Figs 59, 84, 109, 133)............................... 6
– Epigynum without a conspicuous apophysis (Figs 30, 71, 145, 158, 172)...................................... 11
6 (5). Epigynum triangular in ventral view (Fig. 82)...................... Ixchela simoni (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898)
– Epigynum subquadrate in ventral view (Figs 56, 107, 131, 196, 211).......................................... 7
7 (6). Epigynum triangular, pointed in frontal view (Figs 106, 130)................................................ 8
– Epigynum subquadrate, blunt in frontal view (Fig. 58)............................. Ixchela pecki (Gertsch, 1971)
8 (7). Epigynum with distal pit (Figs 210, 211); PP longer than wide (Fig. 212)................ Ixchela viquezi new species
– Epigynum without distal pit (Figs 106, 130 195); PP wider than long (Figs 108, 132, 200).................. 9
9 (8). Epigynum in frontal view with lateral rounded protuberances (Figs 194, 195).......... Ixchela huasteca new species
– Epigynum in frontal view without lateral protuberances (Figs. 106, 130)...................................... 10
10 (9). Epigynum with apophysis basally (Figs 131, 133)..................................... Ixchela grix new species
– Epigynum with apophysis medially (Figs 107, 109)................................. Ixchela huberi new species
11 (5). Epigynum triangular and without rounded apical, lateral corners in frontal view (Figs 142, 159).................. 12
– Epigynum square and with rounded apical, lateral corners in frontal view (Figs 27, 68, 169)...................... 13
12 (11). Epigynum higher than wide in frontal view (Fig. 142); epigynum with anterior two third dark, posterior third pale (Fig. 143)........................................................................ Ixchela taxco new species
– Epigynum wider than high in frontal view (Fig. 159); epigynum with anterior half pale and distal half dark (Fig. 155)............................................................................. Ixchela franckei new species
13 (11). Epigynum in frontal view, with distal margin concave (Fig. 68); epigynum with two lateral prominent corners (Figs 68, 69, 71)..................................................................... Ixchela placida (Gertsch, 1971)
– Epigynum in frontal view, with distal margin convex (Figs 27, 169); epigynum without prominent corners........... 14
14 (13). Epigynum in frontal view with posteromedian area extending beyond posterior margin (Fig. 27); epigynum with small, rounded pit on posteromedian area (Figs 27, 28); epigynum oval in ventral view, wider basally than distally (Fig. 28)........................................................................ Ixchela abernathyi (Gertsch, 1971)
– Epigynum in frontal view with posteromedian area not extending beyond posterior margin (Fig. 169); epigynum without small, rounded pit on posteromedian area (Figs 169, 170); epigynum trapezoidal in ventral view, wider distally than basally (Fig. 170)............................................................. Ixchela tzotzil new species
description: Published as part of Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2013, Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Ixchela Huber, 2000 (Araneae: Pholcidae), with description of ten new species from Mexico and Central America, pp. 285-327 in Zootaxa 3608 (5) on pages 291-292, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3608.5.1, http://zenodo.org/record/216512