Taxonomic change of two species in the genus Haploclastus Simon , 1892 ( Araneae , Theraphosidae )

Th e genus Haploclastus is represented by eight species in India. In this paper, we synonymise Haploclastus robustus Pocock, 1900 with H. validus Pocock, 1899. H. himalayensis Tikader, 1977 is transferred to the genus Chilobrachys based on a generic character, the presence of enlarged paddle setae on prolateral side of maxillae. We provide additional information on morphometry and photographs of the palp and stridulatory setae that are lacking in the original description.


Introduction
Th e genus Haploclastus Simon, 1892 of the subfamily Th rigmopoeinae is endemic to India.Th is genus was established with the description of H. cervinus Simon, 1892 from Palni Hills, South India, based on few morphological characters.Later, three more species, H. nilgirinus Pocock, 1899, H. kayi Gravely, 1915, and H. tenebrosus Gravely, 1935 were described in this genus (Pocock 1899, Gravely 1915, 1935).Raven (1985) synonymised the genus Phlogiodes Pocock, 1899 with Haploclastus based on the presence and the arrangement of stridulatory setae.With the inclusion of four species of Phlogiodes, the genus Haploclastus comprises eight species which are restricted to India.

RJR
Robert J.
Remarks.Th e species Haploclastus validus and H. robustus that were previously under Phlogiodes were fi rst described by Pocock (1899) from two specimens at the Natural History Museum, London.Th ese specimens, a male and female were originally collected by Phipson from Matheran, presently in the State of Maharashtra, India.Pocock (1899) described the male as H. validus and female as H. robustus.Another female specimen collected by Master from Jauli, Satara district, Maharashtra (about 150 km from Matheran) was also identifi ed by Pocock (1900)  Haploclastus satyanus (Barman, 1978) Phlogiodes satyanus Barman 1978: 168.
Remarks.Th e Haploclastus satyanus (Barman 1978) was originally described under Phlogiodes was also based on a single specimen originally described under Phlogiodes was also based on a single specimen.Th e type specimen was deposited at Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata.During a visit to ZSI, Kolkata in September 2007, MS could not locate the type specimen of H. satyanus, it was possibly misplaced in the museum or never deposited there by the describing author (Barman 1978).
Remarks.On examining the stridulatory setae of the type specimen of H. himalayensis, it was found that maxillary lyra had enlarged paddle setae on prolateral side of the maxillae (Fig. 1) and thorn setae on retrolateral side of the chelicerae (Fig. 2), which is a characteristic feature of the genus Chilobrachys Karsch, 1891 rather than the genus Haploclastus Simon 1892, where the maxillary lyra consists of a transverse row of spinules on the prolateral face of the maxillae (Fig. 5).Th erefore, Haploclastus hima- port during the visit; Ms. Sally Walker and Mr. Sanjay Molur, Zoo Outreach Organisation for their constant support and encouragement for theraphosid projects.We thank DEFRA / FFI Flagship Species Fund (project No. 06/16/02 FLAG) for fi nancial support to the Indian Th eraphosid Project.Ms Janet Beccaloni, Natural History Museum, London, kindly provided RJR access to the collection.
(Pocock 1899)s.Th ese species descriptions do not provide any details on key characters distinguishing the two species, and only make mention of those characters that are attributable to sexual dimorphism, the type of H. validus and we assume that specimen is either lost or is deposited in some other European museum.Th ereby, we synonymise H.validus with H. robustus based on the original description(Pocock 1899).