Research Article
Print
Research Article
New species of Southeast Asian Dwarf Tarantula from Thailand: Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 (Theraphosidae, Selenocosmiinae)
expand article infoNarin Chomphuphuang‡, Deborah Smith§, Sitthipong Wongvilas‡, Varat Sivayyapram‡, Chaowalit Songsangchote|, Natapot Warrit‡
‡ Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
§ University of Kansas, Lawrence, United States of America
| Spider Planet Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand

Corresponding author: Natapot Warrit ( ich108@hotmail.com )

Academic editor: Chris Hamilton
© 2017 Narin Chomphuphuang, Deborah Smith, Sitthipong Wongvilas, Varat Sivayyapram, Chaowalit Songsangchote, Natapot Warrit.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Chomphuphuang N, Smith D, Wongvilas S, Sivayyapram V, Songsangchote C, Warrit N (2017) New species of Southeast Asian Dwarf Tarantula from Thailand: Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 (Theraphosidae, Selenocosmiinae). ZooKeys 684: 57-73. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.684.12558
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:93759C74-9D15-4A0F-BC97-54C2878F0D3D
Open Access

Abstract

A new record of the tarantula genus Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 from Thailand is described. Distributional data, natural history, morphological characters, and illustrations of male and female are provided. The Thai specimens belong to a new species, Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. The diagnosis of the new species and related species are discussed.

Keywords

Distribution, Mygalomorph, natural history, taxonomy

Introduction

Four genera of Theraphosidae are currently known from Thailand: Cyriopagopus Simon, 1887, Ornithoctonus Pocock, 1892, Chilobrachys Karsch, 1892 and Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 (World Spider Catalog, 2017). Phlogiellus, the Asian dwarf tarantulas, was erected for Phlogiellus atriceps Pocock, 1897. It is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia, peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan (Orchid Island), and some islands west of Wallace’s Line (West et al. 2012, Nunn et al. 2016, World Spider Catalog 2017). Phlogiellus moniqueverdezae Nunn et al., 2016 is the only Phlogiellus heretofore reported from Thailand (Nunn et al. 2016); here we report a second Thai species, Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. Collection sites for P. moniqueverdezae and P. longipalpus sp. n. are shown in Figure 1. According to West et al. (2012)Phlogiellus shares the following combination of characters: number of labial cuspules between 200–350, length of posterior lateral spinnerets nearly or equal to length of metatarsus IV, and deep fovea. However, Nunn et al. (2016) recanted the use of posterior lateral spinnerets length to length of metatarsus IV as the group synapomorphic character. Kishida (1920) proposed the genus Yamia for some species now placed in Phlogiellus, citing complete lack of a lyra on the prolateral face of the maxilla as a diagnostic character. By this criterion seven species of Phlogiellus would be included in Yamia: P. aper (Simon, 1891), P. brevipes (Thorell, 1897), P. watasei (Kishida, 1920), P. mutus (Giltay, 1935), P. bundokalbo (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995), P. moniqueverdezae Nunn et al., 2016 and P. longipalpus sp. n. Haupt and Schmidt (2004) and Zhu and Zhang (2008) also proposed the generic status of Yamia but without supporting phylogenetic analyses. A cladistic analysis of the subfamily Selenocosmiinae Simon, 1889 by West et al. (2012) using a morphological data set showed monophyly of [Phlogiellus + Yamia] and did not resolve relationships among Phlogiellus and the putative Yamia species. Raven (2005) considers Yamia a junior synonym of Phlogiellus, and suggests that the maxillary lyra may be lost secondarily in Phlogiellus as well as other selenocosmiine genera. Here, we document a second Phlogiellus from central and northern Thailand and describe it as a new species, P. longipalpus sp. n. Illustrations of the body and copulatory organs are provided, as well as information on natural history and remarks on morphological characters distinguishing this species from previously known species.

Materials and methods

Collections were carried out in Kamphaengphet, Lamphun, Lampang and Saraburi provinces, Thailand on 12 May 2014, 27 May 2014, 16 July 2015, and 8 Aug 2015, respectively. All tarantulas were collected and preserved in 95% ethanol. Specimens were transferred to the Center of Excellence in Entomology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, for dissection and identification. All measurements were carried out using a Zeiss Stemi DV4 stereomicroscope equipped with an eyepiece micrometer. Diagnostic features were photographed using an Olympus Camedia c-4040zoom digital camera mounted to the phototube of an Olympus SZ60 stereoscope. Leg length and width measures were made on the left side of all specimens. Length of each leg segment was measured from the dorsal aspect, and leg width was measured at the basal end of the leg segment viewed from dorsal aspect. Tarsal measurements did not include claws. The relation factor (RF) was calculated as the ratio of the length of leg I to leg IV multiplied by 100 (von Wirth and Striffler 2005). Leg formula, the leg lengths in decreasing order, is also presented. Legs, pedipalps, stridulatory organs (cheliceral strikers and maxillae) were measured from the left side of all specimens. Color of morphological parts are as seen in alcohol-preserved specimens unless otherwise noted. The copulatory organs of females were dissected and cleared in 3M aqueous KOH solution. Specimens were identified by comparison of our measurements and images to those in Haupt & Schmidt (2004), Zhu and Zhang (2008), Schmidt (2010), West et al. (2012) and Nunn et al. (2016). All type and voucher specimens are deposited at the Chulalongkorn University Museum of Zoology (CUMZ), Bangkok, Thailand. The following abbreviations are used in the text:

AER anterior eye row; AME anterior median eyes; ALE anterior lateral eyes; MOA median ocular area; PER = posterior eye row; PLE = posterior lateral eyes; PME = posterior median eyes; PLE = posterior lateral eyes, PLS = posterior lateral spinnerets, PME = posterior median eyes, PMS = posterior median spinnerets, Fem = femur, Pat = patella, Tib = tibia, Met = metatarsus, Tar = tarsus.

All measures are given in millimeters (mm).

Other materials

P. moniqueverdezae Nunn et al., 2016: 1♂ (CUMZ-T3-NA2M) and 2♀ (CUMZ-T3-NA5FM, CUMZ-T3-NA3FM), (9°46’14.2”N 98°24’44.5”E) Koh Phayam, Ranong province, Thailand; 1♂ (CUMZ-T9-COM), (8°46’17.8”N 98°16’36.0”E), Takua Pa District, Phang-nga province, Thailand; 1♀ (CUMZ-T10-COFM), (8°46’17.8”N 98°16’36.0”E), Tha Sae District, Chumphon province, Thailand (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. 

Distribution records of Phlogiellus in Thailand: P. moniqueverdezae Nunn et al., 2016 from Ranong province, and P. longipalpus sp. n. (Kamphaengphet, Lamphun, Lampang and Saraburi provinces).

Taxonomy

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/CF6F2F8D-15EB-48E1-BC32-7DAEA60C594D

Type material

—Thailand: Holotype ♂, paratype 1♂, and paratype 3♀, Sai Thong Watthana district, Kamphaeng Phet province (16°17’45.6”N 99°52’49.8”E), 12th May 2014. Paratype: 1♂ and 2♀, Pa Sang district, Lamphun province (18°23’46.8”N 98°51’22.2”E), 27th May 2014; 1♀, Wiang Nuea district, Lampang province (18°18’09.6”N 98°30’36.6”E) 16th Jul 2015, and 1 ♀, Saraburi province, Muak Lek, (14°27’27.0”N 101°11’27.0”E), 8th Aug 2015. (CUMZ-(C1-NA1, C2-NA1, C4-NA2, C4-NA3, C4-NA4, C7-NA1, C8-CH2, B1-NA3, B1-NA1, B1-NA2): 3 ♂, 7♀).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the Latin longus (“long”), which describes both male pedipalp and female spermatheca, and palpus (“palm of the hand” or “feeler”).

Diagnosis

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. was included in the Yamia group of Phlogiellus based on the following morphological characters: male embolus with single retrolateral keel (Fig. 19), anterior eye row slightly procurved, ALE larger than PLE (Fig. 6), clypeus narrow or absent, third claw present on tarsus IV (Haupt & Schmidt 2004; Zhu & Tso 2005). P. longipalpus sp. n. differs from all other Phlogiellus species except P. aper, P. brevipes, P. mutus, P. bundokalbo, P. watasei, and P. moniqueverdezae in lacking a maxillary lyra (Fig. 7). P. longipalpus differs from the latter six species in possessing a long embolus that is more or less 3 times longer than palpal bulb length (Figs 19, 21–23; Suppl. material 1, Figs A1–A8) and in the shape of the female spermatheca, which is long with an apical bend (Figs 20, 24; Suppl. material 1, Figs B1–B8). It differs from P. brevipes in possessing 5 spines on the posterior metatarsi (only 2 known in P. brevipes). It differs from P. aper in possessing divided scopulae on tarsus IV (Fig. 18, 28) (Nunn et al., 2016).

Description – Male

Holotype ♂ CUMZ-C2-NA1: Color (in life, Fig. 2): dark brown, carapace black. Total length (including chelicerae) 20.88; cephalothorax 8.38 long, 6.63 wide, 2.0 high (caput); fovea 1.52 wide, procurved, deep; cephalothorax black, with cover of short, whitish brown hairs dorsally, golden yellow to yellowish brown hairs on lateral margins (Fig. 4). Clypeus 0.24; ocular tubercle 0.96 long, 1.47 wide. Anterior eyes with long hairs in front of AME and mid-posterior PME area. Anterior eye row slightly procurved and posterior row slightly recurved; eyes whitish, ALE oval in shape and larger than the round AME (Fig. 6); eye lengths/widths: AME 0.30/0.28; ALE 0.39/0.27; PLE 0.24/0.18; PME 0.21/0.12; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.21; AME–ALE 0.12; AME–PME 0.11; ALE–ALE 0.77; ALE–PME 0.21; PME–PME 0.69; PME–PLE 0.06; PLE–PLE 0.96; and ALE–PLE 0.20. Chelicerae dark, with row of 9 promarginal teeth with rows of orange-red setae (Fig. 9), a series of strikers (>60), in > 4 horizontal rows (unordered). Strongest/longest strikers on lowest rows. Each striker is needle-form (Fig. 8), lacking filiform ends. Maxillae reddish brown, 2.95 long, 1.55 wide with 115 cuspules, covered with orange-red setae on prolateral surface; maxillary lyra absent (Fig. 7). Labium blackish-brown on the basal half, reddish brown elsewhere; 0.93 long, 1.50 wide, with 202 cuspules (Fig. 13). Sternum dark-brown, covered with 2 types of hairs: strong dark and soft white (Fig. 10); 4.45 long, 3.65 wide with 3 pairs of ovoid sigillae present near lateral margins opposite coxa I, II and III. Sigilla: anterior pair obscured close to sternal margin; median pair 0.27 long, 0.15 wide 0.33 from sternal margin; posterior pair 0.42 long, 0.18 wide 0.60 from sternal margin. Abdomen 9.88 long, 6.13 wide, brownish yellow and hirsute dorsally, dark gray and thickly hirsute laterally and ventrally (Fig. 12). Legs: Pat, Tib, Met and Tar dark brown, prolateral and retrolateral surface of femora dark, thickly covered with long and short grayish white hairs (Fig. 16), coxae and trochanter dark brown dorsally, lighter brown ventrally. Met IV with 5 distal spines. Length of legs, palpal segments and RF shown in Table 1.

Figures 2–3. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. 2 paratype ♂, CUMZ-C3-NA2 3 paratype ♀, CUMZ-C4-NA4.

Figures 4–9. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. 4, 6, 7 holotype ♂, CUMZ-C2-NA1: 4 carapace, dorsal view 5 carapace, dorsal view, paratype ♀, CUMZ-C4-NA4 6 eyes, dorsal view 7 left maxilla, prolateral view. 8, 9 paratype ♂, CUMZ-C4-NA4: 8 chelicerae striker, retrolateral view 9 right chelicerae prolateral view. Scale bars: 4 mm (4–5); 1 mm (6–9).

Figures 10–18. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. 10, 12, 13, 15–16 holotype ♂, CUMZ-C2-NA1: 11–17 paratype ♀, CUMZ-C4-NA4: 14–15 paratype ♂, CUMZ-C4-NA3 10 sternum, labium and coxae, ventral view 11 sternum, labium, and coxae, ventral view 12 abdomen and spinneret, ventral view 13 labium and maxilla, arrows indicate cuspules 14 left tarsus IV, ventral view, arrow indicates third claw 15 right tarsus IV, ventral view, arrow indicates “bald spot” 16 right legs I and II, dorsal view 17 right legs I and II, dorsal view 18 paratype ♀, CUMZ-C1-NA1, left tarsus IV, ventral view, arrow indicates “bald spot”. Scale bars: 2 mm (10–11); 3 mm (12); 2 mm (13, 16–18); 0.5 mm (14); 1 mm (15).

Table 1.
Download as
CSV
XLSX

Legs and palp measurements (in mm) of holotype CUMZ-C2-NA1 ♂ Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. Relation Factor (RF) = 99.27.

I II III IV Palp
Fem 6.60 5.76 4.92 5.94 4.08
Pat 3.48 2.55 2.94 3.20 2.88
Tib 5.12 4.15 3.18 4.14 4.24
Met 3.48 3.75 3.36 4.98 -
Tar 1.83 1.83 1.83 2.40 1.51
Total 20.51 18.04 16.23 20.66 12.71

Scopulae on metatarsi and tarsi I through IV may be undivided, divided longitudinally by several rows of long, straight spiniform setae or absent. Fig. 28 illustrates diagrammatically the state of the scopulae on metatarsi and tarsi of legs I-IV for P. longipalpus and other Phlogiellus species. In addition, we noted whether the extension of the scopulae was complete (running nearly the full length of the tarsus or metatarsus) or reduced in length (e.g., extension ¾ the length of the leg segment). Scopula extension on Met I, complete; Met II, complete; Met III, complete; Met IV, ¾ and denser at distal end than proximal end. Scopula extension on Tar I, complete; Tar II, complete; Tar III, complete; Tar IV, complete but denser at the distal end, and with a small, nearly hairless oval (“bald spot”) at the proximal end. Tar II, III and IV with dense tufts of scopular hair at distal end (Fig. 15). Male tibia I spur absent. Spines: Met I and II: absent; Met III: 8 spines, Met IV: 6. Tar I–III with 2 claws, Tar IV with third claw (Fig. 14); claws covered by dense hair, dorsally with 2 rows of club-shaped setae. Spinnerets white-yellow, covered with dark longer and thinner hairs; PMS 1.16 long, 0.36 wide; PLS 4.92 long basal to apical (2.02, + 1.34, + 1.56), wide (0.64 + 0.72 + 0.41) (Fig. 12). Pedipalps dark gray reddish brown, covered with longer and thinner hairs on tibia; tibia swollen, cymbium with two lobes of light brown shaggy scopulae, bulb and embolus 3.09 long dark reddish brown (Fig. 19), palpal bulb ellipsoid and partly concave, 0.91 long, 0.51 wide; embolus extremely long, thin, curved like a partly twisted horn with sharp tip, with single retrolateral keel (Figs 21–23).

Figures 19, 20. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. 19 holotype ♂, CUMZ-C2-NA1, left pedipalps, retrolateral view 20 paratype ♀, CUMZ-C4-NA4, spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 21–24. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. 21 holotype ♂, CUMZ-C2-NA1, left pedipalp, prolateral view 22 same, retrolateral view 23 same, ventral view 24CUMZ-C4-NA4, spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bars 1 mm (21–24).

Variation – Male

(range (mean ± standard deviation)): Total length (including chelicerae) 13.7–21.00 (18.52±4.18); cephalothorax 6.60–8.33 (7.19±0.98) long, 2.88–6.63 (4.74±1.88) wide, 2.00–2.88 (2.51±0.46) high (caput); fovea 1.00–1.52 (1.28±0.26) wide; clypeus 0.18–0.24 (0.21±0.04) narrow or absent; ocular tubercle 0.90–1.02 (0.96±0.06) long, 1.10–1.47 (1.34±0.21) wide. Eye length/width: AME, 0.20–0.30 (0.26±0.05)/0.20–0.28 (0.25±0.04); ALE, 0.30–0.39 (0.35±0.05)/0.21–0.30 (0.26±0.05); PLE, 0.24–0.30 (0.26±0.03)/0.15–0.20 (0.18±0.03); PME, 0.15–0.21 (0.19±0.03)/0.10–0.12 (0.11±0.01). Inter-eye distances: AME–AME, 0.10–0.21 (0.16±0.06); AME–ALE, 0.10–0.12 (0.11±0.01); AME–PME, 0.10–0.12 (0.11±0.01); ALE–ALE, 0.77–0.84 (0.80±0.04); ALE–PME, 0.20–0.24 (0.22±0.02); PME–PME, 0.50–0.72 (0.64±0.12); PME–PLE, 0.06–0.10 (0.07±0.02); PLE–PLE, 0.80–0.99 (0.92±0.10); and ALE–PLE, 0.10–0.20 (0.14±0.05). Maxillae 1.70–2.95 (2.46±0.67) long, 1.2–1.56 (1.44±0.21) wide. Labium 0.90–1.14 (0.99±0.13) long, 1.20–1.74 (1.48±0.27) wide. Sternum 3.20–4.45 (3.93±0.65) long, 2.40–3.78 (3.28±0.77) wide. Abdomen 6.32–9.88 (8.32±1.82) long, 3.52–6.35 (5.33±1.57) wide. Length of legs and palpal segments shown in Table 2. Spinnerets: PMS 0.80–1.23 (1.06±0.23) long, 0.30–0.39 (0.35±0.05) wide; PLS 3.40–4.92 (4.15±0.76) long basal to apical (1.30–2.02 (1.65±0.36), + 0.90–1.34 (1.08±0.23), + 1.20–1.56 (1.43±0.20)), wide (0.39–0.64 (0.55±0.14) + 0.51–0.72 (0.59±0.11) + 0.39–0.42 (0.40±0.02)).

Table 2.
Download as
CSV
XLSX

Legs and palp measurements of ♂ Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. (n= 3) (range, mean ± standard deviation).

I II III IV Palp
Fem 4.60–7.36 (6.19±1.43) 4.00–6.40 (5.39±1.24) 3.30–4.92 (4.34±0.90) 4.20–6.88 (5.67±1.36) 2.50–4.47 (3.68±1.04)
Pat 3.20–4.32 (3.67±0.58) 2.55–3.76 (2.97±0.68) 2.3–3.06 (2.77±0.41) 2.60–3.60 (3.13±0.50) 2.10–2.88 (2.58±0.42)
Tib 4.00–5.58 (4.90±0.81) 3.30–4.56 (4.00±0.64) 2.30–3.18 (2.87±0.49) 2.80–5.52 (4.15±1.36) 3.10–4.24 (3.81±0.62)
Met 3.00–4.38 (3.62±0.70) 2.80–4.14 (3.56±0.69) 2.50–3.84 (3.23±0.68) 3.90–5.76 (4.88±0.93) –
Tar 1.70–2.58 (2.04±0.48) 1.80–2.34 (1.99±0.30) 1.83–2.40 (2.08±0.29) 2.30–2.68 (2.46±0.20) 1.30–1.51 (1.42±0.11)
Total 16.50–24.22 (20.41±3.86) 14.50–21.20 (17.91±3.35) 12.40–17.22 (15.28±2.55) 15.80–24.44 (20.30±4.33) 9.00–12.75 (11.49±2.15)

Description – Female

Paratype ♀ CUMZ-C4-NA4: Color (in life, Fig. 3): dark brown, carapace brown. Total length (including chelicerae) 17.51; cephalothorax 6.56 long, 4.25 wide 2.12 high (caput); fovea 0.87 wide, procurved, deep; cephalothorax brown, covered with short whitish brown hairs dorsally, golden yellow to yellowish brown hairs on lateral margins (Fig. 5); clypeus 0.15 high; ocular tubercle 0.72 long, 1.14 wide. Anterior eyes with long hairs in front of AME and mid-posterior PME area; anterior eye row slightly procurved and posterior row slightly recurved. Eyes whitish, ALEs oval in shape, larger than the round AMEs. Eye length/width: AME, 0.30/0.15; ALE, 0.21/0.22; PLE, 0.27/0.15; PME, 0.20/0.13; Inter-eye distances: AME–AME, 0.14; AME–ALE, 0.11; AME–PME, 0.09; ALE–ALE, 0.57; ALE–PME, 0.16; PME–PME, 0.48; PME–PLE, 0.05; PLE–PLE, 0.66; and ALE–PLE, 0.11. Chelicerae dark orange with row of 10 promarginal teeth, cheliceral face with stridulatory ridges and rows of orange-red setae, a series of strikers (>60), in > 4 horizontal rows (unordered). Strongest/longest strikers on lowest rows. Each striker needleform, lacking filiform ends (Fig. 8). Maxillae reddish brown, 2.34 long, 1.24 wide with 152 cuspules, prolateral surface of maxilla covered with orange-red setae, and maxillary, and maxillae lyra absent. Labium reddish brown, 0.88 long, 1.28 wide with 271 cuspules. Sternum brownish, covered with 2 types of hair: strong dark and soft white (Fig. 11); sternum 2.9 long, 2.64 wide, with 3 pairs ovoid sigillae present near lateral margins opposite coxa I, II and III. Sigillae: anterior pair obscured close to sternal margin; median pair 0.24 long, 0.15 wide, 0.12 from sternal margin; posterior pair 0.30 long, 0.17 wide, 0.39 from sternal margin. Abdomen 9.50 long, 6.20 wide, gray-yellow and hirsute dorsally, brownish gray and thickly hirsute laterally and ventrally. Legs brownish, thickly covered with grayish white short and long hairs (Fig. 17), coxae and trochantera brown. Met IV with 5 distal spines. Length of legs, palpal segments shown in Table 3. Leg formula (length) IV, I, II, III.

Table 3.
Download as
CSV
XLSX

Legs and palp measurements (in millimeters) of paratype CUMZ-C4-NA4 ♀ Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. from Thailand. RF = 97.54.

I II III IV Palp
Fem 4.48 3.35 2.95 4.15 2.65
Pat 2.40 2.10 2.15 2.20 2.10
Tib 2.75 2.10 1.75 2.80 1.90
Met 1.90 1.45 1.50 2.82 -
Tar 1.55 1.20 1.15 1.44 1.65
Total 13.08 10.20 9.50 13.41 8.30

Scopulae: Met I, II, III, undivided; Met IV, divided. Tar I, II, undivided; Tar III, IV, divided by several rows of long spines (Fig. 18). Met I, II, III, complete; Met IV, extension ¾, denser at distal end than at proximal end. Scopula extension on Tar I, II, III, IV complete; Tar IV scopula denser at the distal end and with a small, nearly hairless oval (“bald spot”) at the proximal end (see Fig. 18). Hairs of distal scopula on Tar II, III and IV more evenly distributed than in the male, not forming tufts of hair (compare Figs 15, 18). Spines: Met I and II, absent; Met III, 7 spines; Met IV, 6 spines. Tar I–III with 2 claws, Tar IV with third claw, 2 dorsal rows of club-shaped setae. Spinnerets white-yellow, covered with long, thin dark hairs; PMS 0.87 long, 0.48 wide; PLS 3.48 length of segments (from basal to apical) (1.38 + 0.87 + 1.23), width of segments (basal to apical) 0.63 + 0.54 + 0.45. Genitalia: epigastric fold 1.86. Spermathecae (Figs 20, 24): paired, each 0.3 mm wide at base and the pair fused at the base, 1.05 (left) and 1.11 (right) mm long, 0.42 (left) – 0.54 (right) wide, and apically bent; sclerotization heaviest apically, gradually decreasing basally.

Variation

– Female

(N = 7; range (mean ± standard deviation)): Total length (including chelicerae) 14.30–26.75 (20.31±4.72); cephalothorax 6.56–10.70 (8.80±1.54) long, 4.25–8.20 (6.27±1.41) wide, 2.12–4.16 (3.05±0.69) high (caput); fovea 0.87–1.68 (1.29±0.28) wide; clypeus 0.15–0.30 (0.21±0.05) or absent; ocular tubercle 0.70–1.14 (0.91±0.20) long, 1.00–1.80 (1.44±0.30) wide. Eye length/width: AME 0.20–0.40 (0.28±0.07)/0.15–0.40 (0.26±0.08); ALE 0.21–0.50 (0.36±0.10)/0.20–0.45 (0.28±0.08); PLE 0.27–0.45 (0.33±0.05)/0.15–0.20 (0.19±0.02); PME 0.20–0.40 (0.28±0.07)/0.13–0.20 (0.18±0.03). Inter-eye distances: AME–AME 0.14–0.50 (0.33±0.14); AME–ALE 0.10–0.50 (0.22±0.15); AME–PME 0.09–0.50 (0.23±0.16); ALE–ALE 0.57–1.70 (0.98±0.38); ALE–PME 0.16–0.40 (0.28±0.11); PME–PME 0.48–1.80 (0.88±0.44); PME–PLE 0.05–0.30 (0.14±0.09); PLE–PLE 0.66–1.90 (1.09±0.39); and ALE–PLE 0.11–0.50 (0.28±0.16). Maxillae 2.30–3.35 (2.73±0.41) long, 1.20–2.20 (1.66±0.39) wide. Labium 0.88–1.40 (1.06±0.20) long, 1.28–1.96 (1.50±0.27) wide. Sternum 2.90–4.82 (3.93±0.85) long, 2.64–4.32 (3.50±0.73) wide. Abdomen 7.38–15.62 (10.96±2.99) long, 4.80–8.80 (6.74±1.67) wide. Length of legs and palpal segments shown in Table 4. Spinnerets: PMS 0.80–1.40 (1.04±0.26) long, 0.40–0.60 (0.53±0.07) wide; PLS 3.48–5.13 (4.09±0.55) long from base to apex, basal segment 1.20–2.10 (1.53±0.29), median segment 0.87–1.59 (1.17±0.24), apical segment 0.90–1.89 (1.40±0.35) long; width of basal segment 0.63–1.05 (0.82±0.17), median segment 0.54–0.99 (0.75±0.16) and apical segment 0.45–0.75 (0.58±0.12).

Table 4.
Download as
CSV
XLSX

Legs and palp measurements [range (mean ± standard deviation)] of ♀ Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. (n=7).

I II III IV Palp
Fem 3.20–6.90 (3.63±1.34) 3.20–5.90 (4.51±1.08) 2.90–5.36 (3.96±1.08) 3.80–7.00 (5.35±1.25) 2.50–4.64 (3.63±0.94)
Pat 2.30–4.64 (3.63±0.97) 2.10–4.30 (3.01±0.86) 1.80–3.50 (2.65±0.66) 2.20–4.20 (3.12±0.77) 1.80–3.20 (2.51±0.56)
Tib 2.70–4.90 (3.76±0.86) 2.10–3.70 (2.90±0.58) 1.75–3.90 (2.64±0.81) 2.80–4.80 (3.95±0.81) 1.90–3.20 (2.60±0.60)
Met 1.80–3.76 (2.64±0.80) 1.45–3.70 (2.55±0.79) 1.50–3.45 (2.59±0.71) 2.70–5.60 (4.11±1.15) –
Tar 1.55–3.40 (2.33±0.64) 1.20–3.33 (2.13±0.74) 1.15–3.20 (2.24±0.65) 1.44–3.50 (2.59±0.65) 1.65–3.30 (2.56±0.61)
Total 12.00–23.10 (17.60±4.35) 10.20–20.90 (15.12±3.89) 9.50–18.20 (14.09±3.61) 13.41–25.10 (19.13±4.49) 8.30–14.20 (11.30±2.58)

Distribution and natural history

Specimens were collected near villages in Lampang, Lamphun and Kampangpet provinces at approximately 200–500 meters in elevation. The habitat was disturbed by human activity and organic agriculture, including cultivation of mango, coconut, and bamboo (Fig. 25). Some specimens were collected from houses in the rainy season and others in shaded forest habitats; they appear to choose moist habitats. Some nests were built in colonies of termites or ants, which are used as prey (Figs 26–27). The nest consists of a shallow (1–2 cm deep) subterranean system of silken retreat tubes under stones or logs. One part of their web appeared to be used for accumulated prey scraps. Specimens from Saraburi province were collected in forest under rock and timber.

Figures 25–27. 

Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. Kamphaengphet province, Sai Thong Watthana. 25 locality where specimens are collected 26 habitat under log 27 subterranean system of silk tube retreats with litter.

Figure 28. 

Metatarsal and tarsal scopae of legs I–IV of Phlogiellus lacking of maxillary lyra (P. longipalpus sp. n., P. mutas, P. aper, P. watasei, P. bundokalbo, and P. moniqueverdezae), indicating whether scopulae are entire, divided by rows of bristles or absent (grey – undivided, grey with black vertical line – divided, white – absent).

Remarks

Nunn et al. (2016) recently revised Phlogiellus and gave very strong support for two synapomorphies of Phlogiellus: number of labial cuspules between 160–320, fewer than other selenocosmiine genera and very deep fovea. However, R. Raven (pers. comm.) pointed out that in Nunn et al. (2016), P. pelidnus Nunn et al., 2016 was described and shown to have more than 320 labial cuspules. This inconsistency of using the number of labial cuspules as a valid synapomorphic characters of Phlogiellus remains to be investigated. For our study, P. longipalpus sp. n. is placed in Phlogiellus as it has deep fovea, while the labial cuspule numbers are between 202–317 (average 281±42). Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. differs from P. pelidnus, P. baeri (Simon, 1877), P. subinermis (Giltay, 1934), P. atriceps Pocock 1897, P. inermis (Ausserer, 1871), P. insulanus (Hirst, 1909), P. johnreylazoi Nunn et al., 2016, P. xinping (Zhu and Zhang, 2008), P. bogadeki Nunn et al., 2016, P. orophilus (Thorell, 1897), and P. obscurus (Hirst, 1909) in lacking a maxillary lyra, a character it shares with P. aper (Simon, 1891), P. brevipes (Thorell, 1897), P. watasei (Kishida, 1920), P. mutus (Giltay, 1935), P. bundokalbo (Barrion and Litsinger, 1995), and P. moniqueverdezae Nunn et al., 2016. P. longipalpus sp. n. differs from other Phlogiellus species that lack a maxillary lyra by possession of a long embolus that is more or less 3 times longer than palpal bulb length (Suppl. material 1, Figs A1–A8) and long, uniquely shaped female receptacle (Suppl. material 1, Figs B1–B8). In addition, the pattern of tarsal scopula division illustrated in Fig. 28 can be used to distinguish mature specimens of P. longipalpus sp. n., P. mutas, P. aper, P. watasei, P. bundokalbo, and P. moniqueverdezae. This character cannot be used to diagnose P. brevipes (material not examined) or the female of P. aper (no specimens have been described) (Raven 2005, Guadanucci 2005, Nunn et al. 2016).

Distribution

Thailand (Central and Northern).

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mr. Sukrid Roetrakulthong, Mr. Chaipat Wimolsuthikul, Mr. Kaweesak Keeratikiat and the Animal Systematics Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University for collecting additional specimens. Special thanks also should be given to Asst. Prof. Chirasak Sutcharit for his kind assistant on photographing specimens. Invaluable comments were provided by Robert Raven, Rick West, Volker von Wirth, Chris Hamilton, and one anonymous reviewer that tremendously improve the manuscript. This research is supported by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University, Ratchadaphisek Somphot Fund.

References

  • Ausserer A (1871) Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Arachniden-Familie der Territelariae Thorell (Mygalidae Autor). Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 21: 117–224
  • Barrion AT, Litsinger JA (1995) Riceland Spiders of South and Southeast Asia. CAB International, Wallingford, 700 pp.
  • Giltay L (1934) Description d’une espèce nouvelle de Selenocosmia du sous-genre Phlogiellus. Bulletin du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique 10(10): 1–4.
  • Giltay L (1935) Liste des arachnides d’Extrême-Orient et des Indes orientales recueillis, en 1932, par S. A. R. le Prince Léopold de Belgique. Bulletin du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique 11(20): 1–15.
  • Guadanucci JPL (2005) Tarsal scopula significance in Ischnocolinae phylogenetics (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae). Journal of Arachnology 33: 456–467. https://doi.org/10.1636/04-75.1
  • Haupt J, Schmidt GEW (2004) Description of the male and illustration of the female receptacula of Yamia watasei Kishida, 1920 (Arachnida, Araneae, Theraphosidae, Selenocosmiinae). Spixiana 27: 199–204.
  • Hirst AS (1909) On some new or little-known mygalomorph spiders from the Oriental Region and Australasia. Records of the Indian Museum, Calcutta 3: 383–390.
  • Karsch F (1892) Arachniden von Ceylon und von Minikoy gesammelt von den Herren Doctoren P. und F. Sarasin. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 36: 267–310.
  • Kishida K (1920) Note on Yamia watasei, a new spider of the family Aviculariidae. Zoological Magazine, Tokyo 32: 299–307.
  • Nunn SC, West RC, Wirth vW (2016) A Revision of the Selenocosmiine Tarantula Genus Phlogiellus Pocock 1897 (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with Description of 4 New Species, International Journal of Zoology 2016: 1–54. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9895234
  • Pocock RI (1892) Supplementary notes on the Arachnida and Myriopoda of the Mergui Archipelago: with descriptions of some new species from Siam and Malaysia. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 24: 316–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1892.tb02485.x
  • Pocock RI (1897) Spinnen (Araneae). In: Kükenthal W (Ed.) Ergebnisse einer zoologische Forschungsreise in dem Molukken und Borneo.Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 23: 591–629.
  • Schmidt G (2010) Bestimmungsschlüssel für die Weibchen der südostasiatischen Zwergvogelspinnengattung Yamia (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Selenocosmiinae). Tarantulas of the World 142: 42–47.
  • Simon E (1877) Etudes arachnologiques. 5e Mémoire. IX. Arachnides recueillis aux îles Phillipines par MM. G. A. Baer et Laglaise. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (5) 7: 53–96.
  • Simon E (1887) Etude sur les arachnides de l’Asie méridionale faisant partie des collections de l’Indian Museum (Calcutta). I. Arachnides recueillis à Tavoy (Tenasserim) par Moti Ram. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 56: 101–117.
  • Simon E (1889) Arachnides. In Voyage de M. E. Simon au Venezuela (décembre 1887–avril 1888). 4e Mémoire. Annales Société entomologique de France, Paris 6: 9, 169–220.
  • Simon E (1891) Etudes arachnologiques. 23e Mémoire. XXXVIII. Descriptions d’espèces et de genres nouveaux de la famille des Aviculariidae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 60: 300–312.
  • Thorell T (1897) Viaggio di Leonardo Fea in Birmania e regioni vicine. LXXIII. Secondo saggio sui Ragni birmani. I. Parallelodontes. Tubitelariae. Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova, (2)17[=37]: 161–267.
  • West RC, Nunn SC, Hogg S (2012) A new tarantula genus, Psednocnemis, from west Malaysia (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with cladistic analysis and biogeography of Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889. Zootaxa 3299: 1–43.
  • World Spider Catalog (2017) World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch [version 17.0, accessed on 27 Jun 2016]
  • von Wirth V, Striffler BF (2005) Neue Erkenntnisse zur Vogelspinnen—Unterfamilie Ornithoctoninae, mit Beschreibung von Ornithoctonus aureotibialis sp. n. und Haplopelma longipes sp. n. (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Arthropoda 13(2): 2–27.
  • Zhu MS, Tso IM (2005) The redescription of Yamia watasei Kishida, with taxonomic study (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Acta Arachnologica Sinica 14: 13–16.
  • Zhu MS, Zhang R (2008) Revision of the theraphosid spiders from China (Araneae: Mygalomorphae). Journal of Arachnology 36: 425–447. https://doi.org/10.1636/CA07-94.1

Supplementary material

Supplementary material 1 

Supplemental figures

Narin Chomphuphuang, Deborah Smith, Sitthipong Wongvilas, Varat Sivayyapram, Chaowalit Songsangchote, Natapot Warrit

Data type: Species figures

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.
Download file (3.07 MB)
login to comment