A new theraphosid spider from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

5 Pages·1991·1.5 MB·English

by  Richard C West

A NEW THERAPHOSID SPIDER FROM THE CAMERON HIGHLANDS, MALAYSIA
RICHARD WEST
C.
West, R.C. 1991 0601:Anewtheraphosidspiderfrom the Cameron Highlands,Malaysia.
MemoirsoftheQueenslandMuseum30(3): 615-619. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835.
Lyrognathusliewisp. nov. isdescribedfrom the rainforestsofwestcentral Malaysia.This
is the first record of the genus outside its type locality of Assam, India. ^fJTheraphosid
spider, Malaysia, rainforests.
RichardC. West, RoyalBritishColumbiaMuseum, 675BellevilleStreet, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada V8V1X4;20August1990.
Pocock (1895) described Lyrognathus crota- eyesaremeasuredacrosstheirgreatestwidthand
I lus, the type species, from a single female. L. thedistance between theeyes is measured along
pugnax Pocock, 1900 and L. saltator Pocock, the shortest distance. The median ocular quad-
I
1900 from North Khasi Hills and Shillong, rangleformedbythemedianeyesismeasuredto
respectively are the only otherspecies assigned. includetheeyesandtheratiosareobtainedinthe
Sex was not mentioned for these single speci- same way as the ratio of the eyes; AME—ant-
mens. Gravely (1915)examinedL. crotalus, de- erior median eyes; ALE-anterior lateral eyes;
i termined earlier by Hirst, from the Khasi Hills PME—posterior median eyes; PLE—posterior
and L. pugnax determined by himself, from the lateral eyes; MOO—median ocularquadrangle.
Garo Hills and doubted whether they were dis- Segments of legs are measured dorsally in a
tinct species. Gravely (1935) considered the straight line from articulation to articulation.
three species of Lyrognathus synonymous and Clawsare notincluded in measurementsoftarsi.
the genusclose toSelenocosmiawith the excep- The legformulaexpressesrelative lengthsofthe
tion ofthe one characterofleg IV being incras- legs from longest to shortest length. Spination
sate. Gravely (1935) described two males from patternsare recordedfrom thespecimen accord-
Khasi Hills as Selenocosmia pugnax but as- ing to the following conventions: v-ventral, p-
sumed they might belong to Lyrognathus. prolateral,d-dorsalandr-retrolateral;spinepos-
Pocock’s type material at the British Museum, itions are reported from distal to proximal, un-
Natural History is apparently too fragile to loan paired spines are listed as 1, paired or a
and examine therefore I offer no opinion on transverse series of3 spines are listed as 2 or3.
specificsynonymiesinthegenus.IfollowRaven Spermathecae were dissected out and the
(1985) in maintaining Lyrognathus and muscle coatremoved with fine needles. Illustra-
Selenocosmia as separate taxa. tionswere madewith the assistanceofasquared
Between October 1986 and July 1988, I re- eyepiece reticule.
ceived eightien)B.\eLyrognathusfrom Mr. K.C.
Liew, Taiping, Malaysia. This new species of Lyrognathus Pocock, 1895
Lyrognathus is a new generic record for Malay-
sia and an extension ofrange for the genus. Lyrognathus Pocock,1895:170,175; Pocock,1900:
187,202; Simon,1903:954,956; Gravely,1915a:
MATERIALS AND METHODS 415; Gravely,1915b:284; Gravely,1935:83;
Roewer,1942:264; Bonnet,1957:2675; Brig-
Measurementsare in millimetres, exceptocu- noIi,l983:132; Raven,1985:38,118; Platnick,
larmeasurementsaremade atthesamemagnifi- 1989:105..
cationandeachunitis0.055mm.Measurements Selenocosmia {Lyrognathus)Gravely,1935:83.
of the diameters of the median eyes are from
above, those ofthe lateral eyes were made from TypeSpecies
the side. Thewidth ofthe eyegroup referstothe Lyrognathuscrotalus Pocock,1895; by monotypy.
distance between the two outer eyes but also
includesthediametersoftheseeyes.Theratioof Diagnosis
the eyes is expressed in units which are taken Alltarsi integralwith tarsi IVdividedbysetae
from the divisions ofthe micrometer scale. The and tibia and metatarsus IV strongly incrassate.
;
616 MEMOIRS OFTHE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
Prolateral surface of maxillae with numerous and metatarsus IV strongly incrassate, metatar-
baciiliform lyra setae acting against a line of sus IV tapering distally. Rctrolateral face of
spike setae (strikers) on the retromargin of the patella, tibiaand metatarsusIVwith densebrush
cheliceral furrow. of hair, tapering distally on metatarsus IV.
Females with horizontally aligned short and
Remarks long peg-like (thorny) setae on intercheliceral
Lyrognathus differs from other Selenocos- face. Spermathecae variable, bilobed on
miinae primarily by the tibia and metatarsi IV holotype female, both tri- and bilobed on
being strongly incrassate. With the exception of paratype females. Males unknown.
this character L. liewi is similar to female
Coremiocnemisvalidus(Pocock, 1895)not only Description
from the same locality but in color, size and Holotype female. Carapace 18.54mm long,
possessing the same horizontally aligned peg- 15.40mm wide. Abdomen (slightly collapsed)
like setae on the intercheliceral face. 20.90mm long. 14.03mm wide. Total length
39.44mm.
Distribution,HabitatandBurrow Colour.Carapaceuniformbrown;legsI,IIand
L. liewiisknown from thewetdipterocarpand palp light brown, all femoradark brown, legs III
montane rainforests of Cameron Highlands, and IV dark brown, longer red brown hairs on
Pahang, in the main range and from Baling, leg IV: chelicerae light brown on dorsal and
Kedah, and Grik, Perak, in the eastern range of lateral surface; abdomen entirely dark brown
west Malaysia. Female L, liewi make a silk- with longerred brown hairson dorsal andlateral
linedburrow averagingSO-lOOcm in length and surfaces.Inalcoholcarapace,legsandchelicerae
3cm in diameterenlarging into a small chamber entirely dark red brown, abdomen and dense
distally. The burrow usually has a leaf-lined or brush ofhairon leg IV dark brown.
twigdebriscollarthatisflushwith thegroundon Carapace, Fovea broad, closed, procurved;
the rainforest floor; slopingground on open for- uniformly hirsute, cuticle almost obscured;
est fringes or roadsides is preferred. When dis- eight long setae in group in front of AME, two
turbed L. liewi will readily bite. ‘Orang Asli' long setae between ALE-PLE, ten long setae in
people call these large mygalomorphs ‘Teifoo’ a group between PLE, few short anteromedial
AME
or Earth tiger and believe the bite is fatal. bristles; clypeus about one diameter long;
striae shallow; caput strongly arched; lateral
Lyrognathus liewi sp. nov. margins with longer setae, anterior margin with
(Figs 1-11, Table 1) many long bristle setae.
Eyes, Tubercle rectangular, distinct, higher
Etymology posteriorly, sloping in front to anterior margin;
For Mr. K. C. Liew who collected the group occupies 0.26 of headwidth; group front
specimensandsuppliedthenaturalhistoryinfor- width: back width: length, 49:49:21, ratio of
mation. AME:ALE:PME:PLE, 10:6:5:5; MOO front
width: backwidth: length, 27:37:23; interspaces
Material (as diameters of an AME): AME-AME, 0.5;
Holotype 9and seven paratype 9 9Cameron AME-ALE,0.4; ALE-PLE,0.6; PME-PLE,0.1
Highlands, Pahang, West Malaysia, 4'’4rN; PME-PME, 2.7.
10r52’E. Holotype 9 and two paratype 9 9 Chelicerae. Stout; rastellum absent; 14-16
QM Nos 15460, 15461 and 15462, respectively; closely set teeth on promargin of furrow, many
other five paratype 9 9 in author’s collection. granular teeth basomesally; long line of short
Locations 3 9 9, off 24th mi. Road, Cameron andlongspikesetae(strikers)ontheretromargin
Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Oct.-Nov. 1986, of the furrow; c. 25 modified horizontally
coll. K.C, Liew; 59 9, off 24th mi. Road, aligned peg-like setae, short and stout, pointed
Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, July 4- apically.
12, 1988, coll. K.C. Liew; 2 9 9(dried) Baling, Labium. 2.64 long, 3.69 wide; rectangular,
Kedah, and 1 9 (dried) Grik, Perak, Malaysia, anteriorly slightly procurved; with dense group
Nov. 1980, coll. H. Wong. ofover300cuspulesonanteriorthird; labioster-
nal suture consisting of deep groove with two
Diagnosis lateral sigilloid elongate lobes, slightly raised,
Large mygalomorph spider. Femalewith tibia glabrous.
ANEWTHERAPHOSID SPIDER FROM MALAYSIA 617
FIGS 1-1.Lyrognathusliewi,femalefromCameronHighlands: 1,Cephalothoraxandchelicerae,dorsalview.
2, Sternum, maxillae, labium and chelicerae, ventral view. 3, Leg IV, dorsal view. 4, Leg IV, prolateral
face.5,7, Spermathecaeofparatypefemales,dorsalview.6,Spermalhecaeofholotype female,dorsalview.
Scale line = 1cm (Figs 1-4),=lmm (Figs5-7).
Maxillae. 8.09 length behind, 6.38 length evident; maxillae and labium covered with long
front, 3.74 width; broad; average 200 cuspules erect bristles and short hairs; prolateral surface
oninnercorner;anteriorlobedistinct;serrulanot
618 MEMOIRS OFTHEQUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIGS 8,9. Coremiocnemis validus Pocock,l895, female from Cameron Highlands, scanning electron
micrographs. 8, Chelicerae,prolateral face showing peg- like setae. 9, Chelicerae, prolateral face showing
peg-like setae enlarged. 10,11. Lyrognathus liewi, paratype female fram Cameron Highlands, scanning
electronmicrographs. 10,Chelicerae,prolateralfaceshowingpeg-likesetae. 11,Chelicerae,prolateralface
showingpeg-like setaeenlarged. Scaleline = 1mm (Figs 8,10), 0.1mm (Figs 9,11).
with distinct area ofbacilliform setae forming a glabrousbandon 1/2tofull lengthofretrolateral
lyra. face offemur I, II, III and palp; all patellaewith
Sternum. 8.36 long, 8.09 wide; round; short one or two narrow dorsal glabrous bands; all
brown prostrate hairs interspersed with erect metatarsi with one proximal dorsal narrow
short dark brown bristles obscuring cuticle, glabrous band; patellae, tibiae, metatarsi and
longer marginally; posterior sigilla oval, 1.16 tarsi with shortprostrate hairs interspersedwith
long,2.09frommargin;middlesigillaoval,0.94 longer more erect hairs, IV much more hirsute
long, 0.66 from margin; anterior sigilla (barely than others obscuring cuticle; spines present on
visible) round, 0.39 long, 0.55 from margin; all distal metatarsi.
sigillaglabrous. Scopula. Deep dense pile forfull length ofall
Legs. IVmuchthickerandlongerthanI,IIand tarsi,metatarsi IandII;equallydensebutdistally
III; patella, tibia and metatarsi IV incrassate, for 1/2 of metatarsi III and 1/3 metatarsi IV;
thicker retrolaterally with erect brush of hair metatarsi and tarsi IV divided by setae.
adding to the effect; ventral coxae with dense Spines. Metatarsi I, vl; II, v3; III, v2d2; IV
mat of short brown prostrate hairs interspersed v3d2.
with short erect dark brawn bristles as on ster- Claws. Palpalandpairedclawsbare;unpaired
num;femoralsetalmatobscurescuticleofdorsal claws absent; claws do not project beyond the
and ventral surface and prolateral face ofIII and scopula.
IV,femurI,II,andpalpwithwideglabrousband Trichobothria, 4-5 in a single dorsal row of
on 1/2-2/3 of prolateral face, IV with wide tibia I for full length; 2-3 irregular rows, each
glabrousbandon2/3ofretrolateral face, narrow row proximally retrolateral, distally dorsal;
ANEWTHERAPHOSID SPIDER FROM MALAYSIA 619
TABLE 1. LegmeasurementsofLyrognathusliewiholotype female.
Legl Les2 Legs Leg4 Palp
Femur 14.02 11.72 10.78 14.69 9.08
Patella 9.02 7.87 6.99 8.80 5.67
Tibia 9.90 7.98 6.77 12.21 6.49
Metatarsus 8.42 7.70 8.91 15.40
Tarsus 4.95 4.57 4.40 5.50 5.94
Total 46.31 39.84 37.85 56.60 27.18
metatarsi and tarsi I trichobothrial zone marked LITERATURECITED
alsobyshortsetae;70-80longfiliformandshort
clavate on tarsi I in abroad band. BONNET, P. 1957. Bibliographia Araneorum.
Spermathecae. Variable; usually bilobed; Toulouse,vol. 2; 1027-3026.
branchesconfluentbeforevulvalchamber; inner BRIGNOLI, P.M. 1983. A catalogue ofthe Araneae
branch longer than outerbranch. describedbetween 1940and 1981. Manchester,
Spinnerets. Posterior medians 2.53 long; British Arachnological Society; i-xii, 1-755.
basal, middle, distal and total lengthofposterior GRAVELY, F.H. 1915a. Theevolution and distribu-
lateral articles3.41,2.59,2.81,8.81 longrespec- tionofIndianspidersbelongingtothesub-fami-
tively. lyAviculariinae.J.AsiaticSoc. Bengal 10:411-
420.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1915b. Notes on Indian mygalomorph spiders, 1.
Rec. Ind. Museum 11:257-287.
I thank Dr. Robert J. Raven for encouraging 1935. Notes on Indian mygalomorph spiders, 11.
me and commenting on this manuscript, Mr. IndiaZoo!. Survey, Rec. 37(l):69-84.
K.C. Liew for bringing the spiders to my atten- PLATNICK, N.L, 1989. Advances in Spider
tion, Mr. Lee Humble and Ms Leslie Manning Taxonomy 1981-1987: A supplement to
for Scanning Electron Microscopy, Pacific Brignoli’sAcatalogueoftheAraneaedescribed
Forestry Centre, British Columbia, Ms Karen between 1940 and 1981. Manchester,
Udall-EkmannfortheillustrationsandMrsLynn ManchesterUniversity Press: i-vii + 1-673.
West for carefully typing the manuscript. This POCOCK, R.I. 1895. On a new and natural grouping
work was funded in part by the Exline-Frizzell of some of the Oriental genera of Mygalomor-
Fund for Arachnological Research, California phae, with descriptions of new genera and
AcademyofSciences, California, andthe Royal species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 15: 165-
British Columbia Museum, British Columbia. 184.
1900.ThefaunaofBritish India, includingCeylon
and Burma. Arachnida.London,279p.
RAVEN, R.J. 1985. The spider infraorder
Mygalomorphae (Araneae): cladistics and sys-
tematics. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Flist. 182(1):1-
180.
ROEWER, C.F. 1942. Katalog der Araneae.
Bremen, Paul Budy Bd. 1, i-viii + 1-1040.
SIMON, E. 1903. Histoire Naturelle des Araignes.
Paris, Roret, 2(4): 669-1080.