Althepus viengkeoensis Li & Li, 2018

Figs 76–100

Althepus viengkeoensis Li & Li in Li et al. 2018a: 412, figs 28A–D, 29A–E, 31H (Description of male and female; type material not examined).

Material examined. LAOS: Vientiane Province: 4 males, 5 females, 2 subadult males, 3.5 km W Vang Vieng, Tham Khan, N 18°55’32.00”, E 102°24’57.70”, 396 m elevation, in cave, by hand, sunset to night, P. Jäger leg. 14 October 2022 (SMF). 3 males, 5 females, 2 subadult males, 5 juveniles, with same data as for previous specimens, but: Jäger & S. Packheiser leg. 24 July 2018 (SMF). 2 males, 6 females, 1 subadult male, 2 juveniles, N Vang Vieng, Ban Viengsa Mai, Tham That Tha, ca. N 18°58’43.81”, E 102°25’35.86”, 250 m elevation, deep in cave, wet muddy zone with debris, by hand, by day, P. Jäger leg. 7 December 2023 (LKCNHM). 2 females, 3 subadult males, 1 juvenile, 7 larvae, with same data as for previous specimens, but: 5 December 2022 (SMF). 2 juveniles, N Vang Vieng, N Ban Phoxay, Tham Hoi, N 19°2’22.04”, E 102°25’26.19”, 273 m elevation, breathing river cave, from entrance to 300 m deep, by hand, by day, P. Jäger leg. 9 October 2022 (SMF). 1 female, 4 km N Vang Vieng, Tham Lom, 18°57’27.81”N, 102°26’12.22”E, 402 m, in cave, by hand, by day, J. Wohlschiess leg. 4 November 2025 (SMF). 1 male, south Vang Vieng, Tham Chang, 18°54’34.61”N, 102°26’31.67”E, 283 m, in cave, by hand, by day. P. Jäger leg. 15 November 2025 (NUOL). 1 female, 1 subadult male, 7 larvae, W Vang Vieng, Tham Nang Oua Khiam, N 18°55’46.86”, E 102°20’56.82”, 324 m elevation, in cave, by hand, by day, P. Jäger leg. 28 July 2016 (SMF). 1 female, W Vang Vieng, Tham Noi Moi, 18°54’35.31”N, 102°20’ 44.59”E, 565 m, in cave, by hand, by day, C. Kennedy leg. 18 May 2025 (SMF). 1 subadult female, 3 juveniles, W Vang Vieng, Blue Lagoon 3, Tham Pha Boun, 18°56’28.89”N, 102°20’15.46”E, 315 m, in cave (entrance‒ 25m), by hand, by day, P. Jäger leg. 25 January 2025 (SMF). 1 male, 2 females, 1 juvenile, N Vang Vieng, Ban Phoudindeng, Tham Nam Them, between 18°58’36.87”N, 102°25’38.50”E, 268 m, and 18°58’34.03”N, 102°25’35.48”E, 304 m, in cave and entrance, by hand, by day. P. Jäger & A. Hudspeth leg. 23 January 2025 (NUOL). 2 juveniles, NW Vang Vieng, Tham “Angel”, 18°56’42.47”N, 102°26’1.47”E, 257 m, cave, limestone cliff, by hand, by day. P. Jäger leg. 20 January 2025 (SMF). 1 female, 1 subadult male, 1 juvenile, with same data as for preceding specimen (SMF). 3 juveniles, W Vang Vieng, N Ban Nampe, Blue Lagoon 5, 18°59’2.54”N, 102°19’27.38”E, 347 m, cave entrance and limestone cliff, by day, by hand, P. Jäger leg. 22 January 2025 (SMF). 1 juvenile, ca. 17 km N Vang Vieng, E Ban Keo Kouang, Tham Phohom, 19° 6’55.88”N, 102°27’10.62”E, 335 m, in cave and entrance, by hand, by day, P. Jäger & A. Hudspeth leg. 15 January 2025 (SMF). 1 juvenile female(?), West of Vang Vieng, Tham Soksay, 18°55’23.30”N, 102°23’8.71”E, 273 m, in cave, 24.1–24.6°C, by hand, by day. P. Jäger & T. Laufs leg. 17 October 2024 (SMF).

Diagnosis. See Li et al. (2018a).

Description. See Li et al. (2018a).

Variation. Male: the bulb of the present specimen seems to be slightly expanded (Figs 76–80) compared to that shown in Li et al. (2018a: figs 28A–D). In addition, the hook-shaped spine of the cymbium is slightly narrower, the distance between the embolus base and conductor base is wider (Fig. 80). Female: The primary spermathecae have generally the same shape and direction (Figs 81–82), but the one shown in Li et al. (2018a: fig. 29A) seem to have a wrinkled surface probably due to chemical treatment. The surface is smooth in the present specimens.

Colouration. Preserved spiders see Figs 83–92. Live spiders show the typical iridescent colour on their legs (Figs 93–94, 95–96). Colouration of the opisthosoma can vary from stronger to less black pigmentation, probably also due to size of the opisthosoma.

Distribution. Local endemic occurring in various caves close to Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Laos (Fig. 100).

Biology. Two females were found to carry seven larvae with their fangs, apparently recently hatched (Figs 97–98). In the web of one female, parallel lines as described in Ramirez et al. (2023) for Althepus stonei Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995 were detected (Fig. 96: arrows). One female (Tham Khan) was observed wrapping a beetle (Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) (Fig. 99). Another two females (Tham Thattha) were wrapping and feeding on an unidentified beetle, respectively.