Unidentified Psechrus specimen from Baluno, Mindanao, Philippines

Figs 23, 36

Material examined (1 subadult ♀, 2 juvs): PHILIPPINES: Mindanao: Zamboanga Sibugay Prov.: Zamboanga, Baluno ERTC, rain forest, 07°01'08.1''N, 122°01'54.5''E, Y.-C. Su leg. 14.VII.2007, field number: Lyn-ASp 203-1 ind./F1/MO/JO, 1 s.a. ♀ (SB 1203), SMF. Mindanao: Zamboanga Sibugay Prov.: Zamboanga, Baluno ERTC, rain forest, 781 m, 07°01'08.1''N, 122°01'54.5''E, Y.-C. Su leg. 14.VII.2007, field number: Lyn-ASp 202-1 ind./F1/MO/ JO, 1 juv. (SB 1204), SMF. Mindanao: Zamboanga Sibugay Prov.: Zamboanga, Baluno ERTC, rain forest, 07°01'01.03.3''N, 122°01'44.5''E, Y.-C. Su leg. 15.VII.2007, field number: SU 413-B- 2 ind./F2/MO/JO, 1 juv. (SB 1206), SMF.

Taxonomic remarks. This form from Baluno, Mindanao is likely to be an undescribed species, as the preepigyne and pre-vulva of the subadult female SB 1203 (Figs 26–27) are clearly different from those of all other Psechrus species of which subadults are known. The taxonomic significance of the subadult female copulatory organ (pre-epigyne & pre-vulva) in Psechridae had been shown by Bayer (2011, 2012). However, as far as this subadult specimen is concerned, it has to be considered that on the Philippines two species are known from only adult specimens, namely Psechrus huberi sp. nov. & P. wade sp. nov. Even though it is highly unlikely, it cannot be absolutely excluded that SB 1203 (listed above) is conspecific with the types of either P. huberi sp. nov. or P. w a de sp. nov. Pre-epigynes and -vulvae of the other Philippine species P. schwendingeri Bayer, 2012 and P. cebu Murphy, 1986, however, are known and are clearly different from those of SB 1203. The flat depressions anteriorly in the pre-median septum (Figs 23 A,C) and the remarkably small and narrow pre-spermathecal heads (Figs 23 B) characterise subadults of the species to which SB 1203 belongs. A description of the subadult female copulatory organ and the spination pattern follows below. In Psechridae the basic spination pattern (apart from intraspecific differences) generally does not differ between adults and juveniles after the 6th moult.

Spination and primordial copulatory organ. Subadult female: Spination: Palp: 131, 110, 1101, 1014. Legs: femur I 656, II 545, III 545, IV 554; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3036, III 3132{3232}, IV 3131{3130}; metatarsus I–II 3037, III 3035, IV 3034{3033}. Primordial female copulatory organ: Pre-epigyne without distinct epigynal field (Figs 23 A,C); pre-median septum clearly broader than long, anteriorly with two small depressions with rounded posterior rims each (Figs 23 A,C); pre-muscle sigillae anterior to pre-epigyne ca. 2x longer than broad; 4 slit sense organs close proximal to the pre-muscle sigillae. Pre-vulva with relatively long pre-copulatory ducts (Figs 23 B,D); pre-spermathecal bases slightly broader than long and with a little hump antero-laterally; prespermathecal heads remarkably small and narrow (Fig. 23 B) but recognisable as such.

Distribution. Philippines (Mindanao) (Fig. 36).