Paracladopelma kuramaclarum Sasa

Paracladopelma kuramaclarum Sasa

(Figs 33–35)

Paracladopelma kuramaclara Sasa, 1989: 48.

Paracladopelma kuramaclara Sasa; Sasa and Kikuchi (1995: 103); Sasa (1998: 31); Saether et al. (2000: 191). Paracladopelma tokaradiea Sasa et Suzuki, 1995: 260. Syn. nov.

Material examined: Holotype male of P. kuramaclarum Sasa (NSM no. 165: 29), JAPAN: Toyama Prefecture, Kyoto, Kurama River, 11.x.1988, light trap, M. Sasa. Holotype male of P. tokaradiea Sasa et Suzuki (NSM no. 286: 31), JAPAN: Tokara Islands, Kuchinoshima Island, 18.v.1994, sweep net, H. Suzuki.

Diagnostic characters. The species is easily distinguished from other Paracladopelma species by the plough-shaped superior volsella bearing 2 setae and covered with microtrichia on inner part, and by the lobeshaped inferior volsella with thumb-like projection.

Male. Description as in Sasa (1989: 48) with the following corrections: frontal tubercles absent; superior volsella plough-shaped, outer margin with 2 setae, inner part covered with microtrichia; inferior volsella with rounded lobe, sclerotized thumb-like projection, and covered with microtrichia. The wing and hypopygium of the holotype are re-drawn in Figures 33–35.

Remarks. We also re-examined the holotype of P. tokaradiea Sasa et Suzuki, which is identical with P. kuramaclarum Sasa in having a plough-like superior volsella; inferior volsella with thumb-like projection; anal point nearly parallel-sided; and gonostylus straight, parallel-sided. We therefore consider P. tokaradiea Sasa et Suzuki to be a junior synonym of P. kuramaclarum Sasa.

Distribution. The species is recorded from Japan.