Tolteca jalisco (Gertsch, 1982)

Figs 36C–D, 43, 55C

Pholcophora jalisco Gertsch, 1982: 102, figs 40–41 (♂).

Tolteca jalisco – Huber 2000: 120, figs 458–459 (♂).

Diagnosis

Distinguished from known congeners by dorsal ridge on male genital bulb (Gertsch 1982: fig. 40; Huber 2000: fig. 458); also by the combination of: procursus tip gradually narrowing (Gertsch 1982: fig. 40; Huber 2000: fig. 459; unlike T. hesperia and T. sinnombre sp. nov.); main epigynal plate band-like (Fig. 43A, C; rather than crescent-shaped as in T. manzanillo sp. nov., T. huahua sp. nov., and T. oaxaca sp. nov.); sacs in female internal genitalia ~18–25 µm long (Fig. 55C; i.e., longer than in T. oaxaca, shorter than in all other species).

Material examined

Holotype MEXICO – Jalisco • ♂; 20 mi N of La Quemada; ~ 21.18° N, 104.085° W; 28 Jul. 1954; W.J. Gertsch leg.; AMNH; examined (Huber 2000).

Remark

The information on the label accompanying the holotype deviates slightly from the data published by Gertsch (1982). This affects not only the date (28 or 24 Jul. 1954) but also the exact type locality, which is either 20 mi N of La Quemada (i.e., ~ 21.18° N, 104.085° W) or 29 mi N of La Quemada (i.e., ~ 21.23° N, 104.06° W).

New record

MEXICO – Jalisco • 2 ♀♀ abdomens; N of La Quemada, ‘site 2’; 21.1922° N, 104.0975° W; 630 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 2019; B.A. Huber and A. Valdez-Mondragón leg.; ZFMK Ar 23956 • 6 ♀♀ in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; two abdomens transferred to ZFMK Ar 23956, three prosomata used for molecular work; ZFMK Mex241.

Description

Female

In general, very similar to congeners (Fig. 36C–D); total body length 1.25; tibia 1 in three females: 0.50, 0.50, 0.53. Epigynum (Fig. 43A–D) very distinct short band-shaped anterior plate slightly protruding in lateral view; posterior plate wide, median part slightly protruding anteriorly. With distinct knob between epigynum and pedicel. Internal genitalia (Fig. 43E–G) with pair of strong transversal sclerites, pair of very small sacs (receptacles?), without (or with very small?) pore plates.

Distribution

Known from type locality and one neighbouring site only, in Mexico, Jalisco (Fig. 35). The exact coordinates of the type locality are unknown, but the type locality is either within ~ 2 km from the new locality or ~ 6 km NE of the new locality (see Remark above).

Natural history

The newly collected specimens were found in a small forest remnant at the roadside. Few specimens were found despite of intensive search (>2 hrs); no other pholcid species shared the leaf litter with Tolteca. The locality was shared with Physocyclus brevicornus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010.