The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group (Araneae, Pholcidae): new data from field observations and ultrastructure

  • Bernhard A. Huber Alexander Koenig Research Museum of Zoology, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn,
  • Booppa Petcharad Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112,
  • Charles Leh Moi Ung Sarawak Museum, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93566 Kuching, Sarawak
  • Joseph K.H. Koh National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, 1B Cluny Road, Singapore 259598
  • Amir R.M. Ghazali Centre for Research and Consultancy, Unitar International University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2016.190
Keywords: Pholcus, taxonomy, web design, microhabitat, ultrastructure

Abstract

The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group is revised and re-delimited, based mainly on field observations (life color pattern, web design, position of egg-sac when carried by female, microhabitat) and ultrastructure (silk spigots, modifications of male cheliceral apophyses). The core group includes six leafdwelling species that have distinctive color patterns in life specimens (black and white or yellowish abdominal marks, dark pattern on posterior half of carapace) and build round to oval silk platforms on the undersides of leaves. Seven further species are tentatively assigned to the group pending further study. Several species originally assigned to the Pholcus halabala group are transferred to three newly proposed species groups, the Ph. krabi, Ph. buatong, and Ph. andulau groups. Nine species are newly described, four in the Ph. halabala group (Ph. khaolek Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. kuhapimuk Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. lintang Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. ubin Huber, sp. nov.); three in the Ph. krabi group (Ph. kipungit Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. krabi Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. narathiwat Huber, sp. nov.); one in the Ph. buatong group (Ph. buatong Huber, sp. nov.); and one in the Ph. andulau group (Ph. lambir Huber, sp. nov.). The females of Ph. satun Huber, 2011 and Ph. schwendingeri Huber, 2011 (both members of the buatong group) are newly described.

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Published
2016-04-14
How to Cite
Huber, B. A., Petcharad, B., Leh Moi Ung, C., Koh, J. K., & Ghazali, A. R. (2016). The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group (Araneae, Pholcidae): new data from field observations and ultrastructure. European Journal of Taxonomy, (190). https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2016.190
Issue
No. 190 (2016): The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group (Araneae, Pholcidae): new data from field observations and ultrastructure
Section
Zoology
Copyright (c) 2016 Bernhard A. Huber, Booppa Petcharad, Charles Leh Moi Ung, Joseph K.H. Koh, Amir R.M. Ghazali

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