Trichothyse jodhpurensis (Gajbe, 1993) comb. nov.

Figs 90–119

Megamyrmecion jodhpurensis Gajbe, 1993: 231, figs 1–5 (lapsus) (holotype ♀ and 2♀ paratypes: INDIA: Rajasthan: Jodhpur: Sangariya/Sangriya [26°11’N, 73°01’E], 3.VIII.1962, leg. Motilal, NZC-ZSI (no register number specified), examined (holotype and paratype images are provided in Sankaran & Caleb (2021)—not re-examined).

Poecilochroa jodhpurense (Gajbe): Sankaran & Caleb, 2021: 548, figs 44–46, 49–51.

Material examined. INDIA: Rajasthan: Jaisalmer, Thar Desert, Desert National Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Gajaimata area (26°40’28’’N, 70°34’17’’E, 205 m a.s.l.), 30.IV.2018, leg. R. Tripathi & A.K. Jangid (from ground, by hand), 1♂ (ZSI /WGRC/IR.-INV.27841); Same data as previous except Sudasari area (26°40’07’’N, 70°36’31’’E, 219 m a.s.l.), 8.V.2018, 2♂ 2♀ (ZSI /WGRC/IR.-INV.27842, 27843, 27844 and 27845 respectively); Same data as previous except Rasla area (26°45’09’’N, 71°25’40’’E, 269 m a.s.l.), 15.V.2018, 1♀ (ZSI /WGRC/IR.-INV.27846).

Diagnosis. Males of T. jodhpurensis comb. nov. are similar to those of T. furcata comb. nov. in the general aspects of its palp, but can be distinguished from the latter by the short, stout prolateral and globular retrolateral branches of the RTA in retrolateral view (vs. long, narrow prolateral and thumb-like retrolateral branches in T. furcata comb. nov.) (cf. Figs 109–112, 116–117 and Di Franco 2001: figs 3–4). Females are similar to those of T. pugnax comb. nov., as both have an epigynal posterior border line with a median notch and bean-shaped primary spermathecae, but can be distinguished from the latter by angular anterior part of the median extension (vs. widely oval in T. pugnax comb. nov.), and the secondary spermathecae with oval heads (vs. globular in T. pugnax comb. nov.) (cf. Figs 113–115, 118–119 and Levy 1999: figs 13–14).

Description. Male (Gajaimata area, ZSI/WGRC/IR.-INV.27841, Figs 90–99). Carapace, clypeus, chelicerae, labium, endites, sternum, scutum and legs brown, eye field slightly darker than carapace, abdomen ash-grey with indistinct median longitudinal black stripe, spinnerets olive brown; carapace with faintly darker striae radiating from fovea, densely covered with white appressed hairs, cephalic part provided with few stiff black setae medially (Fig. 94). Fovea narrow, longitudinal, straight, red-brown (Fig. 90). Cheliceral promargin with long black setae, with low keel and denticle (Fig. 95; arrow); retromargin without long setae, keel or denticle (Fig. 96). Abdomen oval, hirsute (Fig. 90); dorsal abdomen anteriorly with short, inverted triangular-shaped scutum, with four distinct sigilla, two circular and remaining two rice grain-shaped (Fig. 90). Metatarsi I–II and all tarsi with well-developed scopulae, scopulae on tarsi complete, those on metatarsi restricted distally (Figs 98–99). Spinnerets hirsute (Fig. 97). Body length 3.72. Carapace 1.55 long, 1.11 wide. Abdomen 2.14 long, 1.23 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.07, AME 0.12, PLE 0.08, PME 0.08; ALE–PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.05, AME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.03, PME–PME 0.06. AME and ALE nearly contiguous. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.09, at ALEs 0.08. Chelicerae 0.44 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 1.28 [0.51, 0.18, 0.16, 0.43], I 3.18 [0.99, 0.48, 0.74, 0.54, 0.43], II 2.92 [0.92, 0.39, 0.68, 0.54, 0.39], III 3.03 [0.91, 0.40, 0.60, 0.66, 0.46], IV 3.94 [1.10, 0.50, 0.85, 1.01, 0.48]. Leg formula: 4132. Spination of palp: femur pld 1 do 2, patella pld 1, tibia rld 1, tarsus/cymbium pl 1 rl 2; legs: femur I–II pl 1 do 2, III–IV pld 2 do 3 rld 2; patella I–II spineless, III–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I–II plv 2 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 pld 1 rld 2 plv 3 rlv 3; metatarsus I–II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 1 pld 3 rld 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 pld 3 rld 3 plv 3 rlv 3; tarsus I–IV spineless.

Palp (Figs 109–112, 116–117): segments brown. RTA rod-shaped, nearly half the length of cymbium, with small, stout prolateral and roughly globular retrolateral branches (Figs 109–112, 116–117). Cymbial flange nearly half of length of cymbium, anteriorly with serration-like modification (Figs 109, 116). Tegulum elongate-oval, sac-like (Figs 109, 116). Conductor membranous, with slight median curvature, flat distal part wrapping embolus, proximal part lying parallel to embolus, and smoothly rounded apex directed at 2-o’ clock ventrally (Figs 109–110, 116–117). Embolus arising apically, narrow, claw-like, lying adjacent to conductor, slightly curved retrolaterally, with tip directed at 1-o’ clock ventrally, with broad embolic base (Figs 109–110, 116–117).

Female (Sudasari area, ZSI/WGRC/IR.-INV.27844, Figs 100–108). General aspects essentially as in male except the following: habitus colour lighter than male. Carapace with randomly arranged black stiff setae. Dorsal abdomen without scutum, with six sigilla (Fig. 100). Body length 4.69. Carapace 2.09 long, 1.51 wide. Abdomen 2.57 long, 1.73 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.08, AME 0.13, PLE 0.09, PME 0.09; ALE–PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.06, AME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.06, PME–PME 0.09. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.10, at ALEs 0.09. Length of chelicerae 0.68. Length of palp and legs: palp 1.51 [0.50, 0.23, 0.30, 0.48], I 4.01 [1.28, 0.68, 0.87, 0.70, 0.48], II 3.88 [1.21, 0.55, 0.86, 0.74, 0.52], III 3.92 [1.21, 0.53, 0.78, 0.80, 0.60], IV 5.17 [1.50, 0.61, 1.13, 1.32, 0.61]. Leg formula: 4132. Spination of palp: femur do 2, tibia do 2 rld 1, tarsus pl 1 do 2 rlv 1; legs: femur I pl 1 do 3, II pl 2 do 3, III do 1 plv 2 rlv 2, IV do 3 pld 1 rld 1; patella III rld 1; tibia I plv 1 rlv 1, II plv 2, III pl 1 rl 2 pld 1 rld 2 plv 2 rlv 3, IV pl 1 rl 3 pld 1 rld 1 plv 3 rlv 3; metatarsus I–II plv 1, III pl 1 rl 2 pld 3 rld 2 plv 3 rlv 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 pld 2 rld 3 plv 3 rlv 3.

Genitalia (Figs 113–115, 118–119): epigyne hirsute, less sclerotised, with weakly notched posterior border line, with median extension having broad angular posterior and narrow anterior parts, with large, median atrium (Figs 113–114, 118). Copulatory openings lie at lateral rims of atrium. Copulatory ducts slightly wavy (Fig. 119). Primary spermathecae bean-shaped, lying parallel to each other (Figs 115, 119). Paired secondary spermathecae short, parallel to each other, with oval heads, which were erroneously interpreted in Sankaran & Caleb (2021) as copulatory ducts (Figs 115, 119). Fertilization ducts narrow, diverging (Fig. 119).

Variation. Male (n = 3): body length 3.32–3.72. Female (n = 3): body length 4.69–5.30.

Justification of transfer. An examination of the types of M. jodhpurensis in a recent paper (Sankaran & Caleb 2021) showed that it has all the diagnostic features of female Trichothyse species, although at the time the association with this genus was unclear due to its geographical range. Recently collected male and female specimens of this species confirmed its similarity with Trichothyse species: distomedially originating broad conductor with prolateral fold, apically originating claw-like embolus with broad embolic base, medially contiguous sperm duct with single loop, robust RTA with apical bifurcation, epigyne with median extension, and vulva with short copulatory ducts, large, bean-shaped primary and small secondary spermathecae (cf. Figs 1–20, 54–57, Figs 109–119 and Sankaran & Caleb 2021: figs 49–51). Based on these observations, we propose transferring P. jodhpurensis to Trichothyse .

Distribution. Known from the Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan (Fig. 121).