The spider fauna of soil banks: The genus Latouchia (Arachnida, Araneae, Ctenizidae) in Southern Japan and Taiwan

Abstract

Japanese and Taiwanese species of the genus Latouchin are revised. Because of insular variability, trinary nomenclature has been introduced. Since body size and arrangements of setae and trichobothria are extremely variable, few characteristics can be used to distinguish species. Latouchin swinhoei swinhoei, L. japonica and L. formosensis formosensis are redescribcd. based on the type material, as far as available, and the female of L. swinhoei swinhoei. and the male of L. fiirrnoscnsis j?irmosen.si+ are also described. While the Yaeyama populations are newly described as L. formosensis hylo n. ssp., populations from Kumejima north to Honshu are considered as subspecies of L. swinhoei: L. s. kume n. ssp., L. s. ton& n. ssp.. L. s. keronrrr n. ssp., L. s. izena n. ssp., L. s. xena n. ssp., L. s. crypta n. ssp., L. swinhoei typica n. comb. L. parameleomene n. sp. is described from Okinawa on the basis of a particular setae pattern of the male pedipalpal tarsus. L. japonica is presently considered as incertae sedis, as the male remains unknown.Latouchia swinhoei typica n. comb. Figs 7i. 8 J a p a n e s e n a m e : Kishinouye totategumo.

Four new species of the trapdoor spider genus Conothele Thorell, 1878 from Mainland China and Laos (Araneae, Ctenizidae)

“…Direct collection by searching and digging burrows primarily results in either females or immature specimens. Males are short lived and leave the burrow immediately after the adult moult to search for females (Haupt and Shimojana 2001; Haupt 2003). Therefore, collecting males is only possible at certain times of the year, and thus is not feasible during all collection trips.…”

Trapdoor spiders of the genus Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871 from China and Vietnam (Araneae, Ctenizidae)

“…By searching and digging burrows, we obtained a few immature and/or adult female specimens. Males are short-lived and leave the burrow immediately after they reach maturity to search for females (Haupt and Shimojana 2001; Haupt 2003). Therefore, collecting males is only possible at certain times of the year, and therefore is not feasible during each field trip.…”