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Issue: Vol. 5769 No. 1: 13 Mar. 2026
Type: Monograph
Published: 2026-03-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5769.1.1
Page range: 1-64
Abstract views: 79
PDF downloaded: 2

Ochyroceratidae Fage, 1912 and Psilodercidae Machado, 1951 (Arachnida: Araneae) from Laos: nine new species, first records of Speocera Berland, 1914 for Laos and three new sexually dimorphic characters in Sinoderces Li & Li in Liu et al., 2017

Arachnology; Senckenberg Research Institute; Arachnology; Mertonstraße 17–21; 60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany;
Department of Biology; Faculty of Natural Sciences; National University of Laos; Dong Dok Campus; Vientiane; Lao PDR.
Araneae Taxonomy systematics troglobiont vicariance limestone karst

Abstract

The spider family Ochyroceratidae is recorded for the first time from Laos. Speocera none spec. nov. (female; cave), Sp. soksay spec. nov. (female; cave), and Sp. vangvieng spec. nov. (male, female; cave, along cliff) are described from the Vangvieng Karst in the northern Vientiane Province. A web and the brood care behaviour of a Speocera vangvieng spec. nov. are pictured for the first time. Laotian representatives of the spider family Psilodercidae are reviewed. A new species of Althepus Thorell, 1898 is described from Champasak Province: A. pasuam spec. nov. (male, female). A. tadetuensis Li & Li in Li et al. 2018a from Champasak Province and A. viengkeoensis Li & Li in Li et al. 2018a from Vientiane Province are re-collected and partly illustrated and redescribed. Five new species of the genus Sinoderces are described: S. abby spec. nov. (male, female; cave), S. arewo spec. nov. (male, female; under stones), S. inthy spec. nov. (male, female; under stones), S. phoukham spec. nov. (female; cave) and S. phouna spec. nov. (male, female; cave). S. phoukham spec. nov. is the first eyeless representative of the family Psilodercidae. S. khanensis Li & Li in Bai et al. 2019, S. kieoensis Li & Li in Bai et al. 2019 and S. phathaoensis Li & Li in Bai et al. 2019 are newly collected, illustrated and partly redescribed, the female of S. kieoensis is described for the first time. All Sinoderces species appear to be local endemics and contribute to the high degree of endemism in the Vang Vieng Karst. Four morphological sexual dimorphisms are described for Sinoderces species, three of them for the first time. Biological and ecological data are listed, especially for Sinoderces spp., the egg sac of the latter genus is depicted for the first time. Identification keys are given for all species.

 

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How to Cite

Jäger, P. & Nophaseud, L. (2026) Ochyroceratidae Fage, 1912 and Psilodercidae Machado, 1951 (Arachnida: Araneae) from Laos: nine new species, first records of Speocera Berland, 1914 for Laos and three new sexually dimorphic characters in Sinoderces Li & Li in Liu et al., 2017. Zootaxa, 5769 (1), 1–64. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5769.1.1