Nops ernestoi Sánchez

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2018, A revision of the Neotropical spider genus Nops MacLeay (Araneae: Caponiidae) with the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Nopinae genera, Zootaxa 4427 (1), pp. 1-121 : 28-31

Nops ernestoi Sánchez – Ruiz, 2005

Figures 13H‒L ; 14A‒F

Nops ernestoi Sánchez – Ruiz, 2005: 24, figs 1–2. Male holotype from Hotel Montaña, 10 km. NE from Jarabacoa (19°09′06″N, 70°35′59″W), 550 m , La Vega, Dominican Republic, 18.vii–4.viii.1995, S. Fit & J. Peck ( BSC 517 ) ; female paratype, same data as holotype ( BSC 522 ) ; male paratype, same data as holotype ( BSC 521 , left palp and leg IV for SEM) ; two females paratypes, same data as holotype ( AMNH) ; two females paratypes and one immature, same data as holotype ( BSC 518 ); all types examined. Penney, 2008: 77, fig. 5.33.

Remarks. Subsequent visits to the type locality provided no additional material. The area where the types were collected is currently under intense deforestation.

Diagnosis. Males resemble similar congeners Nops toballus and N campeche n. sp. by having a long and prolaterally twisted embolus; but can be distinguished by its embolus with a wider base, strongly curved at middle, and strongly twisted on the distal two thirds ( Fig. 14B‒C ), ending with three short extensions on tip ( Fig. 13K‒L ). Females with wide invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base ( Fig. 14F ).

Description. Male (holotype): Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter. Abdomen dark gray, dorsal pattern as in figure 6I. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.2. Carapace 5.3 long, 3.3 wide. Sternum 3.6 long, 3.2 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.80; II: 3.75; III: 3.1; IV: 4.1. Posterior unpaired claw elongated and dorsally reflexed ( Fig. 13H ). PLS longer than PMS. Palp with a globose semi‒quadrate elongate bulb and an embolus longer than palpal tibia, with a wider base, strongly curved at middle, and strongly twisted on the distal two thirds ( Fig. 14B‒C ), ending in three short extensions ( Fig. 13K‒L ).

Female (AMNH): Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in the male. Abdomen as in male, but somewhat lighter. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.8. Carapace 5.8 long, 3.4 wide. Sternum 3.9 long, 3.3 wide. Leg measurements: I: 4.0; II: 3.85; III: 3.4; IV: 4.3. Posterior unpaired claws and spinnerets as in male. External genital area with sclerotized anterior plate and strongly sclerotized and wide lep, almost four times the spiracles width, remarkable ess ( Fig. 14E ). Internal genitalia with wide invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base ( Fig. 14F ).

Natural history. All specimens from the type locality were collected under rocks in a small semi‒deciduous forest, behind the Hotel Montaña in Jarabacoa.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 25A ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. A–G Nops enae Sánchez–Ruiz; A–C female (BSC 542); D–G male (BSC 542); H–L Nops ernestoi Sánchez–Ruiz, male (BSC 521). A internal genitalia, dorsal view. B same, detail of receptaculum, dorsal view. C same, anterior view. D left palp, retrolateral view. E embolus, retrolateral view. F tip of embolus, prolateral view. G pretarsal claws on left leg IV, anterior oblique view. H pretarsal claws on left leg IV, anterior oblique view. I left palp, prolateral oblique view. J tibial brush, prolateral oblique view. K tip of embolus, prolateral view. L tip of embolus, dorsal oblique view. Abbreviations: CwL—claw lever, ete—embolar tip extensions, IC—pretarsal unpaired claw, ptb—prolateral tibial brush, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus.

FIGURE 14. Nops ernestoi Sánchez–Ruiz; A–C male (BSC 521); D–F female (BSC 518). A habitus, dorsal view. B left palp, prolateral view. C left palp, retrolateral view. D habitus, dorsal view. E external genital area, ventral view. F internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—external sclerotization around spiracles, lep—lateral extensions of posterior plate, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, E), 0.5 mm (B–C, E–F).

FIGURE 25. A distribution of Nops hispaniola Sánchez–Ruiz, Brescovit, Alayón (triangle), Nops ernestoi Sánchez–Ruiz (stars) and Nops navassa n. sp. (square). B distribution of Nops pallidus n. sp. (stars) and Nops enae Sánchez–Ruiz (squares).