Decaphora Franganillo, 1931

Rheims, Cristina Anne & Alayón, Giraldo, 2014, The huntsman genus Decaphora Franganillo, 1931 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 3815 (1), pp. 79-93 : 81-83

Genus Decaphora Franganillo, 1931

Decaphora Franganillo, 1931: 46 (Type species: Decaphora trabiformis Franganillo, 1931 by monotypy). Platnick 2014. Tentabunda Fox, 1937: 464 (type species: Pseudosparianthis cubana Banks, 1909 by original designation). Platnick 2014. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Species of the genus Decaphora are distinguished from those of the remaining Sparianthinae genera by the following combination of characters: in males a basal RTA with two ( Fig. 17 ) or usually three branches ( Figs 24 , 31 , 39 ), and paraembolic tegular projection (PTP) resting within a distally sheath-like embolus ( Figs 18 , 25 , 32 , 40 ); and in females the presence of an oval, anterior atrium in the epigyne ( Figs 19 , 26 , 34 , 41 ) and anterior blindended projections in the vulva ( Figs 20−21 , 27–28 , 35−36 , 42−43 ).

Description. Total length of males 7.5–10.2, of females 6.6–11.1. Prosoma longer than wide. Cephalic region slightly lower than thoracic region. Fovea conspicuous, situated on posterior third of prosoma. Eyes arranged in two rows, the anterior straight and the posterior procurved. AME larger than ALE in males, similar sized in females, and more separated from each other than from laterals in both sexes. PME smaller than PLE, equidistant or slightly closer to each other than to laterals in both sexes ( Figs 1−8 ). Clypeus short, slightly shorter than AME diameter. Chilum median. Chelicerae longer than wide. Cheliceral grove with 4 promarginal teeth and 5−7 retromarginal denticles. Intermarginal denticles absent. Internal margin of chelicerae with one single strong seta at base of fang ( Fig. 9 ). Labium rebordered, as wide as long. Endites slightly convergent, longer than wide, with dense scopulae on internal margin. Serrula with a single row of denticles. Sternum as long as wide, slightly projected between coxae IV. Female pedipalp with single, pectinate claw, with 5 teeth ( Fig. 13 ). Legs laterigrade (2143). Spination in males: femora I–III: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r1-1-1; femur IV: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r0-0-1; patellae I–IV: 0; tibiae I–IV: p1-0-1; d0-1-1; r1-0-1; v2-2 -2; metatarsi I–II: p1-1-0; r1-1-0; v2 -0-0; metatarsi III–IV: p1-1-1; r1-1-1; v2-2 -0. Palp: femora: p0-0-1; d0-1-2; r0-0-1, patellae: 0; tibiae: p0-0-1. Spination in females: femora I–IV: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r0-0-1; patellae I–IV: 0; tibiae I–II: v2-2 -2; tibia III: p1-0-0; v2-2 -2; tibia IV: p1-0-1; d0-0-1; r1-0-1; v2-2 - 2; metatarsi I–II: v2 -0-0; metatarsus III: p1-1-0; v2 -0-0; metatarsus IV: p1-1-1; r1-1-1; v2-2 -0; palp: femora: d0-0- 2; patellae: 0; tibiae: p2-0-1, d0-0-1; r1-0-1; metatarsi: p2-0-1; r2-0-1. Trochanter smooth. Metatarsi I–IV distally with dorsal trilobate membrane with median hook shorter than lateral projections ( Fig. 10 ). Metatarsi III −IV distally with ventral preening comb. Tarsi and distal half of metatarsi slightly scopulate ventrally. Tarsal organ capsulate with keyhole-shaped opening ( Fig. 11 ), located dorsally at the distal end of tarsi. Trichobothria present on dorsal tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, arranged in several rows that converge to a single row at the proximal end of tarsi and metatarsi. Bothrium with crescent plate, with 6–7 grooves, projected over a smooth basal plate ( Fig. 12 ). Tarsi with claw tufts and pair of pectinate claws, with 7–9 short and slightly curved teeth ( Fig. 14 ). Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide. Male epiandrous spigots absent. Six spinnerets: anterior lateral spinnerets contiguous, conical and bi-segmented; basal segment elongate and cylindrical, distal segment short and truncated. Posterior median spinnerets conical and short. Posterior lateral spinnerets conical and bi-segmented; basal segment elongate and cylindrical, distal segment short and truncated. Palp: tibia short, slightly longer than half cymbium length, with 1 distal prolateral spine (absent in T. pestai ) ( Figs 15 , 22 , 37 ); RTA with two ( Fig. 17 ) or usually three branches ( Figs 24 , 31 , 39 ), vRTA small and truncated ( Figs 17 , 24 , 31 , 39 ), mRTA longer and more developed bearing spines ( Figs 17 , 24 , 31 ) or projections ( Fig. 39 ), and dRTA (absent in D. cubana ) long and slender bearing very long strong spines ( Figs 24 , 31 , 39 ); cymbium with small, rounded, dorsal scopula and retrolateral rim swollen and projected ( Figs 17 , 24 , 31 , 39 ); basal and median haematodochae well developed; subtegulum with 6–7 prolateral anelli ( Fig. 32 ); conductor hyaline with large thick base; tegular projection at base of conductor (TBC) partly hyaline, large and variable in shape; median apophysis concave, arising from tegulum at 3 o’clock position; embolus distally sheath-like with wide laminar base, bent retrolaterally in the middle, arising from tegulum at 9 o’clock position; tegular projection at base of embolus (TBE) triangular; paraembolic tegular projection (PTP) arising dorsally to the base of embolus from tegulum, long and cylindrical, resting within the distally sheath-like embolus ( Figs 16 , 23 , 30 , 38 ). Epigyne: epigynal field wider than long or as wide as long, divided into lateral lobes and median septum; lateral lobes simple, smooth ( Figs 19 , 41 ) or with triangular projections at posterior margins ( Figs 26 , 34 ), touching each other posteriorly; median septum anterior, oval, wider than long, with pair of anterior copulation openings ( Figs 19 , 26 , 34 , 41 ). Vulva: duct system with blind-ended projections (no pores visible under light microscopy) close to copulatory opening, running from anterior to posterior, followed by a lateral loop that ends at a slightly thicker region of the duct, here considered the spermathecae; fertilization ducts short, hook-shaped and pointing away from each other ( Figs 20−21 , 27−28 , 35−36 , 42−43 ).

Distribution. Known from North and Central America, from Florida in the United States to Costa Rica.

Composition. Five species: Decaphora cubana (Banks) comb. nov.; D. kohunlich spec. nov., D. pestai (Reimoser) comb. nov.; D. variabilis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge) comb. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 21. Decaphora cubana (Banks) comb. nov. 15 – 18 Male, left palp (15 prolateral, 16 ventral, 17 retrolateral, 18 detail of embolus); 19 – 21 Female (19 epigyne, 20 vulva, 21 schematic course of internal duct system). C = conductor; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct, LL = lateral lobes; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; MS = median septum; P = blind ended projection; PTP = paraembolic tegular projection; TBC = tegular projection at base of conductor; TBE = tegular projection at base of embolus; S = spermathecae; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 22 – 28. Decaphora kohunlich spec. nov. 22 − 25 Male, left palp (22 prolateral, 23 ventral, 24 retrolateral, 25 detail of embolus); 26 – 28 Female (26 epigyne, 27 vulva, 28 schematic course of internal duct system). C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct, LL = lateral lobes; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; MS = median septum; P = blind ended projection; PTP = paraembolic tegular projection; S = spermathecae; TBC = tegular projection at base of conductor; TBE = tegular projection at base of embolus; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 29 – 36. Decaphora pestai (Reimoser) comb. nov. 29 − 31 Male, left palp (29 prolateral, 30 ventral, 31 retrolateral view); 32 − 33 Male, right palp (32 expanded bulb, 33 detail of embolus); 34 − 36 Female (34 epigyne, 35 vulva, 36 schematic course of internal duct system). bH = basal haematodochae; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; MA = median apophysis; mH = median haematodochae; mRTA = median branch of RTA; P = blind ended projection; PTP = paraembolic tegular projection; S = spermathecae; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum; TBC = tegular projection at base of conductor; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 37 − 43. Decaphora variabilis (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge) comb. nov. 37 − 40 Male, left palp (37 prolateral, 38 ventral, 39 retrolateral, 40 detail of embolus); 41 − 43 Female (41 epigyne, 42 vulva, 43 schematic course of internal duct system). C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization ducts; mRTA = median branch of RTA; P = blind ended projection; S = spermathecae; TBC = tegular projection at base of conductor; TBE = tegular projection at base of embolus; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 1 − 4. Habitus, dorsal view. 1 – 2 Decaphora cubana (Banks) comb. nov. (1 male, 2 female); 3 − 4 Decaphora kohunlich spec. nov. (3 male, 4 female). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Habitus, dorsal view. 5 − 6 Decaphora pestai (Reimoser) comb. nov. (5 male, 6 female); 7 − 8 Decaphora variabilis (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge) comb. nov. (7 male, 8 female). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 14. Decaphora cubana (Banks) comb. nov. 9 Male, right chelicerae, ventral view; 10 Male, metatarsus I, trilobate membrane, dorsal view; 11 Male, tarsus I, tarsal organ, dorsal view; 12 Male, tarsus I, trichobothria, dorsal view; 13 Female, left palp, claw; 14 Male, leg I, tarsal claws. bp = basal plate; cp = crescent plate.