Decaphora variabilis ( F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900 ) F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900

Rheims, Cristina Anne & Alayón, Giraldo, 2014, The huntsman genus Decaphora Franganillo, 1931 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 3815 (1), pp. 79-93 : 88-91

Decaphora variabilis ( F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900) comb. nov.

Figs 7−8 , 37−43 , 46

Pseudosparianthis variabilis F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900: 119 , plate 8, fig. 21 (holotype female from Omiltemi (17°30’N, 99°40’W), Guerrero, Mexico, deposited in NHM 1901.3.3.131, examined). Platnick 2014. Tentabunda variabilis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge) . Fox 1937: 465.

Other material examined. MEXICO: Chiapas: ♂, 16 km NW Ocozocoautla, Parque Laguna Belgica, (16°45’N, 93°21’W), 14 June 1990, H. Howden leg. ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Distinguished from the remaining species of the genus by the male palp with mRTA large, distally laminar and ventrally slightly curved ( Figs 38−39 ), dRTA with three very long spines and by the T-shaped median apophysis in retrolateral view ( Fig. 39 ). Females resemble D. cubana (Banks) comb. nov. by the epigyne lacking posterior triangular projections in the lateral lobes ( Figs 19 vs. 41) but are distinguished by the median septum pear shaped, longer than wide and by the touching part of the lateral lobes very short ( Fig 41 ).

Description. Male (AMNH): Prosoma orange with slightly darker margins. Chelicerae, legs and pedipalps slightly darker than carapace. Sternum orange with darker sclerotized margins. Labium and endites pale orange, distally cream colored. Opisthosoma cream colored ( Fig. 7 ). Total length 10.2. Prosoma: 4.4 long, 3.7 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.5 long, 2.8 wide Eyes: diameters: 0.26, 0.22, 0.16, 0.22; interdistances: 0.20, 0.08, 0.34, 0.26, 0.14, 0.14. Legs2-1-4-3: I: 15.7 (4.3, 2.1, 4.4, 3.9, 1.0); II: 15.9 (4.6, 2.1, 4.4, 3.8, 1.0); III: 12.0 (3.6, 1.7, 2.8, 3.0, 0.9); IV: 14.7 (4.2, 1.6, 3.5, 4.2, 1.2). Leg and palp spination follow the generic pattern. Palp: TBC subsquared; embolus base twice as wide as apex, mostly hidden behind very large TBE in ventral view ( Figs 37−40 ).

Redescription. Female (holotype): Badly preserved specimen. Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps brown. Sternum orange with brown margins. Labium and endites brown, distally orange. Opisthosoma greenish yellow with inconspicuous pattern of gray spots scattered laterally and on anterior half and median chevrons on posterior half ( Fig. 8 ). Total length 8.3. Prosoma: 3.3 long, 2.9 wide. Opisthosoma: 4.7 long, 2.8 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.20, 0.16, 0.14, 0.14; interdistances: 0.20, 0.12, 0.38, 0.30, 0.20, 0.14. Legs (1-2-4-3): I: 9.9 (2.9, 1.7, 2.4, 2.2, 0.7); II: 9.8 (3.0, 1.8, 2.1, 2.2, 0.7); III: 7.3 (1.6, 1.4, 1.8, 1.9, 0.6); IV: 9.6 (2.9, 1.0, 2.2, 2.6, 0.9). Spination follows the generic pattern. Epigyne: epigynal plate at least two times wider than long ( Fig. 41 ). Vulva: blindended projection arising midway between copulation openings and antero-posterior loop; fertilization ducts directed anteriorly and curving away from each other ( Figs 42−43 ).

Distribution. Only known from Mexico, states of Guerrero and Chiapas ( Fig. 46 ).

Figures

FIGURE 46. Distribution map of Decaphora kohunlich spec. nov. and Decaphora variabilis (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge) comb. nov.

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 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 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.