Architis capricorna Carico, 1981

Santos, Adalberto J., 2007, A revision of the Neotropical nursery-web spider genus Architis (Araneae: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 1578 (1), pp. 1-40 : 35-39

Architis capricorna Carico, 1981

Figures 19A–E , 20C–D , 21

Architis capricorna Carico 1981: 148–150 , figs 2, 7, 20–21, map 2, tables 1–2. Brignoli 1983: 699; Platnick 1989: 394.

Type material. Holotype of Architis capricorna Carico, 1981 : Male, São Paulo, Brazil, 1897, W.J. Moenkhaus ( PMY) (not examined).

Material examined. BRAZIL: Mato Grosso do Sul: Anaurilândia (Usina Hidrelétrica Engenheiro Sérgio Motta), 22º22’59”S, 52º48’42”W, 15 Novermber – 23 December 1998, equipe IBSP, 1♂ 5♀ ( IBSP 23466 ) ; 2♂ 3♀ ( IBSP 23463 ) ; 12–18 March 2001, F.S. Cunha & C.A.R. Souza, 2♀ ( IBSP 38546 ) . Espírito Santo: São

José do Calçado ( Usina Hidrelétrica de Rosal ), 21 o 1’S, 41º40’W, November 1999, I. Knysak, 3♂ 3♀ ( IBSP 26401 ) . São Paulo: Itirapina ( Estação Ecológica de Itirapina ), 22º15`S, 47º49`W, G. Machado, 1♂ ( IBSP) ; São Paulo, 20 February 1997, V.L. Oliveira., 1♂ ( IBSP 8014 ) ; Ubatuba (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virgínia ), 23º18’S, 45º3’W, November 1996, L.S. Rocha, 1♀ ( IBSP 7404 ) . Paraná: Dois Vizinhos (Foz do Rio Chopim, Usina Hidrelétrica de Salto Caxias ), 25º33’S, 53º3’W, 8–15 October 1998, equipe IBSP, 1♀ 1 juv. ( IBSP 21343 ) ; 1♀ ( IBSP 21027 ) ; 1♂ ( IBSP 21050 ) . Santa Catarina: Paulo Lopes ( Parque Estadual do Tabuleiro ), 28º16’S, 49º3’W, 10–20 January 2003, Equipe Biota, 9♂ 15♀ ( IBSP) .

Diagnosis. Architis capricorna is the largest species in the genus, and shares several characters of male and female genitalia with A. robusta and A. brasiliensis comb. nov. (see A. robusta diagnosis). These species can be differentiated by the prolaterally notched VTA and the shape of vRTA and dRTA which have a common base and a peculiar spermduct in the anterior margin of the DTP which is shaped like a string of beads in A. capricorna ( Figs 19A, B , 20C ). Females can be recognised by the specially elongated spiral of the copulatory ducts and the spherical spermathecae ( Fig. 19E ).

Description

Male ( based on IBSP 8014 from São Paulo, Brazil)

Carapace dark gray, covered with dark setae and with a longitudinal median and a pair of lateral, sinuous cream-coloured bands. Anterior eye row procurved, eyes of similar size. Posterior eyes of similar size, approximately 1.5 times the anterior median eyes diameter ( Carico 1981: figs 2, 7). Chelicerae gray, with a central anterior dark spot. Labium dark gray, endites gray, sternum cream-coloured. Legs pale gray, with cream-coloured spots. Tarsi of all legs with an apical pseudosegment ( Fig. 19C ). Dorsum and sides of opisthosoma dark gray with pale spots. Venter gray, cream-coloured centrally. Spinnerets dark brown. Total length 7.1; carapace 3.5 long, 3.1 wide. Tibia I length 4.1, II 4.0, III 3.1, IV 4.3. Opisthosoma 3.6 long, 2.1 wide. Subtegulum small and flattened, embolus arising from tegulum in relatively apical position ( Figs 19A, B ).

Female (based on IBSP 26401 from São José do Calçado, Brazil)

Colouration and eye configuration as male. Total length 8.2; carapace 3.4 long, 2.9 wide. Tibia I length 3.7, II 3.6, III 3.1, IV 3.9. Opisthosoma 4.2 long, 3.1 wide. Epigynum small, restricted to the posterior margin of epigastric plate, with spiral of CD partially visible through transparent cuticle ( Fig. 19D ). Fertilisation ducts long and sinuous ( Fig. 19E ).

Variation. Male, total length 5.0–6.1; carapace width 2.4–3.2. Female, total length 4.8–8.2; carapace width 2.2–2.9.

Remarks. The original description is not clear about the type locality since it can refer either to the Brazilian state of São Paulo or its capital city ( Carico 1981). Unfortunately, it will not be possible to solve this problem since the collector of the type material, William J. Moenckhaus, took part in collecting expeditions in several localities in the state of São Paulo from 1897 to 1899 when he worked at the Museu Paulista, currently MZSP (von Ihering 1898; A.D. Brescovit, personal communication). Attempts to obtain the type material as a loan were not successful.

Natural history. The male from Itirapina (IBSP) was collected in a large pitfall trap used in a study of snake population ecology (G. Machado, personal communication), suggesting it to be a ground-dwelling species.

Distribution. Southeastern and southern Brazil ( Fig. 21 ).

Figures

FIGURES 19A–E. Architis capricorna Carico. A, male pedipalpus, ventral view; B, male pedipalpus, lateral view; C, female tarsus IV, apex, prolatero-ventral view; D, female epigynum, ventral view; E, female internal genitalia, dorsal view. The arrow points to the retrolateral projection of the VTA. The embolus can be seen arising close to conductor and through the transparent DTP. Scale bars: A–B, 0.2 mm; C–E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 20A–C. Architis spp. (SEM). A–B, A. brasiliensis (Mello-Leitão): A, male pedipalpus, ventral view; B, female internal genitalia, detail of left copulatory duct and spermatheca, dorsal view. C–D: A. capricorna Carico; C, male pedipalpus, ventral view; D, male pedipalpus, conductor, ventral view. * indicates prolateral lobe of conductor. Scale bars: A, C–D, 100 µm; B, 10 µm.

FIGURE 21. Geographic distribution records of Architis brasiliensis (Mello-Leitão) (empty circle) and A. capricorna Carico (full square).