Plato novalima Prete, Cizauskas & Brescovit, 2018

Prete, Pedro H. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2024, Taxonomic revision of the orb weaving spider genus Plato Coddington, 1986 (Araneae: Theridiosomatidae) with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 5471 (1), pp. 1-32 : 20-22

Plato novalima Prete, Cizauskas & Brescovit, 2018

Figures 16 , 17 , 23

Plato novalima Prete, Cizauskas & Brescovit, 2018: 136 , figs 3, 5, 6 (male holotype from Cave_VG28 (20º07'00"S, 43º53'57"W), Nova Lima , Minas Gerais, Brazil, 29.iii–1.iv.2011, V. Felice col., deposited in IBSP 175196, examined). Paratypes: female from Cave _VG26 (20º07'00"S, 43º53'57"W), Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2–10.viii.2011, R. Andrade et al. col., deposited in MZSP 70926; female from Cave VG _26 (20º07'00"S, 43º53'57"W), Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 29.iii–1.iv.2011, G. P. Perroni col., deposited in MPEG.ARA 32024; male from Cave VL _10 (20°17'9"S, 43°56'44"W), Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 25.iv.2007, R. Andrade col., deposited in MPEG.ARA 32023; female from Cave VL _09 (20°17'9"S, 43°56'47"W), Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 18–25.iv.2007, R. Andrade col., deposited in MZSP 70927; male and female from Cave RF_15 (19°55'19"S, 43°29'43"W), Barão de Cocais, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 21.iii.2009, R. Andrade col., deposited in MZSP 70927, examined.

Additional material examined. BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Presidente Olegário, Lapa Vereda da Palha (18°15’18.77"S, 46°7’33.63"W), 2♀, 12.vi.2014 ( LES 5594 ); 1♀, 22.i.2014 ( LES 5590 ); 1♀, 22.i.2014 ( LES 5591 ); Lapa Arco da Palha (18°12’31.3"S, 46°8’53.3"W), 1♂, 2♀, 21.i.2014 ( LES 5616 ), all collected by T. Zepon & L.P. Resende; Monjolos, Gruta do Lameirão III, 3♀, iv.1986, F. Chaimovicz col. ( IBSP 56074 ); Cordisburgo, Gruta do Tobogã , 1♀, F. Chaimovicz col. ( IBSP 56088 ); Lima Duarte, Gruta dos Coelhos, 1♂, 3♀, 08.x.2002, F. Tulio col. ( IBSP 39722 ); Gruta do Salitre , 1♀, F. Chaimovicz col. ( IBSP 56072 ) ; Bahia: Andaraí, Chapada Diamantina (Igatú), Gruna Canal da Fumaça , 1♂, 03.iv.2013 ( IBSP 182471 ); Gruna Lava Pé (12°53'42"S, 41°19'05"W), 2♀, 30.iii.2013 ( IBSP 182462 ); 1♀, 10.iii.2012 ( IBSP 182482 ); Gruna Parede Vermelha (12°52'42"S, 41°18'57"W), 1♀, 02.iv.2013 ( IBSP 182464 ); 7♀, 11.iii.2012 ( IBSP 182485 , 182486 ); Gruna Rio dos Pombos (12°54'12"S, 41°19'4"W), 1♀, 31.iii.2013 ( IBSP 182466 ); 4♀, 12.iii.2012 ( IBSP 182478 , 182483 ); Gruna Cantinho, 1♂, 1♀, 01.iv.2013 ( IBSP 182467 ), all collected by M.E. Bichuette ; Goiás, Brazlândia, Gruta Fenda, 1♀, 21.i.2005, F. Jordão col. ( UNB 4572 ); Cave Labirinto da Lama , 1♂, 5♀, 7.ii.2010, S.S. Salgado col. ( UNB 5839 ); Cocalzinho de Goiás (15°47′38″S, 48°46′33″W), Girassol, Gruta dos Ecos, 2♀, 03.vi.2000, M. Grilo col. ( UNB 1001 ); Formosa, Cave_35, 2♀, 04.xii.2015, F. Bondezan col. ( IBSP 188689 ); Cave_37, 2♀, 02.x.2015, F. Bondezan col. ( IBSP 188583 ); Gruta Escaroba, 3♀, 11.x.2015, F. Bondezan col. ( IBSP 188582 ); 5♀, 05.xii.2015, F. Bondezan col. ( IBSP 188688 ); Mambaí, Gruta Pasto de Vaca, 1♀, 02.v.2013 ( IBSP 181693 ); Gruna da Judite (14°24'26"S, 46°11'44"W), 1♂, 5♀, 01.v.2013 ( IBSP 181714 , 181715 ); Posse, Cave of the Revolucionários (14°17'29"S, 46°15'12"W), 2♀, 03.v.2013 ( IBSP 181684 ); São Domingos ou Guarani de Goiás, Lapa Nova Esperança, 2♀, 25.iv.2011 ( IBSP 181735 ); Cave Doralino I e II, 1♀, 24.iv.2011 ( IBSP 181749 ); Cave _GO_04, 5♀ ( IBSP 185960 , 185961 , 185964 ), all collected by M.E. Bichuette et al.; Sobradinho, Fercal, Cave of the Morcegos, 1♂, 1♀, 18.iii.2010, P.C. Motta col. ( UNB 5415 ). Other material examined was cited in Prete, Cizauskas & Brescovit (2018: 136) .

Diagnosis. Males are recognized by the bifid conductor apophysis with anterior portion recurved and short, and posterior portion as a spinous projection (fig. 16C,D) unlike P. omnipraesens , which presents much more discrepant bifidity. Females are recognized by the discreet anteriorly curved transversal groove in the median projection of the support (fig. 17B, D), and by the sub-ellipsoidal dorsal plate (fig. 17C).

Description. Male and female described by Prete, Cizauskas & Brescovit, 2018: 136, figs. 5–6.

Distribution. Known in caves of the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás, Brazil (fig. 23).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Plato novalima, from Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A, male body, dorsal view; B, female body, dorsal view; C–F, male palp, left; C, mesal view; D, mesal view, SEM; E, F, mesal view, expanded; G, embolus, distal view, illustration; H, cymbial lamella and paracymbium, SEM. Abbreviations, ACA, anterior conductor apophysis. C, conductor. CA, conductor apophysis. CL, cymbial lamella. Cy, cymbium. E, embolus. EA, embolic apophysis. MA, median apophysis. O, embolic opening. PC, paracymbium. PCA, posterior conductor apophysis. ST, subtegulum. T, tegulum. Scales: A, B, 1,8; C–F, 0.45; G, 0.21; H, 0.2.

FIGURE 17. Plato novalima, from Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A–D, epigynum; A, ventral view; B, ventral view, SEM; C, dorsal view, illustration; D, lateral cut view, clarified. Abbreviations, At, atrium. CD, copulatory ducts. CP, central pit. DP, dorsal plate. FD, fertilization ducts. S, spermathecae. Su, epigynal support. TG, transversal groove. Scales: 0.3.

FIGURE 23. Distribution of records of Plato (South America).