Darkoneta quetzal, Ledford, Joel M. & Griswold, Charles E., 2010

Ledford, Joel M. & Griswold, Charles E., 2010, A study of the subfamily Archoleptonetinae (Araneae, Leptonetidae) with a review of the morphology and relationships for the Leptonetidae, Zootaxa 2391, pp. 1-32 : 17-26

Darkoneta quetzal , sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–17 , 29–30, 34 , 57–64 , 85–90 , 112 )

Type material. Male holotype from Sierra de Las Minas, 9 km North of San Lorenzo, Dep. Zacapa, Guatemala ( AMNH).

Other material examined. Guatemala: Dep. Zacapa, Sierra de Las Minas, 9 km North of San Lorenzo, 17.xi.1986, E. Lindquist, 3 females, 2 males ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Separated from all Darkoneta species except D. stridulans ( Figs. 79–84 ) by having males with a posterior stridulatory mechanism on the carapace and abdomen ( Figs. 29–30 ). Separated from D. stridulans by details of the male palpal bulb, including: a prolaterally bent embolus extending no more than 2/3 the length of the tarsus (E, Figs. 86, 89 ) and a broad, sharply pointed prolateral sclerite (PRS, Figs. 86, 89 ).

Description. Male (holotype)

Total length 0.9. Specimen pale orange, darker around carapace margins and gradually lighter towards fovea.

Carapace 0.47 long, 0.36 wide, height at fovea 0.50 x carapace width; clypeus 0.08 high, chelicerae 0.22 long. Ocular area 0.05 long, 0.09 wide. Sternum 0.34 long, 0.28 wide; labium 0.05 long, 0.08 wide; palpal coxae 0.15 long, 0.08 wide.

Legs covered in fine setae. Leg formula I, IV, II, III. Measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.43 + 0.15 + 0.39 + 0.30 + 0.25 = [1.52]; II: 0.36 + 0.14 + 0.29 + 0.27 + 0.23 = [1.29]; III: 0.30 + 0.12 + 0.23 + 0.24 + 0.21 = [1.10]; IV: 0.43 + 0.14 + 0.37 + 0.30 + 0.24= [1.48]; pedipalpus: 0.18 + 0.08 + 0.11 + 0.19 = [0.56]. Femur I 1.19 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.5 x carapace width.

Palpal bulb 0.11 long, 0.09 wide. Prolateral sclerite broad, triangular and with a retrolateral bend; median sclerite procurved and sharply tapering retrolaterally; retrolateral sclerite similar to median sclerite and sharply tapering retrolaterally; embolus short, thin, and tapering apically.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.43 long, 0.31 wide.

79. Retrolateral; 80. Ventral; 81. Prolateral; 82. Bulb, retrolateral; 83. Accessory sclerites, ventral; 84. Accessory sclerites, ventral. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.

Female (paratype)

Total length 0.93. Coloration and markings identical to male.

Carapace 0.44 long, 0.36 wide, height at fovea 0.61 × carapace width; clypeus 0.8 high, chelicerae 0.23 long. Ocular area 0.06 long, 0.10 wide. Sternum 0.29 long, 0.23 wide; labium 0.5 long, 0.8 wide; palpal coxae 0.18 long, 0.10 wide.

Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.41 + 0.14 + 0.30 + 0.23 + 0.21 = [1.29]; II: 0.31 + 0.11 + 0.24 + 0.21 + 0.21 = [1.29]; III: 0.27 + 0.14 + 0.31 + 0.20 + 0.17 = [1.09]; IV: 0.38 + 0.15 + 0.32 + 0.25 + 0.21 = [1.31]; pedipalpus: 0.16 + 0.06 + 0.11 + 0.17 = [0.5]. Femur I 1.13 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.44 x carapace width.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.49 long, 0.37 wide. Spermathecae as long as wide ( Fig. 112 ).

Variation (n = 2). Total length 0.93–1.10; carapace length 1.22–1.24 × carapace width; OAL 0.55–0.60 × OAW; length femur I 1.05–1.14 × carapace width, palpal femur 0.44–0.49 × carapace width.

Etymology. This species is named for Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent diety worshipped throughout Mesoamerica as the patron god of knowledge and learning; also the quetzal , the national symbol of Guatemala.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Sierra de Las Minas, Guatemala.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 17. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., Sierra de Las Minas, Guatemala. 11. Female habitus, dorsal; 12. Male habitus, dorsal; 13. Male carapace, dorsal; 14. Female habitus, ventral; 15. Male habitus, ventral; 16. Female habitus, lateral; 17. Male habitus, lateral.

FIGURES 29 – 34. Archoleptonetinae general morphology. 29. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male carapace, dorsal, arrows to stridulatory picks; 30. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., stridulatory structures, dorsal; 31. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, patella III, dorsal, showing gland; 32. Darkoneta reddelli sp. nov., juvenile carapace, dorsal; 33. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, carapace, posterior; 34. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male abdomen, ventral, showing gonopore anteriad of epigastric furrow.

FIGURES 57 – 64. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., spinnerets, Sierra de Las Minas, Guatemala. 57. Female spinnerets, ventral; 58. Female right ALS; 59. Female PMS; 60. Female right PLS; 61. Male spinnerets, ventral; 62. Male right ALS; 63. Male PMS; 64. Male left PLS. CY, cylindrical gland spigots; MAP, major ampullate gland spigot (s); mAP, minor ampullate gland spigot (s); Nu, nubbin; PI, piriform gland spigots; PI *, piriform gland spigots lacking a base; TP, tartipore.

FIGURES 85 – 90. Microstructure views of Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male right palp, Sierra de Las Minas, Guatemala. 85. Retrolateral; 86. Ventral; 87. Prolateral; 88. Bulb, retrolateral; 89. Accessory sclerites, ventral; 90. Accessory sclerites, prolateral. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.

FIGURES 109 – 114. Leptonetidae female genitalia and respiratory system. 109. Archoleptoneta schusteri female genitalia, dorsal, Soquel, Santa Cruz Co.; 110. Archoleptoneta gertschi, sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Calaveras Co.; 111. D. stridulans female genitalia, dorsal, Panama; 112. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Guatemala; 113. L. infuscata female genitalia, dorsal; 114. Appaleptoneta sp. female tracheae, dorsal (image from MJR).

FIGURES 79 – 84. Microstructure views of Darkoneta stridulans, male right palp, Chiriqui, Panama.