Hemirrhagus sprousei, Mendoza & Francke, 2018

Mendoza, Jorge I. & Francke, Oscar F., 2018, Five new cave-dwelling species of Hemirrhagus Simon 1903 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with notes on the generic distribution and novel morphological features, Zootaxa 4407 (4), pp. 451-482 : 473-477

Hemirrhagus sprousei sp. nov.

( Figs 18 ̄21)

Type material: holotype ♂ CNAN-T0803 , 1 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0804 , 1 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0805 , MEXICO: Oaxaca, Mpio. Acatlán, Cueva de la Laguna Verde , collected 06/XII/1993, 07/XII/1993, 05/XII/1993 respectively, collector (coll.) P. Sprouse, M. Moffet ; 1 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0852 , MEXICO: Oaxaca, Mpio. Acatlán, Cueva de la Laguna Verde , collected 19-VII-2005, col. P. Sprouse.

Diagnosis. Hemirrhagus sprousei sp. nov. can be distinguished from most Hemirrhagus species (except H. reddelli ) in having the stridulatory setae conformed by femora hard setae on retrolateral face of palp femur. From H. reddelli in the anterior median eyes slightly reduced, the posterior lateral eyes well developed and in the presenc e of retroalteral accessorial keel. They also differ in the arrangement of the plumose setae and in the leg formula.

Hemirrhagus sprousei sp. nov. is identified by possessing the following character combination: male palpal bulb with slender embolus, longer than tegulum, subapical keel retrolaterally extended ends at embolus retrolateral face ( Fig 19C ), with retrolateral accesorial keel on dorsal basal embolus on retrolateral face ( Fig 19C ̄E); embolus curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig 19A ̄B). Ocular tubercle undeveloped; anterior median eyes and posterior median eyes slightly reduced; periocular pigmentation only in anterior median eyes ( Figs 18D , 20C ). With stridulatory setae conformed by femur hard setae (FHS) on base of retrolateral face of palp femur, plumose setae on retrolateral face of palp trochanter and four spinose setae distally on prolateral face of trochanter I ( Figs 18H , 20F ). Lacking urticating setae on abdomen ( Fig 18C ). Labium with fewer than 10 cuspules ( Fig 18E ). Spermathecae paired, receptacles separated at base, straight and slender throughout their length ( Fig 20D ).

Etymology: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Peter Sprouse, for his contribution to the knowledge of Mexican Caves and their fauna, and who collected the first specimen of the species.

Description: Holotype male CNAN-T0803 ( Figs 18 ̄19): body length 23.85, carapace: 10.28 long, 9.11 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 2.17 width ( Fig 18A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation only in AME; ALE and PLE normally developed, AME reduced, PME poorly developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.175; ALE 0.325; PME 0.15; PLE 0.30; AME-AME 0.125; AME-ALE 0.175; PME-PME 0.70; PME-PLE 0.025; ALE- PLE 0.025. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, ocular quadrangle width 1.575, length 0.50; clypeus lacking ( Fig 18D ). Labium length 0.93, width 1.77; with 6 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with ~130 (left) and ~134 (right) cuspules ( Fig 18E ). Cheliceral promargin with 12 (left) and 12 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first medium, second-third large, fourth small, fifth medium, sixth small, seventh medium, eighth-eleventh large, twelfth small). Sternum length 4.5. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla half its length from margin ( Fig 18B, G ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 13.18, 6.18, 13.83, 13.19, 8.65, 55.65. II: 11.89, 4.73, 11.83, 11.61, 8.11, 48.17. III: 12.63, 5.00, 11.70, 14.27, 8.78, 52.38. IV: 15.06, 4.99, 15.16, 18.15, 10.19, 63.55. Palp: 8.52, 4.08, 7.69, -, 2.74, 23.03. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.17 long, 0.28 wide, 0.43 apart; PLS, 2.07 basal, 1.93 middle, 2.37 distal; midwidths, 0.70 basal, 0.60 middle, 0.47 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, II-IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 50 % scopulated distally, divided by narrow band of setae; IV without scopula.

Tibia I with two apophyses which do not originate from common base: prolateral apophysis normally developed, with one large spinose seta on ventral face, the spinose seta bent in middle exceeding apex of prolateral apophysis; retrolateral apophysis normally developed, broad base with one short, wide spinose seta on dorsal face, the spinose seta exceeds apex of retrolateral apophysis ( Fig 18J, K ). Metatarsus I straight ( Fig 18F ).

Stridulatory setae: spinose setae on trochanter I prolateral located distocentrally, with four spinose setae large, curved ( Fig 18I ). With group of ca. 20 femur hard setae (FHS), congregated in a spot which resembles a harp, located basally dorsal on palp femur retrolateral face ( Fig 18H ). Palp trochanter with plumose setae retrolaterally, which are longer on proximal half. With plumose setae on palp coxa retrolateral face, trochanter retrolateral face, femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral and retrolateral faces, femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 2 p; II 3 p; III 2 p, 2r; IV 2 p, 2r; palp 2p; patellae none; tibiae I 2 p, 7v, 2r; II 2 p, 14v, 2r; III 2 p, 7v, 2r; IV 2 p, 7v, 2r; palp 2p, 7v, 1r; metatarsi I 4v; II 1 p, 6v, 1r; III 3 p, 9v, 3r; IV 3 p, 12v, 3r.

Palp. Embolus slender, longer than tegulum; subapical keel retrolaterally extended, ends at embolus retrolateral face; posterior curvature of subapical keel occurs before base of embolus, embolus with retrolateral accesorial keel dorsobasal on retrolateral face; retrolateral accesorial keel best seen in ventral-retrolateral angle; ventral groove deep; embolous curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Figs 19A ̄E).

Urticating setae: lacking ( Fig 18C ).

Color pattern: in ethanol yellowish. Live specimens are overall brown.

Paratype female CNAN-T0804 ( Figs 20A ̄F, 21): body length 30.88, carapace 12.75 long, 11.27 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 2.50 wide ( Fig 20A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation only in AME; ALE and PLE normally developed, AME reduced, PME reduced. Eyes sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.175; ALE 0.325; PME 0.175; PLE 0.325; AME-AME 0.225; AME-ALE 0.275; PME-PME 0.775; PME-PLE 0.025; ALE- PLP 0.075. Eye tubercle undeveloped, ocular quadrangle width 1.95, length 0.575; clypeus lacking ( Fig 20C ). Labium length 1.87, width 2.10; with 4 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with ~123 (left) and ~117 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 11 (left) and 10 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first medium, second-tenth large, eleventh medium). Sternum length 5.10. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla half its length from the margin ( Fig 20B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 14.33, 6.84, 14.06, 13.86, 9.05, 58.14. II: 13.79, 6.67, 12.70, 13.79, 9.26, 56.21. III: 13.38, 5.89, 11.99, 16.50, 8.58, 56.34. IV: 15.53, 5.91, 14.72, 20.55, 10.41, 67.12. Palp: 9.81, 5.13, 9.12, -, 9.01, 33.07.

Spinnerets: PMS, 1.37 long, 0.60 apart; PLS, 2.70 basal, 2.13 middle, 2.83 distal; midwidths, 1.00 basal, 0.90 middle, 0.73 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, III-IV divided by strong setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 50 % scopulated distally, divided by narrow band of setae; IV without scopula.

Stridulatory setae: spinose setae on trochanter I prolateral located distocentrally, with four spinose large, curved setae ( Fig. 20E ). With group of ca. 20 femur hard setae (FHS), congregated in spot resembling a harp, located basally dorsal on palp femur retrolateral face ( Fig. 20F ). Palp trochanter with plumose setae retrolaterally, longer on proximal half. With plumose setae on palp coxa retrolateral face, trochanter retrolateral face, femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral and retrolateral faces, femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 2 p; II 2 p; III 2 p, 1r; IV 1 p, 1r; palp 2p; patellae none; tibiae I 2 p, 7v; II 2 p, 6v, 1r; III 2 p, 6v, 2r; IV 2 p, 8v, 2r; palp 1p, 10v, 3r; metatarsi I 4v; II 1 p, 4v; III 3 p, 8v, 3r; IV 4 p, 9v, 4r.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, receptacles separated at base, straight and slender throughout their length ( Fig 20D ).

Urticating setae: lacking.

Color pattern: in ethanol yellowish. Live specimens are overall brown ( Fig 21 ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva de la Laguna Verde in Oaxaca, México ( Fig 22 ). The species lives only inside the cave; specimens were collected on walls at a depth of 300 m from the entrance (See: http://www.mexicancaves.org/maps/2604.pdf). Females laid fixed hammock egg-sacs on the cave walls; these were fixed between two protuberances on the wall.

Figures

FIGURE 18. A─K. Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, holotype male CNAN-T0803. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. E, labial and maxillary cuspules. F, metatarsus I, prolateral view.G, sternum.H, palp trochanter plumose setaeand femur hard setae, retrolateral view. I, trochanter I spinose setae distally, ventral view.J, tibial apophyses, ventral view. K, tibial apophyses, prolateral view.Scale = 4mm (A̅C, F), 2mm (G), 1mm (D, E, H̅K).

FIGURE 19. A─E, Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, holotype male CNAN-T0803, right palpal bulb: A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, retrolateral view. D, prolateral view.E, ventral-retrolateral angle.Scale = 1mm.

FIGURE 20. A─F, Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, paratype female CNAN-T0804. A, carapace, dorsal view.B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). C, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. D, spermathecae, dorsal view. E, trochanter I spinose setae distally, ventral view. F, palp trochanter plumose setae andfemur femur hard setae, retrolateral view.Scale = 6mm (A), 4mm (B), 1mm (D̅E), 0.5mm (C).

FIGURE 21. Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, paratype female CNAN-T0805, in life. Habitus. Photo:P. Sprouse.

FIGURE 22. Known distribution of Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch 1971), Hemirrhagus elliotti (Gertsch 1973), Hemirrhagus embolulatus Mendoza 2014, Hemirrhagus eros Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus chilango Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus lochti Estrada-Alvarez 2014, Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species, Hemirrhagus nahuanus(Gertsch 1982), Hemirrhagus papalotl Pérez-Miles &Locht 2003, Hemirrhagusgrieta(Gertsch 1982),Hemirrhagus coztic Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003 and Hemirrhagus perezmilesi García-Villafuerte & Locht 2010. Showing the biogeographic provinces where they are found. SMO= Sierra Madre Oriental, EVT= Eje Volcanico Transversal, SMS= Sierra Madre del Sur, PCH= Provincia de Chiapas.