Eupalaestrus roccoi, Malta Borges & Paladini & Bertani, 2021

Malta Borges, Leandro, Paladini, Andressa & Bertani, Rogério, 2021, Two new species of Eupalaestrus Pocock, 1901 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Southern Brazil and Northeastern Argentina, Journal of Natural History 55 (13 - 14), pp. 889-908 : 898-905

Eupalaestrus roccoi sp. nov. ( Figures 4–6 , 7 (b), 8)

Type material. Holotype male ( MCTP43986 ), BRAZIL, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Maria (29.722°S, 53.718°W), April 2018, L.M. Borges coll. Paratypes: female, same locality, 20 February 2018, L .M . Borges coll . ( MCTP43990 ); female, same locality, February 2019, L . M . Borges coll . ( MCTP43989 ); male, same locality, June 2018, L .M . Borges coll . ( MCTP43987 ); male, same locality, February 2019, L .M . Borges coll . ( MCTP43988 ) .

Additional material examined. BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul, Alvorada , male, 14 May 1994, J .A .C. Oliveira coll . ( MCN 25533), male, 21 April 1986, R . Guzinski coll . ( MCN 15009); Butiá , female, 5 May 1997, C . Ribeiro coll . ( MCTP10074 ); Charqueadas , male, 5 May 1996, R .M. Valer coll . ( MCTP7854 ); Dois Irmãos , two males, 20 April 1965, C . Valle, coll . ( MZUSP14877 ); Gravataí , female, 10 May 2001, D .S . Costa coll . ( MCN 33890), female, 1 April 1992, C . R. Abegg coll . ( MCTP2698 ); Guaíba , female, 19 May 1974, G . Carvalho coll . ( MCN2177 ), male, 2 December 1990, J . Salgueiro coll . ( MCTP1619 ), male, 3 May 2003, G . M . Petersen coll . ( MCTP016736 ), female, 26 May 1986, A . Juliano coll . ( MCN 15146); Ijuí , male, 6 April 2015, L . M . Borges coll . ( MCTP44007 ); Porto Alegre , female, 5 June 1992, ( MCN 22199), female, 21 October 1990, ( MCN2045 ), female, 18 April 1993, Adriana coll . ( MCN 23526), male, 23 May 1992, M . Morosini coll . ( MCTP1756 ), male, 24 May 1992, A . Mazoneli coll . ( MCTP1516 ), female, 30 August 1997, L .L . Mello coll . ( MCTP10076 ), female, 14 June 1998, M .A.S. D’avila coll. ( MCN 29424) , female, 1 October 1997, M . Bertoletti coll . ( MCN 28711), male, 15 June 2007, Barcelos coll . ( MCN 43406), male, 10 May 1972, C . Migot coll . ( MCN3538 ), male, 27 October 1997, K . Bianchi coll . ( MCTP10046 ), male, 7 June 2003, G .M . Petersen coll . ( MCTP16720 ), male, 22 April 1993, C .M . Santos coll . ( MCTP3211 ), male, 18 May 2002 ( MCTP13471 ), male, 10 May 1993, C .G . Fernandez coll . ( MCTP3201 ), female, 12 April 2004, V .A. Broglio coll . ( MCN 38491), male, March 1988, A . Pereira coll . ( MCN 17720), female, 10 February 1967, A .A . Lise coll . ( MCN 00470); Rolador , female, 28 December 2018, L .M . Borges coll . ( MCTP44006 ); São Leopoldo , male, 1964, C . Valle coll . ( MZUSP4288 ), male, 20 July 1965, C . Valle coll . ( MZUSP4752 ); São Pedro do Sul, male, 20 May 2016, L . Nunes coll . ( MCTP44008 ); male, July 2018, L .M . Borges coll . ( MCTP44009 ); Viamão , male, 17 April 1968, A .A . Lise coll . ( MCN 00678), male, 12 May 1974, D . Hendriclaso coll . ( MCN 02078), male, 7 April 1996, M . Negrini coll . ( MCTP7801 ), female, 20 May 1997, L . Joo coll . ( MCTP10077 ), male, 17 April 1968, A .A . Lise coll . ( MCN 00680), male, 10 May 1956, M . Castro coll . ( MCN1936 ), male, 2 May 1993, R . Balestrin coll . ( MCTP3204 ), male, 26 May 1992, S . Bringhenti coll . ( MCTP2019 ), male, female, 7 April 1995, A .A . Lise coll . ( MCTP9149 ), male, 17 April 1968, A .A . Lise coll . ( MCN 00677) .

Etymology. The specific name is in honour of Rocco Alfredo di Mare, former advisor of the first author, who unfortunately died in 2017.

Diagnosis. Both sexes differ from E. campestratus and E. larae by the absence of long setae in the ventral region dispersed along the sternum and coxae ( Figures 4 (b), 5(b)). Females can be distinguished from E. spinosissimus by the absence of stiff setae on metatarsi IV ( Figure 5 (e)). This new species differs from E. weijenberghi (see Ferretti et al. 2010, fig. 11) in colour, with conspicuous yellow lines on the patella, tibia and metatarsus ( Figure 6 ). It can be distinguished from E. crassimetatarsis sp. nov. by the non-incrassate metatarsi IV in males ( Figure 4 (f)) and slightly incrassate metatarsi IV in large females ( Figure 5 (e)), their generally smaller size, and also by their generally greyish colour, whereas adults of E. crassimetatarsis sp. nov. are predominantly black ( Figure 6 ). Additionally, females can be distinguished from all other species, except E. crassimetatarsis sp. nov., by having a large group of spiniform setae between the retrolateral faces of coxae IV ( Figure 5 (c)). Males also have these setae but generally in a smaller quantity.

Description. Male holotype (MCTP43986). Carapace 13.71 long, 11.93 wide, chelicerae 6.01. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 12.42, 5.95, 9.51, 8.39, 5.26, 41.53. II: 10.89, 5.55, 8.22, 7.99, 5.64, 38.29. III: 9.81, 4.75, 7.04, 8.83, 5.10, 35.53. IV: 12.88, 5.88, 10.92, 13.96, 5.15, 48.79. Palp: 7.62, 3.86, 5.89, -, 2.86, 20.23. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 2.22, 2.29, 3.05, 2.26, palp = 1.81; patellae I–IV = 2.47, 2.39, 2.38, 2.50, palp = 2.19; tibiae I–IV = 2.11, 1.72, 2.02, 2.52, palp = 2.64; metatarsi I–IV = 1.43, 1.28, 1.48, 1.36; tarsi I–IV = 0.91, 0.86, 0.79, 0.79, palp = 1.97. Abdomen 16.67 long, 11.22 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.49 long, 0.67 wide, 0.45 apart; PLS, 2.68 basal, 1.66 middle, 1.73 distal; midwidths 0.98, 0.91, 0.70, respectively.

Carapace: length to width ratio 1.15; cephalic area moderately raised; thoracic striae deep. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.91 wide. Carapace covered with short and slender setae, bordered with longer ones projecting outwards.

Eyes and eye tubercle: tubercle 0.74 high, 1.84 long, 2.59 wide. Clypeus 0.15 wide. Anterior row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.35, ALE 0.42, PME 0.20, PLE 0.45, AME–AME 0.36, AME–ALE 0.18, AME–PME 0.14, ALE–ALE 1.28, ALE–PME 0.31, PME–PME 077, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 1.23, ALE–PLE 0.19, AME–PLE 0.33. Eye group 1.66 wide, 0.98 long.

Maxillae: length 4.19, width 2.62. Cuspules: ca. 168 spread over the ventral inner heel. Lyra absent. Labium: 1.70 long, 2.74 wide, with ca. 117 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior central third. Labio-sternal groove shallow, flat with two large sigilla.

Chelicerae: basal segment with 11 teeth on promargin and denticles on the basal area.

Sternum: length 6.32, width 5.89. Posterior angle rounded, not separating coxae IV. Sigilla: first pair rounded; second and third oval; the first one diameter away from margin, second and third one width.

Legs. Clavate trichobothria: on distal 2/3 of tarsi I–IV. Stridulatory apparatus: probably plumose setae ( Galleti-Lima and Guadanucci 2019) on femur I and IV (not examined under SEM). Scopula: Retrolateral femur IV scopulate. Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I fully scopulate; II 80%, III 35%, IV only few and sparse at the apical end. Spination: palp: femur p0–0–1; patella p1; tibia v0–1–0, p3–4–3, d1–0–0; leg I: femur p0–0–1; tibia v2–0–2(1ap), p0–2–0; metatarsus v2–0–2ap, p0–1–0; leg II: femur p0–0–1, r0–0–1; patella 0; tibia v2–3– 3ap, p0–2–0; metatarsus v2–2–2ap, p0–1–0; leg III: femur 0; patella 0; tibia v1–2–6(3ap), p1–1–0, r0–1–0; metatarsus v4–5–8(3ap), p1–1–1, r0–1–1; leg IV: femur p0–0–1; tibia v2– 4–5(4ap), p0-1-1, r0–1–1; metatarsus v27(4ap), p0–1–1, r0–1–0. Spiniform setae on prolateral coxae IV and retrolateral coxae III. Spiniform setae between the retrolateral faces of coxae IV. Claws: ITC absent from all legs; STC with a single row of very small teeth.

Urticating setae: types I and III, distributed as in Bertani and Guadanucci (2013, fig. 7).

Palp ( Figure 4 (c,d)): palpal bulb pyriform, long embolus, slightly flattened laterally at distal region, apex short and slender. Prolateral keels present. PS forming the embolus edge distally. A present, developed. R present, developed. SA represented by a DR.

Tibial apophysis ( Figure 4 (e)): two straight branches, originating at the same base, with the retrolateral branch becoming thinner in the middle region. Metatarsus I straight, when flexed touches the retrolateral branch laterally.

Colour ( Figure 6 (b)): carapace and chelicera greyish, with darker cephalic area. Carapace bordered with scattered light brown setae, chelicerae with some long light brown setae. Legs black, with two yellow lines, visible on the patella and tibia, with a single line on the metatarsus. Coxae and sternum black, covered by short bristles. Labium and maxillae reddish brown. Abdomen covered with black setae and scattered brown guard setae.

Description. Female paratype (MCTP43990). Carapace 14.68 long, 12.97 wide, chelicerae 7.69. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 10.06, 6.16, 6.96, 6.03, 4.59, 33.80. II: 8.84, 5.64, 6.00, 5.56, 4.30, 30.34. III: 8.02, 5.18, 5.58, 6.16, 4.18, 29.12. IV: 11.67, 6.54, 9.31, 10.94, 4.91, 43.37. Palp: 7.44, 4.88, 5.37, -, 5.57, 23.26. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 1.84, 1.98, 2.30, 2.11, palp = 1.43; patellae I–IV = 2.35, 2.20, 2.34, 2.76, palp = 2.14; tibiae I–IV = 1.99, 1.89, 2.20, 3.29, palp = 1.98; metatarsi I–IV = 1.67, 1.49, 1.58, 1.81; tarsi I–IV = 1.29, 1.31, 1.19, 1.25, palp = 1.49. Abdomen 17.17 long, 13.73 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.74 long, 0.91 wide, 0.86 apart; PLS, 2.57 basal, 2.32 middle, 2.28 distal; midwidths 0.95, 0.93, 0.82, respectively.

Carapace: length to width ratio 1.13; cephalic area moderately raised; thoracic striae deep. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.35 wide. Carapace covered with short and slender setae, bordered with longer ones projecting outwards.

Eyes and eye tubercle: tubercle 0.48 high, 1.69 long, 2.48 wide. Clypeus 0.19 wide. Anterior row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.36, ALE 0.44, PME 0.31, PLE 0.40, AME–AME 0.34, AME–ALE 0.25, AME–PME 0.19, ALE–ALE 1.32, ALE–PME 0.50, PME–PME 0.80, PME–PLE 0.09, PLE–PLE 1.35, ALE–PLE 0.33, AME–PLE 0.45. Eye group 1.80 wide, 1.07 long. Maxillae. Length 5.50, width 3.11. Cuspules: ca. 240 spread over the ventral inner heel. Lyra absent. Labium 2.19 long, 3.09 wide, with 118 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior central third. Labiosternal groove shallow, flat, with two large sigilla.

Chelicerae: basal segment with 14 teeth on promargin and denticles on the basal area.

Sternum: length 6.65, width 5.71. Posterior angle rounded, not separating coxae IV. Sigilla: first pair rounded; second and third oval; the first one diameter away from margin, the second and third one width.

Legs. Clavate trichobothria: on distal 2/3 of tarsi I–IV. Stridulatory apparatus: probably plumose setae ( Galleti-Lima and Guadanucci 2019) on femur I and IV (not examined under SEM). Scopula: retrolateral femur IV scopulate. Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I fully scopulate; II 60%; III 30%, IV lacking scopula. Spination: palp: tibia v0–0–2ap; leg I: metatarsus v0–0–3ap; leg II: metatarsus v2–0–3ap; leg III: tibia v0–1–3ap, p1–1–0, r0–1– 0; metatarsus v2–0–3ap, p1–1–1, r0–1–1; leg IV: tibia v0–1–3ap, p0–1–1, r0–1–1; metatarsus v21(4ap), p0–1–1, r0–1–1. Spiniform setae on prolateral coxae II–IV and retrolateral coxae II–IV. A large group of spiniform setae also between the retrolateral faces of coxae IV. Claws: ITC absent from all legs; STC with a single row of very small teeth.

Urticating setae: types I and III, distributed as in Bertani and Guadanucci (2013, fig. 7).

Genitalia ( Figure 5 (d)): two short spermathecae separated by a non-sclerotised area, spermathecal stalk narrower than elongated spermathecal bulb.

Colour ( Figure 6 (a)): as in male, except for the more conspicuous yellow lines on the legs.

Distribution ( Figure 8 ). Transitional areas of Atlantic Forest and Pampa in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil ( Figure 7 (b)).

Other paratypes – general measurements. Male ( MCTP43987 ) . Carapace 11.74 long, 11.48 wide. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 10.87, 5.47, 8.09, 7.01, 4.52,

35.96. II: 9.61, 5.05, 6.68, 7.02, 5.26, 33.62. III: 8.94, 4.52, 6.03, 7.92, 4.99, 32.40. IV: 11.09, 5.15, 9.31, 12.44, 6.31, 44.30. Palp: 6.72, 3.91, 5.83, -, 2.56, 19.02. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 1.81, 1.85, 2.60, 2.08, palp = 1.54; patellae I–IV = 2.16, 2.03, 1.97, 2.29, palp = 1.82; tibiae I–IV = 1.66, 1.51, 1.97, 2.15, palp = 2.33; metatarsi I–IV = 1.25, 1.15, 1.21, 1.28; tarsi I–IV = 0.99, 0.86. 0.91, 0.88, palp = 1.80. Abdomen 12.44 long, 7.01 wide. Sternum 5.01 long, 4.05 wide. Male (MCTP43988). Carapace 11.96 long, 11.84 wide. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 11.43, 5.50, 8.46, 7.66, 5.36, 38.41. II: 10.40, 5.11, 7.19, 7.16, 5.33, 35.19. III: 8.92, 4.78, 6.38, 8.35, 5.12, 33.55. IV: 12.01, 5.60, 10.43, 13.15, 6.47, 47.66. Palp: 6.96, 4.19, 6.28, -, 2.16, 19.59.Midwidths:femora I–IV = 2.14, 2.26,2.85, 2.21,palp = 1.77; patellae I–IV = 2.27,2.35, 2.44, 2.49, palp = 2.07; tibiae I–IV = 1.91, 1.61, 1.90, 2.34, palp = 2.43; metatarsi I–IV = 1.32, 1.30, 1.23, 1.39; tarsi I–IV = 1.10, 1.11, 1.01, 1.12, palp = 1.84. Abdomen 13.95 long, 8.77 wide. Sternum 5.28 long, 4.56 wide. Female (MCTP43989). Carapace 13.49 long, 12.01 wide. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 9.88, 6.21, 7.76, 6.24, 4.61, 34.70. II: 8.54, 5.37, 6.03, 5.22,4.60, 29.76.III: 7.96,5.18,5.55,6.23, 3.97,28.89.IV: 11.34,6.39,9.30, 10.44,5.06,42.53. Palp: 7.68, 4.92, 5.29, -, 5.36, 23.25. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 1.83, 2.16, 2.28, 2.30, palp = 1.77; patellae I–IV = 2.41, 2.30, 2.31, 2.86, palp = 2.05; tibiae I–IV = 1.92, 1.72, 1.98, 3.27, palp = 1.79; metatarsi I–IV = 1.65, 1.41, 1.58, 1.88; tarsi I–IV = 1.52, 1.46, 1.37, 1.41, palp = 1.80. Abdomen 18.67 long, 11.41 wide. Sternum 6.23 long, 5.35 wide.

Remarks. There are slight colour variations between some specimens from the same locality as the types, which have barely noticeable lines on the legs ( Figure 6 (c–d)). Additionally, a few specimens collected east of the Taquari River have a very thickened metatarsus IV, although only in females, which is very similar to that found in E. crassimetatarsis sp. nov. Males collected in this area resemble E. roccoi sp. nov. These specimens may be part of a distinct undescribed species.

Figures

Figure 4. Male of Eupalaestrus roccoi sp. nov. (a–b) Prosoma, (a) dorsal, (b) ventral; (c–d) left palpal bulb, (c) prolateral, (d) retrolateral; (e) left tibial apophysis; (f) leg IV. A = apical keel, DR = denticulate row, PI = prolateral inferior keel, PS = prolateral superior keel, R = retrolateral keel. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Figure 5. Female of Eupalaestrus roccoi sp. nov. (a–b) Prosoma, (a) dorsal, (b) ventral; (c) spiniform setae between the coxae IV; (d) spermatheca; (e) leg IV. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Figure 6. Eupalaestrus roccoi sp. nov. (a–b) Adults, typical colour, (a) female, (b) male; (c–d) adults with colour variation, (c) female, (d) male; (e) small female; (f) defensive behaviour. Scale bars = 15 mm.

Figure 7. Habitats: (a) Eupalaestrus crassimetatarsis sp. nov., Bom Jesus, RS, Brazil, (b) Eupalaestrus roccoi sp. nov., Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.

Figure 8. Distribution map of Eupalaestrus according to the examined material: circles = E. roccoi sp. nov. (white circle = type locality), triangles = E. crassimetatarsis sp. nov. (white triangle = type locality), stars = E. campestratus, asterisk = E. spinosissimus, squares = E. larae, diamonds = E. weijenberghi.