Chococtenus cappuccino, Dupérré, Nadine, 2015

Dupérré, Nadine, 2015, Description of a new genus and thirteen new species of Ctenidae (Araneae, Ctenidae) from the Chocó region of Ecuador, Zootaxa 4028 (4), pp. 451-484 : 463

Chococtenus cappuccino new species

Figs 20–24 , 57 .

Type material. Male holotype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve (- 00.41433°S - 79.00035°W), 24.v.–08.vi.2014, pitfall, 1888 m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré ( QCAZ). One female paratype, same data ( QCAZ).

Additional material examined. Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province: Otonga Biological Reserve (- 00.41433°S - 79.00035°W), 08–21. vi.2014, 1 ♀, pitfall, 1888m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 25.xi–08. xii.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC). Los Ríos Province: Centro Científico Río Palenque ( CCRP), 22. xi.1981, 1 ♂, pitfall, Bosque secundario cerrado, S. Sandoval ( QCAZ); Centro Científico Río Palenque ( CCRP), 1♀, 19.ix.1979, S. Sandoval ( QCAZ).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the Italian language in reference to the colour of the spider, which resembles the colour of the Capuchin friars clothing.

Diagnosis. Male and females are characterized by their carapace colour pattern ( Fig. 20 ). Furthermore males are distinguished from all species by their wide and curved apex of embolus ( Fig. 21 ). Females are diagnosed by the elliptical median sector of epigynum, from C. fantasma and C. kashakara by the very narrow unsclerotized apical sector, from C. suffuscus by the apparent lateral processes, and from C. otongachi by the more basally positioned lateral processes ( Fig. 23 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 4.8; carapace length: 2.3; carapace width: 1.9; abdomen length: 2.5. COLORATION: Carapace brown, sides dark brown with pattern composed of blackish lines; pars cephalica light brown apically with white setae behind PME and PLE; pars thoracica light brown apically; fovea dark brown ( Fig. 20 ). Sternum yellow, endites and labium light orange-brown. Chelicerae light brown with two black stripes. Abdomen damaged. LEGS: All legs missing. GENITALIA: Palpal cymbial keel strong ( Fig. 21 ). Ventral tibial apophysis triangular, apically transparent, retrolateral tibial apophysis short, spine-like, tip bent ( Figs 21, 22 ). Tegulum oval; median apophysis short, basally larger; conductor lamelliform, hyaline, folded apically; membranous tegular process hyaline, elongated, wide, folded apically with apical dark spot; embolus base not twisted; embolus wide, originating prolaterally, tip sinuous ( Fig. 21 ).

Female (paratype). Total length: 6.2; carapace length: 3.0; carapace width: 2.1; abdomen length: 3.2. COLORATION: As in male. LEGS: All legs missing. GENITALIA: Epigynum with elliptical median sector, apically with very narrow unsclerotized region, flat; lateral processes short, hook-shaped and positioned basally ( Fig. 23 ). Internal genitalia with elongated and curved copulatory ducts; head of spermathecae oval with an apical pore; base of spermathecae small; fertilization ducts short ( Fig. 24 ).

Natural history. Specimens where collected in the pitfall line set up at 1888 m, inhabiting the low evergreen montane forest, other specimens were collected at Centro Científico Río Palenque, at an elevation of 220 m in a low evergreen forest.

Distribution. Ecuador: Cotopaxi and Los Ríos Provinces ( Fig. 57 ).

Figures

FIGURE 57. Map of Ecuador showing distribution records of the thirteen new species of the genus Chococtenus. The main collecting site, Otonga Biological Reserve (white box with x inside), holds 10 species (not found: C. suffuscus, C. otongachi and C. piemontana). Other known localities for: C. otonga (white lozenge), C. cappuccino (white x), C. lasdamas (white circle), C. suffuscus (white plus sign), C. otongachi (white rectangle) and C. piemontana (upside down white triangle).

FIGURES 20 – 24. Chococtenus cappuccino new species. Male. 20 – 22. Female. 23, 24. 20. Carapace, dorsal view. 21. Palp, ventral view. 22. Palp, retrolateral view. 23. Epigynum, ventral view. 24. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Female genitalia: ilp, internal lateral pockets; ums, unsclerotized median sector.