Thalerommata yukpa, Osorio & Benavides & García-Atencia & Bertani, 2024

Osorio, Luis M., Benavides, Léiner, García-Atencia, Sandy & Bertani, Rogério, 2024, Three new species of tiny tarantulas of the genus Thalerommata Ausserer, 1875 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) from northern Colombia, Zootaxa 5537 (1), pp. 95-114 : 96-101

Thalerommata yukpa sp. nov.

( Figs 1–4, 13C, D)

Type material. Holotype ♂ from Colombia: Cesar: La Jagua de Ibirico, Vda. La Victoria, Nueva Granada, Forest , ground hand collecting (9°33’33.9”N, 73°09’39.5”W) 1100 m.a.s.l, 3–5 June 2021, L. Osorio & S. García-Atencia leg. (ICN-Ar 12988) . Paratype (s) 3 ♂ from Colombia: Cesar: Valledupar, La Jagua de Ibirico, Alto de las Flores, natural regeneration, pitfall (9°34’44.1”N, 73°07’00.6”W) 1330 m .a.s.l, 20 March 2021, L. Osorio & S. García leg. (ICN-Ar 12989), 1 ♀ dissected, same data as preceding (9°34’45.3”N, 73°07’01.5”W) 1282 m .a.s.l, 8–11April 2022, J. Márquez, Y. Domínguez, S. García-Atencia & L. Osorio leg. (ICN-Ar 12990), 1 ♀, Becerril, Manantial , natural regeneration, pitfall (9°38’07.0”N, 73°07’04.0”W) 852 m .a.s.l, 3 September 2021, J. Márquez, Y. Domínguez, S. García & L. Osorio leg. (ICN-Ar 12991), 1 ♀ same data as preceding, coffee agroforestry system, pitfall (9°38’03.2”N, 73°06’56.4”W) 987 m .a.s.l, 3 September 2021, J. Márquez, Y. Domínguez, S. García & L. Osorio leg. (ICN-Ar 12992), 1 ♀ same data as preceding, Nueva Granada, grassland, pitfall (9°33’12.2”N, 73°09’43.6”W, 1155 m.a.s.l, 8–11 April 2022, J. Márquez, Y. Domínguez, S. García-Atencia & L. Osorio leg. (ICN-Ar 12993).

Other material examined. COLOMBIA: Cesar: La Jagua de Ibirico, Mina La Divisa , oil palm monoculture, pitfall trap (9°36’12.0”N, 73°15’49.1”W) 146 m. a.s.l, 1 ♂, 6 June 2023, K. Caballero leg. (CIUA-Ara0102) .

Diagnosis. Males of T. yukpa sp. nov. resemble those of T. gracilis , T. huila , T. macella , T. squamea and T. kogui sp. nov. by having spinose cymbium ( Fig. 2C–E) and T. anae and T. gertschi by having a long embolus ( Fig. 2A–E). They differ from T. macella and T. kogui sp. nov. by having a long embolus, about 4 times the length of the tegulum ( Fig. 2A, B) and T. anae and T. gertschi by having spinose cymbium ( Fig. 2C–E). From T. margarita sp. nov., by the metatarsus I straight without a protuberance in the distal prolateral region. From T.huila by the embolus lacking keels and the presence of two spines as a tibial apophysis ( Fig. 1D, E, 2A, B). From T. kogui sp. nov. by the tibia of the palp not being enlarged on the basal half and the absent of spiniform setae on it ( Fig. 2C, D). From T. squamea by the cymbium not elongated and from T. gracilis by the absence of a process on tibial apophysis ( Fig. 1D, E). Females resemble T. maculata , T. caudicula , T. kogui sp. nov. and T. margarita sp. nov. by having the distal article of PLS digitiform ( Fig. 3C) and T. pecki by having two spermathecae, each with two lobes distally. They differ in that the lobes of the spermathecae are located on slender stalks three times larger than the length of the lobes ( Fig. 4A, B).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the indigenous people that inhabit the foothills of the Perijá mountain range between Colombia and Venezuela. According to the cosmology of this community, the world was created with the help of a spider.

Description. Male holotype (ICN-Ar 12988). Carapace 4.15 long, 3.05 wide. Abdomen 3.98 long, 2.24 wide. Total length 9.18. Carapace: fovea straight, 0.29 wide ( Fig. 1A). Clypeus absent. Eight eyes arranged on tubercle 0.74 wide, 0.45 long. MOQ 0.50 wide, 0.30 long. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior row slightly recurved ( Fig. 1A). AME 0.14, ALE 0.20, PME 0.15, PLE 0.16. Eye interspaces: AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.42, PME–PLE 0.03, PME–PME 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.09, PLE–PLE 0.54. Chelicerae: 1.05 long, with 8 large spaced teeth and numerous tiny on basal inner edge. Intercheliceral intumescence absent. Rastellum composed of long thick setae. Labium ellipsoid, 1.25 long, 0.65 wide, with 18 cuspules rounded on anterior half. Labiosternal groove shallow with pair or sigilla ( Fig. 1B). Maxillae: 1.06 long in front, 1.41 long behind, 0.63 wide, with 42 cuspules on upper mound on inner angle. Heel distinct. Frontal lobe distinct, short. Prolateral edge whitish ( Fig. 1B). Sternum ( Fig. 1B): 1.85 long, 1.86 wide. Three pairs of sigilla, rounded. First pair close to coxa I, second pair close to coxa II, and third pair close to coxa III. All sigilla about one diameter from the margin, sometimes hardly visible. Lyra and stridulatory apparatus absent. Abdomen: booklungs small, with elliptical aperture ca. 0.20 in length, booklung combs hardly visible. Spinnerets: PMS small, 0.44 long, 0.18 wide, 0.22 apart. PLS, basal segment, 0.65 long, 0.32 wide; middle 0.48 long, 0.33 wide; apical 0.63 long, 0.20 wide. Apical segment digitiform. Legs: IV–I–III–II. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 2.72, 1.87, 2.49, 2.21, 1.10, 10.39; II: 2.90, 1.56, 2.14, 1.16, 1.27, 9.03; III: 2.45, 1.20, 1.81, 2.38, 1.28, 9.12; IV: 3.18, 1.64, 2.69, 2.94, 1.25, 11.7; Palp: 1.50, 1.18, 1.50, -, 0.80, 4.98. Widths: I: 0.81, 0.66, 0.67, 0.47, 0.39; II: 0.68, 0.67, 0.55, 0.42, 0.31; III: 0.82, 0.63, 0.57, 0.37, 0.30; IV: 0.76, 0.72, 0.62, 0.31, 0.21; Palp: 0.56, 0.57, 0.65, -, 0.41. Spines: tarsi of legs lacking spines. Leg I: fe p0-0-1, pa 0, ti p0-1-2, v3-3-2, me v0-0-1ap; leg II: fe d0-2-2, pa 1, ti p1-1-0, v3-3-3ap, me p0-1-0, v0-1-1; leg III: fe r0-0-2, pa 0, ti p2-1-2ap r2-2-0 v2-2-3, me 21; leg IV: fe d0-0-1, pa p1, ti p2-2-1, r1-2-0 v3-3-3ap, me 15; palp: fe p0-0-1, pa 0, ti p0-2-1, r0-0-1, cymbium 18 closely positioned at the apex. Clavate trichobothria in two rows, on distal half: 9 on tarsus I; 12 on tarsus II, 9 on tarsus III; 10 on tarsus IV; 11 on palpal tarsus. Claws: STC a double row of 8–8 teeth on leg I; 7–7 on leg II; 7–7 on leg III; 6–6 on leg IV. Scopula: Tarsi of legs I–IV with sparse scopula; scopula on tarsi III–IV divided by a broad row of setae. Metatarsi I–IV scopulate on the apical third. Tarsi II–IV cracked. Tibial apophysis ( Fig. 1D, E): A very short sinuous upper spine, and a more basal, long, and sinuous spine, twice as long as the short spine, positioned on a broad and strong base. Both structures positioned on prolateral face of tibia. Tibia I not excavated prolaterally. Metatarsus I straight: when folded, it passes retrolaterally by apophysis. Palp ( Fig. 2A–E): Bulb pyriform, embolus tapers to its tip, with slight curvature to prolateral side from its half. Embolus lacking keels. Tegulum 0.42 long, 0.28 wide, embolus 1.09 long, 0.15 wide at its base, 0.08 at middle, 0.01 at tip. Cymbium triangular in retrolateral view, not elongated, with deep incision. Palpal tibia lacking excavations or spiniform setae ( Fig. 2C–E). Color pattern (preserved in alcohol) ( Fig. 1A–C): Chelicerae, legs brown, patella of leg I cover by whitish setae, sternum, maxillae and labium yellowish. Carapace pilose with dark brown setae and a band of whitish setae from behind the eyes to the posterior margin on the carapace. Abdomen dorsally dark brown setae and a dorsal pattern composed of whitish setae. Ventrally brownish. Setae Type I ( Ríos-Tamayo, 2024) are present exclusively on abdomen, both dorsally and ventrally.

Description. Female paratype (ICN-Ar 12990). Carapace 4.17 long, 3.32 wide. Abdomen 5.29 long, 3.33 wide. Total length 10.74. Carapace: Fovea straight, 1.02 wide ( Fig. 3B). Clypeus absent. Eight eyes arranged on tubercle 0.84 wide, 0.47 long. MOQ 0.47 wide, 0.37 long. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior row slightly recurved ( Fig. 3B). AME 0.14, ALE 0.24, PME 0.17, PLE 0.19. Eye interspaces: AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.11, ALE–ALE 0.44, PME–PLE 0.03, PME–PME 0.40, ALE–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.64. Chelicerae: 1.28 long, with 9 spaced teeth and numerous very small denticles on its base. Rastellum composed of long thick setae. Labium ellipsoid, 0.48 long, 0.82 wide, having 35 cuspules rounded, on distal half. Labiosternal groove shallow with a pair of sigilla ( Fig. 3D). Maxillae ( Fig. 3D): 1.41 long in front, 1.81 long behind, 0.90 wide, with 58 cuspules on upper mound in inner angle. Heel distinct. Frontal lobe distinct, short. Prolateral edge whitish. Sternum ( Fig. 3D): 2.42 long, 2.39 wide. Three pairs of sigilla, rounded. First pair close to coxa I, second pair close to coxa II, and third pair close to coxa III. All sigilla about one diameter from margin, hardly visible. Lyra and stridulatory apparatus absent. Abdomen: Booklungs small with elliptical aperture ca. 0.33 in length, with booklung combs hardly visible. Spinnerets ( Fig. 3C): PMS small, 0.56 long, 0.24 wide, 0.16 apart. Basal, middle, and apical segments of PLS, 0.48 long, 0.48 wide; 0.49 long, 0.42 wide; 1.31 long, 0.38 wide, respectively. Apical segment digitiform. Legs: formula IV–I–III–II. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 2.34, 2.12, 2.25, 1.79, 1.14, 9.64; II: 2.37, 1.82, 1.82, 1.64, 1.39, 8.99; III: 2.46, 1.45, 1.69, 2.12, 1.36, 9.08; IV: 3.40, 2.00, 2.76, 3.35, 1.37, 12.88. Palp: 2.29, 1.59, 1.37, -, 1.37, 3.60. Widths: I: 0.68, 0.79, 0.69, 0.53, 0.49; II: 0.78, 0.74, 0.67, 0.55, 0.46; III: 0.70, 0.71, 0.36, 0.48, 0.36; IV: 0.79, 0.83, 0.67, 0.44, 0.37, Palp: 0.60, 0.71, 0.68, -, 0.54. Spines: leg I: fe:0, pa:0, ti: v0-0-0, me v0-0-1ap; leg II: fe p0, pa 0, ti 0, me v0-1-1ap; leg III: fe 0, pa 1, ti v0-0- 2ap p0-1-1 r1-1-0 d2-2-0, me p1-0-0 v2-2-3ap r0-2-2 d0; leg IV: fe 0, pa 0, ti d0 p0 v0-0-2ap r1-2-0, me p1-1-1 v3-4-2ap, r1-1-0, d0; palp: v0-0-3ap. PC absent. Clavate trichobothria in two rows on distal two-thirds: 12 on tarsus I; 11 on tarsus II; 7 on tarsus III; 12 on tarsus IV; 11 on palpal tarsus. Claws: STC bare on all legs; palpal claw single, bare. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV scopulate; scopula on tarsi III–IV divided by broad row of setae. Metatarsus I–II apically scopulate, III–IV 50% scopulate. Tarsi III–IV cracked. Spermathecae: two, long and broad from base almost to apical portion, where they narrow, each one with two distal lobes ( Fig. 4). Color pattern (preserved in alcohol) ( Fig. 3A, B, D): as in male. Setae Type I ( Ríos-Tamayo, 2024) are present exclusively on the abdomen, occurring both dorsally and ventrally.

Distribution. Colombia: known only from Cesar Department ( Figs 13A, 14).