Chrysometa citlaltepetl, Salgueiro-Sepúlveda & Álvarez-Padilla, 2018

Salgueiro-Sepúlveda, F. Javier & Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, 2018, New species of the orb-weaving spider genus Chrysometa (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from oak forests near of the Pico de Orizaba National Park (Veracruz, Mexico), Zootaxa 4450 (3), pp. 301-330 : 304-306

Chrysometa citlaltepetl new species

Figures 1 , 2 , 19

Type material. Holotype (CNAN-T1178). Female from Pico de Orizaba National Park , Atotonilco Calcahualco , Veracruz, Mexico. Plot I: 19° 8' 17.4" N, 97° 12' 16.2" W, 2,300 m. February 15–24, 2013. Allotype (CNAN- T1179). Male from Pico de Orizaba National Park , Atotonilco Calcahualco , Veracruz, Mexico. Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,388 m. February 15–24, 2013. Paratypes. 52 females and 41 males. Types are deposited in the Colección Nacional de Arácnidos ( CNAN) at the Instituto de Biología ( IBUNAM) .

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition that refers to the náhuatl name of the Pico de Orizaba volcano.

Diagnosis. Females of C. citlaltepetl can be distinguished from C. brevipes Levi, 1986 , C. puebla Levi, 1986 and all sympatric species by the following features: copulatory opening depression with a median sclerotized lip and transverse bar longer than in the other species ( Figs. 1D , 2D ). Chrysometa brevipes females have an anterior lip forming a rectangular depression and C. puebla females have the distal part of the transverse bar lobed-shaped. Males of C. citlaltepetl are distinguished from C. puebla and all sympatric species by the following features: thin paracymbium in L-shape with the paracymbium upper prong in ventral view large, rectangular and straight and the paracymbium lower prong with a rounded tip ( Figs. 1I , 2A ). Chrysometa puebla males have a thicker paracymbium upper prong and a pointed paracymbium lower prong.

Description. Female. Total length 5.1. Cephalothorax: length 2.1, width 1.8. Carapace pale-yellow, black patterns over the cephalic region narrowing in the middle and towards the fovea. Ocular area dark-brown below the median eyes and pale-yellow bellow the lateral eyes ( Fig. 1A, B, G ). Eyes subequal in size ( Fig. 1G ). AME diameter 0.12, PME 0.15, ALE and PLE 0.15. Chelicerae yellow, dark-brown on the anterior part and brighter on sides, black patterns on the posterior part, with few scattered setae ( Fig. 1B, C, G ). Endites longer than wide, darkyellow, brighter on the tips, internal margins pale-yellow. Labium wider than long, dark brown, pale-yellow on the posterior part. Sternum dark-brown, wider between the first and second legs ( Fig. 1C ). Abdomen: brown, dorsally covered with guanine silvery patches, lateral and anterior part darker with a Y-shape pattern from the middle to the spinnerets, with transversal dark-brown lines ( Fig. 1A, B ); ventrally brown, with guanine patches concentrated in four spots forming a central dark-brown pattern between the spinnerets and the epigynum, one yellow spot on each side of spinnerets ( Fig. 1C ). Leg lengths: I 11.3, II 8.4, III 4.5 and IV 6.3. Legs yellow darker on joints, with ventral and dorsal dark-brown spots. Tarsi dark-brown. All segments tips dark-brown. Epigynum: epigynal plate rectangular, wider than long; transverse bar with the anterior portion wider, septum well sclerotized with thick margins. Copulatory openings in sclerotized depressions with a middle lip ( Figs. 1D , 2D ). Spermathecae, copulatory ducts and fertilization ducts as shown in Figure 1E, F .

Male. As in female except as noted. Total length 3.5. Cephalothorax: length 1.9, width 1.4. Carapace: dorsal coloration brighter. AME diameter 0.1, PME 0.14, ALE and PLE 0.11. Chelicerae brown, rugose, larger and narrower, setae bases enlarged and more abundant at cheliceral base; retrolateral cuticle less rugose towards the ventral and apical surfaces ( Fig. 1H ). Abdomen: dorsal and lateral patterns weaker than in female. Ventrally darker, with larger guanine patches. Leg lengths: I 13.1, II 8.9, III 4 and IV 5.8. Pedipalp: CEBP triangular, curved anteriorly. CEMP rectangular and flattened, pointed retrolaterally ( Figs. 1I , 2A, B, C ). Thin paracymbium, Lshaped in ventral view ( Fig. 1I ). UpP enlarged, wider than LwP on ventral view. LpP rounded ( Figs. 1I , 2A ). Embolus thin, with tubular shape and supported by the conductor; EBA shorter than embolus and curved in apical region ( Figs. 1I , 2A, B, C ). Conductor, embolus and EBA in ventral view as in Figures 2I , 3A .

Variation. Female total length 4.1–5.8, cephalothorax length 1.6–2.4, cephalothorax width 1.3–1.9. Male total length 3.5–4.1, cephalothorax length 19–2.1, cephalothorax width 1.4–1.6.

Material examined. N=95. Mexico: Veracruz, Atotonilco Calcahualco, six females, one male Plot I: 19° 8' 17.4" N, 97° 12' 16.2" W, 2,300 m., four females Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,388 m., May 21–30, 2012; six females, one male Plot I: 19° 8' 17.4" N, 97° 12' 16.2" W, 2,300 m., seven females, one male Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,388 m., October 4–14, 2012; 19 females , 22 males Plot I: 19° 8' 17.4" N, 97° 12' 16.2" W, 2,300 m., ten females, 17 males Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,388 m., February 15–24, 2013. Colección Nacional de Arácnidos ( CNAN) at the Instituto de Biología ( IBUNAM) .

Distribution. Veracruz, Mexico. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 19 ).

Biology. Specimens were collected in a Quercus forest fragment with secondary plant growth. Specimens were found in both Plots during all three expeditions (expedition I: May 21–30, 2012; expedition II: October 4–14, 2012 and expedition III: February 15–24, 2013). Most specimens were captured by direct collecting at night followed by beating vegetation; only five specimens were found by cryptic searching.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Chrysometa citlaltepetl n. sp., female. A, habitus dorsal view. B, lateral view. C, ventral view. D, epigynum ventral view. E, epigynum ventral view (cleared). F, dorsal view (cleared). G, prosoma anterior view. Male. H, prosoma anterior view. I, pedipalp ventral view. Scale bars, A, B, C, 1.0 mm; D, E, F, I, 0.2 mm; G, H, 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Chrysometa citlaltepetl n. sp., male. A, pedipalp ventral view, B retrolateral view. C, dorsal view. Female. D, epigynum ventral view. E, posterior view. Scale bars, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Chrysometa triangulosa n. sp., female. A, habitus dorsal view. B, lateral view. C, ventral view. D, epigynum ventral view. E, epigynum ventral view (cleared). F, dorsal view (cleared). G, prosoma anterior view. Male. H, prosoma anterior view. I, pedipalp ventral view. Scale bars, A, B, C, 1.0 mm; D, E, F, 0.2 mm; G, H, I, 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 19. Species Distribution Map. Atotonilco Locality: Chrysometa citlaltepetl, C. triangulosa, C. rosarium, C. atotonilco and C. sagicuta.. Xamaticpac Locality: C. xamaticpac, C. puya and C. chipinque.