Oxyopes incantatus, Santos, Adalberto J., 2017

Santos, Adalberto J., 2017, The jumping lynx spider Oxyopes salticus Hentz, 1845 and its Neotropical relatives (Araneae: Oxyopidae), Zootaxa 4216 (5), pp. 457-481 : 475-479

Oxyopes incantatus sp.nov.

Figs 8–10

Oxyopes gracilis ; Baert et al. 1989a: 45; 1989b: 16; 1991: 338. Oxyopes saltans (lapsus); Baert et al. 2008: 57.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin for enchanted, and is a reference to “Las Islas Encantadas”, a nickname historically used by sailors to refer to the Galápagos Islands.

Type material. Male holotype from west side (0.3908o S 91.641o W), Fernandina Island, Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador, D.Q. Cavagnaro leg., 5/II/1964, deposited in CAS . Paratypes: ECUADOR . Galápagos Archipelago: same data as the holotype, 1 ♀ ( CAS) ; 1 ♂ 1♀ ( UFMG 19944 ); Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo (0.4635o S 91.1197o W), R. Silberglied leg., 22/III/1 970 , 1 ♀ ( MCZ 19085); Santa Cruz Island, Los Gemelos (0.6256o S 90.3853o W), L. Baert et al. leg., 12/II–7/III/1988 , 1 ♂ ( IRSN IG27318); 31 km N Santa Rosa (malaise trap, Scalesia forest, 0.6256o S 90.3853o W, 570 m), S. & J. Peck leg., 14/V–13/VIII/1985 , 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (AMNH).

Remarks. Although I have seen only a small sample of the specimens listed in Baert et al. (1989a, 1989b), I am confident those records (illustrated in Fig. 10 B) can be attributed to O. incantatus , which is the only oxyopid from Galápagos I have found in numerous spider collections.

Diagnosis. Males of Oxyopes incantatus can be distinguished from O. salticus and O. crewi by the comparatively shallow retrolateral cymbial scoop, delimited by a ventral ridge that does not surpass the middle of the tibia in ventral view ( Figs 8 A, 9A, B). Additionally, different from the latter two species, the retrobasal tibial apophysis of O. incantantus is small, rounded, and located in a comparatively anterior position ( Fig. 8 B). The species is also distinctive in the cymbial protrusion small and rounded, almost imperceptible ( Figs 8 A, 9A). Females can be recognised by the triangular median process of the epigynum with straight borders ( Figs 8 C, 9D), and positioned relatively closer to the epigynum tegument ( Fig. 8 D). The internal female genitalia differ from the other species in the anteriorly positioned spermathecae ( Figs 8 E, 9E).

Description. Male (Fernandina, Galápagos Islands, holotype). Carapace faint brown, with lateral dark grey bands. Eye area black. Clypeus and chelicerae faint brown, with a pair of longitudinal black stripes. Endites faint brown, with an ectal dark spot. Labium black in the basal half, cream coloured distally. Sternum faint brown, with a sinuous dark grey, marginal stripe. Pedipalpus faint brown, darker in the tibia and cymbium. Legs faint brown, with a few ventral dark grey spots on coxae and femora. Opisthosoma cream coloured, dorsum with a faint brown cardiac mark delimited in dark grey, and a dark grey median band posteriorly. Sides densely suffused in dark grey, venter black. Spinnerets faint brown. Total length 3.9. Carapace 2.1 long, 1.4 wide. Tibia I length 1.75, II 1.5, III 1.12, IV 1.37. Opisthosoma 1.8 long, 1.1 wide. Ventral tibial apophysis apically rounded, with narrow anterior keel ( Fig. 9 B). Embolus relatively short, compared to the embolus base ( Fig. 9 C).

Female (Fernandina, Galápagos Islands, paratype, CAS). Colour as in male, except by the following. Leg femora with a ventral, longitudinal dark grey stripe. Patellae and tibiae with a few, ventral and dorsal dark grey spots. Opisthosoma with a few white spots around cardiac mark. Total length 4.6. Carapace 2.1 long, 1.5 wide. Tibia I length 1.62, II 1.5, III 1.12, IV 1.44. Opisthosoma 2.5 long, 1.8 wide. Apex of the median process of epigynum rounded, gently projected dorsally, base bulging ventrally ( Fig. 8 D). Lateral processes small, acute, positioned just anteriorly to the lateral base of the median process ( Fig. 9 D). Copulatory ducts long, anteriorly projected ( Fig. 8 E). Spermathecae rounded, with anterior gland pores ( Figs 8 E, 9E, F), and one ectal Bennet’s gland pore. Fertilization ducts long, posteriorly directed ( Fig. 8 E).

Variation. Some males have a darker and shiny opisthosoma, covered by smooth cuticular scales. Based on my experience with other oxyopids, it is possible that these scales are always present in vivo, but fall from older preserved specimens. Carapace colour varies from creamy to dark brown. Measurements: males (N=11), total length 3.85–4.1, carapace width 1.3–1.5. Females (N=18), total length 3.6–5.0, carapace width 1.3–1.5.

Natural history. Specimens have always been found in humid places covered with shrub vegetation, usually fern sedges and forests dominated by Scalesia or Miconia trees ( Baert et al. 1989a, 1989b, 2008).

Distribution. Known only from the Galápagos Archipelago ( Fig. 10 A, B). Specimens examined herein came from Fernandina, Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands, but the species was also recorded from Pinta, Santiago and Marchena Islands ( Baert et al. 1989a, 1989b, sub O. gracilis ).

Additional material examined. ECUADOR. Galápagos: Fernandina Island, west side (0.3908o S 91.641o W), D.Q. Cavagnaro leg., 5/II/1964, 9 ♂ 16 ♀ 11 juv. ( CAS) ; Santa Cruz Island, 4 km N Bellavista, Media Luna ( Miconia zone, 0.6641o S 90.3262o W, 620 m), S. & J. Peck leg., 14/V– 13/VIII/1 985, 3 ♂ 3 ♀ 2 juv. ( AMNH) ; (dung traps), 2 ♂ 2 ♀ (AMNH); (carrion traps), 17–21/V/1985, 2 ♀ (AMNH); Bellavista (agriculture zone, 0.6994o S 90.327o W), Peck & Sinclair leg., 1–9/IV/1989, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) ; Los Gemelos , 31 km N Santa Rosa ( Scalesia forest, 0.6257o S 90.3853o W, 570 m), S. & J. Peck leg., 15/VII/1985, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Media Luna to Puntudo (0.6567o S 90.3257o W), S. Peck leg., IV/1989, 4 ♂ 5 juv. ( AMNH) ; Puntudo ( Scalesia forest, 0.6458o S 90.3293o W), I– III/ 1989, 5 ♂ 3 ♀ ( AMNH) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Oxyopes incantatus sp. nov. A male copulatory apparatus, ventral view; B retrolateral view (arrow on retrobasal tibial apophysis); C: female epigynum, ventral view; D lateral view; E female internal genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, B 0.5 mm; C – E 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Oxyopes incantatus sp. nov. A male copulatory apparatus, ventral view; B detail of the tibia; C detail of apical sclerites; D female epigynum, ventral view; E female internal genitalia, dorsal view; F right spermatheca, ventroapical view, showing apical pores (arrow). Abbreviations: BEA, basal embolic apophysis; C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; LP, lateral process of epigynum; MA, median apophysis; MP, median process of epigynum; RTS, retrolateral tibial scoop; S, spermatheca; St, subtegulum; T, tegulum; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis.

FIGURE 10. Geographic distribution records of Oxyopes salticus Hentz (circles), O. crewi Bryant (blue squares) and O. incantatus sp. nov. (triangles). A distribution records in the Americas (red circles represent records of the O. salticus specimens examined in this study; white circles show records taken from Brady 1964, 1975); B geographic distribution records of Oxyopes incantatus sp. nov. in the Galápagos Islands (orange triangles represent records of the specimens examined in this study; white triangles show records taken from Baert et al. 1989 a, 1989 b— sub Oxyopes gracilis Keyserling).