Nops enae Sánchez

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2018, A revision of the Neotropical spider genus Nops MacLeay (Araneae: Caponiidae) with the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Nopinae genera, Zootaxa 4427 (1), pp. 1-121 : 27-28

Nops enae Sánchez – Ruiz, 2004

Figures 12A‒F ; 13A‒G

N. enae Sánchez – Ruiz, 2004: 98, figs 4–10. Male holotype from Piedra La Vela (20°27′12″N, 74°59′34″W), 1500 m, Guantánamo, Cuba, 10.xii.1997 . A. Sánchez – Ruiz & R. Teruel ( BSC 541 ); female paratype, same data as holotype ( AMNH); male paratype , 8.xii.1997, other data as holotype ( AMNH); female paratype, same data as holotype ( BSC 544 ); four female and three immature paratypes , 6.xii.1997, other data as holotype (BSC 545); all types examined.

Additional material examined. CUBA: Holguín: Road to Yaguaneque, 150 m, 1 Km after bifurcation to Sagua (20°38′21″N, 75°01′44″W), Moa, 26.ix.2005, R. Teruel, 1♂ ( BSC 539 ) . Granma: Jardín Botánico de Cupaynicú (20°15′6″N, 76°34′15″W), Guisa , 18.i.1994, R. Teruel, 1♀ ( BSC 552 ) . Santiago de Cuba: Dos caminos (20°10′55″N, 75°47′30″W) , San Luis, 17.vii.1999, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz , 1♂ ( BSC 622 ) . Presa El Avispero (20°06′46″N, 75°43′56″W), El Cristo, 8.x.1997, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz , 1♀ ( BSC 566 ) . Jardín Botánico de San Juan (20°0′26″N, 75°47′40″W), 10.ii.1999, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz , 1♀ ( BSC 563 ) . Ditto, 11.ii.1998, R. Teruel , 1♀ ( BSC 555 ) . Ditto, 17.vi.1998, A. Sánchez‒Ruiz , 2♀ 1 immature ( BSC 578 ) . Jardín Botánico San Juan (100 m of entrance) (20°0′40″N, 75°47′36″W), 24.iii.2003, R. Teruel & Y. Pérez , 1♀ ( BSC 582 ) . Universidad de Oriente (20°2′48″N, 75°49′3″W), Quintero , 2.vii.2006, R. Teruel, 2♀ ( BSC 614 ) . Loma de Quintero, Universidad de Oriente (20°2′42″N, 75°48′46″W), Quintero , 50 m, 24.iii.2003, R. Teruel, 1♀ ( BSC 543 ) . Ditto, 9.iv.1999, R. Teruel , 1♂ 2♀ ( BSC 540 ) . La Pimienta, 1.5 Km. from La Tabla (20°11′29″N, 76°24′26″W), Tercer Frente , 18.iv.2000, R. Viña, 1♂ 3♀ 4 immatures ( BSC 504 ) . El Oro (20°31′N, 75°29′W), Sierra Cristal, Segundo Frente, 24.iii.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ ( BSC 583 ) . La China (20°31′08″N, 75°29′03″W), Sierra Cristal, 27.iii.2001, R. Teruel, 1♂ 1♀ ( BSC 542 ; both specimens for SEM). El Cobre (20°2′56″N, 75°56′48″W), 10.v.2010, A. Sánchez – Ruiz , 3♀ 1 immature ( IBSP).

Diagnosis. Males resemble similar congeners Nops guanabacoae ( Fig. 20C‒D ) by having a straight embolus; but can be distinguished by a shorter embolus with the first two‒thirds thicker ( Fig. 12B‒C ), and the tip with only three short extensions ( Fig. 13F ). Females can be distinguished by the receptaculum with narrower invagination and uterus externus with wide base ( Figs 12F ; 13A‒C).

Description. Male (holotype): Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter. Abdomen dark gray, dorsal pattern as in figure 6I. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.6. Carapace 5.1 long, 3.9 wide. Sternum 3.8 long, 3.0 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.80; II: 3.70; III: 3.0; IV: 4.15. Posterior unpaired claw elongated and dorsally reflexed ( Fig. 13G ). PLS same size as PMS. Palp with embolus nearly as long as palpal tibia, straight and with the first two‒thirds thicker ( Fig. 12B‒C ); tip ending with three short extensions ( Fig. 13F ).

Female (AMNH): Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in the male. Abdomen as in male, but somewhat lighter. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.7. Carapace 5.5 long, 4.0 wide. Sternum 3.9 long, 3.2 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.9; II: 3.85; III: 3.30; IV: 4.15. Posterior unpaired claws and spinnerets as in the male. External genital area with sclerotized anterior plate, strongly sclerotized lep and remarkable ess ( Fig. 12E ). Internal genitalia with narrow invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with wide base ( Figs 12F ; 13A‒C).

Variation. Specimens from Santiago de Cuba have the dorsal part of abdomen clearer than those from type locality.

Natural history. All specimens from the type locality were collected under the bark of Pinus cubensis trunks at 1500 m elevation. Specimens from Tercer Frente were found under dried plants of Agave sp. at 200 m. All other specimens were collected under rocks at less than 100 m. The differences in habitats and microhabitats, including elevation suggest a wide ecological plasticity for this species.

Distribution. Known only from localities in the eastern region of Cuba ( Fig. 25B ).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Nops enae Sánchez–Ruiz; A–C male (BSC 504); D–F female (BSC 504). A habitus, dorsal view. B left palp, prolateral view. C left palp, retrolateral view. D habitus, dorsal view. E external genital area, ventral view. F internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—external sclerotization around spiracles, lep—lateral extension of posterior plate, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, D), 0.5 mm (B–C, E–F).

FIGURE 13. A–G Nops enae Sánchez–Ruiz; A–C female (BSC 542); D–G male (BSC 542); H–L Nops ernestoi Sánchez–Ruiz, male (BSC 521). A internal genitalia, dorsal view. B same, detail of receptaculum, dorsal view. C same, anterior view. D left palp, retrolateral view. E embolus, retrolateral view. F tip of embolus, prolateral view. G pretarsal claws on left leg IV, anterior oblique view. H pretarsal claws on left leg IV, anterior oblique view. I left palp, prolateral oblique view. J tibial brush, prolateral oblique view. K tip of embolus, prolateral view. L tip of embolus, dorsal oblique view. Abbreviations: CwL—claw lever, ete—embolar tip extensions, IC—pretarsal unpaired claw, ptb—prolateral tibial brush, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus.

FIGURE 20. Nops guanabacoae MacLeay; A–D male (BSC 600); E–J female (BSC 600). A habitus, dorsal view. B habitus, ventral view. C left palp, prolateral view. D left palp, retrolateral view. E habitus, dorsal view. F habitus, ventral view. G left palp, prolateral view. H left palp, retrolateral view. I external genital area, ventral view. J internal genital area, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—sclerotization around spiracles, lep—lateral extensions of posterior plate, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, sd—seminal duct (projection), ue—uterus externus. Scale bars: 2 mm (A–B, E–F), 0.5 mm (C–D, G–J).

FIGURE 25. A distribution of Nops hispaniola Sánchez–Ruiz, Brescovit, Alayón (triangle), Nops ernestoi Sánchez–Ruiz (stars) and Nops navassa n. sp. (square). B distribution of Nops pallidus n. sp. (stars) and Nops enae Sánchez–Ruiz (squares).