Fluda thuruampara, Perger & Rubio, 2023

Perger, Robert & Rubio, Gonzalo D., 2023, Two new species of the ant-like spider genus Fluda Peckham & Peckham, 1892 from Bolivia with first reports of potential ant models for the genus and a novel ant-resembling behavior (Araneae: Salticidae, Simonellini), Zootaxa 5256 (1), pp. 63-76 : 70-72

Fluda thuruampara sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F8D73C27-4CDA-4B78-9D6A-AF98F2948831

Figs 3B–C , 6 , 7 , 8A–D

Type material. Holotype: ♁, Bolivia: La Paz Department, Nor Yungas Province, Villa Teresa , 16.2019°S, 67.8294°W, 1340 m a.s.l., beating tray sampling, 17 Jan. 2017, R. Perger leg., IBSI-Ar0958 . Paratypes: 1♁ 4♀, same data as for preceding, IBSI-Ar 956; 1 ♁ 1♀, same data as for preceding, IBSI-Ar0957; 5 ♁ 1♀, same data as for preceding, 6 Apr. 2016, IBSI-Ar0747; 2 ♁ 2♀, same data as for preceding ( CBF) .

Remarks. Among the previously described species of Fluda , three ( F. princeps , F. inpae Galiano, 1971 , and F. perdita ) have a short, broad epigyne with lateral openings and relatively short CDs with few loops (female group “B”; Galiano 1971), and three ( F. dauca sp. nov., F. princeps and F. rufipes ) have a short, robust embolus without complete circular revolution around the bulb (male group “A”; Galiano 1971).

Diagnosis. Fluda princeps and F. thuruampara sp. nov. are the only species with males in group “A” and females in group “B”. Fluda thuruampara sp. nov. can be separated from F. princeps by having a male palp with evenly tapering RTA, pointing towards bulb when seen in ventral view (vs. with obtuse edge, pointing in opposite direction), embolus simple, pointed ( Fig. 7B ) (vs. lanceolate and twisted), and the female with only slightly undulating CDs ( Fig. 7H ) (vs. one distinct loop), anterior carina or margin with a posterior tip (vs. no tip).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a compound word composed of thuru, meaning “strong” and ampara, meaning “arm” in the Aymara language, spoken by the Aymara people living in the Bolivian Yungas area.

Description of male holotype ( Figs 3A–B , 6A–B ). Body length 3.90; carapace length 1.71; width 1.01; carapace index 59.06; cephalic width 1.01; cephalic width index 100; sternum length 0.8; width 0.41; sternum index 51.25; abdomen length 2.10; maximum width AAP 0.55; maximum width PAP 0.95; abdominal index 45.24; pedicel length 0.12; width 0.23; dorsal sclerite length 2.10; epigastric sclerite length 0.48; width 0.60; ventral sclerite length 1.10; width 0.60; inframamillary sclerite length 0.075; width 0.35; AER 1.05; AME-AME 0.05; AME-ALE 0.05; PER 0.95; PME-PME 0.87; PME-PE 0.17.

All somatic characters as in holotype of F. dauca sp. nov. except the following: color integument dark brown blackish; posterior margin of AAP concave ( Figs 3B , 6A ), carapace width index and abdominal index narrower; chelicerae with two promarginal (the distal much smaller) and four retromarginal teeth; macrosetae tibia II v2-2-2-1 (p1-1-1-1).

Palp ( Figs 7A–D ). RTA relatively short, triangular, length about 23% of tarsus length, proximal three quarters directed towards inner tarsus margin in retrolateral view, apically slightly curved, tip pointing dorsally; bulb simple, oval, with stiff, robust, prolateral embolus without complete circular revolution around the bulb, tips of RTA sclerotized; tegulum ventrally projected.

Description of female paratype IBSI-Ar0956 ( Figs 6C–D , 7F–H ). Body length 4.15; carapace length 1.70; width 1.08; carapace index 63.53; cephalic width 1.08; cephalic width index 100; sternum length 0.77; width 0.40; sternum index 51.95; abdomen length 2.46; maximum width AAP 0.90; maximum width PAP 1.33; abdominal index 54.06; pedicel length 0.10; width 0.26; dorsal sclerite length 2.41; epigastric sclerite length 0.49; width 0.80; ventral and inframamillary sclerite absent; AER 1.10; AME-AME 0.025; AME-ALE 0.05; PER 1.15; PME-PME 0.85; PME-PE 0.22.

Integument (color, microsculpture and setae) as in male except femora I with setae at ventral margin sparser. Carapace shape as in male. Femora I less broadened and dorsal margin less strongly carinated than in male. Macrosetae on leg as in male except tibia I v2-2-2-2-1 (r1-1-1-1-1); tibia II v2-2-2-2, metatarsus II v2-2-2-1 (p1- 1-1-1). Abdomen broader than in male with posterior margin of AAP straight and anterior margin of PAP median strongly convex.

Epigyne ( Figs 7F–H ). Short and broad (narrow space between anterior carina or margin and epigastric furrow, narrower than the separation between the COs), with round lateral openings and relatively short CDs with few loops; carina with a tip posteriorly directed.

Variation. Sexual-dimorphism in femora I and abdomen width; depth of abdominal constriction varied in both sexes according to the nutritional status (in females likely also to the reproductive status); width of light transverse band in abdominal constriction slightly varying in both sexes; ontogenetic shifts remain to be investigated as no juveniles were collected.

Behavior. Erratic foraging with frequent stops and waiving of first pair of legs. When disturbed, the males exhibited an agonistic display by orientating their face towards the thread with the first pair of legs widely extended in an angle of about 45° ( Figs 8A, 8C ).

Geographical and ecological distribution. Fluda thuruampara sp. nov. is exclusively known from the type locality in Bolivian Yungas forest in the Northern Bolivian Andes ( Fig. 2 ). According to Navarro & Ferreira (2007), the ecosystem in this area is considered Submontane evergreen Yungas forest ( Fig. 2 ). Bolivian Yungas forest is part of the Tropical South Andean Superregion ( Rivas-Martínez et al. 2011). Despite high sampling effort in several Bolivian forest ecoregions, the new species was not observed in other forest habitats. Individuals of F. thuruampara sp. nov. were collected from branches of trees in primary forest, co-occurring with the Simonellini species S. myrmeciaformis and Flurica sikimira Perger & Rubio, 2022. On isolated trees in adjacent tree falls gaps, Sympolymnia cutleri Perger & Rubio, 2020 was observed.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bolivia (A), study area and ecoregion distribution (B) of Bolivian species of Fluda, according to the regionalization by Navarro & Ferreira (2007); map produced with QGIS (version 2.14.3, http://www.qgis.org/en/site). 1. Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; 2. Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; 3. Cafetal, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; C. Habitat of F. thuruampara sp. nov. in Bolivian Yungas forest, Villa Teresa; D. Habitat of F. dauca sp. nov. in Southwest Amazon forest, Villa Tunari.

FIGURE 3. Habitus of Fluda spp.A. Fluda dauca sp. nov., male holotype (IBSI-Ar1758), dorsal; Fluda thuruampara sp. nov.: B. Holotype male (IBSI-Ar0958), dorsal; C. Idem, lateral.

FIGURE 6. Habitus of Fluda thuruampara sp. nov. A. Holotype male (IBSI-Ar0958), dorsal; B. Idem, lateral; C. Paratype female (IBSI-Ar0956), lateral; D. Idem, dorsal.

FIGURE 7. Genitalia of Fluda thuruampara sp. nov. Palp of holotype (IBSI-Ar0958):A. Retrolateral view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorsal view, expanded; D. Retrolateral view, expanded; E. Course of spermatophore in D. Epigyne of paratype (IBSI-Ar0956): F. Ventral; G. Dorsal, cleared; H. Ventral, cleared.

FIGURE 8. Living habitus of Fluda spp. and potential ant models. Fluda thuruampara sp. nov.: A–C. Males; D. Female; E. Camponotus sanctaefidei Dalla Torre, 1892, minor worker, Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; F. Camponotus latangulus Roger, 1863, minor worker, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; G. Odontomachus sp., Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; H. Crematogaster pusillus Klug, 1824, minor worker, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; F. dauca sp. nov.: I–K. Males; L. Female, dark form.