Priscula huila, HUBER, 2000

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2000, New World Pholcid Spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae): A Revision At Generic Level, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (254), pp. 1-348 : 137-142

Priscula huila , new species Figures 530 532

TYPE: Male holotype from 12 mi E Sta. Leticia, Dept. Huila, Colombia ; 2300 m elev., Mar. 1976 (W. G. Eberhard), in MCZ .

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Colombian state Huila. The name is a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: Closely related to P. chejapi González-Sponga ; distinguished by the procursus (dorsal projection more proximal, distal element different; figs. 530, 531), and the shape of the bulbal apophysis (fig. 532).

MALE (holotype): Total length 4.7, carapace width 2.4; leg 1: 41.6 (10.3+1.1+10.3 +16.6+3.3), tibia 2: 7.6, tibia 3: 5.1, tibia 4: 6.7; tibia 1 l/d: 43. Habitus similar to P. binghamae (cf. fig. 501); carapace light orange-ochre, with dark, roundish median spot and lateral smudges, with deep thoracic groove, ocular area dark brown, slightly higher than in P. binghamae , eight eyes in position similar to P. pallisteri (cf. fig. 513, but distance PME-ALE about 90% of PME diameter), clypeus dark brown, sternum light orange-brown with darker speckles, pair of indistinct lobes posteriorly, labium brown; chelicerae almost identical to P. annulipes (cf. fig. 523, apophyses slightly larger and more laterally). Palps in general as in P. binghamae (cf. figs. 505 506), but femur distally without protruding ventral rim, and procursus and bulb significantly different (figs. 530 532). Legs orange-ochre with distinct brown rings on femora (proximally, medially, subdistally, distally) and tibiae (proximally, medially, subdistally, distally); almost all hairs on legs missing; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 6%. Opisthosoma very high (length 2.9, height 3.2), ochregray, many black spots except ventrally, and some white spots, genital plate large, light brown.

FEMALE: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from type locality.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: COLOMBIA: Huila: 12 mi E Sta. Leticia: type above.

Priscula chejapi González-Sponga, 1996 Figures 533 535

Priscula chejapi González-Sponga, 1996: 132 136, figs. 10 19.

TYPES: Male holotype, 1♀ paratype from Central Hidroeléctrica General José Antonio Páez , Cardenal Quintero, Mérida, Venezuela ; 1800 m elev., July 10, 1992 (A. R. Delgado de González , M. García, M. A. González- Sponga), in collection González-Sponga (1362a, b), not examined .

DIAGNOSIS: Closely related to P. huila , distinguished by the procursus (more curved, more slender, and longer; dorsal projection more distal; distal element different; figs. 533 534) and by the bulbal apophysis that is much longer (fig. 535).

MALE (Mérida): Total length 6.7, carapace width 3.3; leg 1: (17.1+1.6+18.0, metatarsus and tarsus missing), tibia 2: 14.7, tibia 3: 11.3, tibia 4: 14.5; tibia 1 l/d: 54. Habitus similar to P. binghamae (cf. fig. 501); carapace light brown, dark brown medially and laterally, ocular area dark brown, slightly higher than in P. binghamae , eight eyes in position similar to P. pallisteri (cf. fig. 513, but distance PME-ALE about 70% of PME diameter), clypeus dark brown, sternum light brown, posteriorly only slightly curved; chelicerae apparently identical to P. annulipes (cf. fig. 523). Palps in general as in P. binghamae (cf. figs. 505 506), but femur distally without protruding ventral rim, and procursus and bulb significantly different (figs. 533 535). Legs light brown, with very faint darker rings on tibiae (subdistally); legs without spines, with curved hairs on femora and tibiae (slightly curved) and metatarsi (strongly curved); retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 5%. Opisthosoma as high as long (4.0), dark gray, with lines of white spots, brown genital plate large; brown area in front of spinnerets.

VARIATION: The male holotype and paratypes have annulated legs (four rings on femora, three on tibiae, two on metatarsi; Gon-

zález-Sponga, 1996). Tibia 1 in male holotype: 17.1.

FEMALE: Not examined. See González- Sponga (1996) for description.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Venezuelan state Mérida.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Mérida: Mérida: Telef. Est. La Montana, 2450 m elev., cloud forest, June 27 July 26, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 13 in AMNH.

Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1996 Figures 536 538

Priscula andinensis González-Sponga, 1996: 128 132, figs. 1 9.

TYPES: Male holotype, 33 5 ♀ paratypes, and several juveniles from La Cuchilla (8°40'N, 71°20'W), carretera Mérida-La Azulita, between Campo Elías and Andrés Bello, Mérida, Venezuela ; 2200 m elev., Dec. 12, 1981 and June 18, 1987 (A. R. Delgado de González , J. A. González D., M. A. González-Sponga), in collection González-Sponga (955a, b), not examined .

DIAGNOSIS: Closely related to P. piapoco ; distinguished by the much thicker procursus (figs. 536, 538); from other congeners also by the bulbal apophysis (fig. 537). P. piedraensis seems also closely related, but has a distinctive procursus (thicker basally, ventral hump less developed; see González-Sponga, 1996: fig. 42).

MALE (Tabay Mucuy): Total length ~ 6.5 (opisthosoma deformed), carapace width 3.1; leg 1: 39.8 (10.1+1.5+9.9+14.7+3.6), tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.1, tibia 4: 6.7; tibia 1 l/d: 25. Habitus similar to P. binghamae (cf. fig. 501), but ocular area slightly more elevated and AME slightly higher, distance PME- ALE much higher (~ 120% of PME diameter). Carapace light ochre-brown, with dark brown median and lateral stripes, ocular area and clypeus brown, sternum light brown, posterior border with pair of distinct lobes (cf. González-Sponga, 1996: fig. 2), labium darker; chelicerae brown, with pair of blackish frontal apophyses as in P. annulipes (cf. fig. 523; apophyses minimally more proximal and median). Palps in general as in P. binghamae (cf. figs. 505 506), but femur distally with hardly protruding ventral rim, and procursus and bulb significantly different (figs. 536 538). Legs light brown, femora with light distal tips and dark subdistal rings, tibiae with dark rings (proximally, medially, subdistally) and light rings (following proximal dark ring, preceding and following subdistal dark ring); legs without spines, with few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on fem- ora, tibiae, and metatarsi; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 7%. Opisthosoma about as high as long, slightly angular, ochre, with black and white spots dorsally, large brown genital plate.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in other males examined: 9.6, 9.7, 9.9. Tibia 1 in male holotype: 9.2. The procursus of the male from 2700 m elev. (see below) differs slightly with respect to a dorsal protrusion (arrow in fig. 538) that is larger.

FEMALE: Not examined. See González- Sponga (1996) for description of female.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Venezuelan state Mérida.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Mérida: Tabay Mucuy , Send. Lag. Suero, cloud forest, 2250 m elev., June 17 Aug. 2, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 33 in AMNH ; same locality at 2700 m elev., June 19 July 24, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 13 in AMNH .

Priscula piapoco , new species Figures 539 540

TYPES: Male holotype, 13 paratype from 20 km SE Azulita, ULA Biol. Res. La Carbonera , Dept. Mérida, Venezuela ; Podocarp forest , 2300 m elev., June 28 Aug. 3, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), in AMNH .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition honoring the Piapoco Indians, a tropical forest people in Colombia and Venezuela, who have survived mainly by relocating repeatedly to avoid rubber collectors, settlers, cattle ranchers, and missionaries.

DIAGNOSIS: Closely related to P. andinensis , distinguished by the much thinner procursus (figs. 539 540); from other congeners also by the bulbal apophysis (cf. fig. 537).

MALE (holotype): Total length 6.4, carapace width 2.8; leg 1: 37.1 (9.3+1.3+9.3 +13.7+3.5), tibia 2: 6.8, tibia 3: 4.5, tibia 4: 6.3; tibia 1 l/d: 27. Habitus similar to P. binghamae (cf. fig. 501), but ocular area slightly more elevated, AME slightly higher; distance PME-ALE higher (~ 100% of PME diameter). Carapace ochre, with dark brown median stripe and lateral margins, ocular area, clypeus, and sternum brown; sternum posteriorly with pair of distinct lobes, as in P. andinensis . Chelicerae dark brown, with pair of blackish frontal apophyses as in P. annulipes (cf. fig. 523; apophyses minimally more proximal). Palps in general as in P. binghamae (cf. figs. 505 506), but femur distally with hardly protruding ventral rim, and procursus significantly different (figs. 539 540); bulb as in P. andinensis (cf. fig. 537). Legs light brown, femora with light distal tips and dark subdistal rings, tibiae with dark rings proximally and subdistally; legs without spines, with few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on femora, tibiae, and metatarsi; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 7%. Opisthosoma higher than long (4.3 versus 4.0), slightly angular; dorsally gray with blackish spots; large brown genital plate, brown area in front of spinnerets.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in other male: 9.3; one male had also white spots on the opisthosoma.

FEMALE: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from two localities in the Venezuelan state Mérida.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Mérida: 20 km SE Azulita : types above ; Mérida, Telef. Est. La Montana , 2450 m elev., cloud forest, June 27 July 26, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 13 in AMNH .

Priscula ulai González-Sponga, 1996 Figures 96 , 166 , 541 546

Priscula ulai González-Sponga, 1996: 160 164, figs. 66 75.

TYPES: Male holotype, 1♀ paratype from Monte Zerpa (8°36'N, 71°06'W), near Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela ; 1650 m elev., Jan. 7, 1988 (A. R. Delgado de González & M. A. González-Sponga), in collection González-Sponga (1110a, b), not examined .

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from most known congeners by the absence of AME (fig. 543); from P. limonensis and salmeronica also by the shape of the procursus (particularly the distal segment, which is bent toward the femur: figs. 545 546), and the bulb (fig. 544).

MALE (Tabay Mucuy): Total length 3.7, carapace width 1.9; leg 1: 41.7 (10.5+0.9 +10.3+17.5+2.5), tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.1, tibia 4: 6.4; tibia 1 l/d: 55. Habitus as in fig. 541; carapace orange to light brown, dark brown medially and laterally (fig. 542), ocular area dark brown, considerably elevated, with saddle posteriorly (fig. 541), AME absent, distance PME-ALE about 100% of PME diameter. Clypeus dark brown, sternum ochrebrown, darker anteriorly, posterior border almost straight; chelicerae brown, with pair of blackish frontal apophyses (fig. 543). Palps in general as in P. binghamae (cf. figs. 505 506), but ventral rim on femur distally not protruding, and procursus and bulb significantly different (figs. 544 546). Tarsal organ exposed, on high stalk (fig. 96). Legs ochre to light brown, with dark rings on femora and tibiae (subproximally, medially: faint, subdistally, distally), without spines, few vertical hairs, slightly curved hairs on femora, tibiae, and metatarsi; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 9%. Opisthosoma dorsally densely covered with black and white spots (fig. 541), ventrally gray, genital plate brown, large; gonopore without epiandrous spigots; ALS with several piriform gland spigots (fig. 166).

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in 9 males: 9.3 10.6 (x¯ = 9.9).

FEMALE: Not examined. See González- Sponga (1996) for description of female.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Venezuelan state Mérida.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Mérida: Tabay Mucuy : Send. Lag. Suero, cloud forest, 2250 m elev., June 17 Aug. 2, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 73 in AMNH ; Tabay Mucuy : Send. Truchicola, cloud forest, 2300 m elev., June 17 Aug. 3, 1989 (S. & J. Peck), 53 in AMNH .

Figures

Figs. 530 535. Priscula spp. 530 532. P. huila, n. sp., male holotype. 530. Left procursus, prolateral view. 531. Left procursus, retrolateral view. 532. Left genital bulb, ~ dorsal view. 533 535. P. chejapi González-Sponga. 533. Left procursus, prolateral view. 534. Left procursus, retrolateral view. 535. Left genital bulb, ~ dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.5 mm.

Figs. 536 540. Priscula spp. 536 538. P. andinensis González-Sponga. 536. Left procursus, prolateral view. 537. Left genital bulb, ~ dorsal view. 538. Left procursus, retrolateral view (arrow: this protrusion was bigger in one male examined). 539 540. P. piapoco, n. sp. 539. Left procursus, prolateral view. 540. Left procursus, retrolateral view. Scale lines: 1.0 mm.

Figs. 88–96. ‘‘Flat’’ (exposed) tarsal organs (all on pedipalps). 88. Psilochorus pullulus (Hentz), male. 89. Modisimus culicinus (Simon), male. 90. Anopsicus zeteki (Gertsch), female. 91. Modisimus guatuso Huber, male. 92. Ixchela furcula (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge), female. 93. Coryssocnemis viridescens Kraus, male. 94. Aymaria conica (Banks), male. 95. Pisaboa silvae, n. gen., n. sp., male. 96. Priscula ulai González-Sponga, male. Scale lines: 20 µm (91–93), 6 µm (88–90, 94–96).

Figs. 164–169. Anterior lateral spinnerets. 164. Smeringopus pallidus (Blackwall), female. 165. Holocneminus multiguttatus (Simon), male. 166. Priscula ulai González-Sponga, male. 167. Priscula sp. from Peru (Cajamarca: Cutervo), male. 168. Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski), male. 169. Artema atlanta Walckenaer, male. Scale lines: 30 µm.

Figs. 541 546. Priscula ulai González-Sponga, male. 541. Habitus, lateral view. 542 543. Prosoma, dorsal and frontal views. 544. Left genital bulb, ~ dorsal view. 545. Left procursus, prolateral view. 546. Left procursus, retrolateral view. Scale lines: 1.0 mm (541 543), 0.3 mm (544 546).