Catanduba, Yamamoto, Flávio U., Lucas, Sylvia M. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2012

Yamamoto, Flávio U., Lucas, Sylvia M. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2012, Catanduba, a new Theraphosinae spider genus from Central Brazil (Araneae, Theraphosidae), Zootaxa 3172, pp. 1-19 : 5-6

Catanduba gen. nov.

Type-species. Catanduba tuskae sp. nov.

Etymology. Catanduba is a noun in apposition from Tupí language, meaning Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), habitat of most species of the genus. The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis. Males of Catanduba gen. nov. differ from those of other Theraphosinae genera by the presence of a PIK tooth in the middle of the embolus ( Figs 2–8 A, B, C) and a triangular basal nodule on metatarsus I ( Figs 2– 8 D) in males and large number of spherical nodules on the spermathecae in females ( Figs 2–4 , 7 E, F).

Description: Medium-sized spiders: total length of males 7.7–19.2, of females 13.8–26.5. Chelicerae without rastellum, furrow with prolateral line of larger teeth and group of smaller teeth on retrolateral base. Ocular tubercle wider than longer, anterior eye row procurved., posterior row recurved. Carapace longer than wider, with procurved fovea. Labium wider than longer, with cuspules on apical third (15–71). Endites with distinct anterior lobe, with 100–140 cuspules on internal basal angle. Sternum rounded, as wide as long, with one to three pairs of sigilla apparent. Stridulatory setae absent. Metatarsal scopula not divided or divided only by median longitudinal rows of stiff setae. Scopulae on metatarsus I and II longer than on III, IV. Tarsi with ventral face scopulated, divided by 1– 10 longitudinal rows of stiff setae. All tarsi without spines, claw tufts well developed. Inferior tarsal claw absent. Superior tarsal claws with one row of small teeth, medially. Two pairs of spinnerets. Posterior medium spinnerets short, one-fifth of length of posterior lateral spinnerets. Posterior lateral spinnerets three-segmented, with apical segment digitiform. Abdomen with triangular area of urticating hairs, with ornamental color in Catanduba peruacu sp. nov., C. simoni (Soares & Camargo 1948) , C. flavorhirta (Simon 1889) and C. piauiensis sp. nov ( Fig. 8 ). Urticating hairs of type III present in males and females. Male palpal bulb with PSK and PIK. Embolus thin, with PIK tooth in median portion. Basal digitiform apophysis weak. Cymbium with two lobes, retrolateral larger than retrolateral. Leg I tibial apophysis with two branches, prolateral smaller than retrolateral. Metatarsus I with triangular basal nodule ( Figs 2 D–8D) and bending between branches of tibial apophysis. Females spermathecae with two cylindrical receptacles bearing large number of nodules of different sizes ( Figs 2–5 and 7 E, F).

Distribution. All species occur in Brazil, in the states of Piauí, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo. Most species occur in areas of Cerrado vegetation (Brazilian savanna), with some introgression on Atlantic Forest by C. tuskae sp. nov. and Caatinga by C. piauiensis sp. nov. and C. peruacu sp. nov. ( Fig. 10 , see also Rizzini, 1978 for Brazilian vegetation).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Catanduba tuskae sp. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view; (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. (E, F) Spermathecae: (E) dorsal view; (F) ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm. Abbreviation: PSK = prolateral superior keel; PIK = prolateral inferior keel, T = tooth.

FIGURE 3. Catanduba simoni comb. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. (E, F) Spermathecae: (E) dorsal view; (F) ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Catanduba flavohirta comb. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. (E, F) Spermathecae: (E) dorsal view; (F) ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Catanduba peruacu sp. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. (E, F) Spermathecae: (E) dorsal view; (F) ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Catanduba araguaia sp. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Catanduba canabrava sp. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I tibial apophysis, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Catanduba piauiensis sp. nov.: (A – C) Left palpal bulb: (A) prolateral view; (B) retrolateral view; (C) dorsal view. (D) Male left leg I, tibial apophysis, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Distribution map of Catanduba gen. nov. species.