Chrysometa Simon, 1895

Simó, Miguel, Álvarez, Luis & Laborda, Álvaro, 2016, The orb-weaving spider genus Chrysometa in Uruguay: distribution and description of a new species (Araneae, Tetragnathidae), Zootaxa 4067 (5), pp. 589-593 : 589-591

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4067.5.7
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:70A9C541-12E3-4A21-91AD-8FC0F0CF53FE
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6079192
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B287AB-7842-FFD6-FF7F-0B95FCC373E0
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Chrysometa Simon, 1895
status

Treatment

Genus Chrysometa Simon, 1895 View in CoL View at ENA

Type species. Chrysometa tenuipes (Keyserling, 1864) by original designation.

Chrysometa pena new species, Figures 1–4 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3. A – C View FIGURE 4

Types. Male holotype from Uruguay, Departamento Rivera, Subida de Pena , Ruta 30 (31°08'S, 55°55'W), 29/X/2010, A. Laborda & M. Simó coll. (FCE-Ar 6078). Four male and twelve female paratypes from the same locality and date: FCE- Ar 5973 (3 males, 9 females), FCE-Ar 6026 (1 female) FCE-Ar 6077 (1 male, 1 female), FCE-Ar 6079 (1 female).

Additional material examined. Uruguay: Departamento Treinta y Tres, Quebrada de los Cuervos (32°55'S, 54°27'W), 01/XI/2012, A. Laborda coll. FCE-Ar 5972 (1 male, 3 females); same data, 15–16/XI/2013, FCE-Ar 5976 (2 females). Departamento Paysandú, Río Queguay, La Aguada (32°05'S, 58°01'W), 25/I/2014, A. Laborda coll. FCE-Ar 5977 (2 females).

Etymology. The specific epithet, a name in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis. Males of C. pena resembles C. poas Levi, 1986 in the shape of the paracymbium, but differs in the larger cymbial processes ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, E, 3A). Females of C. pena differ from all other species of the genus in the presence of an inverted V-shaped groove, with heavy sclerotized margins, between the two humps of the epigynal median lobe ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, 3B).

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace yellowish with a longitudinal dark band, broader on cephalic area ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 A). Lateral sides dark. Sternum, chelicerae, labium and endites brown. Legs yellowish with brown spots. Abdomen dorsally grey, laterally with transversal dark marks with white spots, ventrally grey with a longitudinal dark band and two white spots posterior to epigastric groove. Spinnerets grey. Total length 4.6. Carapace 2.2 long, 2.5 wide. Leg I length: Femur 5.0; patella+tibia 6.3; metatarsus 5.6; tarsus 1.4. Patella+tibia II 4.3; III 1.5; IV 2.4. Palp: Paracymbium “eight”-shaped, with the upper prong with similar size of the lower prong, in ventral view ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3. A – C ). Paracymbium tip apically bifid. Ecto-basal cymbial process pointed retrolaterally. Ecto-median cymbial process notably larger and pointed retrolaterally. Metaine embolic apophysis curved on the apical region ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3A).

Female (paratype, FCE-Ar 6079). Color as in male ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 B). Total length 5.9; carapace 2.3 long, 1.8 wide. Leg I length: femur 3.5; patella+tibia 4.2; metatarsus 3.3; tarsus 1.0. Patella+tibia II 2.8; III 1.8; IV 2.1.

Epigynum: Median lobe with two humps separated by an inverted V-shaped groove with dark and sclerotized margins. Septum T-shaped with posterior membranous part and oval-shaped copulatory openings ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C). Lateral plates convergent separated by a conspicuous membranous area ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, 3B). Vulva: Spermathecae apical, reniform, with copulatory ducts curved below, opening near the septum. Fertilization ducts coiled. ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 B, 3C).

Natural history. Chrysometa pena builds the web near the ground in ravines next to watercourses. It also inhabits in riparian forests, where the webs are built at the base of tree trunks.

Distribution. Known for northern and eastern Uruguay ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ).