Roddenberryus kirk, Sánchez-Ruiz & Bonaldo, 2023

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2023, Strange new spiders: on Roddenberryus, a new and unusual caponiid genus (Araneae, Caponiidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 891 (1), pp. 1-25 : 8-13

Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AE1360F6-A463-4019-9533-5B768F5A2E3B

Figs 1A–J , 2A–F , 3A–F , 4A–L , 5A–L , 6A–G , 7A–L , 11A–B , 15

Diagnosis

Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners by lacking the invaginations on the clypeus margins in both sexes ( Figs 1D , 2A , 3A ). Additionally, males can be recognized by the long embolus, with a length greater than half the length of the tegulum, and a thick tibia, width of which is almost equal to its length ( Fig. 2D–F ).

Etymology

The specific name refers to James Tiberius Kirk, a fictional character from the Star Trek universe who served aboard the starship USS Enterprise as captain, played in the original series by Canadian actor William Shatner.

Type material

Holotype COSTA RICA • ♀; Guanacaste, Bagaces , Estación Palo Verde , P.N. Palo Verde ; “N 259000, 388400” [10°20ʹ57ʺ N, 85°21ʹ08ʺ W]; 15 Jun. 1999; C. Viquez leg.; INBIO 4407644 .

Paratype

COSTA RICA • ♀; Guanacaste, La Cruz, Santa Elena , Santa Rosa , P.N. Costa Rica , Estación Murcielago , 8 km SW of Cuajiniquil; “N 320300, 347200” [10°04ʹ00.0ʺ N, 85°42ʹ00.0ʺ W]; 28 Feb. 1991; P. Rios leg.; INBIO 4407583 .

Other material

COSTA RICA • 1 ♀; Guanacaste, Isla Colorada, Islas Murcielagos , P.N. Santa Rosa ; 23 Nov. 2001; J. Jacobs leg.; INBIO 4407595 • 1 ♀; Guanacaste, P.N. Barra Honda ; 17 Jun. 2000; W. Porras Vega leg.; INBIO 4407598 • 1 ♀; Guanacaste, Estación Biológica Maritza , P.N. Guanacaste , La Cruz; 22 Apr. 2004; G. Alayón leg.; INBIO 4407588 • 1 ♀; Guanacaste, Bagaces, Estación Palo Verde, P.N. Palo Verde ; “N 259000, 388400” [10°20ʹ57ʺ N, 85°21ʹ08ʺ W]; 10 May 2005; M. Solis leg.; for SEM; INBIO 4407645 • 1 ♀, 2 immature spec.; San Jose, Bebedero ; 15 Oct. 1938; H. Schmidt leg.; NHM 305 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 5 immature spec.; San Jose, La Caja ; 15 Oct. 1938; H. Schmidt leg.; NHM 306 .

Description

Male (NHM 306, Fig. 2A–F )

Carapace orange, lacking invaginations on clypeal margin ( Fig. 2A ). Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum, legs, coxae and trochanters pale orange. Abdomen pale gray, with dorsal and ventral patterns of several dark gray stains ( Fig. 2A–B ). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 4.8. Carapace 2.5 long, 1.7 wide. Sternum 1.8 long, 1.3 wide. Leg measurements unavailable. Cymbium elongated, swollen, partially curved, with wide tip, first half of basal prolateral surface densely covered with strong, long setae ( Fig. 2D ), other half of apical prolateral surface and retrolateral surface with a few short setae ( Fig. 2F ); tibia thick; tegulum sub-spherical, with retrolateral groove; embolus long, pointed, curved upward on lateral position ( Fig. 2D–F ).

Female (holotype, Fig. 1A–J )

Carapace orange, lacking invaginations on clypeal margin ( Fig. 1A ). Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum and legs orange, coxas and trochanters lighter. Abdomen pale gray, without dorsal pattern. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 14.0. Carapace 7.4 long, 5.1 wide. Sternum 8.3 long, 5.2 wide. Leg measurements: I: 6.8; II: 6.7; III: 5.9; IV: 7.0. External genital area with strongly sclerotized anterior and posterior plates, straight epigastric furrow ( Figs 1F , 11A ). Internal genitalia with transversal posterior receptacle with triangular, median projection on distal margin; behind posterior receptacle a presumed uterus externus; anteromedian receptacle formed by tube-shaped membranous base and sac-like membranous structure ( Figs 7A–D , 11B ).

Variation

The Costa Rican males and females from San Jose ( Figs 2A–F , 3A–F ) were identified by Kritscher (1957) as Caponina sargi , but they actually belong to Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov.; these specimens have dorsal and ventral patterns of several dark gray stains on the abdomen ( Figs 2A–B , 3A–B ), which does not appear in any of the R. kirk specimens examined from Guanacaste, Costa Rica ( Fig. 1A ).

Distribution

Known only from Guanacaste and San Jose provinces in Costa Rica ( Figs 6G , 15 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀, holotype (INBIO 4407644). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Left palp, prolateral view, black arrow showing prolateral pick. C. Left palp, retrolateral view. D. Habitus, ventral view. E. Cephalothorax, ventral view. F. External genital area, ventral view. G. Habitus, lateral view. H. Tarsus and metatarsus on left leg I, prolateral view. I. Left leg I, prolateral view. J. Left leg IV, prolateral view. Scale bars: A, I– J = 1.0 mm; B‒H = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 2. Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♂ (NHM 306). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Cephalothorax and mouthparts, ventral view. D. Left palp, prolateral view. E. Left palp, retrolateral oblique view. Scale bars: A‒B = 1.0 mm; C = 0.5 mm; D‒F = 0.1 mm. Photos by Christoph Hörweg.

Fig. 3. Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (NHM 306). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Cephalothorax and mouthparts, ventral view. D. Abdomen and external genitalia, ventral view. E. Cephalothorax and carapace, dorsal view. Scale bars: A‒C = 1.0 mm; D‒F = 0.5 mm. Photos by Christoph Hörweg.

Fig. 4. Micrographs of Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (INBIO 4407645). A. Prosoma, lateral view. B. Prosoma, ventral view. C. Labium and endites, ventral view. D. Prosoma, anterior view. E. Serrula, ventral view. F. Serrula, anterior view. G. Chelicerae, ventral view. H. Chelicerae, anterior view. I. Chelicerae, lateral view. J. Right cheliceral fang, ventral view. K. Left palp, prolateral view. L. Detail of tip on left palp, prolateral view.

Fig. 5. Micrographs of Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (INBIO 4407645). A–E. Left leg I. F–I. Left leg II. J–L. Left leg III. A. Entire leg, prolateral view. B. Metatarsus and tarsus, prolateral view. C. Metatarsus, prolateral view. D. Tarsus, prolateral view. E. Tarsal claws, prolateral view. F. Tarsal claws, retrolateral view. G. Metatarsus, retrolateral view. H. Joint of tarsus and metatarsus, retrolateral oblique view. I. Joint of tarsus and metatarsus, dorsal oblique view. J. Entire leg, retroalteral view. K. Metatarsus and tarsus, retrolateral view. L. Tarsal claws, retrolateral view.

Fig. 6. A–F. Micrographs of Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (INBIO 4407645). A. Left leg IV, retrolateral view. B. Tarsal claws on left leg IV, retrolateral view. C. Detail of paired claws on left leg IV, retrolateral view. D. Base of trichobothria, dorsal view. E. Tarsal organ on left leg IV, retrolateral oblique view. F. Tarsal organ and sesilla on left leg IV, retrolateral view. G. Distribution map of R. kirk.

Fig. 7. Micrographs of Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (INBIO 4407645). A. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. B. Detail of anteromedian receptacle, dorsal view. C. Detail of presumed uterus externus (ue), base of anteromedian receptacle (arb) and posterior receptaculum (pr), dorsal view. D. Oval membranous sac-like structure (sac), anterior view. E. Detail of right trachea, dorsal view. F. Detail of right trachea, anterior view. G. Spinnerets, posterior view. H. PMS, posterior view. I. Right PMS, posterior view. J. Right ALS, posterior view. K. Left PLS, posterior view. L. Anal tubercule (AT), posterior view.

Fig. 11. Female genitalia. A‒B. Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov., ♀ (INBIO 4407645). A. External genital area, ventral view. B. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. C‒D. Roddenberryus spock gen. et sp. nov., ♀, paratype (CNAN). C. External genital area, ventral view. D. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. E‒F. Roddenberryus sargi (Pickard-Cambridge, 1899) gen. nov., ♀ (INBIO). E. External genital area, ventral view. F. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: A‒B = 0.5 mm; C‒F = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 15. Distribution map of Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov. (circles), R. mccoy gen. et sp. nov. (triangle), R. spock gen. et sp. nov. (heart), R. sargi (Pickard-Cambridge, 1899) comb. nov. (square) and R. pelegrina (Bryant, 1940) comb. nov. (star).