Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895

Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), Zootaxa 5101 (1), pp. 1-123 : 64-70

Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895

( Figs 19 , 145–182 )

Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895: 178 , pl. 10, fig. 3; F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899: 892, 896, pl. 54, figs 2–7; Pocock 1903: 85; Simon 1903: 952, 958, 960; Petrunkevitch 1911: 86; 1928: 82; 1939: 289; Roewer 1942: 256; Bonnet 1958: 3798; Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz 2006: 8, figs 9, 14; Mendoza 2014: 734, figs 16, 24–26; World Spider Catalog 2021.

Santaremia longipes F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896: 749 (female holotype from Trinidad, deposited at BMNH, 1896, not examined). First synonymized by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899: 896.

Diagnosis. Females resemble those of P. irminia , P. pulcher and P. langenbucheri by the elongate spermathecae having distal apex straight, apical digitiform lobe and central lobes ( Fig. 153 ). They can be distinguished by the spermathecae with long digitiform apical lobe, and central area with 2–3 protruding and well sclerotized, small, rounded lobes ( Fig. 153 ). Males resemble those of P. irminia by the embolus 3.0–3.5 times tegulum length ( Fig. 146 ). They can be distinguished from P. irminia by the embolus thicker and distal third more curved to retrolateral side ( Fig. 149 ). Additionally, males and females differ from those of all other species, except P. irminia , by having an orange line from retrolateral side of metatarsi to its center, and orange spot on dorsal tarsi ( Figs 177–178 ). Females with one dark vertical central stripe connecting with at least 4 gray transverse lines ( Fig. 177 ). From P. irminia they differ by the greyish or brownish body and less conspicuous pattern on the abdomen and legs ( Fig. 177 ).

Type material. Holotype female from “ East Indies , Malaysia, possibly from Penan, Malasya ”, but surely mislabeled (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899) ( BMNH unnumbered) (examined by RB, 2003, Figs 174–176 ).

Other material examined. TRINIDAD: 1 female, “ West Indies ”, A. Bordes col. 1972 (AMNH-37) ; 1 male, no collector, 1970 (AMNH-22); 1 immature, D. Brodi col., Fall 1981 (AMNH-10) ; 1 immature male, J. A. Cooke col., February 1972 (AMNH-62); 1 male, A. Bordes col., September 1972 (AMNH-11); Arima Valley [10°37’N, 61°16’W] , 4 immatures, C. Senderman col., June 1983 (AMNH-12); San Juan-Laventille: Maracas Bay road [10°45’N, 61°26’W] , 1 female, John A. L. Cooke, February 1972 (AMNH-32); 2 immature males, same data and collector (AMNH-63); Sangre Grande: N 209, B.W.I, R. G. Donald col., 6 December 1944 (AMNH-40); Tunapuna-Piarco: Arima, Simla Biological Station of Arima [10°43’N, 61°17’W], in silk retreat under tin roof , 1 female, Rick West col, May 1981 ( MNRJ 7707 ) ; 1 male, same data and collector ( MZUSP 76539 ) ; 1 female, same data and collector, walking by day in old library room ( MZUSP 76540 ); 6 miles n of Arima, in silk retreat on roadside rock face , 1 male, Rick West col., May 1981 ( MNRJ 7708 ); Simla , 1 female, 1 immature male, Rozen col., 28 February 1963 (AMNH-33); St Augustine [10°38’N, 61°23’W] , 1 male, E.K. Waering col., 5 September 1966 (AMNH-16); Tacarigua [10°38’N, 61°21’W], Tacarigua Orphanage , 1 male, THC, WI, AM Cea col., 7 September 1966 (AMNH-20); Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo: Arena Reserve [10°32’N, 61°14’W] , 1 female, Mary Nieves col., 15 March 1959 (AMNH-19); Caparo [10°26’N, 61°19’W] 1 female, BWD col. from branch of bananas, 10 March 1910 (AMNH-17); Port of Spain: Port of Spain [10°39’N, 61°30’W] 1 female, E.N, K. J Waering col., 09 November 1967 (AMNH-31); Rio Claro-Mayaro : Nariva Swamp, Ex campus Bush , Bush Forest [10°22’N, 61°02’W] , 1 female, T. H.S Aitken col. forest swamp, 26 May 1962 (AMNH-6) .

Redescription. Female (MZUSP 76540). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 42.27. Carapace: 18.76 long, 16.66 wide, 10.15 high. Chelicera: 10.32 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.84, 10.18, 14.49, 15.37, 7.84, 65.72; II: 16.21, 9.43, 13.12, 13.43, 7.64, 59.87; III: 13.48, 7.7, 10.63, 12.35, 5.81, 49.97; IV: 16.15, 8.56, 13.96, 16.39, 5.9, 60.96. Palp: 11.64, 6.80, 8.26, -, 9.00, 35.7. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.73, 3.55, 3.40, 3.16, palp= 3.25; patellae I–IV= 3.66, 3.46, 3.37, 3.39, palp= 3.08; tibiae I–IV= 3.28, 3.03, 2.93, 2.84, palp= 2.77; metatarsi I–IV=2.85, 2.59, 1.94, 2.02; tarsi I–IV= 2.40, 2.42, 2.49, 2.27, palp=2.67. Abdomen: 22.05 long, 15.38 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.48 long, 1.07 wide, 0.74 apart; PLS, 3.82 basal, 1.95 middle, 3.31 distal; width 1.87, 1.60, 0.97, respectively. Carapace: 1.13 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae moderately marked. Fovea: deep, straight, 3.13 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.87 high, 2.98 long, 3.79 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.74, ALE 0.84, PME 0.53, PLE 0.69, AME–AME 0.69, AME–ALE 0.31, AME–PME 0.27, ALE– ALE 2.72, ALE–PME 0.57, PME–PME 2.20, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 2.85, ALE–PLE 0.34. Maxilla: length to width: 1.30. Cuspules: ca. 240 spread on anterior inner corner. Labium: 1.83 long, 1.83 wide, with ca. 172 cuspules ca. 1 diameter from each other. Chelicera: basal segment with 13 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on retrolateral side of the chelicerae. Strikers: line of 5–6 spaced, long filiform setae disposed on ventral-basal portion of chelicera before the teeth row ( Fig. 157 ). Sternum: 10.03 long, 6.27 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV, II, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.93. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a line of few setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/3 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi) Palp: 0; I: 1/0; II 1/0; III 0/2; IV 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 14–16 thick setae disposed on a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxilla, longest setae flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 7–8 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 156 ). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter and proximal part of femur of palp and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I.

Spermathecae: Two elongate spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with 2–3 oval, protruding, sclerotized lobes disposed on a central fold on middle area of spermatheca, decreasing in size from apex. Apical lobe of spermathecae digitiform and well sclerotized ( Fig. 153 ).

Coloration (preserved in alcohol): Carapace, abdomen and legs brown. Metatarsi with an orange line from retrolateral side through its center, an orange spot on tarsi. Females with one dark vertical central stripe on abdomen connected with 3–5 lighter gray transverse lines.

Redescription. Male (MZUSP 76539) Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 27.82. Carapace: 14.71 long, 13.33 wide, 7.22 high. Chelicera: 6.39 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 18.2, 8.95, 15.71, 15.66, 7.6, 66.12. II: 16.68, 8.1, 14.58, 14.8, 7.00, 61.16. III: 12.65, 5.86, 11.29, 12.4, 5.69, 47.89. IV: 16.41, 6.7, 15.11, 16.25, 6.28, 60.75. Palp 9.98, 5.50, 8.94, -,3.62, 22.54. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 3.05, 2.72, 2.74, 2.71, palp= 2.16; patellae I–IV= 2.72, 2.60, 2.48, 2.62, palp= 2.03; tibiae I–IV= 2.33, 2.04, 2.18, 2.15, palp= 2.17; metatarsi I–IV= 1.83, 1.60, 1.48, 1.35; tarsi I–IV= 1.53, 1.59, 1.45, 1.51, palp= 2.11. Abdomen: 13.48 long, 8.06 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.26 long, 8.06 wide, 0.20 apart; PLS, 2.43 basal, 1.61 middle, 2.95 distal; midwidths 0.64, 0.86, 0.69, respectively. Carapace: 1.11 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae moderately marked. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.22 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.00 high, 2.06 long, 3.29 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.80, ALE 0.69, PME 0.39, PLE 0.65, AME–AME 0.35, AME–ALE 0.29, AME–PME 0.22, ALE– ALE 2.20, ALE–PME 0.31, PME–PME 1.88, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 2.36, ALE–PLE 0.3. Maxilla: length to width: 1.58. Cuspules: ca. 161 spread on anterior inner corner. Labium: 1.83 long, 1.83 wide, with ca. 131 cuspules ca. 1 diameter from each other. Chelicera: basal segment with 12 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicerae. Strikers: line of 4–5 spaced long filiform setae on ventral-basal portion of chelicerae, before the teeth row ( Fig. 155 ). Sternum: 7.68 long, 5.12 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = II = IV, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.92. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/3 distal. IV divided by a row of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi), palp = 0; I: behind retrolateral apophysis process = 1; II: 2/0; III: 2/0; IV: 2/1. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 13–14 thick setae disposed on a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxilla, longest setae flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 7–8 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 154 ). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Tibial apophysis ( Figs 150–152 ): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral process, one at the apical part of retrolateral process. A small rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis.

Palp ( Figs146–149 ): tegulum length 1.46, width 1.96, embolus proximal width 0.85, embolus length 4.53. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length 3.10. Embolus distal third curves to retroventral sides. Embolus tapers to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip.

Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): carapace, abdomen light brown, legs and palpal femora light brown, metatarsi light brown with an orange line starting at side going through center. Dorsal tarsi with an orange spot.

Distribution. Trinidad and Tobago ( Fig. 145 ).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Single cladogram obtained with setk.run and concavity 10.239258 (continued), showing the resolution of Psalmopoeinae clade. Absolute and relative Bremer support are in each node.

FIGURE 145. Map showing geographic records (dots) of Psalmopoeus species. Psalmopoeus cambridgei (red), P. reduncus (orange), P. ecclesiasticus (purple), P. emeraldus (light blue), P. plantaris (brown), P. pulcher (green), P. irminia (yellow), P. langenbucheri (blue), P. victori (black).

FIGURES 146–153. Psalmopoeus cambridgei. (146–152) male (MZUSP 76539). (146–149) left bulb (mirrored). 146, retrolateral. 147, prolateral. 148, frontal. 149, dorsal. (150–152) left leg I tibial apophysis. 150, ventral. 151, prolateral. 152, retrolateral. (153) female (MZUSP 76540), spermathecae. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 154–157. Psalmopoeus cambridgei. (154–155) male (MZUSP 76539). 154, right maxilla showing lyra. 155, basal chelicerae showing strikers. (156–157) female (MZUSP 76540). 156, right maxilla showing lyra. 157, basal chelicerae showing strikers. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 158–169. Psalmopoeus cambridgei, males, bulb variation (158–160) Trinidad Island, AMNH 2, left bulb (mirrored). 158, retrolateral. 159, prolateral. 160, dorsal. (161–163) same locality, AMNH 22, left bulb (mirrored). 161, retrolateral. 162, prolateral. 163, dorsal. (164–166) MNRJ 7708, left bulb (mirrored). 164, retrolateral. 165, prolateral. 166, dorsal. (167–169) Trinidad, St Augustine, AMNH 16, left bulb (mirrored). 167, retrolateral. 168, prolateral. 169, dorsal. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 170–173. Psalmopoeus cambridgei, females, spermathecae variation. 170, Trinidad Island, AMNH 19. 171, same locality, AMNH 31. 172, same locality, AMNH 32. 173, MNRJ 7707. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 174–176. Psalmopoeus cambridgei, holotype female from “East Indies, possibly from Penang, Malaysia”, BMNH. (174–175) spermathecae. 176, right maxilla showing lyra.

FIGURES 177–182. Psalmopoeus cambridgei, living. 177, female from Trinidad island, Arima. 178, male from same locality. 179, immature from pet trade. 180, female from Tobago Island, speyside. 181, female retreat in a fallen log, Trinidad Island, Arima. 182, same, opened with specimen inside. Photos: 177–178, 180–182 Rick C. West, 179 Leandro M. Borges.