Psalmopoeus pulcher Petrunkevitch, 1925

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 : 82-88

Psalmopoeus pulcher Petrunkevitch, 1925

( Figs 19 , 145 , 238–275 )

Psalmopoeus pulcher Petrunkevitch, 1925: 87 , fig. 2; Roewer 1942: 256; Bonnet 1958: 3798; Gabriel 2014:135; World Spider Catalog 2021.

Psalmopoeus rufus Petrunkevitch, 1925: 89 . First synonymized by Gabriel 2014: 89.

Diagnosis. Females of P. pulcher resemble those of P. cambridgei and P. irminia in the elongate, non-triangular spermathecae with straight apex, digitiform apical lobe and rounded central lobes ( Fig. 245 ). They differ by the spermathecae broad, narrowing abruptly at its tip. They also differ from females of all other species by the abdominal pattern having a longitudinal central line connected with a large black spot on its posterior portion ( Fig. 272 ). Males resemble those of P. langenbucheri by the intermediate embolus length, more than 2.6 and less than 3 times tegulum length ( Fig. 238 ). They differ by the retrolateral process of tibial apophysis broad at its base, narrowing abruptly to its tip ( Figs 242–244 ).

Type material. Holotype male from Panama, Mt Hope , Canal Zone [9°18’N, 79°54”W], W. J. Baerg gift, 1924 ( AMNH unnumbered), examined ( Figs 250–255 ).

Other material examined. Central America, 1 female, gift of E. Kirby Brooklin A.C.C. 3793, found on Bananas ( AMNH 4 ); PANAMA: Near Gamboa [9°07’N, 79°42’W] along south side canal zone road, walking on ground of forest, 1 male, R. West col., 8 August 1983 ( MZUSP 76543 ); 1 female, same data and colector, silk retreat in low tree cavity ( MZUSP 76544 ), 1 male, same data, J. Huff col., October 2002 ( MNRJ 7710 ); Barro Colorado island [9°09’N, 79°50’W], 1 female, without data (AMNH-21); Barro Colorado Canal Zone , 1 male, K, W. C. col, collection of Francis J. Ryan, December 1937 to January 1938 (AMNH-27); Canal Zone , Cocol [8°59’N, 79°35’W], 1 female, W. E. Lundy col., 1 September 1955 ( AMNH 23 ); Pearl islands , San José island [8°15’N, 79°07’W] by night on termite nest on side of tree 1.5 m above ground, beach front vegetation, 1 female, C. W. Myers col. 15 October 1977 (AMNH-18); Rio Chagres [9°17’N, 79°28’W] vic. Juan Mina, in bamboo internode, 1 male, R. X. Schick col., 17 December 1965 (AMNH-3); La Chorrera [8°52’N, 79°46’W] obtained within house, 1 female, A. Espino col., 15 September 1975 ( CASENT 9071251 ); COLOMBIA: Bolivar : Turbaco , Jardín Botánico Guillermo Piñeros , (10°20’51.54’’ N, 75°25’30.79’’ W), 1 male (ICN-Ar-8280); Boyacá: Pto Boyacá, Inspección Pto Romero , Sector Dosquebradas (5°58’38.02”N, 74°35’36.19”W), 1 female, LA. Gómez col. (ICN-Ar-1479); Chocó : Riosucio La Gira (7°26’10.21”N, 77°06’40.95”W), 1 female, C. Torres col. (ICN-Ar-004); Sucre : San Onofre , Boca Cerrada Canal del Dique (10°03’06.40”N, 75°33’57.49”W), 1 immature, Manglares de Colombia Project (ICN-Ar-1514); Canal del Dique , 2 males, Giovanni A. Ulloa col. (ICN-Ar-1979); Montes de María V / da Camarón (09°50’37.5’’N, 75°17’35.2”W), 1 female, Wilder Zapata col., June 2015, captured in branches of palm tree of aprox 2m, surrounded by a small lake in typical dry forest (ICN-Ar-8278); 1 female, W. Ricardo Borja col., June 2015 (ICN-Ar 8279); Tolima: Carmen de Apicalá (4°8’54.58”N, 74°42’57.58”W), 1 immature, M.A. Realphe col. (ICN-Ar-unnumbered); Carmen de Apicalá , Vda San Cristobal, Q. da Lainat (4°9’10.72”N, 74°42’55.13”W), 1 male 1 immature, M. Ramírez col. (ICN-Ar-008) .

Redescription. Male (ICN-Ar-8280). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 31.95. Carapace 14.95 long, 13.69 wide, 8.64 high. Chelicera: 7.42 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 15.98, 7.96, 13.53, 11.31, 6.38, 55.16; II: 13.45, 6.38, 11.14, 9.77, 5.69, 46.43; III: 11.71, 5.65, 9.55, 10.90, 5.55, 43.36; IV: 14.65, 6.38, 13.00, 14.10, 6.02, 54.15; Palp: 8.27, 5.27, 8.17, -, 3.09, 24.80. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.49, 2.08, 2.85, 2.81, palp= 2.12; patellae I–IV= 2.63, 2.36, 2.73, 2.71, palp= 2.15; tibiae I–IV= 2.13, 1.90, 1.91, 2.13, palp= 1.95; metatarsi I–IV= 1.77, 1.38, 1.54, 1.54; tarsi I–IV= 1.61, 1.35, 1.57, 1.49, palp= 1.98. Abdomen: 15.02 long, 8.36 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.67 long, 0.73 wide, 0.54 apart; PLS, 2.42 basal, 2.71 middle, 3.01 distal; midwidths 1.35, 1.52, 1.15, respectively. Carapace: 1.09 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 1.71 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.69 high, 2.06 long, 3.47 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.72, ALE 0.87, PME 0.47, PLE 0.66, AME–AME 0.59, AME–ALE 0.27, AME–PME 0.21, ALE–ALE 2.32, ALE–PME 0.46, PME–PME 1.95, PME–PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 2.63, ALE–PLE 0.27. Maxilla: length to width 1.92. Cuspules: ca. 162 spread over inner heel. Labium: 3.00 long, 3.20 wide, with ca. 174 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 5–6 spaced long filiform setae, disposed on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before the teeth row ( Fig 247 ). Sternum: 9.10 long, 7.53 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.98. 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 rows of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 1 behind retrolateral process; II: 2/0; III 0/2; IV 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 9–10 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 10 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 246 ). 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 242–244 ): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, broad at base, one spine at side of prolateral, one at the apical part of retrolateral process. A conspicuous rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis.

Palp ( Figs 238–241 ): tegulum length 1.30, width 2.26, embolus proximal width 1.05, embolus length 3.80. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 2.92. Embolus distal third curving gently to ventral and retrolateral sides. Embolus tapers to tip ending in roughly straight tip.

Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace, legs, palpal femora, and tibiae light brown, abdomen brown.

Redescription. Female (ICN-Ar-8278). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 47.37. Carapace 18.56 long, 16.55 wide, 11.20 high. Chelicera: 10.34 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 14.5, 8.76, 12.06, 10.84, 6.59, 52.75; II: 13.4, 8.03, 10.75, 10.05, 5.74, 47.97; III: 12.08, 7.58, 9.84, 10.5, 6.09, 46.09; IV: 15.15, 8.15, 13.58, 13.82, 6.54, 57.24; Palp: 10.05, 5.78, 7.07, -, 7.24, 30.14. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 3.53, 3.44, 3.22, 2.95, palp= 3.07. Patellae I–IV= 3.16, 3.18, 3.12, 3.39, palp= 3.01; tibiae I–IV= 3.07, 2.79, 2.90, 3.03, palp= 2.67; metatarsi I–IV= 2.65, 2.44, 1.97, 1.91; tarsi I–IV= 2.45, 2.61, 2.39, 2.45, palp= 2.67. Abdomen: 26.71 long, 18.73 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.32 long, 1.26 wide, 1.17 apart; PLS, 3.71 basal, 3.26 middle, 4.26 distal; midwidths 1.64, 1.72, 1.43, respectively. Carapace: 1.12 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.48 high, 2.08 long, 3.96 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.76, ALE 0.91, PME 0.49, PLE 0.61, AME–AME 0.77, AME–ALE 0.35, AME–PME 0.32, ALE– ALE 2.66, ALE–PME 0.57, PME–PME 2.07, PME–PLE 0.15, PLE–PLE 2.89, ALE–PLE 0.35. Maxilla: length to width 1.53. Cuspules: ca. 187 spread over inner heel. Labium: 2.95 long, 2.96 wide, with ca. 173 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 5–6 spaced long filiform setae, disposed on a ventral-basal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row ( Fig. 249 ). Sternum: 9.46 long, 7.92 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.08. 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 rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 2/0; II 2/0; III 0/2; IV 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 15 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 8–10 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 248 ). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on retrolateral side of maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of same articles of leg I.

Spermathecae ( Fig. 245 ): Two spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with 1–2 round, slightly sclerotized lobes disposed on middle area, decreasing in size from apex, spermatheca wide before apical lobe, almost as wide as the base. Apical lobe of spermathecae digitiform and sclerotized.

Color pattern (in vivo): Carapace and abdomen light brown with some golden setae, legs and palpal femora and tibia light brown, metatarsi and tarsi pinkish, metatarsi with a pink-beige line from retrolateral side to it, reddish spot on tarsi. Abdomen with clear brown proximal portion, rest pink-beige, with a longitudinal line that connects with an apical triangular stain of posterior portion of abdomen ( Fig. 272 ).

Distribution. Panamá, Colombia ( 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 238–245. Psalmopoeus pulcher. (238–244) male (ICN Ar 8280). (238–241) left bulb (mirrored). 238, retrolateral. 239, prolateral. 240, frontal. 241, dorsal. (242–244) male (MZUSP 76543), left leg I tibial apophysis. 242, ventral. 243, prolateral. 244, retrolateral. 245, female (ICN Ar 8278), spermathecae. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 246–249. Psalmopoeus pulcher. (246–247) male (ICN Ar 8280). 246, left maxilla showing lyra (mirrored). 247, basal chelicerae showing strikers. (248–249) female (ICN Ar 8278). 248, left maxilla showing lyra (mirrored). 249, basal chelicerae showing strikers. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 250–255. Psalmopoeus pulcher, holotype male. (250–252) left bulb (mirrored). 250, retrolateral. 251, prolateral. 252, dorsal. (253–255) left leg I tibial apophysis. 253, ventral. 254, prolateral. 255, retrolateral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 256–267. Psalmopoeus pulcher, males, bulb variation (256–258) Panama, Barro Colorado, AMNH 27, left bulb (mirrored). 256, retrolateral. 257, prolateral. 258, dorsal. (259–261) same locality, Canal Zone, AMNH 3, left bulb (mirrored). 259, retrolateral. 260, prolateral. 261, dorsal. (262–264) MZUSP 76543, left bulb (mirrored). 262, retrolateral. 263, prolateral. 264, dorsal. (265–267) MNRJ 7710, left bulb (mirrored). 265, retrolateral. 266, prolateral. 267, dorsal. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 268–271. Psalmopoeus pulcher, females, spermathecae variation. 268, Panama, Barro Colorado, AMNH 21. 269, Panama, Pearl Islands, San Jose Island, AMNH 18. 270, Panama, Canal Zone AMNH 23. 271, MZUSP 76544. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 272–275. Psalmopoeus pulcher, living. 272, female from Panama, Gamboa. 273, male from same locality. 274, subadult female, same locality. 275, immature from pet trade. Photos: 272–274 Rick C. West, 275 Rogério Bertani.