Corythalia fulgipedia Crane, 1948

Bayer, Steffen, Höfer, Hubert & Metzner, Heiko, 2020, Revision of the genus Corythalia C. L. Koch, 1850, part 1: Diagnosis and new species from South America (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae: Euophryini), Zootaxa 4806 (1), pp. 1-144 : 68-72

Corythalia fulgipedia Crane, 1948 , stat. nov.

Figs 1C , 33 A–E, 34A–C, 58I, 62I, 65L, 69F, 73E–F, 77D–E

Corythalia fulgipedia Crane 1948: 22 , figs 9C–D, 10C–D (description & illustration of ♂ & ♀). Holotype ♂ from Venezuela: State of Aragua: near Maracay: roadside between Guamitas and Rancho Grande, ca. 10°21’N, 67°41’W, 900 m, deciduous seasonal forest, leg. 30 June 1946 in the course of 45 th and 46 th Expeditions of the Department of Tropical research of the New York Zoological Society to Venezuela, made during 1945 and 1946 under the direction of Dr William Beebe, Cat. No. 461193 Collections of the Department of Tropical Research, New York, today possibly AMNH. Paratype (1 ♀) with exactly the same data as for holotype, Cat No. 461184 Coll. Dept. Trop. Res. NY, today possibly at AMNH; all type material could currently not be found by the curators of the AMNH (however, must not inevitably be lost), thus not examined, however, additional material of C. fulgipedia , once examined by Crane, was available and could be examined, see below; Galiano 1962: 16 (proposing synonymy with C. tropica ; here rejected!).

Material examined. VENEZUELA: State of Aragua: near Maracay: Rancho Grande (within a radius of 2 km), ca. 10°21’N, 67°41’W, 900 m, deciduous seasonal forest: 2 ♂, leg. 10–17 Aug. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327814-1– 2 ; 1 ♂, leg. 24 July 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327822-1; 1 ♂, leg. 02 Sep. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327927; 1 ♂, reared, died July 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327930; 1 ♂, “measured”, leg. Sep. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327931; 1 ♀, measured, leg. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327811; 1 ♀, measured, leg. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327836; 1 ♀, leg. 12 July 1946, AMNH- IZC 00327926; 1 ♀, leg. early Aug. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00327943; 1 ♀, leg. 1946, AMNH-IZC 00326918-F-7 (only epigyne left) [ex AMNH-IZC 00326918 ; with highest likelihood the specimen used as template for the illustrations in Figs 10 C–D in Crane (1948)] (all leg. 1945–1946 in the course of 45 th and 46 th Expeditions of the Department of Tropical research of the New York Zoological Society to Venezuela, made during 1945 and 1946 under the direction of Dr William Beebe; all 11 specimens from Venezuela with Cat No. 461201 Coll. Dept. Trop. Res. NY) . BRAZIL: Amazonas: Manaus, NW of Manaus, Igapó Tarumã-Mirim , 03°00’50.4”S, 60°10’20.99”W,: 1 ♀, H. Höfer leg. 11 June 1987, by beating vegetation, INPA . FRENCH GUIANA: Cayenne: Cayenne, Montagnes des Chevaux , 17 m a.s.l., ca. 04°43’N, 52°25’W, forest: 1 ♀, Vincent Vedel leg. 09 Nov. 2010, sample number: FR-973-00337, GCBUR .

Diagnosis. Males distinguished from those of all other Corythalia species by the following characters in combination: embolus (E) (actual tubular section) moderately long (somewhat longer than width of tegulum (T),>1.1x <1.2x), moderately strong (width of E at central section about 2/3 the width of RTA at central section, in ventral view, Figs 33A , 65L ), if at all, minimally S-shaped, with widened section retrolaterally at distal half (however sometimes only inconspicuous) and distally evenly bifurcated ( Figs 33A , 65L ); distal section of E directed prolaterodistally; embolus base (EB) circle broad (3/4 the width of T, Figs 33A , 65L ). Females distinguished from those of all other Corythalia species by the following characters in combination: connective ducts between primary (PS) and secondary spermathecae (SS) narrow to extremely narrow (width between 1/10 and 1/5 the diameter of PS), very long (slightly more than 2x diameter of PS); SS with mainly longitudinal orientation, with heads of spermathecae arising posteriorly; copulatory ducts (CD) moderately long (about as long as width of SS), final section of CD (before meeting SS) running transversal laterally ( Figs 33 D–E, 34B–C, 77D–E); SS quite broad, (almost) 2/3 the diameter of primary spermathecae (PS) ( Figs 33D , 34B , 77 D–E).

Description. Male (all males examined as range): total length 4.6–6.1, carapace length 2.8–3.6, maximal carapace width 2.6–2.9, width of eye rectangle 2.0–2.2, opisthosoma length 3.1–3.6, opisthosoma width 2.2–2.7, fovea length 0.19–0.30. EYES: AME 0.55–0.66, ALE 0.33–0.39, PME 0.09–0.11, PLE 0.28–0.34, AME–AME 0.04–0.05, AME–ALE 0.06–0.07, PME–PME 1.75–1.84, PME–PLE 0.30–0.36, ALE–PLE 0.80–0.87, PLE–PLE 1.53–1.65, clypeus height at AME 0.30–0.34, clypeus height at ALE 0.74–0.77. Cheliceral furrow with 1 promarginal and 1 retromarginal teeth. SPINATION (spinations patterns of the specimens listed in order of frequency): palp: no spines. Legs: femur I 1500, 1600, II–IV 1600; patella I 1000, II–IV 1010; tibia I 2015, II 3015, III–IV 3133; metatarsus I 2014, II 2024, III–IV 3134. MEASUREMENT OF PALP AND LEGS: palp 1.8–2.2 [1.0–1.1, 0.5–0.6, 0.3–0.4, 1.0– 1.1], I 5.7–6.6 [1.9–2.2, 1.1–1.2, 1.2–1.4, 1.0–1.2, 0.5–0.6], II 5.7–6.6 [1.9–2.2, 1.1–1.2, 1.2–1.4, 1.0–1.2, 0.5–0.6], III 6.5–7.8 [2.3–2.5, 1.1–1.2, 1.3–1.6, 1.4–1.7, 0.7–0.8], IV 6.7–7.9 [2.2–2.5, 1.0–1.1, 1.3–1.7, 1.5–1.8, 0.7–0.8]. LEG FORMULA: 432&1 (&: legs with exactly the same size). COPULATORY ORGAN: embolus (E) moderately long [somewhat longer than width of tegulum (T),> 1.1x <1.2x) (T)], moderately wide (width of E at central section about 2/3 the width of RTA at central section, in ventral view, Figs 33A , 65L ), if at all, minimally S-shaped, with widened section retrolaterally at distal half (however, sometimes only inconspicuous) and distally evenly bifurcated ( Figs 33A , 65L ); embolus base (EB) circle broad (3/4 the width of T); T relatively massive and broad, but often still slightly narrower than cymbium ( Figs 33A , 65L ); sperm duct double-stacked S-shaped, occupying more than retrolateral 3/4 of T; proximal tegulum lobe in retrolateral section, may distinguished from remaining T-section, may T retrolatero-proximally conically converging with blunt-rounded ending; cymbium in ventral view distally conically converging and at distalmost section broad rounded; palpal tibia very short, clearly broader than long ( Figs 33 A–B, 65L, 69F) and ventral tibial bump in ventral view quite large and conspicuous, conical and distally rounded; RTA narrow, with retrolatero-distal direction and dorsally with serration ( Figs 33A , 65L ), in retrolateral view serration hardly recognisable ( Figs 33B , 69F ). COLOURATION: see genus description for conservative aspects. Carapace dark red-brown ( Fig. 58I ). Legs dark brown to red-brown, except for some articles being slightly lighter (see genus description) ( Fig. 58I ). Opisthosoma like noted in genus description under general dorsal colouration, chevron-like patch in central band present ( Fig. 58I ).

Female (measurements of all females as range): total length 6.8–10.2, carapace length 3.2–4.0, maximal carapace width 2.2–2.9, width of eye rectangle 1.6–1.9, opisthosoma length 3.3–5.4, opisthosoma width 2.2–4.2, fovea length 0.24–0.31. EYES: AME 0.58–0.68, ALE 0.33–0.43, PME 0.10–0.12, PLE 0.32–0.38, AME–AME 0.04–0.06, AME–ALE 0.05–0.09, PME–PME 1.48–1.76, PME–PLE 0.33–0.44, ALE–PLE 0.80–0.91, PLE–PLE 1.44–1.88, clypeus height at AME 0.26–0.37, clypeus height at ALE 0.71–0.79. Cheliceral furrow with 1 promarginal and 1 retromarginal teeth. SPINATION (spination patterns, if varying among the specimens, listed in order of frequency): palp: no spines. Legs: femur I 1500, II 1600, 1500, III 1500, 1600, IV 0600, 0500, 0900; patella I–II 1000, III–IV 1010; tibia I 2014, 2004, 2003, II 2014, 3014, III–IV 3133; metatarsus I 2014, 2024, 2004, 2003, II 2024, 3014, III 3134, IV 3144, 4044, 3144. MEASUREMENT OF PALP AND LEGS: palp 2.4–3.1 [0.8–1.1, 0.5–0.6, 0.3–0.5, 0.8–1.0], I 5.3–6.1 [1.7–2.0, 1.0–1.2, 1.1–1.2, 0.9–1.1, 0.5–0.7], II 5.2–6.0 [1.7–2.0, 1.0–1.1, 1.0–1.2, 0.9–1.1, 0.5–0.6], III 6.2–7.3 [2.0–2.4, 1.0–1.2, 1.2–1.5, 1.3–1.6, 0.7–0.8], IV 6.4–7.7 [2.0–2.4, 1.0–1.2, 1.3–1.6, 1.4–1.7, 0.7–0.8]. LEG FORMULA: 4312, 4321. COPULATORY ORGAN: epigyne with elongated and oval epigynal windows (W); septum of W narrow and anteriorly diverging ( Figs 1C , 33C , 34A , 73 E–F); strongly converging lateral margins of W reaching clearly further anteriorly than anteriormost parts of septum, the former often reaching each other medially or even being connected to each other; epigynal field broader than long; primary spermathecae (PS), visible through cuticle of W, filling proximal 1/2 of W from posterior (sometimes, however, with gap between posterior margin of PS and posterior margin of W ( Figs 33C , 73 E–F). Vulva with round PS; secondary spermathecae (SS) elongated drop-shaped to kidney-shaped with mainly longitudinal orientation and with heads of spermathecae arising posteriorly ( Figs 33 D–E, 34B–C, 77D–E); copulatory ducts moderately long and with transversal lateral direction; connective ducts between SS and PS narrow and long and meeting primary spermathecae antero-medially; fertilisation ducts narrow, arising centro-anteriorly (slightly shifted medially) on PS, bent laterally ( Figs 33 D–E, 34B–C, 77D–E). COLOURATION: see genus description for conservative aspects. Carapace red-brown ( Fig. 62I ). Legs red-brown, except for tarsi III & IV being lighter ( Fig. 62I ). Opisthosoma like noted in genus description under general dorsal colouration, chevron-like patch in central band present, however, sometimes, but rarely, inconspicuous ( Fig. 62I ).

Intraspecific variation of male copulatory organs. In males low: in few specimens the embolus (E) is slightly longer ( Fig. 65L ) than in others ( Fig. 33A ) or the retrolateral process of bifurcated tip of E is clearly longer and larger than prolateral process ( Fig. 65L ). Females: lateral margins of epigynal windows inconsistent and with small gaps in some females ( Figs 34A , 73E ), regularly rounded and without gaps in others ( Figs 1C , 33C , 73F ). Additionally, in few females entire epigyne broader than usually ( Fig. 73E ). Connective ducts (DST) between secondary (SS) and primary spermathecae (PS) in some specimens slightly longer ( Fig. 34B ) than usually ( Figs 33D , 77 D–E) and SS in some specimens broader ( Fig. 77E ) than in others. DST in few females clearly stronger diverging from posterior to anterior direction ( Fig. 77D ).

Remarks. This species is, like C. waleckii , widespread over the northern part of South America. It was synonymised with C. tropica by Galiano (1962). There is no indiaction that Galiano once did re-examine the type material of C. fulgipedia or other material examined by Crane (1948). For the present study a lot of material from the Crane (1948) study was re-examined. We recognised several fine, but specific differences in the males of C. fulgipedia in comparison to those of C. waleckii or C. tropica , thus we do not follow the opinion of Galiano (1962). The same concerns the copulatory organs of the females (of C. waleckii ; remark: those of C. tropica are still unknown). With the present study based on many specimens well documented by several illustrations and statements on intraspecific variation, we could prove that C. fulgipedia is a valid species. It is more similar to C. waleckii than to C. tropica . But even C. waleckii , being stunningly similar to C. tropica , can be distinguished from the latter by fine differences (see both diagnosis in the present study). Galiano (1962) seemingly had not examined the details of embolus morphology. She possibly thought that a bifurcated embolus tip might be a unique character exhibited by only one species in the genus Corythalia .

It is difficult to evaluate which species also belonging to the C. waleckii species-group might be the closest relative of C. fulgipedia . Fact is, that the following three species, C. electa , C. chalcea and C. metallica are similar in having an embolus that is hardly S-shaped. As far as the females are concerned, C. waleckii is very similar (from C. electa and C. metallica the females are still unknown).

As mentioned above, the types (holotype male and paratype female) could not be found at the arachnid collection of the AMNH, where actually all Crane-material should have been transferred since the Department of Tropical research of the New York Zoological Society no longer existed or its collections no longer existed, respectively. That same problem concerns the two other Corythalia species firstly described by Crane (1948), C. chalcea and C. xanthopa (see below). We also contacted curators of other American natural history museums, e.g. USNM, PMNH or MCZ, if (parts of) the Crane material ended up there, but not one responsible curator could find material belonging to the Crane collection in their collections. So, we guess that the type material, if still existing, might still be at the AMNH, but located in/among parts of the (Crane-) collection, where nobody would expect it. Additional material of C. fulgipedia (remark: as well as additional material of C. chalcea and C. xanthopa ) from the type locality, Rancho Grande, examined by Crane (see above), was kindly sent to us on loan by the colleagues of the AMNH. This material was once not well organised by J. Crane (and/or collaborators?): sometimes structures of two different or even all three different Corythalia species (described by Crane 1948), e.g. epigynes or chelicerae, were put together in one vial with dubious notes to discriminate them. Moreover, in several cases vials were not precisely labelled. In a few cases specimens were misidentified: one male among the material of C. fulgipedia could here be identified as C. blanda (see respective species description below). Additionally, we found one vial with a small male with a (field-?/ sample-?) number P16, which was not mentioned in the publication, within a jar containing many specimens of C. xanthopa . This male specimen was labeled as “ holotype ”, but no label with a species name was added. After examination we could identify it as Corythalia cf. placata Peckham & Peckham, 1901 (see respective species description above). All this carelessness of J. Crane (and/or collaborators?) might be a reason why the types currently cannot be found, they might even be among the material examined here, but not labelled as types. We would strongly appreciate if the types were found in the future and could be re-examined, but for the moment, we think it is a good compromise that the additional specimens from the type locality (Rancho Grande) that were determinated by J. Crane herself, were re-examined and treated thoroughly. Some of these specimens had even been used as samples/templates for illustrations or measurements in Crane (1948). Needless to say that all the specimens (except for the few misidentified specimens, see above) examined for the present study exactly corresponded to the according illustration of the male palp or the female epigyne/vulva in Crane (1948) of C. fulgipedia .

Distribution. Venezuela, Brazilian Amazonia, French Guiana.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Corythalia spp., copulatory organs, explanation of different structures. Corythalia luctuosa, male L-1 from St. Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana. A Left palp, ventral view. Corythalia drepanopsis sp. nov., female paratype F-2 from Acre, Brazil. B Epigyne, ventral view. Corythalia fulgipedia, female from Cayenne, French Guiana. C Epigyne, ventral view. Corythalia dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov., female paratype from Colombia. D–E Vulva (D dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).Abbreviations: ADFD:Arrow showing direction of final visible section of fertilisation duct; AMW:Anterior margin of epigynal window; CCO: Circle as symbol for copulatory opening; CD: Copulatory duct; CO: Copulatory opening; CY: Cymbium; DST: Connective duct between primary and secondary spermatheca; E: Embolus; EB: Embolus base; EF: Epigynal field; EGF: Epigastric furrow; FD: Fertilisation duct; HS: Head of (secondary) spermatheca; LMoE: Lateral margin of epigyne; PMoE: Posterior margin of epigyne; PS: primary spermatheca; PTL: (Retrolatero-) proximal tegulum lobe; RTA: Retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD: Sperm duct (within tegulum); SS: Secondary spermatheca; SW: Septum of epigynal windows; T: Tegulum; TCHS: ‘T’-Symbol showing connection area and direction of head of spermatheca; VTB: Ventral tibial bump; W: Epigynal window; WEB: Width of embolus base circle.

FIGURE 10. Corythalia insularis, male holotype from Fernando de Noronha island, Pernambuco, Brazil. A–B left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). Reproduced from Ruiz, Brescovit & Freitas (2007, figs 10–11).

FIGURE 33. Corythalia fulgipedia, specimens from Aragua, Venezuela. A–B Male AMNH-IZC 00327927, left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). C–E FemaleAMNH-IZC 00326918-F-7, epigyne (C ventral view; D vulva, dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 34. Corythalia fulgipedia, female from Amazonas, Brazil (showing intraspecific variation). A–C epigyne (A ventral view; B vulva, dorsal view; C schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 58. Corythalia spp., photographic images of male specimens, dorsal view. Corythalia fimbriata: A Holotype from Bahia, Brazil. Corythalia argentinensis: B Holotype from Misiones, Argentina. Corythalia luctuosa: C Lectotype from Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana. Corythalia cincta: D Holotype from Presidente Hayes, Paraguay. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov.: E Holotype from south-eastern part of Ecuador. Corythalia waleckii: F Syntype MIZ 225794, Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia tropica: G Holotype from Falcon, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: H Holotype from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: I Male AMNH-IZC 00327930 from Aragua, Venezuela.

FIGURE 62. Corythalia spp., photographic images of female specimens, dorsal view. Corythalia argentinensis: A Paratype MACN 5076 from Misiones, Argentina. Corythalia verhaaghi sp. nov.: B Holotype from Ceará, Brazil. Corythalia luctuosa: C Female SMNK-ARA 14035 from Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana. Corythalia circumflexa: D Lectotype from Presidente Hayes, Paraguay. Corythalia dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov.: E Holotype from Magdalena, Colombia. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov.: F Paratype F-1 from south-eastern part of Ecuador. Corythalia waleckii: G Female RII/9741 (now in SMF) from Vargas, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: H Female FR-973-00266 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: I Female AMNH-IZC 00327943 from Aragua, Venezuela.

FIGURE 65. Corythalia spp., photographic images of left palps of male specimens, ventral view. Corythalia gasnieri sp. nov.:A Holotype from Amazonas, Brazil. Corythalia fimbriata: B Lectotype from Bahia, Brazil. Corythalia argentinensis: C Holotype from Misiones, Argentina. Corythalia luctuosa: D Lectotype from St. Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana. Corythalia cincta: E Holotype and F Male NHMB 1217a (holotype of Taeoma barbipes) from Presidente Hayes, Paraguay. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov.: G Holotype from south-eastern part of Ecuador. Corythalia waleckii: H Syntype MIZ 225794 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia tropica: I Holotype from Falcon, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: J Holotype and K Paratype from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: L Male AMNH-IZC 00327822-1 from Aragua, Venezuela.

FIGURE 69. Corythalia spp., photographic images of left palps of male specimens, retrolateral view. Corythalia cincta: A Holotype from Presidente Hayes, Paraguay. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov.: B Holotype from south-eastern part of Ecuador. Corythalia waleckii: C Syntype MIZ 225794 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia tropica: D Holotype from Falcon, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: E Holotype from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: F Male AMNH-IZC 00327329 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia electa: G Lectotype from Colombia. Corythalia chalcea: H Male AMNH-IZC 00327893 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia metallica: I Holotype from St. Vincent Island. Corythalia blanda: J Paralectotype M-1 from Trinidad. Corythalia xanthopa: K Male M-2, AMNH-IZC 00326903, from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia latior sp. nov.: L Holotype from Beni, Bolivia.

FIGURE 73. Corythalia spp., photographic images of epigynes, ventral view. Corythalia dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov.: A Holotype and B paratype from Magdalena, Colombia. Corythalia waleckii: C Female MCZ 22679-III (paralectotype of Dynamius placatus) from Trinidad. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: D Female FR-973-00200 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: Females E AMNH-IZC 00327926 from Aragua, Venezuela and F FR-973-00337 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia chalcea: G FemaleAMNH-IZC 00326918 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia longiducta sp. nov.: H Holotype and I female SMNK-ARA 02858 from Amazonas, Brazil.

FIGURE 77. Corythalia spp., photographic images of vulvae, dorsal view. Corythalia dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov.: A Holotype from Magdalena, Colombia. Corythalia waleckii: B. Female RII/9741 (now SMF) from Vargas, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: C Female FR-973-00200 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: D Female AMNH-IZC 00327926 from Aragua, Venezuela and E FR-973-00337 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia chalcea: F Female AMNH- IZC 00327896 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia longiducta sp. nov.: G Holotype and H female SMNK-ARA 02858 from Amazonas, Brazil. Corythalia blanda: I Lectotype from Trinidad.