Sparianthina gaita, Rheims, Cristina Anne, 2011

Rheims, Cristina Anne, 2011, New species of Sparianthina Banks, 1929 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 3125, pp. 64-68 : 66-68

Sparianthina gaita sp. nov.

Figs 7–14

Type material. Holotype: 3 from Rancho Grande, near Maracay (10°04' N; 67°32' W), Aragua, Venezuela, 1–15 July 1946, Beebee et al. leg. ( AMNH). Paratype: 1Ƥ, with the same data as holotype ( AMNH).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition. “ Gaita ” is a style of Venezuelan folk music.

Diagnosis. Sparianthina gaita sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from the remaining Sparianthina species by the male palps with DTA strongly curved retrolaterally ( Figs 9, 11 ) and RTA dorsally curved at tip ( Fig. 10 ), female epigynum with median septum with small posterior pocket ( Fig. 12 ) and vulva with two large lobes, with long fertilization ducts opening on the anterior lobe ( Fig. 13 ).

Description. Male (AMNH, holotype): Prosoma orange, slightly darker laterally and at eye area, with brown fovea and thoracic striae. Eye borders black. Chelicerae and pedipalps brownish orange. Legs brownish orange with femora mottled with small pale brown spots. Sternum pale yellow with orange margins. Labium and endites pale orange, distally pale yellow. Opisthosoma yellowish orange with two pairs of conspicuous round muscular pits surrounded by bright orange setae dorsally ( Fig. 7 ). Total length 8.2. Prosoma: 3.8 long, 4.3 wide. Opisthosoma slightly triangular: 4.1 long, 2.7 wide. Eye diameters: 0.22, 0.24, 0.20, 0.28; interdistances: 0.14, 0.04, 0.30, 0.32, 0.28, 0.24. Legs: I: 23.0 (6.3, 2.3, 6.6, 5.8, 2.0); II: 25.3 (7.2, 2.4, 7.3, 6.3, 2.1); III: 19.4 (5.6, 2.0, 5.3, 5.0, 1.5); IV: 21.3 (5.9, 1.8, 5.6, 6.0, 2.0). Spination: femora I–III p1-1-1, d0-1-1, r1-1-1; femur IV p1-1-1, d0-1-1, r0-1-1; tibiae I–II d1-1-1, v2-2 -2-2-0; tibiae III–IV p1-0-1; d1-0-1; r1-0-1; v2-2 -0; metatarsi I–II p1-0-0, r1-0-0, v2-2 -0; metatarsus III p1-1-0, r1-1-0, v2-2 -1; metatarsus IV: p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-2 -0. Palp: tibia slightly shorter than cymbium with one dorsal and three prolateral spines; VTA triangular and slightly retrolateral; RTA rounded with ventral projection dorsally bent at tip; cymbium scopulae inconspicuous; tegulum retrolaterally swollen; embolus long and conical, with short and stout projection at base; conductor long, hyaline lamina; DTA strongly curved retrolaterally ( Figs 9–11 ).

Female (AMNH, paratype): Coloration as in male except prosoma mottled with small brown spots and opisthosoma laterally mottled with white spots ( Fig. 8 ). Total length 9.3. Prosoma: 4.1 long, 4.1 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.0 long, 3.4 wide. Eye diameters: 0.20, 0.24, 0.20, 0.30; interdistances: 0.14, 0.06, 0.32, 0.34, 0.26, 0.30. Legs: I: 17.9 (5.3, 2.1, 4.9, 4.1, 1.5); II: 19.7 (6.0, 2.3, 5.5, 4.4, 1.5); III: 15.1 (4.6, 1.8, 4.0, 3.5, 1.2); 16.3 (4.9, 1.6, 4.2, 4.1, 1.5). Spination as in male. Epigynum: epigynal plate as long as wide; median septum slightly pentagonal with small posterior pocket ( Fig. 12 ). Vulva: glandular projection small and rounded, arising close to copulatory opening; duct system with two large, rounded lobes; fertilization ducts very long ( Figs 13–14 ).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality, Rancho Grande, Venezuela.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 8. Sparianthina gaita sp. nov. Habitus, dorsal view (11 male, 12 female).

FIGURES 9 – 14. Sparianthina gaita sp. nov. 9 – 11 Male, left palp (9 ventral view, 10 retrolateral view, 11 detailed embolar region); 12 – 14 Female (12 epigynum, ventral view, 13 vulva, dorsal view, 14 schematic course of duct system). Scale lines: 0.5 mm.