Selenops banksi Muma, 1953

Crews, Sarah C., 2011, A revision of the spider genus Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Arachnida, Araneae, Selenopidae) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 105, pp. 1-182 : 17-19

Selenops banksi Muma, 1953 Figs 15-16Map 3

Selenops banksi Muma 1953: 38, Figs 61-63 (♂, examined).

Type material.

Holotype male: Barro Colorado, Canal Zone, Panamá, 26.VII(no year), N. Banks, (MCZ, examined). Paratypes: Male, same data as holotype (MCZ).

Other material examined.

PANAMÁ: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, II.2008, R. Duncan, 2 imm. (EME sel_1000-1001); Juan Mina, II.1945, C.D. Michener, 1 imm. (AMNH); Panama City: monsoon forest canopy fogging, 15-30.VII.1979, E. Brodhead et al., 1♂ (USNM). GUYANA: Iwokrama Forest Research Station: 1 km north of Kurupukari, canopy fog of Mora tree, 14-19.I.1996, W. Tschinkel, 1♂ (CAS). PERU: Madre de Dios: Rio Tambopata Reserve, 30 km (air) southwest Puerto Maldonato, 290 m, 12°50'S, 69°20'W, Smithsonian Institute Canopy Fogging Project, 12.VII.1984, T.L. Erwin et al., 1♂ (MCZ).

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from all others by its yellowish and white abdomen with a darker foliate pattern, in addition to genitalic characteristics. The copulatory organs are most similar to Selenops micropalpus in that the palpal tibia is elongated, the embolus is short, and the RTA is small. These two species can be differentiated by the shape of the MA. In Selenops banksi the MA is conical with a very small, short, rounded distal hook (Figs 15-16). The dorsal branch of the RTA is also directed ventrally. Females unknown.

Description.

Holotype male: Color:carapace (holotype) brown-orange, with white setae, (recent) light dusky yellow with carapace and legs slightly darker; sternum (holotype) light yellow, (recent) light dusky yellow; chelicerae (holotype) orange-brown, (recent) dusky yellow, darker on sides; maxillae (holotype) light orange-brown, lightening distally, (recent) dusky yellow; labium (holotype) orange-brown, (recent) brown, lightening distally; abdomen dorsally (holotype) near white to dusky white with a narrow foliate basal lanceolate stripe, one or two interrupted dusky caudal chevrons and interrupted dusky remnants of the usual laterocaudal festoon, (recent) dusky yellow with white outlining lanceolate, foliate stripe, which begins anteriorly and terminates 1/4 way from the posterior end; ventrally light yellow; legs dusky yellow with annulations, leg bands indistinct except on the anteroventral faces of the femora, patellae and tibiae giving the impression of longitudinal stripes. Carapace: 0.87 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; AME slightly larger than PME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.23, ALE 0.08, PME 0.18, PLE 0.28; interdistances AME-PME 0.10, PME-ALE 2.50, ALE-PLE 2.25. PME-PME 0.95. ALE-ALE 1.53; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.43, PLE-PLE 1.53; clypeus 0.20 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:1.14 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Legs: leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 3241; scopulae present on distal end of all 4 tarsi; tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts; pr claw per foot slightly toothed; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 1 –1–1–1– 1; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2-2; leg II, Fm pr 0 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, rl 1 –0– 1, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, v 2-2, rl 1 –0– 0; leg III, Fm pr 0 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, rl 1 –0– 1, v 2-2; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2-2; leg IV, Fm pr 0 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, v 0 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2 –1– 0; Mt pr 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2 –0– 1. Abdomen:with terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:Fm, spination dorsal 0 –1– 3; cymbium oval and slightly angled posterolaterally in ventral view; conductor stout, triangular structure arising distally; embolus very short, tapering suddenly from flat circular base, beginning at 9 o'clock, terminating at 12 o'clock; MA small, conical, slightly curved distally, forming a small hook, located at 2 o'clock position; RTA with two apophyses, both directed ventrally in lateral view, ventral one rounded distally in ventral view, lateral apophysis bent, quadrate, distally truncate, RTA barely reaching cymbium in ventral view; palpal tibia noticeably elongate (Figs 15-16). Dimensions: Total length 7.55. Carapace length 3.48, width 3.98. Sternum length 2.00, width 1.75. Pedipalp: Fm 1.75, Pt 0.60, Ti 1.00, Ta 0.90, total 4.25. Leg I: Fm 5.00, Pt 1.75, Ti 5.00, Mt 4.75, Ta 2.00, total 17.50. Leg II: Fm 5.75, Pt 1.75, Ti 5.50, Mt 4.75, Ta 2.00, total 19.75. Leg III: Fm 6.50, Pt 1.60, Ti 5.35, Mt 4.80, Ta 2.10, total 20.35. Leg IV: Fm 6.25, Pt 1.00, tibia 4.65, Mt 4.65, Ta 1.75, total 18.30.

Natural history.

This species, at least as an adult male, appears to live in the canopy, as it has only been collected by fogging. It is seemingly widespread, but has only rarely been collected. Juveniles have been collected from under bark.

Distribution.

Occurs from Panamá, south to Peru and east to Guyana (Map 3).