Ctenus malvernensis Petrunkevitch, 1910

Polotow, Daniele & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2012, An update on tropical Ctenidae from Jamaica (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 3481, pp. 39-46 : 42-43

Ctenus malvernensis Petrunkevitch, 1910

Figs 2A–D

Ctenus malvernensis Petrunkevitch, 1910: 217 , pl. 22, figs 24–25 (male holotype [YPM 502044] and female [YPM 502043] paratype from Malvern, Jamaica, V.1905, examined).

Additional material examined. JAMAICA. St. Catherine Parish, Hellshire Hills, S of Spanish Town, (300–500m, dry forest in limestone karst, 17o 52’N, 76o 58’W), 1 male and 1 female, II–III.1997, B. Wilson col. ( CAS); St. Andrew Parish, Newcastle to Hardwar Gap (18o 01’N, 76o 54’W), 1160–1280 m, 1 female, 8.IV.1988, Coyle, Bennet & Robinson col. ( AMNH); Mandeville (18o 02’N, 77o 30’W), 1 female, IV.1940, C.E. Pengelley col. ( AMNH); St. Andrew Parish, B.W.I. vicinity of Cinchona (18o 01’N, 76o 54’W), 1 female, 10.VI.1948, D.E. Miller col. ( AMNH); Lucea (18o 27’N, 78o 10’W), 1 female, 21.VII.1960, Vauries col. ( AMNH); Hermitage Reservoir, Saint Andrew (18o 05’N, 76o 46’W), 1 female, 24.VII.1960, Vauries col. ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Males of Ctenus malvernensis ( Figs 2A–B ) resemble those of C. falconensis ( Polotow & Brescovit 2012: figs 2A–B) by the embolus shape, with large base and thin apex, but can be distinguished by the larger median apophysis, laminar retrolateral tibial apophysis, with elongated dorsal part, and absence of tegular projection. Females of Ctenus malvernensis ( Figs 2C–D ) resemble those of C. falconensis ( Polotow & Brescovit 2012: fig. 2C) by the median sector subrectangular posteriorly, but can be distinguished by median sector narrow anteriorly and truncated lateral lobe of lateral sectors ( Figs 2C–D ).

Description. Male (holotype). Colouration: carapace reddish brown, thoracic groove dark brown; legs reddish brown, with ventral faces of coxae and femora lighter; chelicerae reddish brown; endites and labium reddish brown, lighter at tips; sternum reddish brown; abdomen variegated gray, with dorsal anterior light area and two pairs of white spots on ventral abdomen. Total length 17.10. Carapace 9.70 long, 7.90 wide. Clypeus 0.35 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.50, ALE 0.32, PME 0.47, PLE 0.50. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal teeth, median largest; 4 retromarginal subequal teeth and one retromarginal basal small teeth; with intermarginal denticles. Leg measurements: I: femur 11.20/ patella 4.10/ tibia 11.20/ metatarsus 10.90/ tarsus 4.20/ total 41.60; II: 10.40/ 4.30/ 10.40/ 10.10/ 3.80/ 39.00; III: 9.00/ 3.70/ 7.90/ 9.00/ 3.00/ 32.60; IV: 11.40/ 3.80/ 10.50/ 14.20/ 4.30/ 44.20. Leg formula 4123. Leg spination: tibia I and II v2-2 -2-2-2, r1-1-0, p1-1-1-0, III and IV v2-2 -2, r1-1-0, p1-1-0; metatarsus I, II v2-2 -2, r1-1-0, p-1-1-0, III v2-2 -2, r1-1-1, p1-1-1, IV v2-1 -1-1-2, r1-1-1-1, p1-1-1; metatarsus IV unmodified. Palp ( Figs 2A–B ): tibia as long as cymbium; retrolateral tibial apophysis positioned at tibial apex; retrolateral tibial apophysis short, laminar retro-prolaterally, divided into truncated ventral area and elongated dorsal area; cymbium elongated, basal projections absent; tegulum not projected; embolus without laminar basal projection; median apophysis cup-shaped bimarginated and large, with convex area visible in ventral view; conductor hyaline and laminar.

Female (YPM 502043). Colouration as in male, except by the black rings around the eyes. Total length 26.60. Carapace 12.40 long, 9.30 wide. Clypeus 0.55 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.50, ALE 0.37, PME 0.57, PLE 0.50. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal teeth, median largest; 4 retromarginal subequal teeth and one retromarginal basal small teeth; with intermarginal denticles. Leg measurements: I: femur 10.10/ patella 5.10/ tibia 9.90/ metatarsus 8.70/ tarsus 3.00/ total 36.80; II: 10.00/ 4.90/ 8.50/ 8.10/ 2.80/ 34.30; III: 8.70/ 4.40/ 6.90/ 7.50/ 2.40/ 29.90; IV: 10.80/ 4.40/ 9.50/ 12.00/ 3.40/ 40.10. Leg formula 4123. Leg spination: tibia I and II v2-2 -2-2-2, r1-0-0, p1-0-0, III and IV v2-2 -2, r1-1, p1-1; metatarsus I, II v2-2 -2, r0, p0, III v2-2 -2, r1-1-1, p1-1-1, IV v2-1 -1-1-2, r1-1-1, p1-1-1. Epigyne ( Figs 2C–D ): median sector subrectangular posteriorly and narrow anteriorly, with two projections; excavated copulatory ducts entrance; lateral lobes truncated. Spermathecae oval, with basal projection; copulatory ducts short and straight, fertilization ducts long, laminar and curved, positioned in ventral area of spermathecae.

Variation. 2 males: total length 12.30–17.10; carapace length 6.70–9.70; femur I 8.20–11.20. 6 females: total length 18.50–26.60; carapace length 9.00–12.80; femur I 8.20–10.10.

Distribution. Known only from Jamaica ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Collection localities of three Ctenidae species. A. World map; B. Close up, Caribbean Sea, Jamaica.

FIGURES 2 A – D. Ctenus malvernensis Petrunkevitch. A – B. Male palp (A. ventral view; B. retrolateral view). Scale bar: 2 mm. C – D. Epigyne (C. ventral view; D. dorsal view). Scale bar: 1 mm. Abbreviations: C, conductor; CD, copulatory ducts; CY, cymbium; E, embolus; FD, fertilization ducts; LL, lateral lobes; LS, lateral sector; MA, median apophysis; MS, median sector; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae; ST, subtegulum; TE, tegulum; TI, tibia. Arrow pointing to copulatory opening.