Agalenocosa grismadoi, Piacentini, Luis N., 2014

Piacentini, Luis N., 2014, A taxonomic review of the wolf spider genus Agalenocosa Mello-Leitão (Araneae, Lycosidae), Zootaxa 3790 (1), pp. 1-35 : 20-26

Agalenocosa grismadoi sp. nov.

( Figs 8 f, 18, 19, 20, 24f, 27)

Type material. Male holotype from Argentina, Santa Fe, Madrejón San Felipe, (probably “Don Felipe”), no collector or date (MACN-Ar 22790), and two female paratypes from Argentina, Buenos Aires province, Tigre, Arroyo Espera, Galiano, M. E., iv.1983, collected on “camalotes” (MACN-Ar 22778).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the arachnologist Cristian J. Grismado in recognition of his help in collecting and companionship during many productive field trips in Argentina.

Other material examined. PARAGUAY. Alto Paraguay: Pto. Vallemi, Bachmann, A., v.1952, 2 ♀ (MACN- Ar 22711). ARGENTINA. Santa Fe: no further location or collector, viii.1969, 1 ♂ 1 immature (MACN-Ar 22727); no further location, Daguerre, J. B., viii.1969, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22786); no further location or collector, 3. v.1963, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22791); Arroyo del Medio, Rosas, 2. i.1983, 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 22709). Buenos Aires: Entre río Luján y Paraná de las Palmas, Ferradás, B.R., xii.1983, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22718); Tigre, Viana, J. M., 12. xii.1951, 3 ♂ 12 ♀ 15 immature (MACN-Ar 24011); Delta, Río Sarmiento, Oliva, A., 3. iv.1983, 2 ♂ 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22721); Delta, INTA, Carbajal, M., 8. iv.1982, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22728); Berisso, Ferradás, B. R., 1. xii.1982, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22784).

Diagnosis. This species can be differentiated from all other currently recognised Agalenocosa species by the small size, domed carapace, in lateral view, instead of straight as in other species of the genus ( Figs 18 b, d, 9b, d) and the presence of 2-0-0 ventral spines on the tibia I instead of 2-2-0 or 0-2-0. Males of this species can also be recognised by the absence of the tibial apophysis in the palp ( Fig. 8 f), present in the rest of species, and by the ventral process of the embolic division as a sclerotised ridge, more developed in the rest of species ( Figs 19 e, 10c, e). Females can be differentiated by the rounded lightly sclerotised area with sclerotised borders ( Fig. 19 a) and the vulvae with small spermathecae ( Fig. 19 b).

Remarks. The shape of the median and terminal apophyses, and the structure of the embolic division ( Figs 20 c,e) suggests the tentative placement of this species in Agalenocosa , despite the lack of the tibial apophysis on the male palp and the shape of the ventral process of the embolic division. The retrolateral side of the male palpal tibia on A. grismadoi sp. nov. is covered with short, stout setae ( Figs 20 a, b), more dense on the basal part ( Fig. 8 f), this setae resemble to those present on the tibial apophysis of the rest Agalenocosa species ( Fig. 3 a).

Description. Male. Holotype (MACN-Ar 22790). Carapace with inconspicuous design ( Figs 18 d–f). Sternum yellow, sparsely covered with brown bristles, more abundant on the margins. Labium dark grey. Chelicerae lighter than labium, light brown, covered with brown bristles. Dorsum of abdomen brown with a longitudinal wide, pale band with irregular margins, and with spots of whitish glistening setae in the front ( Figs 18 d–f). Venter pale brown, slightly darkened at the spinnerets. Legs pale brown with darker annulations, except femora I and II, which are dark brown. Leg formula IV> I> II> III.

Spination: femur I p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, II p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, III p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r d1-0-d1, IV p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-0-d1; patella I d 1-0, II p 1 d 1-1, III p 1 d 1-1 r 1, IV p 1 d 1-1 r 1; tibia I v 2-0-0, II p d1-0-d 1 v 0-r1-0, III p 0-d1-1 d 1-0-1 r 0-d1- 1 v p1-p1-2ap, IV p 0-d1-1 d 1-0-1 r 0-1-1 v 2-2 -2ap; metatarsus I p 0-0- v1 ap v 2 -0-0 r 0- 0- v1 ap, II p 1-1-2ap v r1-2-2ap, III d 2-2-2ap v 2-2 -3ap, IV p d1-d1-2ap r d1-1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap.

Palp. Tibia without basal apophysis ( Fig. 8 f), short, stout setae present ( Figs 20 a, b). Subtegulum in the mesoprolateral part of the alveolus. Tegulum with a shallow prolateral furrow ( Figs 19 c-d, 20d). Ventral branch of the median apophysis spatula-shaped, dorsal branch beak-shaped, directed retrolaterally ( Figs 19 d, 20c, e). Terminal apophysis short, retrolaterally pointed ( Fig. 19 d, 20c–e).

Female. Paratype (MACN-Ar 22778). Colour in ethanol ( Figs 18 a–c) as in male. Leg formula IV> I> II> III

Spination: femur I p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, II p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, III p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r d1-0-d1, IV p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-0-d1; patella I d 1-0, II p 1 d 1-1, III p 1 d 1-1 r 1, IV p 1 d 1-1 r 1; tibia I v p1-0-0, II p d1-0-d 1 v r1-r1-0, III p 0-d1-1 d 1-0-1 r 0-d1- 1 v p1-p1-2ap, IV p 0-d1-1 d 1-0-1 r 0-d1-1 v 2-2 -2ap; metatarsus I p 0-0- v1 ap v 2 -0-0 r 0-0- v1 ap, II p 1-0-2ap v r1-r1-2ap, III d 2-2-2ap v 2-2 -3ap, IV p d1-d1-2ap r d1-1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap.

Epigynal plate without pockets or atria, copulatory openings surrounded by a rounded lightly sclerotised area with sclerotised borders ( Fig. 19 a). Vulva: head of spermatheca rounded, of the same length than the stalk, but little broader. Vulval chamber oval, behind to the base of spermathecae in dorsal view ( Fig. 19 b).

Measurements. Female, MACN-Ar 22778 (male, MACN-Ar 22790): TL 5.05 (7.58), CL 2.60 (4.00), CW 2.00 (3.00), CH 1.07 (1.40), AL 2.33 (3.00). Eyes: AME 0.10 (0.17), ALE 0.08 (0.13), PME 0.17 (0.25), PLE 0.13 (0.17). Row of eyes: AER 0.53 (0.68), PME 0.47 (0.68), PLE 0.68 (1.02). Sternum (length/width) 1.12/1.15 (2.00/ 1.67). Labium (length/width) 0.42/0.40 (0.62/0.58). Legs: length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I 1.67 + 2.00 + 1.33 + 0.67 = 5.67, II 1.60 + 1.80 + 1.27 + 0.60 = 5,27, III 1.53 + 1.67 + 1.33 + 0.60 = 5.13, IV 2.33 + 2.60 + 2.00 + 0.80 = 7.73, (I 1.53 + 2.00 + 1.40 + 0.80 = 5.73, II 1.47 + 1.67 + 1.33 + 0.67 = 5.14, III 1.40 + 1.47 + 1.20 + 0.60 = 4.67, IV 1.93 + 2.33 + 1.93 + 0.73 = 6.92).

Variation. Females (males) (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.26 – 5.32, 4.82 ± 0.40; CL 2.00 – 2.67, 2.31 ± 0.25; CW 1.53 – 2.07, 1.80 ± 0.22 n = 8 (TL 3.99 – 5.05, 4.32 ± 0.49; CL 2.00 – 2.33, 2.18 ± 0.14; CW 1.40 – 1.80, 1.61 ± 0.17 n = 4).

Distribution. Known only from the eastern central Argentina (Santa Fe and northeastern Buenos Aires) and northern Paraguay ( Fig. 27 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. SEM images of Agalenocosa velox (Keyserling). a Left male tibial palp, retrolateral, upper left corner in a, detail of the stout setae; b Female abdomen, glistening setae. Scale bars, a 0.20 mm, b 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 8. Tibiae of male palps of Agalenocosa Mello-Leitão species, ventral view. a A. velox (Keyserling); b A. luteonigra Mello-Leitão; c A. tricuspidata (Tullgren); d A. punctata Mello-Leitão; e A. pirity sp. nov.; f A. grismadoi sp. nov. Scale bars, 0.20 mm.

FIGURE 18. Agalenocosa grismadoi sp. nov., habitus. a – c female; d – f male; a, d dorsal; b, e lateral; c, f ventral. Scale bars a – c 2.00 mm, d – f 1.00 mm.

FIGURE 19. Agalenocosa grismadoi sp. nov., genitalia. a epigyne ventral; b vulva, cleared, dorsal; c – e male palp, c prolateral, d ventral, e retrolateral. Scale bars, a, c – e 0.20 mm, b 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: BS Base of spermatheca, DB dorsal branch of embolic division, DP Dictynoid pore, dbMA dorsal branch of median apophysis, EH embolic hood, EP epigynal plate, FD fertilization ducts, HS head of the spermatheca, MA median apophysis, PTL prolateral tegular lobe, SS stalk of spermatheca, ST sub tegulum, T tegulum, TA terminal apophysis, VB ventral branch of embolic division, vbMA ventral branch of median apophysis.

FIGURE 20. SEM images of Agalenocosa grismadoi sp. nov. a – b left tibia of male palp, c – e male bulb, dissected. a detail of the stout setae; b retrolateral view of the male tibia; c ventral; d detail of the terminal apophysis in ventral view; e apical view of the bulb. Scale bars, a, d 0.02 mm, b 0.05 mm, c, e 0.20 mm. Abbreviations: DB dorsal branch of embolic division, dbMA dorsal branch of median apophysis, EH embolic hood, PTL prolateral tegular lobe, ST subtegulum, T tegulum, TA terminal apophysis, VB ventral branch of embolic division, vbMA ventral branch of median apophysis.

FIGURE 27. Geographic distribution of A. grismadoi sp. nov. (red stars), A. pirity sp. nov. (blue squares) and A. gamas sp. nov. (black circle). The asterisk inside of the mark point that is only the province as locality in the label.