Scaphiella simla Chickering, 1968

Platnick, N. & Dupérré N., 2010, The Goblin Spider Genus Scaphiella (Araneae, Oonopidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2010 (332), pp. 1-156 : 114-117

Scaphiella simla Chickering

Figures 846–868; map 1

– Anterior sclerite undivided, medially situated (fig. 875)................ S. scutiventris

19. Epigynal atrium with paired posterior sclerotizations....................... 20

– Epigynal atrium with lateral sclerotizations.......................... 21

20. Posterior sclerotizations rounded (fig. 1019)................. S. agocena

– Posterior sclerotizations hook shaped (fig. 1088)................... S. saba

21. Lateral sclerotizations narrow (fig. 933)........................... S. guatopo

– Lateral sclerotizations wide.......... 22

22. Epigynal atrium with anterior margin thickened (fig. 1134)............. S. septella

– Epigynal atrium with anterior margin not thickened (fig.1115).......... S. kalunda

23. Eyes reduced (as in fig. 892).......... 24

– Eyes normal..................... 28

24. Epigynal atrium without pair of posterior sclerotizations.................... 25

– Epigynal atrium with pair of posterior sclerotizations.................... 26

25. Anterior sclerite greatly enlarged, filling epigynal atrium (fig. 952)....... S. gracia

– Anterior sclerite small, medially situated (fig. 894).................. S. bordoni

26. Posterior sclerotizations touching (fig. 914)........................ S. miranda

– Posterior sclerotizations not touching... 27

27. Epigynal atrium with lateral sclerotizations (fig. 1038).................. S. weberi

– Epigynal atrium without lateral sclerotizations (fig. 1047).............. S. arima

28. Epigynal atrium with posterior, median invagination (fig. 971)........ S. valencia

– Epigynal atrium without posterior, median invagination..................... 29

Scaphiella simla Chickering, 1968: 151 , figs. 42–47 (male holotype from Arima Valley , Simla, Trinidad, in MCZ; examined).

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of S. cymbalaria in having conical anterior projections at the base of the chelicerae (figs. 848– 851) and a small projection near the base of the embolus (fig. 857), but the cheliceral projections are much smaller in this species than in S. cymbalaria ; females have elevated anterior margins, accompanied by microsculpture, on the epigastric scutum (fig. 865) and a relatively small anterior epigynal sclerite (fig. 866).

MALE (PBI_OON 29848, figs. 846–857). Total length 1.54. Carapace sides with obvious granulation extending upward in triangular patches from opposite coxae, covering most of posterior declivity; anterior face of chelicerae with swelling. Sternum smooth. Endites unmodified. Abdomen lightly patterned; epigastric scutum with tuberculate setal bases present at sides and front. Palpal femur slightly expanded; bulb produced basally, with distinct knob just proximal and retrolateral to embolus origin, embolus projecting far ventral of bulb surface.

FEMALE (PBI_OON 29848, figs. 858–868). Total length 1.76. Chelicerae without anteri- or swelling. Epigastric scutum with elevated anteromedian edges at sides above pedicel. Anterior epigynal sclerite with anterior protuberance, widened posteriorly; apodemes long, laterally directed.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Sucre: Carúpano , July 23, 1987, thorn-scrub litter, elev. 80 m (S., J. Peck, AMNH PBI _OON 29596), 1 U ; 37 km W Carúpano , July 31, 1987, humid ravine litter, thorn-vine forest, elev. 50 m (S., J. Peck, AMNH

PBI _ OON 1231 , 29609 ), 1 -, 2 U ; 26 km SE Río Caribe, July 28, 1987, tree base litter, forest over cacao, elev. 50 m (S., J. Peck, AMNH PBI _OON 29601), 1 U. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: no specific locality, no date (N. Weber, MCZ 66857, PBI _OON 29548), 1 -, 1 U. Arima: Arima Valley, Simla , April 1964 (A. Chickering, MCZ PBI _OON 29848), 3 -, 2 U (paratypes), Apr. 19, 1964 (A. Chickering, MCZ PBI _OON 29552), 1 - (holotype), same (A. Chickering, MCZ 66856, PBI _OON 29547), 1 U (paratype), Feb. 1972, elev. 1000 ft (J. Cooke, AMNH PBI _ OON 95 ), 1 -.

DISTRIBUTION: Sucre, Venezuela, and Trinidad (map 1).