Gelanor altithorax Keyserling, 1893

Ligia R. Benavides & Gustavo Hormiga, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical pirate spiders of the genus Gelanor Thorell, 1869 (Araneae, Mimetidae) with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 4064 (1), pp. 1-72 : 16-20

Gelanor altithorax Keyserling, 1893

( Figs. 6–11 )

Gelanor altithorax Keyserling, 1893: 370 , plate19, fig. 276 (female). Female holotype: BRAZIL with no specific collection data. The localities mentioned by Keyserling (1893) for G. altithorax are Blumenau, Taquara and Rio de Janeiro, all in Brazil (not examined).

Gelanor altithorax Mello-Leitão, 1929: 564 , plate 5, fig. 28 (female).

Gelanor lanei Soares, 1941: 262 , fig. 5 (female). Female holotype, BRAZIL, Estado de Sao Paulo, Batea. 2.xi.1940. F. Lane leg. Deposited at the Zoological Department of the Secretary of Agriculture of Sao Paulo, Brazil (presumed lost, not examined). New synonymy.

N.B. We were not able to examine the Keyserling type, but the description and the relatively good illustrations depict a somatic feature unique to G. altithorax : the presence of a high cephalothorax, pointed, in a triangular shape when in lateral view. In addition, the epigynum illustrated in Keyserling’s description adds support to our identifications.

Synonymy. The female type specimen of G. lanei was deposited at the Zoological Department of the Secretary of Agriculture of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The actual whereabouts of the type are unknown and there is not a clear description or illustration of the genitalia. Soares’ drew the spider in dorsal view and mentioned a high cephalothorax. The high cephalothorax is unique to G. altithorax , and thus based on this character we suggest that G. lanei is a junior synonym of G. altithorax .

Additional material examined. ARGENTINA: Misiones: Dto. De San Pedro; Parque Provincia Cruce Cabellero, -26.9085, -54.4342, 1F, 13–16.i.2005, C. Grismado, L. Lopardo, A. Quaglino, G. Rubio ( MACN 28769– GH1305). BRAZIL: No Locality data 1F, 22.i.2005 ( MNRJ 6570); Paraná: Serra da Farinha seca, Pinhais, - 25.396167, -48.932861, 1017m, 1F, 15–20.ix.1995, Lab. Aracnología ( MCP 7635); Río de Janeiro: Parque Nacional da Tijuca, -22.102506, -43.068197, 1F, xi.2004 ( MNRJ 14570), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Cachoeira Humaita, 1M, ix.2005 ( MNRJ 14559), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Mata do Pai Ricardo, -22.961468, -42.956223, 3F, 21.i.2005 ( MNRJ 6552, 6562,6569), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Pedra da Gavea, -22.150833, -43.101389, 1F, xii.2005 ( MNRJ 14563), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Serra da Carioca, Cachoeira dos Primatas, -22.117886, - 43.050106, 1F, xii.2005, E.H. Wienkoski ( MNRJ 14555), Poso grande, 1F ( MNHN 26107); Rio Grande do sul: Itaara, 1F, 16.i.2007, A. Lise et al. ( MCP 21076); Santa Catarina: Corupa, -26.425833, -49.243056, 1F, ii.1949, A. Maller ( AMNH); Sao Paulo: Horto florestal, 1F, 15.iv.1959, F. Lane ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Gelanor altithorax can be diagnosed from other congeneric species by its pointed triangular carapace ( Figs. 6 B, 8B); epigynal septum in an hourglass shape-like and lateral lobes with angular ends ( Figs. 9 B, E), and cymbial flap with indentations on one of its edges ( Fig. 7 C).

Description: Male ( BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional da Tijuca. 20.i.2005. CS. Costa; MNRJ 6556, LB308). Habitus as in Figs. 6 A–C. Total length 4.47. Cephalothorax 2.48 long, 1.09 wide, 1.08 high. Carapace with a dark brown central stripe running from cephalothorax apex towards frontal part of carapace, covering ocular area, and two lateral stripes ( Fig. 6 A). Abdomen rhomboidal, dark brown dorsally; two small white spots anterior to the two larger ones, and one white spot posteriorly ( Fig. 6 A); light brown ventrally; 1.99 long, 1.09 wide, 1.62 high. Sternum light orange, 1.25 long, 0.96 wide. Labium 0.33 long, 0.31 wide, darker than the sternum. Clypeus 0.12 high. AME interdistance 0.17; PME interdistance 0.06; PME–AME distance 0.17; AME–ALE distance 0.19; PME–PLE distance 0.28. Chelicerae light orange, lateral edges dark brown ( Fig.1 D); ChL 0.85; ChLW1 0.40; ChLW2 0.44. For palp and leg measurements see Table 1. Cymbium almost as long as wide (0.62 long, 0.68 wide). Palp 10.21mm long, 2.19 times total body length; paracymbium triangular and with two of its margins detached from cymbium.

Tr Fm Pt Tb Mt Ta

Palp 0.4 4.24 1.32 3.63

Leg I 0.12 4.28 1.4 4.61 5.90 2.0

Leg II 0.18 3.7 1.03 3.16 3.68 1.27

Leg III 0.15 2.3 0.63 1.44 1.52 0.68

Leg IV 0.22 2.69 0.59 1.74 2.04 0.68 Female ( BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro, Alto da Boa Vista, Tijuca, Cachoeira dos Primatas. -22.11788611, −43.05010556. xi.2005; MNRJ 14552 (LB 177); Mata do Pai Ricardo. 21.i.2005; MNRJ 6569 (LB317). Habitus as in Figs. 8 A–F. Total length 4.56. Cephalothorax 1.70 long, 2.20 wide, 2.92 high. Carapace dark orange ( Fig. 8 B, G). Abdomen rhomboidal, similar in coloration to that of male; white spots less conspicuous than males; 2.86 long, 3.99 wide, 2.86 high. Sternum dark orange, lighter anteriorly ( Fig. 8 C), 1.47 long, 1.15 wide. Labium uniform light orange, 0.43 long, 0.36 wide. Clypeus 0.09 high. AME inter-distance 0.19; PME inter-distance 0.11; distance PME–AME 0.14; distance AME–ALE 0.28; distance PME–PLE 0.38. Chelicerae dark orange ( Fig. 8 G); ChL 1.28; ChW1 0.54; ChW2 0.64. For palp and leg measurements see Table 2. Epigynum as in Fig. 9 . Epigynal septum in an hourglass shape (in ventral view, Fig. 9 B), light yellow; two orange anterior lateral lobes on septum, completely covering copulatory openings ( Figs. 9 A, B, D); spermathecae less than one spermathecae diameter apart, not externally fused ( Figs. 9 E–I). Copulatory ducts originating from anterior part of the spermathecae and fertilization ducts from its posterior part ( Fig. 9 G). Female spinnerets as in Fig. 10 . Variation. Carapace and sternum vary from light yellow to light orange. In both sexes the dark marks on femora I and II can be absent. Female cephalothorax ranges in length from 1.70 to 2.52; cephalothorax width ranges from 1.96 to 2.20; cephalothorax height ranges from 1.11 to 2.91; abdomen width ranges from 3.49 to 4.37; abdomen height ranges from 2.26 to 2.86; total body length ranges from 4.56 to 5.53 (n=3). Male variation unknown (only one male was available for study).

Tr Fm Pt Tb Mt Ta

Palp 0.22 0.83 0.37 0.69 0.93

Leg I 0.18 3.76 0.98 3.49 3.60 1.78

Leg II 0.21 3.36 1.05 2.60 2.84 1.32

Leg III 0.17 2.38 0.59 1.66 1.76 0.71

Leg IV 0.14 2.05 0.69 1.31 1.32 0.74 Distribution. Recorded from Southern Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo States) and Northern Argentina (Misiones State) ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Gelanor latus. A, Male. B, Female. C, Male and female. All from Caicubí, Rio Jufarí, Médio Rio Negro, (Brazil) (Photos, L. Benavides).

FIGURE 6. Gelanor altithorax, Male (A – I, LB 308); A – C, Habitus; D – E, Cephalothorax; F – I, right legs. A, Dorsal. B, Lateral. C, Ventral. D, Frontal view. E, Lateral view. F, Prolateral. G, Retrolateral. H, Tibiae I and II, dorsal. I, Metatarsi I and II, dorsal. Scale bars, A – C, 1 mm; D – E, 500 µm; F – I, 2 mm.

FIGURE 7. Gelanor altithorax, male left palp (LB 308). A, Prolateral. B, Dorsal. C, Retrolateral. D, Ventral. Scale bars, 500 µm.

FIGURE 8. Gelanor altithorax, female (A – G, LB 177; H – L, LB 317); A – C, Cephalothorax; D – F, abdomen. A, Dorsal. B, Lateral. C, Ventral. D, Dorsal. E, Lateral. F, Ventral. G, Cephalothorax, Frontal. H, Carapace, Dorsal. I, Fovea, detail. J, Legs, prolateral. K, Detail of tibiae I and II, Prolateral view. L, Detail of metatarsus I and II, prolateral view. Scale bars, A – C, G, K, L, 1 mm; D – F, J, 2 mm; H, 200 µm; I, 20 µm.

FIGURE 9. Gelanor altithorax, epigynum and spermathecae (A – C, LB 177; D, I, LB 317; E – H, LB 192). A, Anterior. B, Ventral. C, Posterior. D, Lateral. E – H, Epigynum clarified. E, Ventral. F, Anterior. G, Ventral. H, Dorsal. I, Spermathecae, dorsal view SEM.

FIGURE 10. Gelanor altithorax, female spinnerets (LB 317). A, left ALS. B, left PMS. C, left PLS. D, detail of Cy on PLS. Scale bars, A – C, G, 200 µm; F, H, I, L, 100 µm; E, A, C: 10 µm; B, 3 µm; D, 5 µm.

FIGURE 11. Distribution records of Gelanor altithorax. Red triangle depicts the type locality for the species and blue circles new localities.