Sparianthis crulsi ( Mello-Leitão, 1930 ) Rheims, 2020

Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, Revision of the spider genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 (Araneae, Sparassidae Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 4890 (2), pp. 151-191 : 167-170

Sparianthis crulsi ( Mello-Leitão, 1930) comb. nov.

Figs 54–68 , 144

Sampaiosia crulsi Mello-Leitão, 1930: 65 , figs 27–28

(Holotype ³ from Brazil, Pará, Oriximiná [-1.7500, -55.8500], Rio Cum-iná, G. Cruls leg. MNRJ 120 , examined, destroyed in 2019 fire). World Spider Catalog 2020.

Additional material examined. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Arima: 1♀, William Beebe Tropical Research Sta-tion [10.6914, -61.2874], 25 April 1964, A.M. Chickering leg. ( MCZ 69672) . FRENCH GUIANA: Regina : 1³, Nouragues Ecological Research Station, Camp Pararé [4.0333, -52.6833], 20 February 2010, V. Vedel leg. ( MNHN); 1³, same locality as previous specimen, 19 February 2010, V. Vedel leg. ( MNHN); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 2010, V. Vedel leg. ( MNHN) .

Diagnosis. Males of S. crulsi resemble those of S. beebei sp. nov. by the palp with mRTA sickle-shaped, arising from base of dRTA ( Figs 13 , 65 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by TBE with apical projection short and laminar (apical projection resembling a fishtail in S. beebei sp. nov.) ( Fig. 64 ). Females are distinguished from other congeners by the epigyne with lateral furrows distinctly separated from anterior furrow ( Figs. 61 , 66 ), internal ducts with first turn anteriad and glandular projection almost as large as spermathecae ( Figs. 67–68 ).

Redescription. Male (MNHN): Prosoma brown, darker at eye area and along thoracic striae. Chelicerae brown, darker than prosoma. Labium and endites yellowish brown. Sternum pale yellowish brown with darker margins. Opisthosoma pale gray; dorsally with brownish gray pattern of few scattered irregular marks laterally and 1–2 chevrons on posterior half; cardiac mark area lighter; ventrally with V-shaped lines of muscle sigilla extending posteriorly along almost all opisthosoma length ( Figs 54–55 ). Total length: 7.8. Prosoma: 3.8 long, 2.8 wide. Opist-hosoma: 3.7 long, 2.0 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.33, 0.20, 0.15, 0.20; interdistances: 0.20, 0.02, 0.45, 0.20, 0.15, 0.06. Legs (1/423): I: 12.0 (3.5, 1.7, 3.1, 2.9, 0.8); II: 11.7 (3.4, 1.7, 3.0, 2.8, 0.8); III: 8.9 (2.8, 1.0, 2.1, 2.3, 0.7); IV: 12.0 (3.5, 1.3, 2.7, 3.4, 1.1). Spination follows the generic pattern. Metatarsi III–IV with ventral distal preening combs. Palp: tibia with prolateral spines long; tegulum with retro-proximal protrusion; TBE squared with apical projection short and laminar; TBC wide, keel-like; embolus slender, with no projections, running distally and curving ventralproximally at the distal margin of alveolus ( Figs 58–60 , 63–65 ).

Description. Female (MNHN): Coloration pattern darker than male. Opisthosoma dorsally with two pairs of brown, round, muscular impressions on anterior half and brown pattern of irregular, elongate marks laterally (more than in male), large, irregular mark at the posterior end of cardiac mark and five median triangular marks down posterior half; ventrally with few scattered spots on posterior half; muscle sigilla inconspicuous ( Figs 56–57 ). Total length: 9.9. Prosoma: 3.9 long, 3.2 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.8 long, 2.9 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.26, 0.21, 0.15, 0.20; interdistances: 0.20, 0.09, 0.42, 0.33, 0.12, 0.11. Legs (21/43): I: 10,7 (3.1, 1.8, 2.6, 2.5, 0.7); II: 10.9 (3.3, 1.7, 2.6, 2.6, 0.7); III: 9.4 (2.9, 1.4, 2.4, 2.1, 0.6); IV: 10.7 (3.1, 1.3, 2.5, 2.9, 0.9). Spination pattern follows the generic pattern except tibia III: p1-0-0; tibia IV: d0-0-1; metatarsus IV: p1-1-0. Metatarsus III–IV with ventral distal preening combs. Epigyne: epigynal field rectangular, longer than wide; anterior furrow straight, slightly bent at lateral tips ( Figs 61 , 66 ). Vulva: internal ducts one third spermathecae width from copulatory openings to first turn and as wide as spermathecae from first turn to spermathecae; glandular projection arising from duct close to base of spermathecae; spermathecae oval ( Figs 62 , 67–68 ).

Variation. Males (n=2): total length 7.4–7.8; prosoma length: 3.4–3.8; femur I length: 3.0–3.4. Females (n = 2): total length: 9.9–10.6; prosoma length: 3.9–4.7; femur I length: 3.1–3.9.

Distribution. Known from western state of Pará ( Brazil), French Guiana and Trinidad ( Fig. 144 ).

Figures

FIGURES 54–57. Sparianthis crulsi (Mello-Leitão), habitus. 54–55 male (MNHN) (54 dorsal, 55 ventral); 56–57 female (MNHN (56 dorsal, 57 ventral). Scale lines: 2 mm.

FIGURES 58–62. Sparanthis crulsi (Mello-Leitão). 58–60 male (MNHN), left palp (58 prolateral, 59 ventral, 60 retrolateral); 61–62 female (MNHN) (61 epigyne, 62 vulva). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 63–68. Sparianthis crulsi (Mello-Leitão). 63–65 male (MNHN), left palp (63 prolateral, 64 ventral, 65 retrolateral); 66–68 female (MNHN) (66 epigyne, 67 vulva, 68 schematic course of internal duct system). Scale lines: 1 mm. af = anterior furrow; ap = apical projection; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; mRTA = median branch of RTA; TBC = tegular projection at conductor base; TBE = tegular projection at embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA.

FIGURES 143–144. Distribution maps for Sparianthis spp. 143 S. beebei sp nov., S. caracarai sp. nov., S. granadensis (Keyserling), S. juruti sp. nov., S. magalopalpa (Caporiacco) and S. picta (Simon); 144 S. boraris sp. nov., S. chickeringi (Gertsch), S. crulsi (Mello-Leitão), S. humaita sp. nov., S. juazeiro sp. nov. and S. ravida (Simon).

FIGURES 11–16. Sparianthis beebei sp. nov. 11–13 holotype (MCZ 69673), male, left palp (11 prolateral, 12 ventral, 13 retrolateral); 14–16 female, paratype (MCZ 69674) (14 epigyne, 15 vulva, 16 schematic course of internal duct system). Scale lines: 1 mm. af = anterior furrow; ap = apical projection; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; ft = first turn of copulatory duct; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; LL = lateral lobe; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = medial branch of RTA; MS = median septum; pt = retro-proximal protrusion; SP = spermathecae; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum; TBC = tegular projection at conductor base; TBE = tegular projection at embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA.