Kukulcania brignolii ( Alayón, 1981 ), Magalhaes & Ramírez, 2019

Magalhaes, Ivan L. F. & Ramírez, Martín J., 2019, The Crevice Weaver Spider Genus Kukulcania (Araneae: Filistatidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 426, pp. 1-153 : 96-102

Kukulcania brignolii ( Alayón, 1981) , comb. nov.

Figures 2F , 4B , 5D , 8A , 31B , 57–60

Filistata brignolii Alayón, 1981: 2 , figs. 1–2. Male holotype from Mexico, Oaxaca (MCVR), examined.

EXAMINED TYPE MATERIAL: HOLOTYPE: MEX- ICO. Oaxaca: Monte Albán [N17.0438°, W96.76811°], P. Brignoli, 7.viii.1973, 1♂ ( MCVR).

REMARKS: Alayón (1981) described this species under Filistata stating that Lehtinen’s (1967) decision to erect Kukulcania for New World filistatines was not well justified and that additional studies on the phylogenetic relationships of the family were necessary. He did not explicitly state his reasons to doubt the validity of Kukulcania . The possession of sclerotized bars in the spermathecae of K. brignolii is a character so far recorded only in Kukulcania , indicating this species belongs here and not in Filistata . Hence, a new combination is proposed. With this transfer, all American species once placed in Filistata have been accommodated in New World genera. In the years before the publication of Alayón’s (1981) work, W.J. Gertsch recognized this species under the manuscript name “ Filistata tehuana . ”

DIAGNOSIS: Males are similar to those of K. mexicana and K. santosi in having incrassate, strong setae in the prolateral border of the cymbium. They differ in having a short, uncoiled embolus (long, two coils in K. mexicana ) and by the simple apex of the incrassate setae on the cymbium (fig. 58) (spatulate in K. santosi ). Females are similar to K. mexicana in having long, curved sclerotized bars that do not taper posteriorly, and spermathecae that project anteriorly to the margin of the uterus externus. K. brignolii might be distinguished by the smaller glandular portion of the spermathecae apex, which is placed ventrally to the membranous portion (larger, ectally placed glandular portion in K. mexicana ), and by the usually less bent sclerotized bars (fig. 60).

DESCRIPTION: Male holotype from Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico (MCVR). Coloration yellowish cream. Carapace finely stippled with light brown. Abdomen dorsum light brown around cardiac area and in posterior end. Clypeus short. Sternum oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Total length 7.45. Carapace length 3.36, width 2.81, clypeus length 0.27. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME‰.15; PME‰.214; ALE ‰.249; PLE 0.235; AME–AME 0.074; PME–PME 0.233. Sternum length 1.54, width 1.62. Palp: femur length 4.33, height 0.54; tibia length 4.43, height 0.64. Leg I: femur (fe) 7.21; patella (pa) 1.43; tibia (ti) 7.29; metatarsus (mt) 8.37; tarsus (ta) 4.11. II: fe 5.68; pa 1.32; ti 5.11; mt 5.84; ta 2.5. III: fe 4.67; pa 1.11; ti 4.36; mt 5.67; ta 3.64. IV: fe 6.39; pa 1.4; ti 6.2; mt 7.72; ta 3.42. Abdomen: length 4.33, width 2.1. Palp macrosetae long, in several rows along femur ventral face. Leg macrosetae: fe I 1d, 15p, 4v, 8r; ti I 4p, 7v; mt I 1p, 14v, 1r; ta I 7v; fe II 4d, 6p, 5v, 4r; ti II 2p, 6v; mt II 3p, 12v, 3r; ta II 9v; fe III 5d, 5p, 12v, 1r; ti III 1d, 3p, 4v, 3r; mt III 1d, 2p, 16v, 2r; ta III 11v; fe IV 5d, 3p, 6v, 3r; ti IV 1p, 2v, 2r; mt IV 2p, 15v, 2r; ta IV 11v. Palp: cymbium long, with prolateral edge slightly protruding and bearing a forelock of incrassate setae; bulb short, piriform; sperm duct with three tightly packed coils; embolus short, pointing dorsally, with a small keel near the base. State of the specimen: well preserved but very fragile, left leg I broken from the base of the femur, left leg II loose, left palp dissected, missing some of the prolateral thick setae.

Female from Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico (AMNH IFM-1637). Coloration dark yellowish brown. Carapace stippled with dark brown. Sternum and first femora and tibiae hirsute, with long setae. Legs brown, except for yellowish-brown metatarsi and tarsi, coxae with lighter, longitudinal markings. Abdomen dorsum brown. Anterior margin of the carapace unmodified. Sternum oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Total length 10.29. Carapace length 4.55, width 3.34, clypeus length 0.64. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.142; PME 0.252; ALE 0.302; PLE 0.327; AME– AME 0.114; PME–PME 0.28. Sternum length 1.98, width 2.01. Palp: femur length 2.56, height 0.89; tibia length 1.4, height 0.75. Leg I: femur (fe) 5.05; patella (pa) 1.72; tibia (ti) 4.9; metatarsus (mt) 4.34; tarsus (ta) 2.1. II: fe 4.06; pa 1.65; ti 3.45; mt 3.16; ta 1.76. III: fe 3.21; pa 1.37; ti 2.62; mt 2.81; ta 1.58. IV: fe 4.55; pa 1.5; ti 3.96; mt 3.68; ta 1.73. Abdomen: length 5.88, width 3.59. Palp macrosetae on ventral surface of tibia and tarsus. Leg macrosetae present on ventral surfaces of tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; femora with 2–4 dorsal macrosetae. Calamistrum with three rows with 7–10 setae each. Interpulmonary fold large, rounded, covering the spermathecae dorsally. Sclerotized lateral bars present, elongate, slightly curved, positioned posteriorly to receptacles; membranous portion of the spermathecae apex subrounded; glandular portion positioned ventrally to the membranous portion. State of the specimen: good, many setae missing, right legs I and II missing from tibia, genitalia dissected.

INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION: Males (N = 2): total length 7.45–8.34 (7.9), carapace length 3.36–3.71 (3.54), femur I length 7.21–7.46 (7.34), tibia I length 6.98–7.29 (7.14), femur/ carapace ratio 2.01–2.15 (2.08). Females (N = 5): total length 10.29–12.77 (12.14), carapace length 4.55–5.6 (5.08), femur I length 5.05– 6.34 (5.85), tibia I length 4.9–6.08 (5.6), femur/ carapace ratio 1.11–1.26 (1.15). The shape of the female genitalia is variable, especially the shape of the sclerotized bars (fig. 60), and some specimens are somewhat intermediate with the morphology found in K. mexicana , sp. nov., although these have been collected in areas with males or females with typical morphology (fig. 60H).

NATURAL HISTORY: Label data indicate this species has been collected under stones, on rocky slopes and in pine-oak forests.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico, in Estado de México, Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz (fig. 4B).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: MEXICO. Estado de México: Pyramids of San Juán Teotihuacán [N19.69227°, W98.8435°], Bentzien, 15. ix.1977, 3♀ 3 imm. (UCB). Oaxaca: no further data [N17.0438°, W96.76811°], R. Greenfield, vvi.1938, 2♀ (USNM); [N17.05942°, W96.72162°, 1534m], C. and P. Vaurie, 17.vii.1955, 1♀ (AMNH); [N17.05942°, W96.72162°], 6.ii.1939, 1♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); R.V. Chamberlin, 6.ii.1939, 2♀ (AMNH); 10 miles E Oaxaca [N17.00505°, W96.54714°], J. Reddell and J. Fish, 15.viii.1967, 3♀ 4 imm. (AMNH); 10 miles S Tomellín [N17.62498°, W96.91975°], J. Reddell, J. Fish and T. Evans, 14. viii.1967, 1♀ 2 imm. (AMNH); 28 km S Nochixtlán [N17.2261°, W96.87526°], S.A. Stockwell, 11. viii.1988, 1♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); 3.7 km N El Moral, under stones (N17.50223°, W96.93485°, 2050m), L. Prendini, O. Francke, E. Gonzaléz and J. Ponce, 23.vii.2002, 5♀ (AMNH); 5 miles NE Mitla, near “El Crucero” ruins [N16.9379°, W96.28138°, 2073– 2195m], M.R. Bogert, G. Sluder and N. Bucknall, 27.viii.1963, 1♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); 5.8 miles N Teotitlán, off Mex-131 [N17.03016°, W96.52073°], L.R. Erickson and M.E. Soleglad, 31.vii.1973, 2♀ (AMNH); 7.4 miles N of Telixtlahuaca [N17.34993°, W96.89013°, 1800m], V.F. Lee, 16.xi.1987, 1♀ (CAS 9057632); 8 km NE El Punto [N17.30739°, W96.55186°, 2134m], S.A. Stockwell, 16.viii.1988, 1♀ (AMNH); 9 km N de San Lorenzo Mixtepec (N16.17521°, W96.1983°, 1925m), O. Francke et al., 23.vi.2006, 1♀ (CNAN-Ar 8181); Disto. De Ejutla, 1.5 km W San Andres Zabache, on rocky slope [N16.59905°, W96.85799°, 1539m], C.M. Bogert, 15.viii.1970, 1♀ (AMNH); El Catrín (N17.21°, W96.57°), J. and W. Ivie, 3.ix.1964, 2♀ 3 imm. (AMNH); Etla, 2 miles N of El Moral, in pine-oak forest [N17.47762°, W96.93724°], C.M. Bogert, 10.ix.1966, 1♀ (AMNH); Guelatao [N17.31763°, W96.49114°], M.R. Bogert, viii.1962, 1♀ (AMNH); Km 171 carretera Ixtlán-Oaxaca (N17.29725°, W96.54295°, 2006m), H. Montaña, 16.iii.2008, 1♀ (CNAN-Ar 6635); Monte Albán [N17.0438°, W96.76811°], 11.xii.1948, 2♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); E.S. Ross, 11.xii.1948, 1♀ (AMNH IFM-1637); NE slope of Cerro San Felipe [N17.09253°, W96.74474°, 2499–2743m], M.R. Bogert, 6.viii.1961, 1♀ (AMNH); Nochixtlán (N17.27°, W97.14°), J. and W. Ivie, 4.ix.1963, 2♀ (AMNH); Oaxaca [N17.05942°, W96.72162°], 1♂ (AMNH); B. Malkin, 13–20. ix.1947, 1♀ (AMNH); Sierra Mixteca [N17.0438°, W96.76811°], C.A. Purpus, 1♀ 3 imm. (ZMB IFM- 0826). Puebla: 12 miles N Acatlán [N18.38001°, W98.05422°], L.I. and A.M. Davis, 3.vii.1947, 1♀ 1 imm. (AMNH IFM-1569); 5 miles N Tehuacán (N19.35°, W97.24°), J. and W. Ivie, 3.viii.1966, 2♀ 2 imm. (AMNH); 62 km W Orizaba, under rocks [N18.72052°, W97.68412°], G. Dingerkus et al., 11.viii.1975, 2♀ (AMNH IFM-1573); 7 miles NE Tehuacán, ground, dry rocky slope [N19.35°, W97.24°], W. Peck, 7.iv.1967, 1♀ (CAS 9060623); Cacaloapán, 0.5 mile west on highway 50 [N18.57893°, W97.58413°], R.M. Schick and D. Schroeder, 25.vii.1965, 1♀ (AMNH); Tehuacán [N18.46586°, W97.40005°], D.M. Bogert and H.E. Vokes, 8.xi.1939, missing spermathecae, 1♀ 1 imm. (AMNH IFM-1525); H. Wagner, 17–24.x.1944, 10♀ 1 imm. (AMNH IFM-1406); [N18.46651°, W97.40038°], W.J. Gertsch and V. Roth, 24.vii.1956, 1♂ 1♀ 2 imm. (AMNH); Tlacotepec [N18.68163°, W97.64832°], V. Roth and W. Gertsch, 24.vii.1956, 7♀ 8 imm. (AMNH); toll road 21 km N Tehuacán, under rocks (N18.64475°, W97.45636°, 2249m), W.G. Villegas, O. Francke and R. Paredes, 31. xi.2004, 2♀ (AMNH). Veracruz: 15.5 miles W Orizaba, off Mex-150 [N18.71566°, W97.30777°], L.R. Erickson and M.E. Soleglad, 30.vii.1973, 1♀ (AMNH); 2 miles NE Acultzingo, J.A. Beatty, 4. vii.1963, 1♀ 5 imm. (AMNH); Veracruz [N19.17377°, W96.13422°], O’Rourke, iii.1968, 2♀ (AMNH). Uncertain locality: label illegible, C.A. Purpus, 1♀ (ZMB).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Kukulcania spp., living specimens. A. K . hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942), male from California, San Diego Co., Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (SDSU). Photo by M. Hedin. B. Kukulcania sp. from California. Photo by M. Hedin. C. K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), male (MACN-Ar 33844). D. K . tequila, sp. nov., male from Mexico, Colima, Cuauhtémoc. Photo by S. Longhorn.. E. K .geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), female from California (CAS 9058471). Photo by K.-I. Ueda. F. Kukulcania sp., probably K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., female with eggsac from Mexico, Puebla, Reserva de la Biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán. Photo by F. Vol. G–I. Kukulcania tractans (O.Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) from Mexico, Guerrero. Photos by S. Longhorn. G. Webs in stone wall in Xochipala. H. Female guarding eggsac in Venta Vieja (=Venta del Zopilote). I. (Subadult?) female from Amula.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of A, Kukulcania tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) and K . santosi. (white dots represent literature records from Brescovit and Santos, 2013), B, K . benita, sp. nov., K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., K . cochimi, sp. nov., K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), K . gertschi, sp. nov., and K . tequila, and C, K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), K . bajacali, sp. nov., K . chingona, sp. nov., and K . mexicana, sp. nov.

FIGURE 5. W.J. Gertsch’s unpublished drawings and sketches of Kukulcania spp., AMNH Library Archives DR 191, reproduced with permission from the AMNH library. A. K . tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896), male right bulb. B. K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), female habitus, dorsal. C. K . utahana (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), male bulb. D. K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), male bulb. E. K . santosi, spermathecae. F. K . hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942), spermathecae. G. K . cochimi, spermathecae. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Kukulcania spp., female spermathecae, ventral. A. K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov. (AMNH IFM-1524). B. K . mexicana, paratype (CNAN-Ar DNA0043). C. K . santosi, paratype (AMNH IFM-1528). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 31. Kukulcania spp., female spermathecae, ventral view except where noted. A. Kukulcania hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942) (AMNH IFM-1402). B. K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov. (AMNH IFM- 1406). C. K . mexicana (AMNH IFM-1405). D. K . santosi (AMNH IFM-1403), dorsal. E. K . tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (AMNH IFM-1416). F. K . tequila, paratype (AMNH IFM-1666). G. Same, anterior. H. K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1391).

FIGURE 57. Kukulcania brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., male holotype from Mexico, Oaxaca, Monte Albán (MCVR), habitus. A. Dorsal. B. Lateral. C. Ventral. D. Subanterior. E. Labels associated to the holotype. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 58. Kukulcania brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., male holotype from Mexico, Oaxaca, Monte Albán (MCVR), leg I and genitalia. A. Left leg I, prolateral. B. Left bulb, prolateral. C. Right bulb, prolateral, mirrored. D. Left palp, prolateral. E. Left bulb, dorsal. F. Left bulb, retrolateral. Scale bars = 1 mm (A–B), 0.1 mm (C–F).

FIGURE 59. Kukulcania brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., female from Mexico, Oaxaca, Monte Albán (AMNH IFM-1637), habitus. A. Dorsal. B. Lateral. C. Ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 60. Kukulcania brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., female spermathecae, ventral. A. Oaxaca, Monte Albán (AMNH IFM-1637). B. Puebla, Tehuacán (AMNH-1524). C. Puebla, Tehuacán (AMNH-1525). D. Oaxaca, carretera Ixtlán-Oaxaca (CNAN-Ar 6635). E. Puebla, 12 miles N Acatlán (AMNH IFM-1569). F. Oaxaca, 7.4 miles N of Telixtlahuaca (CAS 9057632). G. Puebla, 62 km west of of Orizaba (AMNH IFM-1573). H. Sierra Mixteca(?) (MfN). Abbreviations: GPS, glandular portion of spermathecae apex; IF, interpulmonary fold; MPS, membranous portion of spermathecae apex; SB, sclerotized bars; UE, uterus externus.