Tengella kalebi, Candia-Ramírez, Daniela T. & Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2014

Candia-Ramírez, Daniela T. & Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2014, A new troglobitic species of the spider genus Te ng e l l a Dahl (Araneae, Tengellidae) from Chiapas, Mexico, Zootaxa 3764 (3), pp. 377-386 : 378-385

Tengella kalebi new species

Figures 1–25

Type data. MEXICO: Chiapas: 1 male holotype (CNAN-T0817) [16 June 2011; A. Valdez, O. Francke, C. Santibáñez, J. Cruz, R. Monjaraz, G. Contreras, K. Zárate cols.] from Río Hondo Cave (lat 17.11454°, lon - 92.86448°; 1642 m), Municipio Jitotol. Paratypes: 1 female (CNAN-T0818), same data as holotype. 1 female (CNAN-T0819) [3 April 2011; K. Zárate col.] from Sumidero del Higo (lat 16.969608°, lon -93.120492°; 230 m), Ejido de Benito Juárez, Municipio San Fernando. 1 female (CNAN-T0820) [16 January 2011; K. Zárate col.], same locality as previous record.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the speleologist and friend Kaleb Zárate Gálvez of the Speleological Group Jaguar A. C. from Chiapas; for his contribution to the knowledge of the arachnids of caves from Chiapas, Mexico, and his participation in the collecting of the type series.

Diagnosis. Tengella kalebi resembles T. perfuga and T. radiata , these three species are distinguished from T. albolineata and T. thaleri by having tegulum less voluminous; by having embolus and median apophysis longer; and principally by having epigynum with a wide median septum ( Figs 15–17 ), although the female of T. albolineata is unknown, the epigynum of T. thaleri is composed by a small and conical septum ( Platnick, 2009; fig. 12). Tengella kalebi is distinguished from T. perfuga and T. radiata by having the male palp with cymbium shorter and oval ( Figs 5, 8 ); by the embolus long and less curved ( Figs 5 , 9 ; Leister et al., 2013, figs 5B, 6B, 6E); by the median apophysis wider and longer ( Figs 5–7 , 9, 10 ), with a thin longitudinal furrow ( Figs 10, 12 ), whereas in T. perfuga and T. radiata the median apophysis is thinner and shorter ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 5B, 6B, 6E), even in T. perfuga it has several small denticles ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 5B, 5C); by the RTA simple, shorter, slightly curved in retrolateral view, reddish distally, with two tips, one larger and conspicuous and the other shorter and inconspicuous ( Fig. 6 ), whereas in T. perfuga the RTA is wide and flat apically in ventral view ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 6B, 6G), in T. radiata the RTA is wide and flat, step-shaped in retrolateral view ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 6F, 6J); and by the median septum of the epigynum pear-shape in ventral view, having the lateral lobes more separated than in T. perfuga and T. radiata ( Figs 15–17 ; Leister et al., 2013; figs 7A, 7C), in T. perfuga the median septum is wider, almost circular ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 5D, 7A), in T. radiata the median septum is almost square-shaped ( Leister et al., 2013; figs 7C).

Description. Male (holotype). Prosoma: Carapace pale yellow, only faintly marked by cephalic grooves ( Figs 1, 2 ), ocular region darker; surface coated with long, pale setae which are darker distally ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace oblongorbiculate, with anterior margin truncate, distally rounded, widest at the level between coxae II and III ( Fig 1, 2 .) Fovea long and straight. Eyes vestigial or poorly developed ( Figs 1, 4 ). Clypeus pale orange, with bordered margins that overlie cheliceral boss ( Fig. 4 ). Chilum divided, thin and large. Chelicerae vertical, pale yellow, anterior surface coated with erect long setae ( Fig. 4 ); promargin of chelicerae with three teeth proximally, the median tooth longest ( Fig. 21 ); retromargin with four equally spaced teeth, located at median region of cheliceral furrow (arrow, Fig. 21 ). Labium brown, longer than wide ( Fig. 3 ). Endites pale yellow; subrectangular, sides parallel, longer than wide, narrower distally ( Fig. 3 ). Sternum pale yellow, rounded, wider than long, without extensions between coxae, with narrow edge at each coxal joint ( Fig. 3 ); posterior margin not extending between coxae IV but almost fused to extremely narrow, ventral pedicel sclerite ( Fig. 3 ); surface coated with erect setae increasing distally in number.

Legs: All segments pale yellow, dorsally darker. Leg spination (only surfaces bearing spines listed) (details of leg spination shown in Figures 24–27 ): femora: I d1-0-1, p1-1-1, r1-1-1; II d1-0-1, p1-1-1, r1-1-1; III d1-0-1, p2-1- 1, r1-1-1; IV d1-0-1, p1-1-1, r0-1-1; tibiae: I d1-0-0, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; II p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-1; III d1-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; IV d1-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; metatarsi: I p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; II p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 - 0-2; III d0-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; IV d2-0-2, p0-1-0, v2-1 -1. Tarsi with three claws, lacking claw tufts; paired claws with numerous teeth basally, distal teeth larger ( Figs 23, 27 ); unpaired claw long, lacking denticles (arrow, Fig. 27 ); tarsi without thick ventral scopulae; all trochanters with shallow notches.

Opisthosoma: Abdomen pale yellow, oval, longer than wide, without anterior or dorsal scutum ( Fig. 2 ). Spinnerets: ALS longest, composed of two articles, basal one expanded anteriomedially; PMS smallest, oval, composed of one article; PLS shorter than ALS, finger-shaped, composed of two articles, basal one extended anteriomedially. Plate of genital gonopore darker, wider than long.

Palp: Segments elongated ( Fig. 2 ). Patella slightly widened distally. RTA short, curved in retrolateral view, basally with sclerotized brownish spot ( Fig. 6 ). Cymbium covered with dense setae ( Figs 6–8 , 9, 12 ). Subtegulum and tegulum with interlocking lobes ( Fig. 5 ). MA large, slightly curved, without denticles ( Figs 5–7 , 9, 10, 12 ). Embolus distally curved, accompanied by leaf-shaped hyaline conductor ( Figs 9, 11 ).

Measurements: Total length (prosoma + opisthosoma excluding chelicerae and spinnerets) 6.45, carapace: 3.50 long, 2.80 wide, width at level of the palp 1.55. Opisthosoma: 3.00 long. Leg lengths: I: coxa 1.22/ trochanter 0.28/ femur 5.10/ patella 1.70/ tibia 5.40/ metatarsus 5.25/ tarsus 2.80/ total 21.75; II: 1.24/ 0.36/ 5.30/ 1.70/ 5.80/ 5.40/ 2.80/ 22.60/; III: 1.32/ 0.28/ 5.40/ 1.60/ 5.60/ 5.70/ 2.80/ 22.70; IV: 1.42/ 0.28/ 5.80/ 1.60/ 5.90/ 7.70/ 3.60/ 26.30. Leg formula: 4321.

Female paratype. (CNAN T0818). Coloration and morphology as in the male, except for the legs, which are shorter and stouter. Leg spination: (only surfaces bearing spines listed): femora: I d1-0-1, p0-0-1, r1-1-1; II d1-1-1, p1-1-1, r1-1-1; III d1-0-1, p1-1-1, r1-0-1; IV d1-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-1; tibiae: p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; II p1-0-1, r1-0- 1, v2 -0-2; III d1-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; IV d1-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; metatarsi: I p1-0-1, v2 -0-2; II p0-1- 0, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2, III d0-0-1, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, v2 -0-2; IV p0-0-1, p1-1-0, r1-1-1, v2-1 -1.

Prosoma: Chelicerae as male; promargin with three teeth proximally, median tooth longest; retromargin with three teeth, median tooth longest (arrow, Fig. 22 ).

Opisthosoma: Spinnerets: ALS longest, separated each other, composed of two articles, basal one expanded anteriomedially; PMS smallest, oval, longitudinally extended, composed of one article; PLS shorter than ALS, finger-shaped, composed of two articles ( Figs 13, 14 ). Cribellum absent ( Figs 13, 14 ), colulus composed only for few and small setae (arrows, Figs 13, 14 ).

Epigynum: Median septum pear-shaped, strongly sclerotized, lateral lobes are more separated than in the other species ( Fig. 15 ). Spermathecae oval, separated, with fertilization ducts near epigastric furrow ( Fig. 18 ). [Note: The epigynum of one female (CNAN T0818, from Río Hondo Cave) was lost before a dorsal view could be photographed, although a ventral view had been obtained ( Fig. 15 ); therefore, we show a drawing done previously ( Fig. 18 )].

Measurements: Total length 7.75, carapace: 3.55 long, 2.70 wide, width at level of palp 1.70. Opisthosoma: 4.20 long. Leg lengths: I: coxa 1.30/ trochanter 0.26/ femur 4.05/ patella 1.60/ tibia 3.85/ metatarsus 3.37/ tarsus 1.85/ total 16.28; II: 1.27/ 0.32/ 4.15/ 1.56/ 3.90/ 3.60/ 2.00/ 16.80; III: 1.26/ 0.27/ 4.20/ 1.48/ 3.73/ 4.10/ 2.06/ 17.10; IV: 1.32/ 0.30/ 4.65/ 1.48/ 4.40/ 5.80/ 2.60/ 20.55. Leg formula 4321.

Variation. Females from Sumidero del Higo are darker and larger than the male and female from Río Hondo Cave. The continuous variation in the epigyna was the criterion for assigning the females to the same species ( Figs 15–17 ); the median septum of epigyna have the same pear-shape, but in the females from Sumidero del Higo the posterior part is thinner and the median septum is not so close to the epigastric furrow as in the epigynum of female from Río Hondo ( Figs 16, 17 ). There is variation internally in epigyna; in the largest female the spermathecae has a lateral concavity ( Fig. 20 ); in the smallest female from Sumidero del Higo and female from Río Hondo Cave have a similar oval shape ( Figs 18, 19 ). Females: Sumidero del Higo (n=2): Caparace length: 3.90, 4.95, width: 2.85, 3.60; tibia I: 3.80, 5.00/ metatarsus I: 3.38, 4.50; II: 3.80, 4.95/ 3.50, 4.60; III: 3.40, 4.60/ 3.00, 5.10; IV: 4.10, 5.40/ 5.50, 7.30.

Natural history. The specimens from Rio Hondo Cave were collected approximately 60 m inside the cave, which is located in a karst zone with a disturbed, semi-deciduous forest of medium height. They were found walking on the walls of the cave. The humidity inside the cave was high, around 90% because a small subterranean river runs near the place where the specimens were collected.

Distribution. Known only from the localities of the type material ( Fig. 28 ).

Figures

FIGURE 28. Distribution records of the species of the genus Tengella Dahl, 1901.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Tengella kalebi new species. Male holotype. 1, Carapace, dorsal view. 2, Habitus, dorsal view, showing the long palps. 3, Habitus, ventral view. 4, Prosoma, antero-dorsal view, showing eyes poorly developed. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Tengella kalebi new species. Male holotype. 5, Left palp, ventral view. 6, Same, retrolateral view. 7, Same, prolateral view. 8, Same, dorsal view. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Tengella kalebi new species. Male holotype. 9, Left palp, ventral view. 10, Same, showing details of the conductor, embolus and median apophysis. 11, Same, showing details of conductor and embolus. 12, Same, ventral-retrolateral view. Scales: 100 µm (Fig. 11), 200 µm (Fig. 10), 500 µm (Figs 9, 12).

FIGURES 13 – 20. Tengella kalebi new species. Female paratype from Río Hondo Cave: 13, Spinnerets, ventral view (arrow indicates the colulus). 14, Detail of the spinnerets (arrow indicates the colulus). Female paratype from Río Hondo Cave: 15, 18, Epigynum, ventral and dorsal views respectively. Female paratypes from Sumidero del Higo: 16, 17, Epigyna, ventral views. 19, 20, Epigyna, dorsal views. Scales: 0.1 mm (Figs 15 – 20), 0.5 mm (Figs 13, 14).

FIGURES 21 – 27. Tengella kalebi new species. 21, Male holotype, ventral view of right chelicera (arrow indicates 4 retromarginal teeth). 22, Female paratype from Río Hondo, ventral view of right chelicera (arrow indicates 3 retromarginal teeth). 23, Male holotype, claws of left tarsus III. 24 – 27, Male holotype, left leg I. 24, Detail of the paired dorsal spines on tibia. 25, Detail of dorsal spines on metatarsus. 26, Detail of the ventral spine on tibia. 27, Detail of the claws (arrow indicates the unpaired third claw). Scales: 100 µm (Fig. 27), 300 µm (Fig. 24), 400 µm (Fig. 26), 500 µm (Fig. 25), 0.5 mm (Figs 21 – 23).