Hemirrhagus diablo, Mendoza & Francke, 2018

Mendoza, Jorge I. & Francke, Oscar F., 2018, Five new cave-dwelling species of Hemirrhagus Simon 1903 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with notes on the generic distribution and novel morphological features, Zootaxa 4407 (4), pp. 451-482 : 464-469

Hemirrhagus diablo sp. nov.

( Figs 10 ̄13)

Type material: holotype ♂ CNAN-T0929 , paratype ♀ CNAN-T0930 , paratype ♂ CNAN-T0931 , paratype ♀ CNAN-T0932 , MEXICO: Morelos, Mpio. Tepoztlan, Santo Domingo Ocotitlan , Cueva del Diablo. 16/IX/2011, Coll. J. Mendoza, R. Monjaraz, D. Barrales, F. Torres.

Diagnosis. Hemirrhagus diablo sp. nov. can be distinguished from most Hemirrhagus species (except H. lochti ) in having the urticating setae arranged in two paramedian patches, brown in color and the ocular tubercle well developed with periocular pigmentation complete. From H. lochti in the shape of the male palpal bulb with a narrower embolous base.

Hemirrhagus diablo sp. nov. is identified by possessing the following character combination: male palpal bulb with slender embolus similar in length to tegulum, subapical keel ends at embolus retrolateral face; ventral groove deep. Embolus strongly curved retrolaterally on distal half, apex of embolus curved ventrally ( Fig 11A ̄D). The prolateral and retroalteral apophyses normally developed ( Fig 10I ̄J). Ocular tubercle and eyes normally developed, periocular pigmentation complete ( Fig 10F , 12D ). Urticating setae arranged in two paramedian patches almost fused dorsally, brown in color, with poorly defined margins ( Fig 10C , 12C ). Spermathecae paired, fused at their base, strongly curved outwards from the middle of external margin ( Fig 12E ).

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to Cueva del Diablo, where the species was collected.

Description: Holotype male CNAN-T0929 body length 25.16, carapace 10.43 long, 9.39 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, width 1.67 ( Fig 10A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation only in anterior eye row, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.30; ALE 0.55; PME 0.30; PLE 0.45; AME-AME 0.30; AME-ALE 0.1; PME-PME 0.75; PME-PLE 0.05; ALE-PLE 0.125. Ocular tubercle well developed, ocular quadrangle width 1.85, length 1.20; clypeus 0.10 ( Fig 10F ). Labium length 1.07, width 1.83; with 34 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with ~121 (left) and ~125 (right) cuspules ( Fig 10G ). Cheliceral promargin with 12 (left) and 12 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first small, second-eleventh large, twelfth small). Sternum length 4.65. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla once its length from the margin ( Fig 10B, E ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 9.37, 5.13, 7.87, 8.12, 6.20, 36.69. II: 8.78, 5.12, 7.37,7.61, 5.70, 34.58. III: 8.70, 4.06, 7.32, 8.47, 6.41, 34.96. IV: 11.02, 4.82, 9.61, 13.30, 7.51, 46.26. Palp: 6.86, 4.17, 6.06, -, 2.28, 19.37. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.0 long, 0.47 apart; PLS, 2.13 basal, 1.3 middle, 2.2 distal; midwidths: 0.70 basal, 0.60 middle, 0.47 distal ( Fig 10C ).

Scopulae: Tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, III divided by narrow band of setae and IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 65 % scopulated distally, IV 50 % scopulated distally.

Tibia I with two apophyses, which do not originate from a common base, prolateral apophysis normally developed, with one large spinose seta on inner face, the spinose seta exceeds the apex of prolateral apophysis; retrolateral apophysis normally developed, with one large spinose seta on dorsal face, the spinose seta exceeds the apex of retrolateral apophysis ( Fig 10I ̄J). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig 10H ).

Stridulatory setae: with plumose setae on palp coxa retrolateral face, trochanter retrolateral face, femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 2 p; II 2 p; III 2 p, 3r; IV 3 p, 2r; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 3 p, 3v, 3r; II 2 p, 7v, 3r; III 3 p, 9v, 4r; IV 7 p, 10v, 9r, palp 2p, 6v; metatarsi I 2 v; II 2 p, 4v; III 1 d, 5p, 10v, 3r; IV 1 d, 7p, 12v, 6r.

Palp. Embolus slender, similar in length to tegulum, subapical keel ends at embolus retrolateral face; ventral groove deep. Embolus strongly curved retrolaterally on distal half. The apex of the embolus strongly curved ventrally (11ĀD).

Urticating setae: Type VI arranged in two paramedian patches almost fused dorsally, brown in color, with poorly defined margins ( Fig 10C ).

Color pattern: in ethanol specimen color is pale brown. Live specimens are dark brown ( Fig 13C ).

Paratype female CNAN-T0930 body length 29.65, carapace 12.73 long, 11.61 wide. Caput slightly elevated; fovea recurved, 2.51 wide ( Fig 12A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation only in anterior eye row, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.37; ALE 0.53; PME 0.37; PLE 0.47; AME-AME 0.33; AME-ALE 0.13; PME-PME 0.93; PME-PLE 0.07; ALE-PLE 0.20. Ocular tubercle, width 2.20, length 1.33; clypeus 0.20 ( Fig 12D ). Labium length 1.70, width 2.10; with 29 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with ~115 (left) and ~104 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 16 (right) and 10 (left) teeth (proximal to distal: first-second medium, third large, fourth-fifth small, sixth large, seventh-nineth small, tenth-eleventh large, twelfthfourteenth medium, fifteenth-sixteenth large). Sternum length 5.6. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla once its length from the margin ( Fig 12B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I:10.94, 6.13, 9.08, 8.50, 6.08, 40.73. II: 10.02, 5.99, 7.93, 8.16, 5.60, 37.70. III: 10.01, 4.96, 7.55, 9.48, 6.21, 38.21. IV: 12.31, 5.61, 10.38, 15.23, 7.30, 50.83. Palp: 8.19, 4.85, 6.30, -, 5.80, 25.14. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.80 long, 0.47 apart; PLS, 2.13 basal, 1.70 middle, 2.70 distal; midwiths 1.07 basal, 0.87 middle, 0.67 distal.

Scopulae: Tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, III divided by narrow band of setae and IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 65 % scopulated distally, IV 35 % scopulated distally.

Stridulatory setae: with plumose setae on palp coxa retrolateral face, trochanter retrolateral face, femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 2 p; II 2 p; III 4 p, 3r; IV 4 p, 3r; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 2 p, 4v; II 2 p, 4v; III 3 p, 11v, 4r; IV 4 p, 9v, 5r; palp 1p, 6v; metatarsi I 1 p, 1v; II 1 p, 7v; III 3 p, 5v, 4r; IV 2 d, 4p, 9v, 3v.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, fused at their base, strongly curved outwards from the middle of external margin, without a clearly defined neck by either exterior or interior margins ( Fig 12E ).

Urticating setae: Type VI arranged in two paramedian patches almost fused dorsally, brown in color, with poorly defined margins ( Fig 12C ).

Color pattern: in ethanol specimen color is pale brown. Live specimens are dark brown ( Fig 13D ), spiderlings and juveniles are brownish with the urticanting setae separated in two paramedian patches of urticating setae orange in color ( Fig 13E ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva del Diablo, Tepoztlan, Morelos ( Fig 13A , 23 ). The species can be founded hiding in crevices of rocks on the floor of the cave or rarely walking on the walls ( Fig 13B ) (See: http://www.mexicancaves.org/maps/1956.pdf).

Figures

FIGURE 10. A─J, Hemirrhagus diablo new species, male holotype CNAN-T0929. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth leg). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, opisthosoma, ventral view. E, sternum. F, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. G, labial and maxillary cuspules. H, metatarsus I, prolateral view.I, tibial apophyses, prolateral view.J, tibial apophyses, ventral view. Scale = 4mm (H), 2mm (A̅D), 1mm (E̅G, I,J).

FIGURE 11. A─D, Hemirrhagus diablo new species, male holotype CNAN-T0929. Left palpal bulb: A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, retrolateral view. D, prolateral view.Scale = 1mm.

FIGURE 12. A─E, Hemirrhagus diablo new species, female paratype CNAN-T0930. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retroletral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth leg). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. E, spermathecae, ventral view. Scale = 2mm (A̅C), 1mm (D), 0.5mm (E).

FIGURE13. A─E, Hemirrhagus diablo new species habitat and habitus; A, Entrance of Cueva del Diablo.B,Inside of Cueva del Diablo collecting site of the species. C, H. diablo sp. nov., male holotype CNAN-T0929, in life. D, H. diablo sp. nov., female paratype CNAN-T0930, in life. E, H. diablo sp. nov., juvenile showing the paramedian patch of urticating setae orange in color.Photos:ĀB,A. Valdez; C̄E, J. Mendoza.

FIGURE23. Known distribution of Hemirrhagusmitchelli(Gertsch 1982), Hemirrhagus puebla (Gertsch1982), Hemirrhagus ocellatus Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus gertschi Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus valdezi Mendoza 2014, Hemirrhagus akheronteus new species, Hemirrhagus diablo new species, Hemirrhagus billsteelei new species, Hemirrhagus pernix (Ausserer 1875), Hemirrhagus franckei Mendoza 2014, Hemirrhagus reddelli (Gertsch 1973), Hemirrhagus benzaa Mendoza 2014 and Hemirrhagus guichi Mendoza 2014. Showing the biogeographic provinces where they are found: SMO= Sierra Madre Oriental, EVT= Eje Volcanico Transversal, SMS= Sierra Madre del Sur, PCH= Provincia de Chiapas.