Tengella radiata ( Kulczynski, 1909 )

Leister, Matthew, Mallis, Rachael & Miller, Kelly, 2013, The male of Tengella perfuga Dahl, 1901 with re-description of the female and comparisons with T. radiata (Kulczynski, 1909) (Araneae: Tengellidae), Zootaxa 3709 (2), pp. 185-199 : 193-197

Tengella radiata ( Kulczynski, 1909)

Figs. (4B, G–J, 6D–F, I, J, 7C, D)

Metafecenia radiata Kulczynski, 1909 synonymised with T. perfuga, Lehtinen, 1967 ; synonymy rejected and reinstated as Tengella radiata, Wolff, 1977

Mean(range) Mean(range) Body Leg II

Clypeus height 0.55(0.50–0.75) Coxa II 2.04(1.70–2.25) Carapace length 6.85(5.81–7.55) Trochanter II 0.95(0.85–1.10) Carapace width 5.07(4.55–5.55) Femur II 6.36(5.57–7.20) Abdomen length 8.87(7.50–10.60) Patella II 2.53(2.25–2.90) Body length 15.72(13.76–18.05) Tibia II 5.61(5.10–6.15) Eyes Metatarsus II 4.81(4.37–5.45) PME width 0.26(0.21–0.30) Tarsus II 2.44(2.20–2.65) AME width 0.32(0.25–0.35) Total leg II 24.74(22.79–27.70) PLE width 0.30(0.30–0.30) Leg III

ALE width 0.30(0.25–0.31) Coxa III 1.88(1.60–2.10) PME-PME 0.20(0.19–0.22) Trochanter III 0.79(0.70–0.95) PME-PLE 0.44(0.40–0.49) Femur III 5.49(4.75–6.35) PLE-ALE 0.11(0.10–0.13) Patella III 2.18(1.85–2.45) AME-ALE 0.11(0.10–0.16) Tibia III 4.16(3.69–4.55) AME-AME 0.16(0.15–0.19) Metatarsus III 4.53(4.10–5.05) OQL 0.85(0.80–0.90) Tarsus III 2.18(1.93–2.30) OQW 1.96(1.75–2.25) Total leg III 21.21(19.43–23.75) Leg I Leg IV

Coxa I 2.27(2.10–2.45) Coxa IV 2.08(1.80–2.30) Trochanter I 1.08(0.93–1.20) Trochanter IV 1.10(1.00–1.120) Femur I 7.46(6.67–8.25) Femur IV 7.18(6.27–7.95) Patella I 2.91(2.55–3.30) Patella IV 2.42(2.10–2.65) Tibia I 7.63(7.18–8.50) Tibia IV 6.05(5.60–6.55) Metatarsus I 6.55(5.95–7.30) Metatarsus IV 6.99(6.48–7.25) Tarsus I 3.21(2.95–3.45) Tarsus IV 2.67(2.30–3.20) Total leg I 31.10(28.48–34.40) Total leg IV 28.50(26.02–30.70)

Pedipalp

Palp Trochanter 0.55(0.25–0.75)

Palp femur 2.80(2.60–3.19)

Palp patella 1.36(1.12–1.55)

Palp tibia 1.90(1.78–1.97)

Palp tarsus 2.35(2.25–2.45)

Total palp 8.97(8.40–9.84) Description of male. Carapace brown, thick white sub-marginal lines, thin white medial line, paired of angled pale lines emerge anterior, three to four paired pale lines radiate from thoracic groove; abdomen dark brown, broken white longitudinal lines anteriorly, four pairs white spots extend posteriorly; patterning as in Fig. 4G ; legs pale yellow, darker distally, femora, tibia with dark annulations; metatarsi IV with reduced calamistrum, scopula extending half the length of all metatarsi; tarsi with thick scopula, two primary toothed tarsal claws and a small third claw lacking denticles. Carapace pyriform in shape, thoracic groove in middle of carapace, deep, longitudinal; sternum shield-shaped, narrowing at level of coxae III, forming a point, divided medially by light longitudinal stripe; pedicel long, thin, and sclerotised ( Fig. 4G, H ).

Cribellum bipartite.

Leg formula 1 4 2 3. Leg spination described in Wolff (1977).

Palp tibia widened distally; RTA large, heavily sclerotised, distally darkened, bearing three lobes on distal portion ( Figs. 6 I, J); cymbium densely setose with hooked setae; tegulum with large median apophysis, sclerotised, curved dorsomedially, with row of small serrated denticles along distal third of medial edge; embolus broadened at base, strongly curving distally above median apophysis; hyaline conductor club shaped ( Figs. 6D–F ).

Female. Colour and pattern of carapace, abdomen and legs as in male, patterning more distinct than in male ( Fig. 4B, I, J ); calamistrum more prominent than in male; tarsi scopulate with two primary toothed tarsal claws and a single small claw lacking denticles as in male. Carapace pyriform in shape as in male; thoracic groove as in male; eyes as in male.

Cribellum bipartite, more prominent than in male.

Leg formula 1 4 2 3. Leg spination follows Wolff (1977).

Epigynum with broad trapezoidal median septum, dorsally spermathecae with a single twist situated posteromedially; genitalia as in Figs. 7C, D .

Colour in life. In both sexes, overall colour is dark brown, legs annulate, with patterning comprised of white setae on both the carapace, as well as the abdomen ( Fig. 4B ). Iridescence similar to that seen in T. perfuga .

Sexually dimorphic features. Males have longer legs than females, most notably leg I.

Intrasexual variation. Within the sexes, there is little variation in colour pattern and spination.

Natural history. These are medium to large cribellate spiders that build sheet webs with a funnel retreat and significant cribellate tangle structure above the web. Webs in the field were typically found along tree trunks or within root structures. These were typically comprised of a more rectangular sheet, with a retreat at the rear edge, and tangle lines above the sheet. Spiders would be at the retreat or mouth of the retreat. Cribellate silk was integrated in the sheet and retreat (pers. obs., Santana et al. 1990, Eberhard et al. 1993, Barrantes 2008, Barrantes & Madrigal-Brenes 2008). They can be found in a variety of habitats, including lowland tropical rainforests, as well as higher elevation cloud forests and are also associated with shade coffee plantations ( Santana et al. 1990; Eberhard et al. 1993; Barrantes 2008). They harbour a number of kleptoparasites and web symbionts as well ( Eberhard et al. 1993). Specimens were collected by hand from the web.

Distribution. Central America. The localities in northern Honduras, southern Nicaragua and central Panama ( Fig. 1 ) represent new records.

Additional Records: Panama: Coclé Province, (8.6681°N, 80.5926°W), 760m, 04–09 June 2008, M. Arnedo, L. Benavides, G. Hormiga, F. Labarque, M. Ramírez coll. ( Labarque 2012). Honduras: La Ceiba, Pico Bonito Lodge, Mermaid Falls Trail (15.68786°N, 86.90323°W), 150m, 13 January 2013, J. Warfel coll.(pers. comm.); Deposited in Museum of Southwestern Biology; 1 male (MSBA 24987), 1 subadult male (MSBA 24988).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of published localities for Tengella radiata and new localities for Tengella perfuga and T. radiata.

FIGURES 4 A – J. Tengella spp., habitus. A. T. perfuga female, alive, in field, Nicaragua; B. T. radiata female, alive, in field, Nicaragua; C, D. T. perfuga male, preserved; E, F. T. perfuga female, preserved; G, H. T. radiata male, preserved; I, J. T. radiata female, preserved.

FIGURES 6 A – F. Comparison of male genitalia, left palp. G – J. Comparison of male RTA. A – C, G, H. Tengella perfuga; D – F, I, J. T. radiata; A, D. Prolateral view; B, E, G, I. Ventral view; C, F, H, J. Retrolateral view. Con—conductor, Em—embolus, MA—median apophysis, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spines and spine attachments.

FIGURES 7 A – D. Comparison of female genitalia. A, B. Tengella perfuga; C, D. T. radiata; A, C. Epigynum, ventral view; B, D. Epigynum, dorsal view.