Selenops aztecus, Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2010

Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2010, Two new species of spiders of the genus Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Araneae: Selenopidae) and redescription of Selenops scitus Muma, 1953 from Mexico, Zootaxa 2334, pp. 47-58 : 48-50

Selenops aztecus new species

Figures 1–4

Type material: Holotype: male, 14 km from Coatzacoalcos-Villa Hermosa, Tabasco; on bromeliad Aechmea bracteata (Sw.) Griseb. ( Poales : Bromeliaceae ) in the corolla, at 5 meters above the ground [Veracruz, Mexico], 1 February 1971, (CNAN-T0414).

Other material examined. One immature specimen, same data as holotype ( CNAN 3229).

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the Aztecs, a Mesoamerican culture centered in Mexico from about 1428 to 1521.

Diagnosis. Male can be distinguished by the exclusive shape of the VTA, which is bifurcated, the inner lobe is longer and tongue-shaped and the external lobe is shorter and triangular ( Fig. 3 ). The RTA is long and thin distally, it has an upside-down boot-shape ( Fig. 3 ), and curved slightly in retrolateral view ( Fig. 4 ).

Description. Male (Holotype): Carapace orange, circular, ocular region darker ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace with numerous setae on the margin, and shallow longitudinal fovea. Clypeus slightly shorter than diameter of ALE. Chelicerae dark brown. Promargin of the chelicerae with only three teeth, separated by the same distance, the middle one bigger; retromargin with two teeth, widely separated ( Fig. 2 ). Sternum round, yellow, orange in the margins. Labium dark orange, paler basally, wider than long, not merged with the sternum. Gnathocoxae orange, paler than labium, lighter distally, trapezoidal in shape. Opisthosoma pale gray dorsally, dark gray around the edges, ventrally pale orange. ALS and PLS gray in retrolateral part.

Palps. Curved RTA, as long as tibia ( Figs 3, 4 ). Embolus short, near to prolateral part of cymbium ( Fig. 3 ). Legs. Coxae orange, longer than wide. Femora and tibiae orange, with faint dusky bands. Patellae basally dark orange. Spine formulae: Tibiae I: v2.2.2; [leg II missing on both sides]; III-IV: v1.1; metatarsi I: v2.2; [leg II missing]; III-IV: v2.1. Femora I: d1.1.1; II missing; III-IV: d1.1.1.

Measurements. Total length (prosoma + opisthosoma): 8.60, prosoma: 3.95 long, 4.40 wide. Diameter of eyes: AME 0.32, ALE 0.16, PME 0.30, PLE 0.42. Leg lengths: I: femur 4.85/ patella 2.10/ tibia 4.60/ metatarsus 4.25/ tarsus 1.90/ total 17.70; [leg II missing]; III: 6.00/ 2.08/ 5.15/ 4.60/ 1.80/ 19.63; IV: 5.30/ 2.00/ 5.25/ 4.58/ 1.75/ 18.88. Formula: 2341?

Female: Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 20 ).

Remarks. Following Muma (1953), Selenops aztecus sp. nov. belongs to the mexicanus group by having RTA long, slender, extending beyond the base of the cymbium; the median apophysis has two hook-shaped projections, located medially near to retrolateral margin; by having a thin, sheet-like, terminal apophysis extending beyond the embolus, near the distal part of the cymbium ( Figs 3, 4 ), and maybe by the leg formula 2341 characteristic for this group. Four species belong to the mexicanus species group: Selenops mexicanus Keserling, 1880 ; S. galapagoensis Banks, 1902 ; S. gracilis Muma,1953 and S. tehuacanus Muma, 1953 ;

Selenops aztecus resembles S. tehuacanus in the shape of the median apophysis and in total size, but in this new species the RTA is shorter than in S. tehuacanus , where it extends distally almost to the positionof MA. The VTA in the new species is bifurcated and wider than in S. tehuacanus . The new species has carapace and legs with light color, whereas S. tehuacanus has dusky color pattern.

Note: Muma (1953) did not illustrate the male palp of S. tehuacanus . The holotype is deposited in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), New York; and was compared with Selenops aztecus by means of photographs amiably provided by Nadine Dupérré, assistant of the Dr. Norman I. Platnick (AMNH). These images corroborate the specific distinctiveness of S. aztecus sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Records of Selenops aztecus new species (˔); Selenops santibanezi new species (●); and Selenops scitus Muma, 1953 (♦).

FIGURES 1 – 4. Selenops aztecus new species. Male (Holotype). 1 Habitus, dorsal view; 2 Left chelicera, teeth of promargin and retromargin view; 3 Left palp, ventral view; 4 Left palp, retrolateral view. Scales = 1 mm.