Scytodes cubensis Alayón, 1977

Iost, Flora M., Alayón, Giraldo & Rheims, Cristina A., 2025, On the Antillean spiders of the genus Scytodes Latreille, 1804 (Araneae, Scytodidae), Zootaxa 5728 (3), pp. 496-530 : 501-504

Scytodes cubensis Alayón, 1977

Figs 14–30 , 61–70 , 135 .

Scytodes cubensis Alayón, 1977: 2 , figs 1A, B ( Holotype ♀, CUBA: Matanzas Province: Limonar, Colorado, Loma Montecristi ( 22.9793ºN, 80.7796ºW), March 1976, L. R. Hernandez leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined. Paratypes : CUBA: Pinar del Río Province: 1 ♀, Cajálbana ( 22.7902ºN, 83.4455ºW), 7 August 1974, L.F. Armas leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined; 1 ♀, Viñales, Arroyo Peñate, Granja Moneada ( 22.6170ºN, 83.7170ºW), 15 March 1976, R. R. Soberón leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined ; La Habana: 1 ♀, Finca San Miguel , El Cangre (no specific coordinates), March 1976, L. R. Hernández leg., not examined ; Villa Clara Province: 3 ♀, Caibarién, Punta Brava ( 22.5325ºN, 79.4444ºW), March 1976, L.F. Armas & J. Espinosa leg., not examined ; Sancti Spiritus Province: 1 ♀, Entronque Topes de Collantes, Las Villas ( 21.9120ºN, 80.0520ºW), 15 December 1973, L.F. Armas & L. R. Hernández leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined ; Matanzas Province: 1 ♀, Cuabales de Canasí ( 22.4833ºN, 80.8833ºW), 23 March 1972, L.F. Armas & L. R. Hernández leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined; Limonar, Colorado , Loma Montecristi ( 22.9793ºN, 80.7796ºW), March 1976, L. R. Hernández leg., MCZ-IZ 24725 , examined; 1 ♀, 5 km al S de Jovellanos ( 22.7530ºN, 81.1913ºW), 21 February 1976, L.F. Armas leg., AMNH, not examined ; Santiago de Cuba Province: 1 ♀, Oriente , Siboney-Juticí Ecological Reserve, Cueva de Los Majáes ( 19.9602ºN, 75.7073ºW), December 1966, C. Fundara leg., ACC/ IZ, not examined ).

Note. The female of this species was identified by comparison with the examined paratype ( MCZ-IZ 24725).Among our examined CarBio material, we found identical females from other localities, but associated with a different male. Thus, we consider the single male paratype from CUBA ( Las Tunas Province, Oriente, Guayabal,Amando Rodríguez 20.6955ºN, 77.6092ºW, 1 October 1976, L. R. Hernández leg., deposited in ACC/ IZ) to be a misidentification and newly describe what we believe to be the true male of S. cubensis . Similarly, the specimen from Mexico that was recorded and redescribed by Brescovit & Rheims (2001) was identified based on the original illustration of the Cuban male paratype and is also considered a misidentification. Although we were not able to examine the Cuban paratype, its illustrated palp appears very similar to that of S. noeli . Nevertheless, the correct identification of these specimens will require further study, including examination of the type material for confirmation.

Additional material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. La Altagracia Province: 1 ♀, Occidental, San Rafael, El morro E Ranger Station Monte Cristi, 19.8934ºN, 71.6534ºW, 178 mts., 23 June 2012, Team CarBio leg., USNM785349 , DR19 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, Pedernales Province, Valle Nuevo, Villa Elisa , 19.68333ºN, 71.26667ºW, 210 mts. 23 June 2012, Team CarBio leg., USNM784846 , DR20 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM784761 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM784548 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♂, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM 784798 ( NMNH) ; La Vega Province: Valle Nuevo, Villa Pajon , 18.8221ºN, 70.6830ºW, 2136 mts., 25 June 2012, Team CarBio leg., USNM786974 , DR21 ( NMNH) . JAMAICA. Cornwall County: 1♀ , Trelawney Parish, Dramalie Cave , 18.3801ºN, 77.7189ºW,133mts., 12November 2013, Team CarBio leg., CarBio 00002339A, JA06 ( NMNH) ; 5 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00006106A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00002531A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00002531A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, Trelawney Parish, Harvey Cave 1, 18.30404ºN, 77.57111, 509 mts., 13 November 2013, Team CarBio leg., CarBio 00003404A, JA08-1 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003394A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003416A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00002924A ( NMNH) ; 4 ♀, 6 juvs., Trelawney Parish, Harvey Cave 2, 18.30451ºN, 77.57054ºW, 506 mts., 13 November 2013, Team CarBio leg., CarBio 00006229A, JA08-2 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003533A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♂, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003425A ( NMNH) ; Middlesex County: 1 ♀ , Clarendon Parish, Jackson’s Bay-1 st Cave , 17.73761ºN. 77.22472ºW, 29 mts., 26 November 2013, Team carBio leg., CarBio 00003522A, JA20 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003818A ( NMNH) ; 3 ♀, 4 juvs., same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00006209A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003835A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003984A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, Saint Catherine Parish, Windsor Cave , 18.35130ºN, 77.64752ºW, 170 mts., 11 November 2013, Team CarBio leg., CarBio 00003781A, JA03 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003444A ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00003803A ( NMNH) ; 2 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, CarBio 00006253A ( NMNH) ; Surrey County: 5 ♀, Saint Thomas Parish, Blue Mountains- Whitefield Hall , 18.04833ºN, 76.61813ºW, 1266 mts., 14 November 2013, Team CarBio leg., CarBio 00006197A, JA10-1 ( NMNH) . PUERTO RICO. Río Grande Municipality: 1 ♀, El Yunque National Forest, El Verde , 18.32168ºN, 65.81990ºW, 323 mts., 21–25 May 2012, Team CarBio leg. USNM782666 , PR001 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM786627 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM785229 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM784618 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM783145 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM786859 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM784369 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♂, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM 782692 ( NMNH) ; Mayagüez Municipality: 1 ♀, Isla de Mona and Islote Monito Barrio , Mona Nature Reserve , Bajura de Cerezal , 18.08917ºN, 67.90091ºW, 53 mts., 21–25 May 2012, Team CarBio leg., USNM783110 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM783136 ( NMNH) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as for previous specimen, USNM783120 ( NMNH) .

Diagnosis. Males of S. cubensis resemble those of S. joniae sp. nov. ( Figs 71–74 , 97–98 ), S. mingusi sp. nov. ( Figs 87–90 , 100–101 ), S. noeli (Alayón, 1992: fig. 3), S. reinhardti sp. nov. (110–113, 128–129) and S. robertoi ( Alayón, 1977: fig. 2C) by the palp with a pirifom bulb and a slender, tapering embolus. They are distinguished from the latter species by the embolus being one third the length of the bulb and slightly curved prodorsally ( Figs 16–18 , 61–62 ) (vs. half the length in the other species). Females resemble those of S. coltrainei ( Figs 12, 13 , 36 ), S. jimmorrisoni sp. nov. ( Figs 59, 60 , 99 ), and S. joniae sp. nov. ( Figs 77, 78 , 95, 96 ) by the vulva with S-shaped IS. They are distinguished from those of the S. coltrainei sp. nov. and S. joniae sp. nov. by the PS being twisted and coiled ( Figs 22 , 26, 30 , 63–70 ) (vs. simple and untwisted PS in the later species) and from S. jimmorrisoni sp. nov. by the IS and OS being the same width throughout ( Figs 22 , 26, 30 , 63–70 ) (vs. IS widened at the base and OS distally rounded in S. jimmorrisoni sp. nov.).

Description. Male (USNM782692): prosoma pale yellow with dark brown longitudinal markings and gray markings along the edges; chelicerae pale yellow with golden outlines; pedipalps pale golden yellow with brown markings; legs pale yellow with a golden patella and abundant brown markings; labium grayish brown; endites pale yellow with gray outlines and spots; sternum pale yellow covered with gray markings; opisthosoma pale yellow with longitudinal brown markings and sparse gray dots on the dorsal habitus ( Figs 14, 15 ). Measurements: total length 5.5; prosoma: 2.7 long, 2.0 wide; sternum: 1.4 long, 0.9 wide; labium: 0.5 long, 0.4 wide; opisthosoma: 2.7 long, 1.7 wide; eye diameters: PME 0.16, ALE 0.175, PLE 0.13; legs: I: 17.95 (4.7, 0.7, 5.25, 6.25, 1.05); II: 13.05 (3.3, 0.7, 3.75, 4.5, 0.9); III: 8.75 (2.6, 0.6, 2.0, 2.8, 0.75); IV: − (2.5, 0.7, 3.8, 4.0, absent). Palp: cymbium stout, shorter than the length of the bulb and embolus, with two strong, distal spines ( Figs 16–18 , 61, 62 ). Palp measurements: tibia 0.56; cymbium 0.57; bulb 0.65.

Redescription. Female (USNM786974): prosoma pale brown with dark brown markings; chelicerae gray with brown margins; legs pale yellow; labium dark brown; endites dark brown with lighter base; sternum dark brown with golden markings; opisthosoma gray with scattered brown markings ( Figs 19, 20 ). Measurements: total length 5.9; prosoma: 2.8 long, 2.3 wide; sternum: 1.4 long, 1.0 wide; labium: 0.35 long, 0.4 wide; opisthosoma: 3.1 long, 2.4 wide; eye diameters: PME 0.15, ALE 0.15, PLE 0.15; legs: I: 13.45 (3.0, 0.7, 4.0, 4.75, 1.0); II: − (3.0, 0.7, 3.1, 2.9, absent); III: − (2.6, 0.5, 1.8, 2.5, absent); IV: 10.3 (2.75, 0.6, 3.1, 3.1, 0.75). Female genitalia: positioning ridges hood-shaped, posteriad, separated from each other by three times their width; fovea short, below positioning ridges ( Fig. 21 ). Vulva: IS slightly longer than OS; OS roughly straight, two times longer than wide, covered with large pores; PS convoluted ( Fig. 22 ).

Variation. Males (n=3): total length 5.2–5.3; prosoma length 2.5–2.7; femur I length 4.7–7.0. Females (n=10): total length 4.6–5.5; prosoma length 2.3–2.7; femur I length 2.7–3.9. Females may also have golden coloration with abundant brown markings ( Figs 23, 24 ) or yellowish-gray coloration with dark brown markings ( Figs 27, 28 ). Female genitalia can have protruded rounded positioning ridges, separated from each other by approximately three times their width ( Figs 25, 26 ), or positioning ridges boomerang-shaped, postero-laterad and separated from each other by about 1.3 times their length ( Figs 29, 30 ). Vulva shows very little variation ( Figs 63–70 ).

Distribution. Previously know from Cuba ( Alayón 1977), newly recorded here from Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico ( Fig. 135 ).

Figures

FIGURES 14–22. Scytodes cubensis Alayón. 14–18 male (USNM782692) 14, 15 habitus (14 dorsal, 15 ventral, prosoma); 16–18 left palp (16 prolateral, 17 retrolateral, 18 dorsal) 19–21 female 19, 20 (USNM784548) habitus (19 dorsal, 20 ventral, prosoma); 21, 22 (USNM783136) genitalia (21 ventral, 22 vulva, dorsal). Scale bars: 15, 15, 19, 20 = 1.0 mm; 16–18, 21, 22 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 23–30. Scytodes cubensis Alayón, female 23–26 (USNM786627) 23, 24 habitus (23 dorsal, 24 prosoma, ventral); 25, 26 genitalia (25 ventral, 26 vulva, dorsal); 27, 28 (CarBio00003803A) habitus (27 dorsal, 28 prosoma, ventral); 29, 30 (CarBio00003533A) genitalia (29 ventral, 30 vulva, dorsal). Scale bars: 23, 24, 27, 28 = 1.0 mm; 25, 26, 29, 30 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 61–70. Scytodes cubensis Alayón. 61, 62 male (USNM784798), left palp (61 prolateral, 62 retrolateral); 63–70 female, vulva, dorsal 63 (CarBio00003984A); 64 (CarBio00003416); 65 (CarBio00006197A); 66 (USNM784369); 67 (CarBio00003781); 68 (USNM785349); 69 (USNM784761); 70 (USNM786974). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 135–138. Geografic distribution maps for Scytodes spp. 135 (S. blanda Bryant, S. coltrainei sp. nov., S. cubensis Alayón, S darlingtoni Alayón); 136 (S. harrisoni sp. nov., S. jimmorrisoni sp. nov., S. joniae sp. nov., S. mingusi sp. nov.); 137 (S. nicksae sp. nov., S. reinhardti sp. nov., S. ritae sp. nov., S. sabbath sp. nov.); 138 (S. fusca Walckenaer, S. longipes Lucas).

FIGURES 71–78. Scytodes joniae sp. nov. 71–74 male (USNM782341) 71, 72 habitus (71 dorsal, 72 prosoma, ventral); 73, 74 left palp (73 prolateral, 74 retrolateral); 75–78 female (USNM 785538) 75,76 habitus (75 dorsal, 76 prosoma, ventral); 77, 78 (USNM 785252) genitalia (77 ventral, 78 vulva, dorsal). Scale bars: 71, 72, 75, 76 = 1 mm; 73, 74, 77, 78 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 95–105. 95–98 Scytodes joniae sp. nov. 95, 96 female, vulva, dorsal (95 USNM782490, 96 USNM784365); 97, 98 male (USNM782341), left palp (97 prolateral, 98 retrolateral); 99 Scytodes jimmorrisoni sp. nov., female, vulva, dorsal (USNM392951); 100–105 Scytodes mingusi sp. nov. 100, 101 male (USNM783525), left palp (100 prolateral, 101 retrolateral); 102–105 female, vulva, dorsal (102 USNM783526, 103 USNM786689, 104 USNM786649, 105 USNM786789). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 87–94. Scytodes mingusi sp. nov. 87–90 male (USNM783525) 87, 88 habitus (18 dorsal, 88 prosoma, ventral); 89, 90 left palp (89 prolateral, 90 retrolateral); 91–94 female 91, 92 (USNM783526) habitus (91 dorsal, 92 prosoma ventral); 93, 94 (USNM783518) genitalia (93 ventral, 94 vulva, dorsal). Scale bars: 87, 88, 91, 92 = 1.0 mm; 89, 90, 93, 94 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 10–13. Scytodes coltrainei sp. nov., female (USNM782402) 10, 11 habitus (10 dorsal, 11 prosoma, ventral); 12, 13 genitalia (12 ventral, 13 vulva, dorsal). IS = inner spermathecae; OS = outer spermathecae; PS = posterior spermathecae. Scale bars: 10, 11 = 1.0 mm; 12, 13 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 31–41. 31–35 Scytodes blanda Bryant. Male (CarBio00002265A), left palp (31 prolateral, 32 detail of tip, dorsal, 33 retolateral); 34, 35 female, vulva, ventral (34 USNM787380, 35 CarBio00001719A); 36 Scytodes coltrainei sp. nov. (USNM782402), female, vulva, ventral; 37, 38 Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, female, vulva, ventral (37 USNM788097, 38 786759); 39, 40 Scytodes darlingtoni Alayón (holotype), female, genitalia (39 ventral, 40 vulva, dorsal); 41 Scytodes harrisoni sp. nov. (holotype), female, vulva, dorsal. OS = outer spermathecae; PS = posterior spermathecae; UE = uterus externus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 53–60. 53–56 Scytodes harrisoni sp. nov., female (holotype) 53, 54 habitus (53 dorsal, 54 prosoma, ventral); 55, 56 genitalia (55 ventral, 56 vulva, dorsal). 57–60 Scytodes jimmorrisoni sp. nov., female (USNM392951) 57, 58 habitus (57 dorsal, 58 prosoma, ventral); 59, 60 genitalia (59 ventral, 60 vulva, dorsal). Scale bars: 53, 54, 57, 58 = 1.0 mm; 55, 56, 59, 60 = 0.5 mm.