Tafana pastaza sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 89787AA8-5ECB-4826-BA94-616D473519D5

Figs 8L, 16, 32K, 35

Diagnosis

Males of Tafana pastaza sp. nov. differ from those of the other species of this genus by having the apophysis at the base of the embolus bifid, primary apophysis ‘S-shaped’ and secondary apophysis large, retrolateral projection of the cymbium keel-shaped (Fig. 16C–E). Females differ from the others by presenting internal copulatory ducts long and sinuous, with a globose extension proximally of the copulatory ducts (Figs 16F–G, 32K).

Etymology

The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality, Pastaza Valley.

Material examined

Holotype ECUADOR • 1 ♂; Tungurahua Province, Pastaza Valley, between Baños and Mera; [01°04′00″ N, 78°00′24″ W]; 1 Mar. 1949; W.C. Macintyre leg.; AMNH.

Paratype ECUADOR • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; AMNH .

Remark

The male specimen is in very bad shape, having lost the chelicerae and almost all the legs, and with the abdomen partially deteriorated (Fig. 16A).

Description

Male (holotype, AMNH)

COLOR. Exemplar discolored. Carapace reddish brown (16A). Labium, sternum and endites reddish brown. Legs reddish, only right femur IV and left femur III intact. Abdomen discolored (Fig. 16A).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 8.5, carapace length 3.3, width 2.9. Clypeus height 0.08. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.12, PLE 0.1; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.06, PME– PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.06.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. III—femur 3.2; IV—femur 4.38.

PALP. Retrolateral tibial apophysis conical and curved, apical protuberance on the tibia in retrolateral view; cymbium with retrolateral projection keel-shaped; embolus long; subtegulum prolateral projected; ventral tegular process not present; sperm duct secondary loop reaching apex of the tegulum; median apophysis thick and curved at the apex (Fig. 16C–E).

ABDOMEN. Length 5.0, epigastric furrow 1.1 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 3.2 from base of spinnerets.

Female (paratype, AMNH)

COLOR. Exemplar probably discolored. Carapace reddish brown (Fig. 16B). Labium, sternum and endites reddish brown. Chelicerae reddish brown. Legs I–IV yellow, darker at tarsi. Abdomen yellowish gray with dark spots (Fig. 16B).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 9.3, carapace length 3.8, width 3.2. Clypeus height 0.12. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.1, ALE 0.18, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, PME– PME 0.2, PME–PLE 0.18, ALE–PLE 0.08. Chelicerae 1.6 long, with four promarginal teeth and five retromarginal denticles.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I—femur 4.4 /patella 1.7/ tibia 4.7/ metatarsus 3.6/ tarsus 1.8 /total 16.2; II— 4.5/ 1.7/ 4.5 /3.4 / 1.7/ 15.8; III—3.3 /1.4 / 2.5/ 3.1/ 1.3/ 11.6; IV—3.9/ 1.4/ 3.3 /4.0 / 1.4/ 14.0.

LEG SPINATION. I—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, metatarsus v2-0-0; II—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, metatarsus p1-0-0, r1-1-0; III—tibia p1-1-0, r1-1-0.

EPIGYNUM. Hood circular; atrium small; epigynal plate without posterior region covered with sclerotized cuticle; lateral lobes chalice-shaped. Internally, copulatory ducts long and narrow; primary spermathecae oval; secondary spermatechae in the middle of the copulatory ducts; fertilization ducts long, two times the length of primary spermathecae (Figs 16F–G, 32K).

ABDOMEN. Length 5.3, epigastric furrow 1.3 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 2.0 from base of spinnerets.

Distribution

Known only from Pastaza Valley, Ecuador (Fig. 35).