Indiani gaspar, Rodrigues & Cizauskas & Lemos, 2020

Rodrigues, Bruno V. B., Cizauskas, Igor & Lemos, Yuji, 2020, A new genus of cave spider from Neotropical region (Gnaphosidae: Prodidominae), Zootaxa 4722 (1), pp. 77-83 : 80-82

Indiani gaspar s p. nov.

Figs 1–4

Remarks. Individuals of Indiani gaspar sp. nov. were collected in limestone caves and has some typical troglomorphic traits of troglobite species, such as loss or reduction of eyes and weak pigmentation ( Christiansen 2012). However, as observed by Rodrigues et al. (2018), these characteristics also are observed in epigean species of prodidominae and only the appendage elongation seems to be an important morphological indicative to determine species troglobites in subfamily. In addition, the lack of samplings in epigean habitats does not allow us to determine of the troglobitic status in I. gaspar sp.nov.

Type Material. Male holotype from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Prados, Cave HOL_0020 (44°03’59”W 21°11’06”S), 13–16 March 2017, Eq. Spelayon leg., deposited in IBSP 201864. Paratypes: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Prados, Cave HOL_0001 (44°03’52”W 21°10’57”S), 17–19 November 2014, Eq. Spelayon leg., 1 female ( IBSP 201863 ) .

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to character “Casper, the friendly ghost” that in Portuguese is known as “Gasparzinho”, once the species has weak pigmentation like a ghost.

Diagnosis. See generic diagnosis.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 1.54. Carapace 0.74 long, 0.68 wide; abdomen0.8 long, 0.54 wide; sternum 0.5 long, 0.44 wide; ALS 0.15 long, 0.06 wide. Eyes absent. Chelicerae 0.26 long.. Leg formula 4123; measurements: I: 2.02 (0.59, 0.25, 0.48, 0.35, 0.35); II: 1.78 (0.50, 0.27, 0.40, 0.31, 0.30); III: 1.68 (0.45, 0.22, 0.36, 0.34, 0.31); IV: 2.12 (0.60, 0.26, 0.45, 0.41, 0.40). Leg spination: I—femur d1-1-0, p0-0-1; tibia v1 p-2-2-2-2; metatarsus v2-2 -2. II—femur d1-1-0; tibia v1 p-2-2-2-2; metatarsus v2-2 -2. III—femur d1-1-0; tibia d0-2-0, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v1 p-2-2; metatarsus v0-1r-2; p0-0-1. IV—femur d1-1-0; tibia d0-3-0, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v1 p-1p-2; metatarsus p1-0-1, r0-1-0, v0-0- 1p. Palp as in generic description ( Figs 3 A–D).

Female: Female (paratype). Total length: 1.88. Carapace 0.72 long, 0.54 wide; abdomen 0.98 long, 0.58 wide; sternum 0.53 long, 0.44 wide; ALS 0.15 long, 0.06 wide. Only ALE present. Eye diameter and interdistance: ALE 0.05; ALE–ALE 0.04. Chelicerae 0.25 long.. Leg measurements: I: 2.07 (0.57, 0.30, 0.50, 0.35, 0.35); II: 1.75 (0.50, 0.25, 0.40, 0.27, 0.33); III: 1.64 (0.44, 0.22, 0.32, 0.35, 0.31). Leg spination: I—femur d1-1-0, p0-0-1; tibia v2-2 -2- 2-2; metatarsus v2-2 -2. II—femur d1-1-0; tibia v2-2 -2-2-2; metatarsus v2-2. III—femur d1-1-0; tibia d0-1-0, p0-0- 1, r0-0-1, v0-1p-1p; metatarsus v0-2-2; p0-1-1; r0-0-1. Epigynum as in generic description ( Figs 3 E–G).

Distribution. Known only from caves in Prados, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Indiani gaspar sp. nov., female: A) habitus, dorsal view; B) habitus, lateral view; C) leg I, lateral view, arrows to two ventral parallel rows of strong spines; D) sternum; E) eyes and chelicerae, dorsal view; F) spinnerets, ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Indiani gaspar sp. nov., leg I: A) tarsus, dorsal view; B) tarsal claws, retrolateral view; C) same, detail of classic claw tuft clasper; D) detail of trichobothria and tarsal organ.

FIGURE 3. Indiani gaspar sp. nov., genital organs:A, C) male palp, ventral view; B, D) same, retrolateral view; E) epigynum, ventral view; F) Same; G) vulva, dorsal view.A—atrium; C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; E—embolus; FD—fertilization duct; MA—median apophysis; PEx—posterior extension of epigynum; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis.

FIGURE 4. Known distribution records of Indiani gaspar sp. nov. from Brazil. In detail the distribution of caves in Prados, Minas Gerais.