Linothele macrothelifera Strand, 1908

Drolshagen, Bastian & Bäckstam, Christian M., 2021, A taxonomic review of the mygalomorph spider genus Linothele Karsch, 1879 (Araneae, Dipluridae), Zoosystema 43 (10), pp. 163-196 : 178-179

Linothele macrothelifera Strand, 1908

( Figs 11 ; 17 F-H)

Linothele macrothelifera Strand, 1908: 771 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Colombia • ♀; “ Popayan de Cauca ” [ Popayán ]; 1700 m a.s.l.; S. Lehmann leg.; SMF Nr. 2680-86 examined.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Colombia • 1 undet.; Valle del Cauca, near Queremal ; 1600 m a.s.l.; VIII.1977; W. G. Eberhard leg.; MCZ-76021 • 1 ♀; Valle del Cauca, near Cali ; 1300 m a.s.l.; IX.1972; W. G. Eberhard leg.; MCZ-76023 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Popayán, Colombia.

DISTRIBUTION. — Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

DIAGNOSIS. — Females of Linothele macrothelifera differ from those of most other species of Linothele by the presence of preening-combs ( Fig. 11A, B ). Females may further be distinguished from those of L. spinosa n. sp. by their shorter spermathecae stalks lacking an elongated vesicle ( Fig. 11C, D ) and their distribution.

DESCRIPTION

Male

Unknown.

Female

Colouration in alcohol: Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps pale, yellow; opisthosoma with distinct patterns, mid-dorsally consisting of quadrate spots anteriorly, which become more rectangular posteriorly, or can be interconnected, forming longitudinal lines, laterally with several spots, ventrally with longitudinal lines and spots ( Fig. 17 F- H); maculae absent. Clypeus: narrow. Leg formula: 4123. Scopula divided. Preening-combs present, see Figure 11A, B . Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segments of the PLS rigid. Spermathecae: consisting of two stalks with broad bases, bearing several vesicles at 1:2–1:3A and a short globular apex, see Figure 11C, D .

Variability

CL = 5.3-5.4. CT = 9-10. MC = 24-33.

NATURAL HISTORY

According to Eberhard & Hazzi (2013), L. macrothelifera build sheet webs on the surface of forest leaf litter.

Figures

FIG. 11. — Linothele macrothelifera Strand,1908:A, C, L. macrothelifera female holotype (SMF Nr.2680-86); B, D, L. macrothelifera female (MCZ-76023);A, metatarsus III, ventral view; B, metatarsus III, ventral view; C, D, spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, B, 1 mm; C, D, 0.5 mm.

FIG. 17. — Patterns on opisthosoma in Linothele Karsch, 1879: A-E, L. curvitarsis Karsch, 1879; F-H, L. macrothelifera Strand, 1908; I, J, L. septentrionalis n. sp.; K-M, L. spinosa n. sp.; A, L. curvitarsis indet. holotype (ZMB Arach-458), dorsal view; B, C, L. curvitarsis male (NHRS-KASI 000000032); B, dorsal view; C, ventral view; D, Diplura soricina Simon, 1889 female (MNHN (339)), dorsal view; E, Diplura soricina male (MNHN (339)), dorsal view; F, L. macrothelifera imm. male (MCZ-76020), dorsal view; G, H, L. macrothelifera undet. (MCZ-76021); G, dorsal view; H, ventral view; I, J, L. septentrionalis n. sp. female holotype (MCZ- 76012); I, dorsal view; J, ventral view; K-M, L. spinosa n. sp. male holotype (NHRS-KASI 000000036); K, dorsal view; L, ventral view; M, L. spinosa n. sp. female paratype (NHRS-KASI 000000037), dorsal view. Not to scale.