Nops siboney Sánchez

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2018, A revision of the Neotropical spider genus Nops MacLeay (Araneae: Caponiidae) with the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Nopinae genera, Zootaxa 4427 (1), pp. 1-121 : 49-53

Nops siboney Sánchez – Ruiz, 2004

Figures 30E‒L ; 31A‒F

Nops siboney Sánchez – Ruiz, 2004: 100, figs 11–12. Male holotype from Reserva Ecológica Siboney–Juticí, 1 km. W from Siboney beach (19°57′45″N, 75°43′12″W), Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 8.i.2001, R. Teruel, under stones (BSC 620); one female and one immature paratypes, same data as holotype (BSC 550); one female paratype, same data as holotype (AMNH); all types examined.

Additional material examined. CUBA: Pinar del Río: Monte Arunga (21°36′13″N, 82°05′17″W) , Cayo Cantiles, Archipiélago de los Canarreos , ii.1988, G. Alayόn, 1♂ (MNHNCu) . Matanzas: Varadero (23°10′48″N, 81°11′14″W), Península Hicacos , 2.iii.1972, L. F. de Armas 1♀ ( BSC 508 ) . Campismo Bacunayagua (23°8′39″N, 81°39′53″W), 13.x.1999, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ ( BSC 550 ) . Villa Clara: El Copey (22°19′04 ″N, 79°40′52″W), Placetas , 15.v.2006, R. Teruel, 1♀ immature ( BSC 553 ) . Santiago de Cuba: Reserva Siboney‒Juticí (19°57′41.3″N, 75°42′58.7″W), 6.i.2001, R. Teruel, 1 immature ( BSC 546 ) . Márgenes de Laguna Baconao (19°54′12.8″N, 75°28′05.4″W), 7.v.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ ( BSC 506 ) . Laguna Baconao (19°53′36.8″N, 75°27′30.6″W), 17.xi.2001, R. Teruel, A. Fong & Y. Perez, 1♀ ( BSC 549 ) . Ditto , 7.v.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ ( BSC 526 ) . Playa Verraco (19°53′37.9″N, 75°34′36.1″W), Baconao , 17.xi.2001, R. Teruel & Y. Perez, 1 immature ( BSC 617 ) . Guantánamo: Tortugilla (19°58′27.9″N, 74°56′00.3″W), San Antonio del Sur , 10.xi.2000, R. Teruel, 1♀ genitalia for SEM ( BSC 618 ) . Cajobabo (20°04′03″N, 74°27′44″W), Imías , 8.xi.2004, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♂ ( BSC 509 ) .

Diagnosis. Males resemble similar congeners Nops pallidus n. sp. and Nops gertschi by having a short and thick embolus, strongly curved; but can be distinguished by the longer embolus with a shorter sclerotized margin ( Fig. 31B‒C ). Females can be distinguished by receptaculum with narrow invagination and uterus externus with narrow base ( Fig. 30G‒H, J‒L ).

Description. Male (holotype): Carapace, chelicerae, labium, endites, sternum and legs yellow ( Fig. 31A ), coxae and trochanters lighter. Abdomen pale gray, without noticeable dorsal pattern on abdomen, lighter ventrally. Anal tubercle and spinnerets light gray. Total length 9.3. Carapace 6.4 long, 4.3 wide. Sternum 3.9 long, 3.6 wide. Leg measurements: I: 4.4; II: 4.15; III: 3.8; IV: 4.5. Posterior unpaired claws short, as in other three‒clawed spiders. PLS longer than PMS. Femur I‒II slight elongated. Palp with embolus distinctly shorter than tibia, thick and strongly curved ( Fig. 31B‒C ); beveled tip with a wide sclerotized margin and two short extensions ( Fig. 30B‒C ).

Female (BSC 550): Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in male ( Fig. 31D ). Abdomen as in male. Anal tubercle and spinnerets as in male. Total length 9.7. Carapace 6.8 long, 4.5wide. Sternum 4.3 long, 3.9 wide. Leg measurements: I: 4.6; II: 4.35; III: 3.70; IV: 4.8. Posterior unpaired claws and PLS as in male. External genital area with weakly sclerotized anterior plate and lep, unremarkable ess ( Fig. 31E ). Internal genitalia with narrow invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base ( Figs 30G‒H, J‒L ; 31F).

Variation. Specimens from eastern Cuba populations differ slightly in coloration from those of the western region. Specimens from Santiago de Cuba (eastern) have accentuated overall coloration, being slightly darker and have slight differences in embolus shape compared with males from west of Cuba.

Natural history. All specimens from Santiago de Cuba were collected under stones in xerophytic coastal scrub. Specimens from Guantánamo were collected under dead plants of Agave sp. in secondary scrub.

Distribution. Known from a few localities in Cuba ( Fig. 31G ).

Figures

FIGURE 30. A–D Nops pallidus n. sp., male (paratype); E–L Nops siboney Sánchez–Ruiz, female (BSC 618). A right palp, retrolateral oblique view. B tip of embolus, retrolateral oblique view. C same, dorsal view. D pretarsal claws on left leg IV, anterior view. E tarsus on left leg IV, apical prolateral view. F pretarsal claws on left leg IV, prolateral view. G internal genitalia, anterior view. H same, detail of receptaculum and uterus externus, anterior view. I detail of tracheae, anterior view. J internal genitalia, dorsal view. K. same, closer. L same, detail of receptaculum. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, dcp—dorsal chemosensory patch, dte—differentiated texture on embolus, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, sd—seminal duct, sm—sclerotized margin on embolar tip, ue—uterus externus.

FIGURE 31. Nops siboney Sánchez–Ruiz; A–C male (holotype); D–F female (paratype). A habitus, dorsal view. B left palp, prolateral view. C left palp, retrolateral view. D habitus, dorsal view. E external genital area, ventral view. F internal genitalia, dorsal view. G distribution map. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—sclerotization around spiracles, lep—lateral extensions of posterior plate, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, sm—sclerotized margin on embolar tip, ue—uterus externus. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, D), 0.5 mm (B–C, E–F).