Phrixotrichus, Simon, 1889

Perafán, Carlos & Pérez-Miles, Fernando, 2014, The Andean tarantulas Euathlus Ausserer, 1875, Paraphysa Simon, 1892 and Phrixotrichus Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): phylogenetic analysis, genera redefinition and new species descriptions, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 48 (39 - 40), pp. 2389-2418 : 2408-2410

Genus Phrixotrichus

( Figures 9 , 10 )

Orthothrichus Karsch 1880, p. 390 . (preoccupied).

Ashantia Strand 1908, p. 770 . Syn. nov.

Type species

Phrixotrichus scrofa ( Molina 1788)

Diagnosis

Differs from other Theraphosinae genera by the presence of urticating setae type IV gathered on two lateral patches ( Figure 10C ). Male differs by the palpal organ morphology with two sub equal prolateral keels ( PI and PS) and the tip directed retrolaterally ( Figures 9A,B , 10A,B ), tibial apophysis with only one apical spine on RB and absence of basal spine on PB ( Figure 9D ). Female differs by the presence of two spermathecal receptacles with a lateral spheroid chamber ( Figure 10D,E ) and two lateral patches of urticating setae .

Generic redescription

Carapace: subcircular, hirsute, black-purple to black. Strongly arched caput. Fovea: short transverse, straight to slightly recurved. Well-defined ocular tubercle, sub-quadrangular. Clypeus: narrow. Anterior eye row strongly procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Chelicerae: normal, with 7–8 well-developed teeth on promargin of furrow and 4–21 small teeth on the proximal area of furrow. Labium wider than long, with 0–16 cuspules on the subapical margin, suture broad. Maxillae longer than wide, prolateral distal angle slightly produced, with few cuspules. Sternum: subcircular, sigilla oval, elongated, submarginal. Stridulatory setae absent. Legs black-brown, hirsute, without spines on femora. Claws present on legs without teeth. Paired claws on legs and claw tufts well-developed. Retrolateral scopulae on femur IV absent. All tarsi with dense scopulae. Metatarsi I at least scopulated on two-thirds or distal half. Metatarsi II scopulated on the distal half. Metatarsi III scopulated on one-third. Metatarsi IV scopulated on distal portion. Trichobothria of three types on dorsal tarsi; clavate (short), filiform (long) and fusiform (medium-sized) randomly dispersed in a dorsal longitudinal arrangement. Metatarsi and tibiae with only filiform trichobothria arranged in a median, longitudinal and dorsal stripe. Abdomen hirsute, with two lateral patches of urticating setae. Type III and IV urticating setae present. PMS well-developed, PLS normal, apical segment digitiform. Tibia I of males with paired distal prolateroventral apophysis, with bases not fused and without retrolateral spines. RB with an apical spine, PB without spines. Male metatarsi I straight. Palpal tibiae without spines or processes. Palpal organ piriform with extended subtegulum, PI and PS present, with a similar development along the embolus; the PI is serrated in Phrixotrichus jara . Female palpal tibiae with only apical spines. Spermathecae with two seminal receptacles each with a lateral spheroid chamber .

Remarks

Based on the descriptions of P. scrofa holotype of Schiapelli and Gerschman de P. (1963) and Legendre and Calderon (1984), and our examination of the holotype of P. auratus (in the synonymy with P. scrofa ), P. scrofa clearly differ from Paraphysa (sub Euathlus ), in the characters indicated in the diagnosis. The generic names Aranea and Mygale used in early times for P. scrofa are pre-occupied, so Phrixotrichus should be used, and is here restored. In our phylogenetic analysis three species of Phrixotrichus were resolved as a monophyletic clade, sister group of Euathlus .

Figures

Figure 9. Phrixotrichus jara sp. nov. (A) palpal organ, prolateral view; (B) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (C) palpal organ, detail of apex showing PI serrated; (D) tibial apophysis, prolateroventral view (apical spine on RB lost); (E) cephalotorax. PB: prolateral branch, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel, RB: retrolateral branch. The arrow shows the PI serrated. Scale bar = 1mm.

Figure 10. (A–D) Phrixotrichus scrofa. (A) palpal organ, prolateral view; (B) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (C) abdomen; (D) spermathecae, dorsal view. (E) Phrixotrichus vulpinus comb. nov. (E) spermathecae, dorsal view. PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel. The arrow shows digitiform projection on seminal receptacles. Circles delimit the two urticating setae lateral patches. Scale bar = 1 mm.