Vitalius ornatissimus, Bertani & Motta, 2024

Bertani, Rogério & Motta, Paulo César, 2024, A new species of Vitalius (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado, Zoologia (e 24011) 41, pp. 1-8 : 2-6

Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov.

Figs 1–18

Vitalius sp. 1 : Bertani 2023b: 11, 13–15, 17–19, 22–25.

https://zoobank.org/ 0B3FECCF-46A1-430E-BC30-E0770CFBBA27

Diagnosis. Females of Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov. resemble those of V. sapiranga by the broad spermathecae with receptacles as large as spermathecae stalk ( Figs 9–14 ). They differ by the sternum being slightly longer than wide. Males of V. ornatissimus sp. nov. resemble those of V. chromatus by the palpal tibia having a series of spines on the dorso-retrolateral distal edge ( Fig. 7 ) and similar bulb shapes. They differ by the shape of the tibial apophysis with two convergent processes ( Fig. 6 ), metatarsus I roughly straight ( Fig. 8 ), and metatarsus I, when folding, touches the retrolateral side of the retrolateral process. Vitalius chromatus has the tibial apophysis with processes roughly straight, metatarsus I curved on its basal third and touches the apex of the retrolateral process when folded.

Type material. Holotype male from Brazil, state of Tocantins, Peixe, Peixe / Angical Hydroelectric Dam [12°15’S, 48°21’W, 251 m a.s.l.], 1 February 2006, R. M. Gonçalves de Andrade col. ( IBSP 300842 ), paratype female, same locality, 13 March 2006, R. Bertani col. ( IBSP 300843 ).

Description. Holotype (IBSP 300842), male. Carapace 15.91 long, 14.52 wide, chelicerae 8.63. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 15.98, 9.09, 12.35, 11.71, 7.11, 56.24. II: 14.45, 7.81, 10.90, 11.08, 6.61, 50.85. III: 12.81, 6.52, 9.38, 11.83, 5.46, 46.0. IV: 15.49, 7.22, 13.24, 16.88, 7.33, 60.16. Palp: 9.19, 5.49, 8.34, –, 3.52, 26.54. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.42, 3.10, 3.84, 2.97, palp=2.39; patellae I–IV = 3.54, 3.32, 3.22, 2.94, palp=2.75; tibiae I–IV = 2.91, 2.36, 3.05, 2.42, palp=3.12; metatarsi I–IV = 2.01, 1.69, 1.65, 1.57; tarsi I–IV = 1.58, 1.61, 1.59, 1.39, palp=2.15. Legs formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.07. Abdomen 17.33 long, 10.88 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.12 long, 0.86 wide, 0.61 apart; PLS, 3.60 basal, 2.49 middle, 3.33 distal; midwidths 1.18, 1.09, 0.86, respectively.

Carapace: 1.09 longer than wide; cephalic area moderately raised, thoracic striae deep. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.93 wide. Carapace covered with short, slender, dense setae, bordered with long setae pointing out. Eyes and eye tubercle. Tubercle 0.63 high, 1.57 long, 2.11 wide. Clypeus 0.17 wide. Anterior row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.47, ALE 0.51, PME 0.9, PLE 0.56, AME–AME 0.37, AME–ALE 0.25, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–ALE 1.39, ALE–PME 0.36, PME–PME 0.99, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE– PLE 1.39, ALE–PLE 0.27, AME–PLE 0.43. Eye group 2.01 wide, 1.06 long. Maxillae. Length 4.96, width 2.51. Cuspules: ca. 231 spread over ventral inner heel. Lyra absent. Labium: 2.12 long, 2.76 wide, with ca. 162 cuspules spaced by less than one diameter from each other in anterior third in the center. Labio-sternal groove deep, sigilla not evident.

Chelicerae:Rastellum absent, basal article with 12 teeth on promargin and 13 denticles on basal area. Sternum. Length 7.26, width 6.63. Posterior angle rounded, not separating coxae IV. Sigilla: first and second pairs not evident; third oval, one diameter from margin. Clavate trichobothria on distal 2/3 of tarsi I–IV. Stridulatory setae absent. Scopula. Retrolateral femur IV scopulate. Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I–II 3/4, III 1/2, IV 1/6 distal scopulate. Metatarsus IV scopula divided by row of 3–4 setae. Spination: palp: femur p0-0-2, patella p1, tibia v0-1-1, p1-2-2; d0-0-13ap; leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella p1, tibia v1-0-0ap, p1-1-0, metatarsus v0-0-1ap; leg II: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v2-1-2ap, p1-1-1; metatarsus v1-0-3ap, p1-1-0; leg III: femur p0-0-1, r0-0-1, patella p1, tibia v1-1-1ap, p1-0-0, metatarsus v3-1-5(3ap), p0-1-1, r1-1-1; leg IV: femur r0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v1-2-3(2ap), p1-1-0, r1-1-1, metatarsus v20(4ap), p0-1-1, r0-1-1. Claws: ITC absent from all legs; STC with a single row of 1–6 denticles on all legs.

Urticating setae: Position, type and length range: MA, I, 0.32–0.35; LA, I, 0.34–0.38; MM, I, 0.65–0.68; LM, I, 0.51–0.60; MP, I, 0.67–0.72; LP, I, 0.65–0.69. Intermediates of types I and III on MM, MP, and LP regions having small to absent reversed barbed region ( Bertani 2001, Bertani and Guadanucci 2013); distribution of urticating setae on abdomen corresponds to fig. 5 in Bertani and Guadanucci (2013).

Palp ( Figs 1–3 ): Palpal bulb pyriform, embolus length 1.91, tegulum length 2.04, embolus slightly flattened laterally at distal region, apex short. Prolateral keels present. PS forming embolus edge distally. A present, short. R present, sharp, not pronounced. SA present, well developed. Bifid tibial spur with processes originating from common well-developed base, both curved, prolateral broader, retrolateral slightly longer, with a curvature at its distal portion ( Figs 4–6, 8 ). Two rhomboid spines at the internal face of prolateral process. Metatarsus I straight, when folded touches the retrolateral face of retrolateral tibial process ( Fig. 8 ).

Color pattern: Carapace and chelicerae black. Carapace bordered with scattered light brown long setae, chelicerae with some long light brown setae. Legs black with sparse light brown long setae. Coxae of legs ventrally and sternum reddish brown, covered with short black setae. Labium and maxillae reddish brown. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally black with abundant long reddish setae. Femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi of legs and palp with discrete light stripes. Apex of leg articles with faded white rings dorsally on apex, rings wider ventrally ( Fig. 15 ).

Description. Paratype (IBSP 300843), female. Carapace 17.22 long, 15.42 wide, chelicerae 9.35. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 13.59, 9.08, 9.94, 9.56, 6.32, 48.49. II: 12.09, 7.51, 8.76, 8.85, 5.07, 42.28. III: 10.20, 6.90, 7.53, 9.62, 5.53, 39.78. IV: 13.09, 7.25, 10.63, 12.90, 5.29, 49.16. Palp: 9.83, 7.15, 7.17, –, 6.70, 30.85. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.06, 3.04, 3.40, 2.87, palp = 2.63; patellae I–IV = 3.58, 3.19, 3.11, 2.98, palp = 3.27; tibiae I–IV = 3.02, 2.63, 2.71, 2.68, palp = 2.70; metatarsi I–IV = 2.58, 2.38, 2.03, 1.85; tarsi I–IV = 2.42, 2.18, 2.22, 2.25, palp = 2.45. Legs formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.01. Abdomen 23.71 long, 17.82 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.39 long, 0.96 wide, 1.59 apart; PLS, 3.87 basal, 2.94 middle, 3.70 distal; midwidths 1.82, 1.32, 1.03, respectively. Carapace: 1.12 longer than wide; cephalic area moderately raised, thoracic striae deep. Fovea: deep, straight, 3.59 wide. Carapace covered with short, slender, dense setae, bordered with long setae pointing out. Eyes and eye tubercle. Tubercle 0.52 high, 1.85 long, 2.26 wide. Clypeus 0.52 wide.

Anterior row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.49, ALE 0.55, PME 0.34, PLE 0.58, AME–AME 0.44, AME–ALE 0.29, AME–PME 0.18, ALE–ALE 1.46, ALE–PME 0.53, PME–PME 1.14, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE– PLE 1.57, ALE–PLE 0.33, AME–PLE 0.51. Eye group 2.24 wide, 1.23 long. Maxillae. Length 5.94, width 3.45. Cuspules: ca. 189 spread over ventral inner heel. Lyra absent. Labium 2.78 long, 3.84 wide, with 122 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other in anterior third in the center. Labio-sternal groove deep, narrow, with two large sigilla.

Chelicerae: Rastellum absent, basal article with 11 teeth on promargin and 24 denticles on basal area. Sternum. Length 8.38, width 7.81. Posterior angle rounded, not separating coxae IV. Sigilla: first and second pairs not evident; third oval, one diameter from margin. Clavate trichobothria: on distal 2/3 of tarsi I– IV. Stridulatory setae absent. Scopula. Retrolateral femur IV scopulate. Tarsi I – IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I 4/5, II 3 /4; III 2 /3, IV 1 /4 distal scopulate. Metatarsus IV divided by a row of 2–3 setae. Spination: palp: femur p0-0-1ap, patella p1, tibia v0-0-5ap, p1-2-0, leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-0-2ap, metatarsus v0-0-1ap; leg II: femur p0-0-2, patella 0, tibia v0-1-2ap, p0-1-1; metatarsus v1-0-3ap; leg III: femur p0-0-1, r0-0-1, patella r1, tibia v0-2-2ap, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, metatarsus v3-1-4ap, p1-1-1, r0-1-1; leg IV: femur r0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-1-3ap, p0-1-0, r1-2-1, metatarsus v18(3ap), p0-1-1, r0-2-1. Claws: ITC absent from all legs; Palp with an unpaired smooth claw, STC with 0–3 denticles in a single row. Urticating setae. Position, type and length range: MA, I, 0.28–0.33; LA, I, 0.55–0.62; MM, I, 0.51–0.57; LM, I, 0,32–0.38. MP, I, 0.53–0.56; LP, I, 0.38–0.43; distribution of urticating setae on abdomen corresponds to fig. 5 in Bertani and Guadanucci (2013) .

Genitalia ( Fig. 9 ): Two short spermathecae separated by heavily sclerotized short area, spermathecal stalk roughly the same width of the spermathecal receptacle.

Color pattern: As in male, but the stripes and rings on legs are more conspicuous, wider and slightly pinkish ( Fig. 16 ).

Other material examined. BRAZIL: Tocantins: Dianópolis [11°37’S, 46°49’W], 1 male, no data ( IBSP 111131 ) ; Between Peixe and São Salvador do Tocantins [12°02’S, 48°32’W], 3 males, 1–14 February 2002, M E. V Calleffo col. ( IBSP 111129 ) ; Peixe / Angical Hydroelectric power Dam [12°15’S, 48°22’W], 4 females, 1 February 2006, R. M. Gonçalves de Andrade et al. col. ( IBSP 300844 ) , 2 females, 2 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300845 ) , 2 females, 3 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300846 ) , 2 females, 6 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300847 ) , 2 females, 8 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300848 ) , 1 female, 10 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300849 ) , 1 female, 14 February 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300850 ) , 1 female, 8 March 2006, R. Bertani et al. col. ( IBSP 300851 ) , 1 female, 9 March 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300852 ) , 1 female, 13 March 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300853 ) , 2 females, 24 March 2006, V. Germano et al. col. ( IBSP 300854 ) , 1 female, 27 March 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300855 ) , 1 female, 29 March 2006, same collectors ( IBSP 300856 ) ; Bahia: Jaborandi, Jatobá farm [13°37’S, 44°28’W], 1 male, pitfall, Cerrado sensu stricto, J. C. A. Rodrigues col., 30 January 2008 ( DZUB 4872 ) ; Goiás: Flores de Goiás, Paranã Valley [14°27’S, 47°02W], 1 male, O.Pires Jr col., 28 March 2004 ( DZUB 2886 ) ; Monte Alegre de Goiás [13°15’S, 46°53’W], N. S. Aparecida farm, 1 male, O. Pires Jr. col., 1 April 2015 ( DZUB 8583 ) ; 1 male, without data ( DZUB 11370 ) ; N. S. Aparecida farm, 1 female, same collector, 1 April 2013 ( DZUB 7795 ) ; 1 male, same locality and collector, 29 January 2008 ( DZUB 4891 ) ; 1 male, same locality and collector, in cerrado sensu stricto ( DZUB 11371 ) ; São Domingos [13°24’S, 46°18’W], Terra Ronca, 1 male, M. E. Mamede, 10 May 1999 ( DZUB 390 ) ; Distrito Federal: BrasÍlia , close to the airport (15°53’04.73”S, 47°55’54.03”W), 1 male, pitfall in the Cerrado sensu stricto, 07 November 2003 ( DZUB 2902 ) ; IBGE reserve (15°53’43.04”S, 47°50’19.59”W), 1 male, Rafael col., 13 March 2001 ( DZUB 1105 ) ; Granja do Torto [15°42’S, 47°54’W], 1 male, I. K. Malinov, 1 February 2008 ( DZUB 4890 ) .

Distribution. Brazil, the Distrito Federal and the states of Tocantins, Goiás and part of the western Bahia ( Figs 17–18 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is from Latin, meaning adorned, decorated, ornate, and refers to the beautiful color pattern of the specimens.

Natural history. Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov. occurs mainly in open (savannah) habitats, occasionally also in closed vegetation like gallery forest ( Fig. 18 ). The males are found more frequently from November to March, months characterized by the rainy season in Cerrado, indicating the reproductive period.

Figures

Figures 1–3. Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov., male holotype, left bulb: (1) retrolateral; (2) prolateral; (3) dorsal. (A) Apical keel, (PI) prolateral inferior keel, (PS) prolateral superior keel, (R) retrolateral keel, (SA) subapical keel. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 4–8. Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov., male holotype: (4–6) left leg I, tibial apophysis; (4) prolateral; (5) retrolateral; (6) ventral; (7) palp, dorsal; (8) left leg I, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus, prolateral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 9–14. Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov., spermathecae, dorsal, variation: (9) paratype IBSP 300843; (10) IBSP 300844a; (11) IBSP 300846; (12) IBSP 300844b; (13) IBSP 300854a; (14) IBSP 300854b. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 15–16. Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov., live: (15) male; (16) female. Photos: Rogério Bertani.

Figures 17–18. Maps showing geographic records of Vitalius ornatissimus sp. nov. in Brazil: (17) relief; (18) biomes. Forested areas of Fig. 18 are in green shades, the eastern side (Brazilian Atlantic Forest) and the western side (Amazon). Brown areas are of Cerrado; and pinkish areas, Caatinga, a semi-arid vegetation.