Syspira cimitarra, Brescovit & Sánchez-Ruiz & Bonaldo, 2018

Brescovit, Antonio D., Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2018, On the spider genus Syspira Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Miturgidae) in the Caribbean: four new species from Dominican Republic, Zootaxa 4370 (1), pp. 57-66 : 58-59

Syspira cimitarra sp. nov.

Figs 1−2 , 7

Types. Holotype ♂ and paratype ♀ from Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo, 18°41'11.9"N 70°35'37.4"W, 2041 m, 15 km of Constanza, Province La Vega, Cibao Sur, Dominican Republic, 11.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra (IBSP 168411). Paratype ♀, same data (MNHNSD 09.1539).

Other material examined. Dominican Republic. Province La Vega: Cibao Sur, 15 km of Constanza , Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo , 18°41'11.9"N 70°35'37.4"W, 2041 m, 3♀, 11.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra ( IBSP 168414 ) ; 1♀, 11.IV.2016, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra ( IBSP 168413 ; for SEM); Peravia, Baní, Lá Ciénaga , 18º23’27.6’’N 70º25’47’’W, 340 m, 1♂, 21.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra ( IBSP 168412 ; for SEM).

Etymology. The specific name is the Spanish form of the word scimitar, a type of sword used by several eastern peoples, especially by Muslim warriors, alluding to the shape of the RTA.

Diagnosis. Males of Syspira cimitarra are easily distinguished from other Dominican species by the shape of the retrolateral tibial apophysis elongated and curved at tip, and by the filiform apical projection of the embolar base ( Figs 1A −B , 2B −F ). Females resemble those of Syspira jimmyi sp.nov. by the enlarged atrium, but can be distinguished by the larger epigynal plate with moderately projected anterior margins of posterior plates, and longer copulatory ducts ( Figs 1C −D , 2I ).

Description. Male (Holotype). Coloration: carapace orange with two dark grey paramedian bands, spanning from anterior border to posterior border of carapace. Chelicerae red brown with median frontal black narrow stripe. Labium, endites, sternum and venter of coxae yellowish. Legs orange with metatarsus and tarsus dark orange. Abdomen gray with two longitudinal dorsal rows of white spots. Total length 9.3, carapace length 4.2, width 3.3. Eye diameters: AME 0.16, ALE 0.16, PME 0.21, PLE 0.21. Chelicerae 1.6 long, with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth ( Fig. 2A ). Leg measurements: femur I—3.8; II—3.7; III—3.5; IV—4.5. Leg spination: I—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d0; metatarsus v2-2 -0, p0-1-0, r0, d0; II—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r0, d0, metatarsus v2-2 -0, p1-1-0, r0-1-0, d0; III‒IV—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d2-1-0, metatarsus v2-2 -1, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d2-2-2. Palp: cymbial groove large, open distally; retrolateral tibial apophysis elongated and curved distally, with small dorsal projection and tip striated; median apophysis conical distally; distal projection of embolar base filiform ( Figs 1A −B , 2B −F ).

Female (Paratype IBSP 168411). Coloration as in male, except labium, endites and sternum orange. Palp orange. Abdomen and spinnerets ventrally orange. Total length 11.5, carapace length 5.6, width 4.3. Eye diameters: AME 0.19, ALE 0.19, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22. Chelicerae 2.3 long, with teeth as in male ( Fig. 2G ). Leg measurements: femur I—4.1; II—4; III—3.7; IV—4.9. Palp: claw with two teeth ( Fig. 2H ); spination: patella p1; tibia p2-1-0, d1-1-0; tarsus p1-0-0, r1-1-0, d1-0-0. Leg spination: I—tibia v2-2 -2, p0, r0, d0; metatarsus v2 -0-0, p0, r0, d0; II—tibia v1 r-1r-2, p0, r0, d0, metatarsus v2 -0-0, p0, r0, d0; III‒IV—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d2-1-0, metatarsus v2-2 -0, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d2-2-2. Abdomen: length 3.9, epigastric furrow 0.8 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 2.1 from base of spinnerets. Epigynum: Atrium wider than long, with a pair of oblique lateral tegumental folds and a single median, anterior transversal tegumental fold; primary spermathecae coiled; secondary spermathecae projected internally; fertilization ducts longer than spermathecae ( Figs 1C −D , 2I ).

Distribution. Known from Provinces La Vega and Peravia, in Dominican Republic ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Syspira cimitarra sp. nov.: A male, IBSP 168412, palp, ventral view; B same, prolateral view; C female, IBSP 168413, epigynum, ventral view; D same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A—atrium; C—conductor; CbGv—cymbial groove; EB—embolar base; EBp—apical projection of embolar base; FD—fertilization duct; MA—median apophysis; PP—posterior plate; S1—primary spermathecae; S2—secondary spermathecae.Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Syspira cimitarra sp. nov.: A−F male, IBSP 168412; G−I female, IBSP 168413. A chelicerae, ventral view; B palp, ventral view; C same, detail; D same, retrolateral; E retrolateral tibial apophysis,retrolateral;F same, detail, distalarea of tibial retrolateral apophysis; G chelicerae, ventral view; H palp, distal area; I epigynum, ventral view. Abbreviations: Cconductor; EB—embolar base; EBp—apical projection of embolar base; MA—median apophysis.

FIGURE 7. Distribution records of Dominican Syspira. Triangle: Reserva Científica Ebano Verde, La Vega (Syspira medialuna sp. nov.); circle: Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo, La Vega (Syspira cimitarra sp. nov. and Syspira jimmyi sp. nov.); diamond: Via las Agujas, San José de Ocoa (Syspira agujas sp. nov.); cross: La Ciénaga, Peravia (Syspira cimitarra sp. nov. and Syspira jimmyi sp. nov.).