Neoxyphinus gregoblin Abrahim and Santos, 2012

Abrahim, Naiara, Brescovit, Antonio D., Rheims, Cristina A., Santos, Adalberto J., Ott, Ricardo & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2012, A Revision of the Neotropical Goblin Spider Genus Neoxyphinus Birabén, 1953 (Araneae, Oonopidae), American Museum Novitates 2012 (3743), pp. 1-76 : 28-32

Neoxyphinus gregoblin Abrahim and Santos , new species

Figures 1, 2, 11, 21, 45, 103–133; map 2

TYPES: Male holotype from Andres Bello, Mérida, Venezuela, 20 km SE Azulita, ULA, Biological Reserve La Carbonera, 08°38′N 71°21′W, 2150 m, 28 Jun 1989, S. Peck and J. Peck ( PBI _OON 14298, AMNH) . Female allotype, same locality and collector, 27 Jul 1989 ( PBI _ OON 14299, AMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a contraction of “Great Goblin,” a character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit, in reference to the body size of the specimens, the largest known in the genus.

DIAGNOSIS: As in N. petroglobin , N. gregoblin has four long carapace spikes (figs. 104, 128, 130) and, in males, few long abdominal dorsal denticles (figs. 108, 126) but differs from the latter by the presence, in both sexes, of well-developed, blunt tubercles on carapace dorsal surface, forming two longitudinal lines between eye group and first pair of carapace spikes (figs. 11, 105, 120, 129).

MALE (holotype): Total length 3.15. Carapace brown, posterolateral surface with two pairs of spikes, surface of elevated portion of pars cephalica smooth with two parallel lines of tubercles, sides smooth, with sparse tubercles, lateral margin with large tubercles, specially the posterior ones. Clypeus margin rebordered, sinuous in frontal view. Eyes: ALE separated by less than their radius. Sternum longer than wide, dark red-brown, median concavity absent, with median row of large, shallow pits, anterior margin with continuous transverse groove; setae evenly scattered, originating from small tubercles. Chelicerae, endites, and labium dark redbrown. Book lung covers large, ovoid. Pedicel tube medium sized. Dorsal scutum dark redbrown, surface of middle and sides smooth, anterior half with projecting denticles. Postepigastric scutum dark red-brown. Legs orange-brown. Spine formula: tibia I v4-4-1, metatarsus I v2-2-1;

Figs. 103–109. Neoxyphinus gregoblin , new species, male. 103. Habitus, dorsal view. 104. Same, lateral view. 105. Carapace, dorsal view. 106. Sternum and mouthparts, ventral view. 107. Abdomen, ventral view. 108. Same, lateral view. 109. Leg I, prolateral view.

tibia II v2-2-2, metatarsus II v2-0-2. Genitalia: sperm pore situated between anterior and posterior spiracles. Palp proximal segments, cymbium, and bulb pale orange. Embolus with wide prolateral prong, short prolateral lamellae and toothlike apical process (figs. 110–119).

FEMALE (allotype): Total length 3.33. Clypeus margin strongly rebordered. Book lung covers elliptical. Dorsal scutum anterior half without projecting denticles. Spine formula: tibia I v4-4-2, metatarsus I 2-2-1; tibia II v4-4-1, metatarsus II v2-0-2. Epigynal atrium narrow, with wide tubular, centrally positioned median element (fig. 133).

DISTRIBUTION: Know from Merida, Venezuela (map 2).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: VENEZUELA: Mérida: El Valle, 15 km NE Mérida , 2400 m, July 21–24, 1989, S. Peck and J. Peck, collected with carrion traps ( PBI _OON 14301, AMNH) 1♂ ; 25 km NW Mérida, Jaji Road , Chorrera Gonzales , 1800 m, June 28, 1989, S. Peck and J. Peck ( PBI _OON 14573, AMNH) 1♂. Andres Bello : La Azulita, Jaji Road ESE of Merida , nr San Eusebio, Maricaibo Basin side, 2250 m, 10 Apr 1994, L. Herman ( PBI _OON 11024, AMNH) 1♀ ; 20 km SE Azulita, ULA, Biological Reserve La Carbonera , 08°38′N 71°21′W, 2150 m, July 27, 1989, S. Peck and J. Peck ( PBI _OON 14300, AMNH), 1♂, June 28–July 27, 1989, same, collected with carrion traps ( PBI _OON 11023, AMNH), 1♂ .

Figs. 110–119. Neoxyphinus gregoblin , new species, male. 110. Right palp, prolateral view. 111. Same, ventral view. 112. Same, retrolateral view. 113. Right embolus, ventral view. 114–119. Left embolus. 114, 117, 118. Ventral view (117, apex in focus; 118, base in focus). 115, 116. Prolateral view. 119. Retrolateral view.

Figs. 120–127. Neoxyphinus gregoblin , new species, male. 120, 121. Carapace, lateral view. 122. Same, anterior view. 123. Chelicera, posterior view. 124. Sternum, ventral view. 125. Endites, posterior view. 126. Abdomen, lateral view. 127. Epigastric scutum, ventral view.

Figs. 128–133. Neoxyphinus gregoblin , new species, female. 128, 129. Habitus, dorsal view. 130. Same, lateral view. 131. Abdomen, ventral view. 132. Same, anterior view. 133. Epigynum, dorsal view.