Porteria eddardstarki, Morrill & Crews & Esposito & Ramírez & Griswold, 2023

Morrill, Elizabeth, Crews, Sarah, Esposito, Lauren, Ramírez, Martín J. & Griswold, Charles, 2023, A revision of the genus Porteria and the phylogeny and biogeography of Porteriinae (Araneae: Desidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198 (2), pp. 368-461 : 406-413

PORTERIA EDDARDSTARKI SP. NOV.

FIGS 1 A-D, 2E, 4B-D, 18–22, 31–36

Zoobank registration: urn: lsid: zoobank. org:act: 9FF1E8A2-602F-437A-9311-A57214E92821.

Types: Holotype male and paratype female from Chile, V Región de Valparaíso, Zapallar , S32° 32.872’, W71° 27.171’, elev. 108 m, February 2, 2013, E. Morrill and C. Griswold, ‘general collecting in mixed native trees and plantation along arroyo’, CASENT9055699, deposited in MHNS . Paratype female from Quebrada el Tigre, 2.5 km E of Zapallar , S32° 33.086’, W71° 25.967’, elev. 357 m, February 12, 2011, M. Ramírez, E. Soto, J. Pizzaro, ‘bosque de boldo, belloto en quebrada’, one female (ex MACN-Ar27062), deposited in MHNS, and two females (MACN-Ar27062) deposited in MACN .

Etymology: A patronym honouring the character Eddard Stark of the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. Eddard Stark was Lord Paramount of the North and, as this species is found only in the northern end of the geographical range of Porteria , we found it an appropriate way to recognize one of the few truly decent and respectable characters in the series.

Diagnosis: Males can be distinguished from all species in the Albopunctata Grade except P. ajimayo by the lack of a DTA ( Figs 32E , 34B ); it can be distinguished from P. ajimayo by the much shorter embolus tip ( Fig. 32D ), and the shape and orientation of the embolus base and conductor ( Figs 32D , 33A, B , 34A, D ). Females can be distinguished by their heavily sclerotized and darkened epigyne with two conspicuous posterior lobes ( Fig. 35 A-C) and relatively large median scape ( Fig. 36A, D ). Internally the copulatory ducts are much longer than other species of the Albopunctata Grade , each duct forming one anterior loop ( Figs 35D , 36B ). Only known from Region V and the north.

Description: Male: based on CASENT9055699, from Zapallar. Markings as in Figure 31 A-C, anterolateral lines on dorsum of abdomen reduced or absent; median markings in pairs and series of chevrons posteriorly; sternum uniform in colour. Total length 5.28. Carapace length 1.43 times width. Clypeus height 1.80 times AME diameter. ALE diameter 1.40 times AME diameter. Chelicera length 11 times clypeus height. Chelicera nearly porrect in males, more so than any other species. Sternum length 1.21 times width. Femur I 1.57 times carapace length. Leg formula 1432. Cymbium length five times length of bulb. Cheliceral promargin with five teeth and one denticle. Leg spination as follows (right legs): palp: femur d1-1-2, patella d1-1, tarsus r0-0-1, v0-0-1; leg I: femur d1-1-1(p)-1(p)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-0, v0-2-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg II: femur d1-3-2-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-0, v0-0-2, metatarsus p0-1-0-1, r0-0-1, v1(r)-2-2; leg III: femur d1-3-1(r)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-1-0, p0-1-1-0, r0-0-1-0, v0-0-2, metatarsus d1(r)-2-2, p1-0-0, v2-2-3; leg IV: femur d1-1-1(r)-1(r)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)- 1-1, p1-1-0, r0-1-1-0, v0-1(r)-2, metatarsus d1(r)-1-1, p1-1-1, r0-1-0-1, v2-2-2, tarsus r0-1. Palp as in Figures 32–34 , with three tibial apophyses (DTA absent, Figs 32E , 34B ): VTA small and triangular, flattened; RTA stout, ending in a thick point; LRTA projecting straight distally out of tibia, parallel to frontal plane. Tegulum smooth, lacking median concavity and outlined by dark sperm duct. Conductor originating in middle of bulb, straight and folded in on itself distally. Embolus base narrow and short; embolus tip medium length, gradually tapering to rest within conductor; embolus parallels the conductor on its prolateral side.

Leg measurements (right): leg I 16.35 (4.15, 5.70, 4.22, 2.28); leg II 12.5 (3.50, 4.05, 3.20, 1.75); leg III 10.90 (3.00, 3.30, 3.15, 1.45); leg IV 14.41 (3.82, 4.49, 4.29, 1.81); palp 8.00 (2.92, 2.48, –, 2.60).

Variation: (N = 3). Total length 4.82–9.10. Carapace length 1.38–1.51 times width. Clypeus height 1.80– 2.14 times AME diameter. ALE diameter 1.40–1.80 times AME diameter. Chelicera length 8.06–16.50 times clypeus height. Sternum length 1.15–1.46 times width. Femur I 1.42–3.79 times carapace length. Cymbium length 3.17–5.94 times length of bulb. Cheliceral promargin with five teeth and one to two denticles. Chelicerae vary from slightly porrect to clearly porrect, especially in larger males.

Description: Female: based on CASENT9055699, from Zapallar. Markings as in Figure 31 C-F, dorsum of abdomen with anterolateral lines reduced or absent, lateral margins mottled with yellow; sternum with subtle spots and median stripe. Total length 7.22. Carapace length 1.41 times width. Clypeus height 2 times AME diameter. ALE diameter 1.29 times AME diameter. Chelicera length 7.14 times clypeus height. Sternum length 1.21 times width. Femur I 1.32 times carapace length. Leg formula 1432. Cheliceral promargin with five teeth and one denticle. Leg spination as follows: palp: femur d1-1-3, patella d1-1, tibia 1(p)-1 (r)-0-1(r), tarsus d2-1(p)-1(p)-0, p1-0-1-1, r0-1-0-0, v1-1-2; leg I: femur d1-2-1-1(r)-1(p)-2, p0-1- 0, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r), p0-1-0, v0-2-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg II: femur d2-1-1(p)-2-2-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r), v2-2-2, metatarsus p0-1-1, r0-0-1, v2-2-2; leg III: femur d3-1(p)-1-1(r)-1(p)-1(r)-2, patella 1-1, tibia d1(r)-1-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v2-2-2, metatarsus d2-0-0, p0-1-2, r0-1-1, v2-2-2, tarsus r0-1; leg IV: femur d1-2-1(p)-1(r)-2, patella 1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-1-0, p0-1- 0, r0-1-0, v2-2-2, metatarsus d2-2-2-0, p0-0-2, r0-0-1, v0-2-2-2, tarsus r0-1. Epigyne as in Figures 35 and 36 , darkly sclerotized with two posterior lobes and large median scape with blunted apex directed posteriorly; copulatory openings on either side of anterior portion of scape, conspicuous ( Fig. 36A ). Vulva with copulatory ducts of medium length, originating anteromedially to spermatheca, curving in a ‘U’ shape to meet the ventral side of the spermathecal stalk just posterior to head. Head well differentiated with pores. Stalks running down middle of Base 1; pores present on stalk. Right and left Base 1s touching, fertilization ducts attached to posterior edge of Base 1; Bennett’s gland pores not visible in dorsal view. Base 2 connected to anterior of Base 1, copulatory ducts resting on Base 2 (see SEM scans, Fig. 36B, C ).

Leg measurements (left): leg I 19.20 (5.30, 6.80, 4.60, 2.50); leg II 15.20 (4.50, 5.00, 3.70, 2.00); leg III 14.20 (4.10, 4.30, 4.00, 1.80); leg IV 19.10 (5.50, 5.90, 5.60, 2.10); palp 6.10 (2.10, 2.10, –, 1.90).

Variation: (N = 2). Total length 5.36–7.22. Carapace length 1.37–1.47 times width. Clypeus height 2.00– 2.60 times AME diameter. ALE diameter 1.29–1.80 times AME diameter. Chelicera length 5.46–7.14 times clypeus height. Sternum length 1.15–1.17 times width. Femur I 1.26–1.34 times carapace length. Cheliceral promargin with five teeth and one denticle or six teeth and zero denticles. Epigynal scape varies in shape between specimens from wide and blunt to long and thin ( Fig. 35 A-C).

Distribution: This species has only been found in the far north of the known range of Porteria , along the coast between Valparaíso and Zapallar, and farther inland in and around La Campana National Park. A few specimens have been collected as far north as Fray Jorge National Park near Ovalle ( Fig. 76B ).

Other material examined: IV Región de Coquimbo: Limarí Province, Fray Jorge National Park, elev. 579 m, November 3, 1981, N. Platnick and R.T. Schuh, ‘ Valdivian forest relic’, one female, AMNH ( CASENT9044699 ) ; Fray Jorge National Park , elev. 560 m, October 3, 1992, N. Platnick, P. Goloboff, K. Catley, one female, AMNH ( CASENT9044711 ) ; Choapa Province, 10 km N Los Vilos Rt. 5, 236 km marker, elev. 40 m, November 13, 1993, Platnick, Catley, Ramírez, Allen, one male, MACN ( MACN-AR21063 ) ; V Región de Valparaíso: Petorca Province, Los Molles, Rt 5, 188 km marker, elev. 10 m, November 9, 1993, Platnick, Catley, Ramírez, Allen, two females, AMNH ( CASENT9044704 ) , Cuesta El Melón , elev. 520 m, January 10, 1985, N.I. Platnick, O.F. Francke, two females, AMNH ( CASENT9044715 ) , Cuesta El Melón, S32°37.002’, W71°13.98’, elev. 430 m. November 8, 1993, Platnick, Catley, Ramírez, Allen, one male, AMNH ( CASENT9044661 ) , Zapallar , S32°32.872’, W71°27.171’, elev. 108 m, February 2, 2013, E. Morrill and C. Griswold, ‘general collecting in mixed native trees and plantation along arroyo’, 22 females, one male, CAS ( CASENT9055699 , 9048543 , 9055516 ) ; between Cachagua and La Laguna , January 1984, Goloboff, one female, MACN ( MACN-AR21058 ) ; Petorca Province, Caleta Pichicuy, Quebrada Huaquén , January 1984, four females, MACN-AR ( MACN-AR21060 ) , Reserva Parque El Boldo, Zapallar , 300 m NNE de ruta costera, S32°32.756’ W71°27.107’, elev. 114 m, February 12, 2011, M. Ramírez, E. Soto, J. Pizzaro, ‘bosque en quebrada’, one female, MACN-AR ( MACN-AR27063 ) ; Valparaíso Province, Quintero , August 12, 1968, R. Calderón, ‘ pitfalls in forest relict’, one female, AMNH ( CASENT9044703 ) ; Quintero , November 7, 1967, one male, MACN-AR ( MACN-AR21059 ) ; Quintero, March 19, one female, MACN-AR ( MACN-AR21061 ) ; Bosque de Relicto de Quintero , about S33°, W71°24’, December 21, 1988, V. and B. Roth, ‘funnel web maker on base of vegetation’, one male, one female, CAS ( CASENT 9021039 ) ; Valparaíso Province, Cuesta Pucalán (east side), S32°45’, W71°22’, September 19, 1966, E.I. Schlinger, one male, CAS ( CASENT9032846 ) , Cuesta Pucalán , S32°44’, W71°16’, August 1, 1966, M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger, two females, CAS ( CASENT9021035 ) , Viña del Mar , January 1979, A. Fobar (?), one female, AMNH ( CASENT9044709 ) ; Valparaíso, Oda verde, entre oda con arroyo y banco del estado, October 25, 1972, R. Calderón, one male, AMNH ( CASENT9044690 ) ; Quillota Province: La Campana National Park, sector Casino, 20 km (air) SSE La Calera , S32.94279° W71.08370° ( GPS ±50m), elev. 495 m, January 6, 2018, ‘forest with palms, night collecting’, M.J. Ramírez, A. Ojanguren, A. Pérez González, G. Azevedo, W. Porto (MJR-loc-297), one male (MACN-Ar 39122, vchMJR-2180, photos 8794–8805), one female (MACN-Ar 39069, vchMJR-2183, photos 8806–8812) ; PN La Campana , S32.93049° W71.08581° ( GPS ±100m), elev. 410 m, November 3, 2011, ‘forest and scrubs, general collecting’, M.J. Ramírez, A. Ojanguren, J. Pizarro et al. (MJR-loc-64), one male, one female (MACN-Ar 30031) ; Marga Province, Palmas de Ocoa, La Campana National Park , December 21, 1984, R. Calderón, ‘unburned site, pitfall’, three males, AMNH ( CASENT9044687 , 9044689 ) , January 29, 1985, one female, AMNH ( CASENT9044714 ) , March 14, 1985, two females, AMNH ( CASENT9044693 ) , March 17, 1985, two females, AMNH ( CASENT9044698 , 9044706 ) ; La Campana National Park , S32°55.944’, W71°04.686’, elev. 215 m, November 20 - December 6, 1997, M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger, one male, CAS ( CASENT9051493 ) , Cuesta la Dormida (east side), S33°04’, W71°02’, elev. 750–1000 m, September 20, 1966, E.I. Schlinger, one male, one female, CAS ( CASENT9021038 , 9021037 ) , Cuesta la Dormida , N of Tiltil, elev. 800–1300 m, November 13–18, 1982, L.E. Peña, one male, AMNH ( CASENT9044688 ) , Cuesta La Dormida , 24.11 km E Limache, S33°02.663’, W71°00.393’, elev. 1308 m, January 31, 2013, E. Morrill, D. Faber and C. Griswold, ‘matorral, general collecting’, five females, CAS ( CASENT9055510 , 9055512 ) , Cabañas La Aguada on Ave. Cay-Cay , 3.09 km NNW Olmué, S32°58.998’, W71°12.973’, elev. 225 m, February 1, 2013, E. Morrill, D. Faber and C. Griswold, ‘matorral and dense bush along dry arroyo, gen. coll.’, six females, CAS ( CASENT9053725 , 9055690 , 9055692 ) .

Notes: Two different habitat types are occupied by the inland and coastal populations. The inland spiders live in desert hills and construct expansive sheet webs in low lying shrubs and on sandy banks where the funnelled retreat runs into the sand. The coastal populations were found in forested gulches with much higher moisture levels and also build large sheets in leaf litter, and in some cases, on the sides of rock outcrops with funnels disappearing into crevices. Due to the allopatric distribution and distinctive large size of this species, as well as collections of male and females together, male and female association is with high confidence and is supported in the molecular analysis. These data also indicate that inland and coastal populations form two distinct clades, but no morphological characters have discovered to differentiate the two populations.

Figures

Figure 1. Porteria specimens alive. A, B, P. eddardstarki sp. nov., female from Palmas de Ocoa (MACN-Ar 39150). C, D, P. eddardstarki sp. nov., male from Palmas de Ocoa (MACN-Ar 39122). E, Porteria sp. (probably P. ajimayo sp. nov.), female from Pata de Gallina, south of Contulmo (14.II.1992, Platnick, Goloboff, Ramírez, AMNH; photo 791).

Figure 31. Habitus of P. eddardstarki sp. nov.A-C, male from Valparaíso, CASENT9044690. A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, lateral view. D-F, from Zapallar, CASENT9055699. D, dorsal view. E, ventral view. F, lateral view.

Figure 32. Left male palp of P. eddardstarki sp. nov. A-D, left palp, from Parque Nacional La Campana National Park, CASENT9044689.A, ventral view. B, retrolateral view. C, dorsal view. D, prolateral view. E, right palp, from Parque Nacional La Campana National Park, CASENT9044687, full view of cymbium, prolateral view.

Figure 33. Left male palp of P. eddardstarki sp. nov. from Valparaíso Province, Cuesta Pucalán (CASENT9032846), details of tibia and tarsus and outlines of whole tibia and tarsus. A, prolateral view. B, ventral view. C, retrolateral view. Illustration by Giovanni Maki.

Figure 34. Scanning electron micrograph of left male palp of P. eddardstarki sp. nov. from Zapallar, CASENT9055699. A, ventral view. B, dorsal view. C, retrolateral view. D, prolateral view. Abbreviations: C, conductor; DTA, dorsal tibial apophysis; E, embolus; LRTA, long retrolateral apophysis positioned mesad to RTA; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figure 35. Genitalia of female P. eddardstarki sp. nov. A-C ventral view showing variability in scape form. A, from Los Molles CASENT9044704. B, C, from Pichicuy MACN-AR21060. D, dorsal view showing internal structures, from Zapallar CASENT9055699. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figure 36. Scanning electron micrographs of genitalia from female P.eddardstarki sp. nov.from Zapallar, CASENT9055699. A, ventral view. B, dorsal view showing internal structures. C, close-up of pores on head of spermatheca. D, posterior view of scape. Abbreviations: BG, Bennet’s gland; BS1, basal receptacle 1; BS2, basal receptacle 2; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; FD, fertilization duct; HS, spermathecal head; Sc, scape; SS, spermathecal stalk.

Figure 76. A, records of Porteria species in Chile. B, distribution of P. eddardstarki sp. nov.—the northernmost record is Fray Jorge National Park. C, records of species with restricted distributions, and of P. albopunctata sp. nov. in southern Chile. D, distribution of P. ajimayo sp. nov.—the southernmost records are in Reserva Costera Valdiviana and Alerce Costero National Park. E, distribution of P. bunnyanasp. nov.—the southernmost record is in Chonchi, Chiloé Island.