Cybaeus viator Bennett, 2022

Bennett, Robb, Copley, Claudia & Copley, Darren, 2022, The Californian clade of Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae) in the Nearctic: the septatus species group and three unplaced species, Zootaxa 5100 (2), pp. 189-223 : 201-204

Cybaeus viator Bennett spec. nov.

Figs 37–39 , 43–48 , 50

Type material. U.S.A.: California: Holotype male. Colusa County, two miles northwest of Fouts Springs , 17.x.1955, Schuster, ( AMNH) . Paratypes. Colusa. 1♂ 4♀, 2 mi. NW of Fouts Springs, 17.x.1955, Schuster, ( AMNH); Lake, 1♂, Paul Hoberg Airport , nr. Howard Springs , 21.ii.1954, no collector ( CAS); Mendocino. 2♀, 4.2 mi. S of Piercy, 17.ii.1967, V . D. Roth ( CAS) .

Etymology. The specific name is taken from the Latin for “wayfarer” and refers to the resemblance of the patellar apophysis in dorsal and retrolateral views to the universal hitchhiker's thumb gesture.

Diagnosis. The male of C. viator spec. nov. is diagnosed by the form of the patellar apophysis ( Figs 43–44 ) and the proximal arm of the tegular apophysis ( Figs 45–46 , 48 ) and is discussed in the diagnoses of C. chauliodous and C. somesbar .

The female of C. viator spec. nov. is distinguished by the small, parenthesis-like atrial openings ( Figs 37–30 ) and the reduced vulval ducting ( Figs 38–39 ); these characteristics are discussed in the diagnoses of C. chauliodous , C. lockeae spec. nov., C. septatus , and C. somesbar .

Description. As in diagnosis. Other descriptive characters are presented here. Ventral tibia I macrosetae 2–1p(or 0)–2–1p–0. Femora very lightly banded ventrally in some specimens.

Male (n=3). Patellar apophysis ( Figs 43–44 , 47 ) longer than width of patella; tip angular and arched dorsally; up to six peg setae with usually three on tip and one, slightly larger, isolated near middle of patellar apophysis.

Measurements (n=3). CL 2.10, 2.18, 2.40; CW 1.55, 1.65, 1.80; SL 1.05, 1.09, 1.20; SW 0.99, 1.05, 1.11. Holotype largest specimen.

Female (n=6). Vulva ( Figs 38–39 ) heavily sclerotized with very thick walls; spermathecal stalks very short, nearly linear, not contiguous; spermathecal bases relatively small. Measurements (n=4). CL 2.05–2.23 (2.15), CW 1.38–1.50 (1.45), SL 1.03–1.12 (1.07), SW 0.98–1.04 (1.00). Distribution and natural history. ( Fig. 50 ) Mendocino, Lake, and Colusa Counties in central northwestern California. The males were collected in October and February.

Figures

FIGURE 50. Distributions of Cybaeus lockeae spec. nov. and C. viator spec. nov. AZ—Arizona, CA—California, ID—Idaho, OR—Oregon, NV—Nevada, UT—Utah, WA—Washington. California county names capitalized.

FIGURES 37–42. Cybaeus spp., females, copulatory organ (37–39 C. viator spec. nov. from Fouts Springs, California; 40–42 holotype of C. somesbar). 37, 40 Epigynum, ventral. 38–39, 41–42 Vulva (38, 41 ventral, 39, 42 dorsal). AT—Atrial openings, HS—head of spermatheca.

FIGURES 43–46. Cybaeus viator spec. nov., male from Fouts Springs, California, left palpus. 43–44 Patella and tibia (43 retrolateral, 44 dorsal). 45–46 Genital bulb (45 ventral, 46 retrolateral). CY—cymbium, DA—distal arm of tegular apophysis, PA—proximal arm of tegular apophysis, PTA—patellar apophysis, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis.

FIGURES 47–48. Cybaeus viator spec. nov., male from Fouts Springs, California, left palpus. 47 Patellar apophysis, dorsal. 48 Proximal arm of tegular apophysis, ventral. Unlabelled arrows indicate diagnostic characters (47 pointed angular tip of patellar apophysis with three peg setae, single isolated peg seta medially; 48 angular posterior margin of proximal arm of tegular apophysis).