Sparianthis megalopalpa ( Caporiacco, 1954 )

Casas, Cristian M. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2024, An update on the genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 (Sparassidae: Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 5496 (3), pp. 343-369 : 361-362

Sparianthis megalopalpa ( Caporiacco, 1954)

Figs 15A–B , 16A–C , 20

Pseudosparianthis megalopalpus Caporiacco, 1954: 127 figs 34, 34a (Holotype ♂, French Guyana, Lower Oyapock River , 1900, Geay leg., MNHN, not located, not examined).

Sparianthis megalopalpa (Caporiacco) : Rheims 2020: 181 : figs 109–116, 143 (transfer from Pseudosparianthis ).

Additional material examined. COLOMBIA: Amazonas : 1♂, Parque Natural Nacional Amacayu, San Martín (03°46’S, 70°18’W), 150 m, 13–17 December 2001, Malaise, D. Chota leg. (ICN-Ar-13560) . FRENCH GUYANA: 1♀, Petit montagen Tortue, Est. (04º19’14.1”N, 52º14’27.5”W), November 2010, V. Vedel leg. ( IBSP 276683 ) .

Diagnosis. Females of S. megalopalpa resemble those of S. boraris ( Rheims 2020: figs 24–25, 29–31) and S. ravida ( Rheims 2020: figs 135–136, 140–142) in having the epigyne with anterior and lateral furrows continuous, curving around copulatory openings and similar IDS with first winding antero-laterad and GP arising from it. They are distinguished from both species by the AA wider than long and IDS reaching the anterior margins of AA ( Figs 15A–B , 16A–B ) (AA roughly as wide as long or slightly longer than wide and IDS reaching half the length of AA in the other species). For males, see Rheims (2020: 181).

Description. Male: See Rheims 2020: 181, figs 109–116.

Female (IBSP 276683): very badly preserved specimen. Prosoma: 4.1 long, 3.1 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.29, 0.20, 0.15, 0.19; interdistances: 0.30, 0.10, 0.55, 0.30, 0.21, 0.11. Legs: I: - (3.7, 2.1, 3.4, rest of leg absent); II: 13.2 (3.7, 2.1, 3.5, 3.0, 0.9); III: 10.1 (3.4, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 0.7); IV: 12.7 (3.7, 1.6, 2.8, 3.5, 1.1). Spination follows the generic pattern. Epigyne: EF sub squared, slightly longer than wide; AA bean-shaped, wider than long; MS roughly as wide as long, widest posteriorly with posterior margin gently curved ( Figs 15A , 16A ). Vulva: IDS with copulatory ducts slender (half the width of the rest of the duct) until turn of first winding; GP large, roughly as long as wide; spermathecae ovoid, longer than wide; FD antero-laterad ( Figs 15B , 16B–C ).

Distribution. Known from French Guyana and Colombia ( Fig. 20 ).

Figures

FIGURES 15A–B. Sparianthis megalopalpa (Caporiacco), female (IBSP 276683), genitalia (A epigyne ventral, B vulva dorsal). Scale lines: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 16A–C. Sparianthis megalopalpa (Caporiacco), female (IBSP 276683), genitalia (A epigyne ventral, B vulva dorsal, C schematic course of IDS). AA = anterior atrium; af = anterior furrow; FD = fertilization duct; fw = first winding of IDS; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; LL = lateral lobe; MS = median septum; SP = spermathecae. Scale lines: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 20. Record map for S. boibumba spec. nov., S. cascalheira spec. nov., S. chicaque spec. nov., S. iguaque spec. nov., S. matupiri spec. nov., S. medina spec. nov. and S. tuparro spec. nov.