Sparianthis Simon, 1880

Casas, Cristian M. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2024, An update on the genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 (Sparassidae: Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 5496 (3), pp. 343-369 : 344-346

Genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880

Diagnosis and description. See Rheims (2020).

Composition. Nineteen species: S. beebei Rheims, 2020 ; S. boraris Rheims, 2020 ; S. boibumba spec. nov.., S. caracarai Rheims, 2020 ; S. cascalheira spec. nov., S. chicaque spec. nov., S. chickeringi ( Gertsch, 1941) ; S. crulsi ( Mello-Leitão, 1930) ; S. granadensis ( Keyserling, 1880) ; S. humaita Rheims, 2020 ; S. iguaque spec. nov., S. juazeiro Rheims, 2020 ; S. juruti Rheims, 2020 ; S. matupiri spec. nov., S. medina spec. nov., S. megalopalpa ( Caporiacco, 1954) ; S. picta ( Simon, 1887) , S. ravida ( Simon, 1898) and S. tuparro spec. nov.

Distribution. Neotropical region: northern South America, Panama and the islands of St. Vincent and Trinidad.

Identification key for all species of Sparianthis (updated from Rheims 2020).

1 Males .............................................................................................. 2

- Females............................................................................................ 18

2(1) Palpal tibia with a medial-retrolateral, modified spine ( Figs 10E , 11C ; Rheims 2020: figs 99, 104, 121, 124)............. 3

- Palpal tibia without a medial-retrolateral, modified spine (e.g. Figs 5E , 7C , 19C ; Rheims 2020: figs 13, 23, 50)........... 5

3(2) Embolus short, with ventral hyaline membrane; TBC with retrolateral part strongly protruding and distally rounded; MA elongate roughly three times longer than wide, with the same width throughout the entire length ( Figs 10D , 11B ; Rheims 2020: figs 123–124)........................................................................................ 4

- Embolus long, with subdistal pointed projection; TBC keel-like, not protruding distally; MA short, slightly longer than wide, apically widened with medially indented margin ( Rheims 2020: figs 98–99, 103–104)......................... S. juruti

4(3) Medial-retrolateral modified spine with slender, pointed tip; TBE roughly sub-squared, with apical projection widened and twisted ( Rheims 2020: figs 120–121; 123–124)........................................................ S. picta

- Medial retrolateral modified spine robust with truncated tip ( Figs 10E , 11C ); TBE with apical projection long and slender, more than four times longer than wide ( Figs 10D , 11D )........................................... S. matupiri spec. nov.

5(2) TBE with elongate apical projection accompanying embolus throughout most of its length (e.g. 1D, 2B, 2D, 5D, 7B, 7D; Rheims 2020: figs 112–113, 115–116)..................................................................... 6

- TBE with short apical projection, not accompanying embolus (e.g. Figs 17D , 19B ; Rheims 2020: figs 22, 27, 59, 64)..... 11

6(2) mRTA present (e.g. Figs 1E , 2C ; Rheims 2020: figs 113, 116).................................................. 7

- mRTA absent (e.g. Figs 5E , 7C , 12E , 14C )................................................................. 9

7(6) mRTA closer to vRTA than to dRTA; dRTA short, concave, barely reaching the margin of the alveolus ( Figs 3E , 4C ; Rheims 2020: figs 113, 116)................................................................................... 8

- mRTA distinctly separated from vRTA; dRTA long, finger-like and curved, tip ventrad, surpassing the margin of the alveolus ( Figs 1E , 2C )...................................................................... S. boibumba spec. nov.

8(7) mRTA single branched, half the size of vRTA ( Figs 3E , 4C ); TBE with apical projection tapering and pointed, slightly shorter than embolus ( Figs 3D , 4B, 4D )....................................................... S. cascalheira spec. nov.

- mRTA bifid (best seen in retrolateral view), as long as vRTA ( Rheims 2020: figs 113, 116); TBE with apical projection longer than embolus, cylindrical, widened at tip and with subapical prong ( Rheims 2020: figs 112–113, 115–116).. S. megalopalpa

9(6) Tibia without retrolateral spines; vRTA smaller than dRTA ( Figs 5E , 7C , 8E , 9C ).................................. 10

- Tibia armed with two prolateral long spines; vRTA and dRTA similar sized ( Figs 12E , 14C ).......... S. medina spec. nov.

10(9) Embolus shorter than apical projection, distally acute ( Figs 5E , 7C–D ); TBC long, keel-like, strongly projecting retrolaterally ( Figs 5D , 7B )....................................................................... S. chicaque spec. nov.

- Embolus as long as apical projection, laminar and distally wide with median pointed projection on anterior margin ( Figs 8E , 9C–D ); TBC short, keel-like, not projecting ( Figs 8D , 9B )..................................... S. iguaque spec. nov.

11(5) mRTA present (e.g. Figs 17E , 19C ; Rheims 2020: figs 60, 65, 134, 139); embolus slender, roughly the same width throughout its length, without abrupt narrowing (e.g. Figs 17D , 19B ; Rheims 2020: figs 12, 33)............................... 12

- mRTA absent ( Rheims 2020: figs 77, 82); embolus laminar, abruptly narrowing sub-apically ( Rheims 2020: figs 81, 82)................................................................................................ S. humaita

12(11) mRTA closer to vRTA than to dRTA (e.g. Rheims 2020: figs 34, 45, 50)......................................... 13

- mRTA closer to dRTA than to vRTA ( Figs 17E , 19C ; Rheims 2020: figs 60, 65)................................... 16

13(12) mRTA smaller than vRTA and dRTA, tubercle-like; vRTA single branched ( Rheims 2020: figs 34, 45, 50 134, 139)....... 14

- mRTA at least as large as dRTA; vRTA bifid in retrolateral view ( Rheims 2020: figs 23, 28)................... S. boraris

14(13) Embolus simple, slender, with no projections or small sub-apical tooth-like projection ( Rheims 2020: figs 44, 49, 133, 138). .................................................................................................. 15

- Embolus wider, with sub-apical keel-like projection ( Rheims 2020: figs 33, 35)........................... S. caracarai

15(14) TBE with apical projection short and laminar; TBC wide, keel-like, embolus with small sub-apical tooth-like projection ( Rheims 2020: figs 133, 138–139)......................................................................... S. ravida

- TBE with apical projection gutter-shaped; TBC reduced to small keel, embolus with no projections ( Rheims 2020: figs 44–45, 49–50).................................................................................... S. chickeringi

16(12) vRTA larger than mRTA ( Rheims 2020: figs 13, 60, 65); TBC keel-like, wide, more than two times wider than long ( Rheims 2020: figs 12, 59, 64)................................................................................. 17

- vRTA smaller than mRTA ( Figs 17E , 19C ); TBC short, roughly as long as wide ( Figs 17D , 19B )...... S. tuparro spec. nov.

17(16) TBE with apical projection short and laminar ( Rheims 2020, fig. 64)...................................... S. crulsi

- TBE with apical projection resembling a fishtail ( Rheims 2020: figs 12–13)................................. S. beebei

18(1) Anterior and lateral furrows discontinuous (e.g. Figs 18C , 19D ; Rheims 2020: figs 46, 51, 61, 66, 78,83)............... 19

- Anterior and lateral furrows continuous (e.g. Figs 6C , 7E ; Rheims 2020: figs 24, 29, 125)........................... 25

19(18) Lateral furrows widely separated from anterior furrow ( Rheims 2020: figs 46, 51, 100, 106)......................... 20

- Lateral furrows reaching anterior furrow ( Figs 18C , 19D ; Rheims 2020: figs 14, 90)............................... 23

20(19) Anterior furrow with lateral tips extending posteriorly, AA with transversal grooves ( Rheims 2020: figs 78, 83, 100, 106).. 21

- Anterior furrow with lateral tips gently curved, not extending posteriorly, AA smooth ( Rheims 2020: figs 61, 66)........ 22

21(20) Anterior furrow gently curved, almost straight ( Rheims 2020: figs 78, 83); IDS as wide as spermathecae; first winding laterad ( Rheims 2020: figs 79, 84–85)................................................................... S. humaita

- Anterior furrow more strongly curved ( Rheims 2020: figs 100, 106); IDS slender, half the width of spermathecae; first winding posteriad ( Rheims 2020: figs 110, 107–108).......................................................... S. juruti

22(20) Anterior furrow medially depressed; LL with secondary longitudinal furrows ( Rheims 2020: figs 46, 51); GP small, posteromediad ( Rheims 2020: figs 47, 52–53).......................................................... S. chickeringi

- Anterior furrow straight; LL smooth, without secondary furrows ( Rheims 2020: figs 61, 66); GP large, antero-laterad ( Rheims 2020: figs 62, 67–68)............................................................................ S. crulsi

23(19) MS wider than long or as wide as long ( Figs 18C , 19D ; Rheims 2020: fig. 14); first winding anteriad ( Figs 18D , 19E–F ; Rheims 2020: figs 15–16).................................................................................... 24

- MS longer than wide ( Rheims 2020: fig. 90); first winding mediad ( Rheims 2020: figs 91–92)................ S. juazeiro

24(23) MS wider than long; AA widest medially ( Rheims 2020: fig. 14); first winding reaching half the EF length; spermathecae round ( Rheims 2020: figs 15–16)........................................................................ S. beebei

- MS as long as wide; AA widest posteriorly ( Figs 18C , 19D ); first winding surpassing half the EF length; spermathecae oval ( Figs 18D , 19E–F ).................................................................... S. tuparro spec. nov.

25(18) MS light bulb-shaped ( Rheims 2020: figs 69–70, 125)....................................................... 26

- MS not light bulb-shaped (e.g. Figs 6C , 7E , 15A , 16A ; Rheims 2020: figs 36, 135, 140)............................ 27

26(25) AA oval; leg metatarsi I–II with three pairs of ventral spines ( Rheims 2020: fig. 125).......................... S. picta

- AA sub-rectangular ( Rheims 2020: figs 69–70); leg metatarsi I–II with two pairs of ventral spines.......... S. granadensis

27(25) AA distinctly larger than MS (e.g. Figs 15A , 16A ; Rheims 2020: figs 24, 29)..................................... 28

- AA roughly the same size or smaller than MS (e.g. Figs 13D , 14F ; Rheims 2020: fig. 36)........................... 30

28(27) AA roughly squared, as wide as long ( Rheims 2020: figs 29, 140); IDS reaching half AA length ( Rheims 2020: figs 30, 141). .................................................................................................. 29

- AA roughly bean-shaped, wider than long ( Figs 15A , 16A ); IDS reaching anterior margin of AA ( Figs 15B , 16B )................................................................................................. S. megalopalpa

29(28) MS widest anteriorly, with posterior margin rounded ( Rheims 2020: Figs 24, 29); vulva with spermathecae elongate ( Rheims 2020: figs 25, 30).............................................................................. S. boraris

- MS anteriorly narrowed, with posterior margin straight or slightly sinuous ( Rheims 2020: figs 135, 140); vulva with spermathecae rounded ( Rheims 2020: figs 136, 141)............................................................... S. ravida

30(27) Anterior margin of AA almost straight; MS without lateral margins extending into AA ( Figs 6C , 7E ; Rheims 2020: fig. 36) 31

- Anterior margin of AA rounded; MS with lateral margins extending distinctly into AA ( Figs 13C , 14E ) S. medina spec. nov.

31(30) Posterior margin of MS surpassing the epigastric furrow; AA smaller than MS; roughly squared, as wide as long ( Rheims 2020: fig. 36); IDS with first winding mediad ( Rheims 2020: figs 37–38)..................................... S. caracarai

- Posterior margin of MS not surpassing the epigastric furrow; AA roughly the same size as MS, trapezoid, widest anteriorly ( Figs 6C , 7E ); IDS with first winding anteriad ( Figs 6D , 7F–G )................................ S. chicaque spec. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 1A–F. Sparianthis boibumba spec. nov., male (IBSP 344621). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 2A–C. Sparianthis boibumba spec. nov. male (IBSP 344621), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus). ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; RbP = cymbial retrobasal process; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor base; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 3A–E. Sparianthis cascalheira spec. nov., male (IBSP 215001). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 4A–D. Sparianthis cascalheira spec. nov., male (IBSP 215001), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus). ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor base; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 5A–E. Sparianthis chicaque spec. nov., male (ICN-Ar-13557). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–D Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 6A–D. Sparianthis chicaque spec. nov., female (ICN-Ar-13558).A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–D Genitalia (C epigyne ventral, D vulva dorsal). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 7A–G. S. chicaque spec. nov. A–D Male (ICN-Ar-13557), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus); E–G Female (ICN-Ar-13558), genitalia (E epigyne ventral, F vulva dorsal, G schematic course of IDS). AA = anterior atrium; af = anterior furrow; ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; fw = first winding of IDS; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; LL = lateral lobe; MS = median septum; SP = spermathecae. Scale lines: A–C, E–F = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 8A–E. Sparianthis iguaque spec. nov., male (MPUJ_ENT0070585). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 9A–D. Sparianthis iguaque spec. nov., male (MPUJ_ENT0070585), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus). ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; sap = subapical projection of TBE; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C = 0.5 mm, D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 10A–E. Sparianthis matupiri spec. nov., male (IBSP 8877). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 11A–D. Sparianthis matupiri spec. nov., male (IBSP 8877), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus). ap = apical projection of TBE; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus; rs = strong, retrolateral modified spine; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 12A–E. Sparianthis medina spec. nov., male (MPUJ_ENT0070573). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral; E retrolateral). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 13A–D. Sparianthis medina spec. nov., female (MPUJ_ENT0087073). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–D Genitalia (C epigyne ventral, D vulva dorsal). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 14A–G. Sparianthis medina spec. nov. A–D Male (MPUJ_ENT0070573), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus); E–G Female (MPUJ_ENT0087073), genitalia (E epigyne ventral, F vulva dorsal, G schematic course of IDS). AA = anterior atrium; af = anterior furrow; ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal Branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; fw = first winding of IDS; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; LL = lateral lobe; MA = median apophysis; MS = median septum; SP = spermathecae; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C, E–F = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

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.

FIGURES 17A–E. Sparianthis tuparro spec. nov., male (ICN-Ar-13561).A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 18A–D. Sparianthis tuparro spec. nov., female (ICN-Ar-13562).A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–D Genitalia (C epigyne ventral, D vulva dorsal). Scale lines: A–B = 2 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 19A–F. Sparianthis tuparro spec. nov. A–C Male (ICN-Ar-13561), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D–F Female (ICN-Ar-13562), genitalia (D epigyne ventral, E vulva dorsal, F schematic course of IDS).AA = anterior atrium; af = anterior furrow; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; fw = first winding of IDS; GP = glandular projection; lf = lateral furrow; LL = lateral lobe; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; MS = median septum; pt = tegular protrusion; SP = spermathecae; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: 0.5 mm.