Linothele zaia, Dupérré, Nadine & Tapia, Elicio, 2015

Dupérré, Nadine & Tapia, Elicio, 2015, Descriptions of four kleptoparasitic spiders of the genus Mysmenopsis (Araneae, Mysmenidae) and their potential host spider species in the genus Linothele (Araneae, Dipluridae) from Ecuador, Zootaxa 3972 (3), pp. 343-368 : 358-359

Linothele zaia new species

Figs. 34–36

Material examined. Female holotype from Ecuador, Santo Domingo de Las Tsáchilas , Parroquia San José de Alluriquín, La Florida (00.25254°S 79.03043°W), 884m, 17.xii.2014, hand collected from web with 1♀ Mysmenopsis fernandoi, E. Tapia ( QCAZ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honor of the Zaia family for their support and friendship.

Diagnosis. Females are diagnosed by their brown abdomen with black median band ( Fig. 34 ) and their widely separated spermathecae ( Fig. 36 ). From L. gaujoni by their red-brown abdomen with black pattern ( Fig. 34 ), black with dark yellow-red pubescence with dark striae in the latter.

Description. Female: Total length: 27.0; carapace length: 12.0; carapace width: 10.5; abdomen length: 15.0; abdomen width: 8.5. Cephalothorax: Carapace slightly longer than wide, black, covered with numerous golden setae, with black setae, especially along radiating lines, margin covered with numerous golden setae; cephalic region elevated, delimited by deep furrow; fovea recurved and deep ( Fig. 34 ). Chelicerae black, with a few golden setae but mostly covered with long black setae; promargin with 10 teeth, fang furrow with seven denticles, retromargin without teeth. Labium with one cuspule, base dark brown, apex orange-brown. Maxillae orange-brown internally, dark brown externally, with 30–35 cuspules, maxillary lyra absent. Sternum uniformly black covered with long, black, erect setae, flat, slightly longer than wide, with three oval to rounded sigilla, rebordered, border light yellow ( Fig. 35 ). Eyes: eight on a tubercle; AME rounded, separated by half their width; LE and PME oval, LE touching, ALE the largest; PME the smallest, separated by three times their diameter; anterior row straight, posterior row recurved ( Fig. 34 ). Abdomen: Elongated oval, dorsally red-brown with black median band, covered with short, erect, black setae ( Fig. 34 ); ventrally uniformly dark red-brown, covered with black setae. Spinnerets: PLS black, apical segment brown, total length: 13.5, basal median apical: 4.0/4.4/5.1 respectively; PMS brown, total length: 2.6. Legs: Uniformly black, except tarsi brown, covered with black setae ( Fig. 34 ); tarsi I–IV flexible and pseudosegmented, with weak scopulae; leg formula 4123; total length: I 38.5 II 36.5 III 33.1 IV 44; leg articles length (femus/patella/tibia/metatarsus/tarsus): leg I 10/5/9 /8.5/6; leg II 9.5/5/8/8/6; leg III 9 /4/7.1/8/5; leg IV 11 / 4.5/9.5/13/6. Paired tarsal claws bipectinate, leg I–II with rows of 9 teeth, leg III–IV with rows of 7 teeth; third claw bare. Palpal claw unipectinate with row of 7 teeth. Legs spination: leg I: femur d1-1-1-1-1, p0-0-1, r0-0-1; tibia r0-0-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus v2-2 -2. Leg II: femur d1-1-1, r0-0-1; tibia r0-0-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus v2-2 -2. Leg III: femur d1-1-1, p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia p1-0-0, r1-1-0, d1-0-0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d0-1-2, v2-2 -3. Leg IV: femur d1-1-1, p1-1-1, r0-0-1; tibia p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-0-0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d0-1-2, v2-2 - 3. Genitalia: Spermathecae joined at base, widely separated, short and wide with few vesicles on short stalk medially ( Fig. 36 ).

Male: Unknown.

Distribution. Ecuador, Santo Domingo de Las Tsáchilas .

Natural history. The holotype female was collected in a foothill forest at 884m elevation. The web of approximately 60 x 40 cm was along a vertical dirt talus or landslide 6m from the ground, and the retreat was concealed in a soil crevice. The only specimen collected lives in sympatry with L. zaia and L. quori , but was found in a somewhat distinct microhabitat.

Figures

FIGURES 34 – 36. Linothele zaia n. sp. Female. 34, Holotype, lateral view. 35, Sternum, ventral view. 36, Holotype internal genitalia, dorsal view.