Medionops

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2017, A new genus with seven species of the Subfamily Nopinae (Araneae, Caponiidae) from the Neotropical region, Zootaxa 4291 (1), pp. 117-143 : 122-124

Medionops blades new species

Figures 1E ; 2–6

Types. Male holotype from Páramo de Monserrate (4°36'N 74°3'W), 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl , Colombia, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, deposited in AMNH . Paratypes: one male, one female and 1 immature, same data as holotype, deposited in AMNH .

Additional material examined. COLOMBIA: Bogotá: Páramo de Monserrate (4°36'N 74°3'W), 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, 1♂ for SEM, 2 imm. ( AMNH) . Paramo de Guaca , 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, 2♂, 1♀ (genital area, palp, spinnerets and legs for SEM) ( MCZ 128513 ).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the blade–shaped projections on the tip of the male embolus, and is masculine in gender.

Diagnosis. Male and females resemble those of M. cesari n. sp. and M. murici n. sp. in having the abdomen with light whitish gray chevron dorsal pattern, but can be distinguished by having uniform chevron marks ( Fig. 6 A). Males with several blade–shaped projections on the tip of embolus (arrows in Figs 2 J–L); females with internally projected median septum on the posterior plate ( Figs 4 J–L).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.2. Carapace 1.9 long, 1.7 wide. Sternum 1.7 long, 1.5 wide. Leg measurements: I: 2.80; II: 2.75; III: 2.30; IV: 3.05. Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter. Endites, labium and sternum light orange. Abdomen dark gray with a pattern formed by five light grey chevrons ( Figs 6 A, B). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Crista short, gladius with the common shape among nopine ( Figs 3 D, G, J). Palp with spherical oval bulb and embolus longer than cymbium ( Figs 6 D–E), tip of embolus slightly curved, sinuous dorsally, with several blade–shaped projections ( Figs 2 J–L).

Female (paratype): Total length 5.9. Carapace 1.7 long, 1.5 wide. Sternum 1.6 long, 1.4 wide. Leg measurements: I: 2.85; II: 2.80; III: 2.40; IV: 3.10. Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in the male. Abdomen as in the male, but somewhat lighter. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen.

Crista (ca) and gladius (gl) as in male ( Fig. 5 G). External genitalia with strongly convex and wide genital opening (go), wide sclerotization around spiracles (ess), slight on anterior plate (ap) ( Fig. 6 C). Internal genitalia with slight median concavity (mc); fine internal fold weakly sclerotized; posterior plate with median septum ( Figs 4 J–L).

Distribution. Known only from the Bogotá province in Colombia ( Fig. 21 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A – E Schematic drawings of the left females legs of three Nopinae genera, prolateral view; setae, trichobothria, membranes and sensillae were omitted. F – H Schematic drawings of labium and endites. A – C, G Nops guanabacoae MacLeay from Cuba (BIOECO 576). D, H Nopsides ceralbonus Chamberlin from Mexico (CIB 3340). E, F Medionops blades n. sp. from Colombia, paratype. A metatarsus, tarsus and pretarsus I, lateral view. B tarsus and pretarsus I, apical view. C tarsus and pretarsus IV, apical view. D tarsus and pretarsus I, apical view. E tarsus and pretarsus I, apical view. Abreviations: ar—arolium, ca—crista, gl –– gladius. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Medionops blades n. sp., male from type locality (AMNH). A carapace, lateral view. B clypeus, lateral view. C carapace, dorsal oblique view. D sternum and mouthparts, ventral view. E labium and endites, ventral view (arrows point to the acute projections). F serrula, ventral oblique view. G chelicerae, lateral view. H left palp, prolateral view. I tibial brush, prolateral view. J tip of palpal embolus, prolateral view (arrow points to the blade – shaped projection). K tip of palpal embolus, retrolateral view (arrow point at blade – shaped projections). L detail from tip of palpal embolus, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 3. Medionops blades n. sp., male from type locality (AMNH). A left leg I, prolateral view. B tarsus on left leg I, prolateral view. C tarsal claws on left leg I, dorsal view. D tarsus on left leg II, prolateral view. E tarsal claws on left leg II, prolateral view. F join of tarsus and metatarsus on left leg II, dorsal oblique view. G metatarsus on left leg II, ventral view. H trichobothrial base on left leg II, dorsal oblique view. I tarsal organ on left leg II, dorsal view. J metatarsus on right leg I, ventral view. K base of setae on right tarsus I, prolateral oblique view. L tarsal organ on right leg I, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ajadesmatic joint, ar—arolium, ca—crista, gl—gladius, MtS—Metatarsal stopper.

FIGURE 4. Medionops blades n. sp., A – I male from type locality (AMNH), J – L female from type locality (AMNH). A tarsus on left leg III, prolateral view. B tarsal claws on left leg III, dorsal oblique view. C tarsal organ on left leg III, dorsal view. D tarsal claws on left leg IV, prolateral view. E tarsus on left leg IV, prolateral view. F tarsal organ on left leg IV, dorsal view. G tarsal claws on left leg IV, retrolateral oblique view. H detail of unpaired claw of left leg IV, retrolateral oblique view. I trichobothrial base on left metatarsus IV, dorsal oblique view. J internal genitalia, dorsal view. K internal genitalia, anterior view. L internal genitalia, posterior view. Abbreviations: aj—adesmatic joint, ar—arolium, ap—anterior plate, dmr—distal margin of receptaculum, if—internal fold, mc—median concavity, re—receptaculum, pp—posterior plate, t—tracheal trunk, ue—uterus externus.

FIGURE 5. Medionops blades n. sp., female from type locality (AMNH). A spinnerets, ventral view. B left PLS, ventral view. C left ALS, ventral view. D aciniform gland spigot on left PLS, lateral oblique view. E left PMS, ventral view. F right PMS, ventral view. G tarsus on left leg I, prolateral view. H tarsal claws on left leg I, prolateral view. I left palp, prolateral view. J tarsal claws on left leg IV, retrolateral view. K tarsal claws on left leg IV, retrolateral oblique view. L left palp, ventral oblique view. Abbreviations: ar—arolium, CwL—claw lever, CwS—claw slit sensilla, gl—gladius.

FIGURE 6. Medionops blades n. sp. A male holotype, habitus, dorsal view. B female paratype, habitus, dorsal view. C external genitalia of female paratype, ventral view. D left palp of male holotype, prolateral view. E left palp of male holotype, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—external sclerotization around spiracles, go—genital opening, ppposterior plate.

FIGURE 21. Map of South America showing distribution of Medionops species. Triangle, Medionops blades n. sp.; plus sign, Medionops cesari (Dupérré) n. comb.; square, Medionops claudiae n. sp.; tears, Medionops murici n. sp.; diamond, Medionops ramirezi n. sp.; circles, Medionops simla (Chickering) n. comb.; heart, Medionops tabay n. sp.