Selenops micropalpus Muma, 1953

Crews, Sarah C., 2011, A revision of the spider genus Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Arachnida, Araneae, Selenopidae) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 105, pp. 1-182 : 19-21

Selenops micropalpus Muma, 1953 Figs 17-20180Map 4

Selenops micropalpus Muma 1953: 39, Figs 66-68 (♂, ♀, examined).

Type material.

Holotype male: Laudat, Dominica, 13.VII.1911, F.E. Lutz, (AMNH, examined). Paratypes: Same data as holotype (AMNH, examined).

Other material examined.

DOMINICA: Long Ditton: 19.VII.1911, F.E. Lutz, 1♀ (AMNH); Roseau: 20.VII.1911, F.E. Lutz, 1 imm. (AMNH); Botanical Park, top of hill near shrine, 15°17.998'N, 61°22.754'W, 63 m, 1.XI.2004, S. Crews, under bark, SCC04_059, 5 imm. (EME sel_097-101). Cabrits National Park: trail to fort, 15°35.049'N, 61°28.371'W, 40 m, 2.XI.2004, S. Crews, A. James, S. Toussaint, under bark of Bursera , Mastichodendron foetidissimum , Campeche, mahogany, several egg sacs present, SCC04_060, 2♀, 4 imm. (EME sel_106-108, 110-111, 135). Jimmit-Warner: on top of hill with cell phone tower, 15°22.690'N, 61°24.003'W, 54 m, 2.XI.2004, S. Crews, A. James, S. Toussaint, dry transitional rainforest, under bark of bay, lagawenn, SCC04_061, 3 imm. (CAS sel_102-105). MARTINIQUE: La Caravelle ReservéNaturelle: trail to Pointe Caricoli, 14°46'09.3"N, 60°53'24.7"W, 8.III.2007, S. Crews, Nouree-Yvon, under bark, several egg sacs, guarded by female, SCC07_041, 3♀, 1♂, 3 imm. (EME sel_791-797). Anse Céran: off of road D-10, 14°50'01.5"N, 61°13'24.7"W, 9.III.2007, S. Crews, Nouree-Yvon, dry forest, under bark, SCC07_042, 2♀, 3♂, 1p♂ (CAS sel_798-803). Le Diamant: Grande Anse du Diamant, off road D37, 14°28'32.9"N, 61°02'13.4"W, sea level, 10.III.2007, S. Crews, D. Memia Zolo, dry forest, under bark of Cocoloba , SCC07_043, 4♀, 3 imm. (CAS sel_804-810). ST. LUCIA:Gros Islet: Pigeon Island, top of hill above construction, 14°05'31.3"N, 60°57'03.8"W, ~30 m, 12.III.2007, S. Crews, G. George, under bark of Bursera , SCC07_044, 4 imm. (EME sel_811-814). Beausejour: near Gros Islet, past cricket sponsor's office, 14°04'43.1"N, 60°56'31.1"W, ~60 m, 12.III.2007, S. Crews, G. George, under bark of Bursera , SCC07_045, 3♀, 2 imm. (EME sel_815-819). Anse La Raye: Ti-Kaye, 13°55'29.6"N, 61°02'41.3"W, ~100 m, 13.III.2007, S. Crews, G. George, on banana plants, SCC07_046, 1p♂, 3 imm. (CAS sel_820-823). Dennery: on road from Dennery south on East Coast Road, Eastern Nature Trail, Heritage Tourism Site, 13°53'50.8"N, 60°52'51.2"W, ~35 m, 13.III.2007, S. Crews, G. George, dry coastal forest, under bark of Bursera and sea grape, SCC07_047, 3♀, 1♂, 4 imm. (CAS sel_824-831); Vieux Fort: on hillside above airport, 13°44'20.2"N, 60°56'40.8"W, ~40 m, 13.III.2007, S. Crews, G. George, under bark of Bursera , SCC 07_048, 1♀, 2 imm. (EME sel_832-834). ST. VINCENT: Young Island: south of Villa Beach, 13°07.895'N, 61°12.142'W, ~10 m, 24.X.2004, S. Crews, G. Alayón-García, under bark, SCC04_053, 1♀, 1 imm. (EME sel_091, 113). King's Hill Forest Reserve: 13°08.825'N, 61°10.021'W, ~202 m, 27.X.2004, S. Crews, G. Alayón-García, M. da Silva, under bark of Bursera , 1♂, 6 imm. (CAS sel_088, 090, 092-095, 112).

Diagnosis.

Males can be distinguished from all other species by the very long palpal tibia, the very short embolus, the small RTA and the distal hook of the MA being almost as long as the rest of the MA (Figs 17-18). In the female, the epigynum has an anteriorly located diamond-shaped septum (Figs 19-20).

Description.

Holotype male: Color: carapace (holotype) orange-brown, (recent) yellow-brown with darker areas; sternum (holotype) orange-yellow, (recent) pale yellow, darker around border; chelicerae (holotype) orange-brown, slightly darker laterally, (recent) brown, darker laterally; maxillae orange-brown, lightening distally; labium (type) orange-brown, lightening distally; abdomen dorsally (holotype) cream to tan, faint indications of festoon, (recent) yellow-grey with dark lines, darker caudally, festoon present; ventrally (holotype) dusky yellow, (recent) yellow; legs (holotype) orange-brown, (recent) yellowish, annulations slightly apparent, metatarsal annulations fused, entire metatarsus dark. Carapace: 0.90 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER nearly straight; PER slightly recurved; PME same size as AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.30, ALE 0.16, PME 0.30, PLE 0.40; interdistances AME-PME 0.08, PME-ALE 0.15, ALE-PLE 0.30. PME-PME 1.40. ALE-ALE 2.30; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.53, PLE-PLE 2.40; clypeus 0.08 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:1.06 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Legs:all legs much shorter than leg II; leg formula 2314; scopulae present on distal end of all 4 tarsi; tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts; pr claw per foot slightly toothed; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, rl 1 –0– 1, d 1 –1– 0, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2-2; leg II, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, d 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –0– 1, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, v 2-2, rl 1 –1– 0; leg III, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, d 1 –0– 0, rl 1 –0– 0, v 2-2; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2-2; leg IV, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, d 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –0– 1, v 2 –2– 1; Mt pr 1 –1– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2-2. Abdomen:with terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:Fm, spination d 0 –1– 3; cymbium oval in ventral view; conductor stout structure arising distally, slightly truncate distally; embolus very short, tapers abruptly from flat circular base, beginning at 9 o'clock, terminating at 12 o'clock; MA arising at 3 o'clock, directed anterolateraly, finger-like, curved forming long hook distally; RTA small with two processes, both slightly curved and distally truncate; tibial apophyses barely reaching cymbium in ventral view (Figs 17-18). Dimensions: Total length 10.50. Carapace length 5.20, width 5.75. Sternum length 2.65, width 2.50. Abdomen length 5.30, width 3.85. Pedipalp: Fm 2.50, Pt 0.75, Ti 1.75, Ta 1.00, total 6.00. Leg I: Fm 4.75, Pt 1.50, Ti 4.00, Mt 4.00, Ta 1.75, total 16.00. Leg II: Fm 5.75, Pt 2.00, Ti 5.00, Mt 4.50, Ta 2.00, total 19.25. Leg III: Fm 5.50, Pt 1.00, Ti 4.75, Mt 3.75, Ta 1.25, total 15.15. Leg IV: Fm 4.75, Pt 1.10, Ti 3.75, Mt 3.75, Ta 1.65, total 15.00.

Paratype female: Color:carapace (paratype) orange-brown, (recent) light yellow-brown to light orange-brown to dark brown, darker laterally, mediolateral stripes from cephalic area to posterior end of cephalothorax, and sides of cephalic area; sternum (paratype) orange-brown, (recent) light yellow; chelicerae (paratype) red-orange, darker laterally, (recent) light brown medially, dark brown laterally; maxillae (paratype) orange-brown, lightening distally, (recent) light brown, lightening distally; labium (paratype) red-brown, (recent) brown; abdomen dorsally (paratype) brownish, more yellow medially, festoon barely visible (recent) light greyish with two chevrons at top of abdomen, some darker flecks, festoon present; ventrally grey to brown with a pair of narrow stripes; legs (paratype) yellow-orange with orange-brown annulations, (recent) yellow-brown with annulations, metatarsal annulations fused, metatarsi dark. Carapace:0.90 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER nearly straight; PER slightly recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.23, ALE 0.08, PME 0.30, PLE 0.38; interdistances AME-PME 0.13, PME-ALE 0.23, ALE-PLE 0.55. PME-PME 1.70. ALE-ALE 2.83; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.63, PLE-PLE 2.90; clypeus 0.06 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:1.40 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Legs:leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 2431; scopulae present on tarsi of all legs and metatarsi of legs I and II; tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts; pr claw per foot slightly toothed; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti v 2 –2– 2; Mt v 2-2; leg II, Fm pr 1 –0– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –0– 1; Ti v 2 –2– 2; Mt v 2-2; leg III, Fm pr 1 –0– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl, 0 –0– 1; Ti v 2 –2– 0; Mt v 2-2; leg IV, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –0– 1; Ti v 2 –2– 0; Mt v 2-1. Abdomen:with terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:claw present with 9 teeth. Epigyne:lateral lobes conspicuous, coming together medially, then curving out, diamond-shaped septum present anteriorly, genital openings located anterolateraly at septum, epigynal pockets located medially; internally, ducts appear slightly coiled, extending posteriorly, fertilization ducts located posteriorly, posterodorsal fold absent (Figs 19-20). Dimensions: Total length 13.45. Carapace length 6.33, width 7.00. Sternum length 3.50, width 2.50. Abdomen length 7.13, width 4.24. Pedipalp: Fm 2.00, Pt 1.00, Ti 1.00, Ta 1.90, total 5.90. Leg I: Fm 6.50, Pt 2.75, Ti 5.75, Mt 4.75, Ta 1.75, total 21.50. Leg II: Fm 7.00, Pt 2.50, Ti 6.00, Mt 5.00, Ta 1.75, total 22.25. Leg III: Fm 6.75, Pt 2.50, Ti 6.00, Mt 4.75, Ta 1.85, total 21.85. Leg IV: Fm 7.00, Pt 2.50, Ti 5.75, Mt 5.00, Ta 1.75, total 22.00.

Natural history.

Found under the bark of various trees in rainforests, transitional rainforests and dry forests (Fig. 180). Some of those trees are Bursera , Cocoloba , Mastichodendron foetidissimum , Campeche, mahogany, bay, and lagawenn. The female guards the flat, disc shaped egg sac.

Distribution.

Southern Lesser Antilles from Dominica, south to Mayreau in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Map 4).