Darkoneta reddelli, Ledford, Joel M. & Griswold, Charles E., 2010

Ledford, Joel M. & Griswold, Charles E., 2010, A study of the subfamily Archoleptonetinae (Araneae, Leptonetidae) with a review of the morphology and relationships for the Leptonetidae, Zootaxa 2391, pp. 1-32 : 26-28

Darkoneta reddelli , sp. nov.

( Figs. 32 , 46 , 91–96 )

Type material. Male holotype from Cueva de Tasalolpan, 5 km southwest of Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico ( AMNH).

Other material examined. Mexico: Puebla: Cueva de Tasalolpan, 5 km southwest Cuetzalan, 20.02N, 97.54W, 22.xii.1976, J. Reddell, A. Grubbs, C. Soileau, D. McKenzie, 2 females, 6 juveniles ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Pale, eyeless troglobite ( Fig. 32 ) separated from other Darkoneta species by having males with a stout embolus that extends 1/2 the length of the tarsus ( Fig. 92, 95 ) and a proventrally curved and thickened prolateral sclerite ( Fig. 96 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 0.87. Specimen pale, eyeless; missing patella-tarsus for all legs.

Carapace 0.38 long, 0.32 wide, height at fovea 0.56 x carapace width; clypeus 0.04 high, chelicerae 0.21 long, fang furrow with three small teeth on retromargin and a single large proximal tooth. Sternum 0.26 long, 0.28 wide; labium.0 5 long,.0 6 wide; palpal coxae.12 long,.0 7 wide.

Femora elongate and covered with fine setae. Leg measurements (Femur only): I: 0.9; II: 0.58; III: 0.73; IV: 0.93; pedipalpus: 0.25 + 0.09 + 0.11 + 0.25 = [0.7]. Femur I 2.8 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.78 x carapace width.

Palpal bulb 0.15 long, 0.08 wide; Prolateral sclerite enlarged and with a retrolateral bend; median sclerite long and thin, tapering retrolaterally; retrolateral sclerite sharply tapering retrolaterally; embolus short, enlarged, and extending 1/2 the length of the tarsus.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.49 long, 0.34 wide.

Remarks. This series of specimens includes eight individuals, two of which are adult males. Most of the specimens are missing leg segments and their abdomens. While a female individual is almost certainly a part of the series, the absence of abdomens makes it impossible to identify a mature specimen, therefore no female is described.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of James Reddell, collector of this and many other species of leptonetids throughout North America.

Distribution. Known only from Cueva de Tasalolpan, Puebla, Mexico.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 34. Archoleptonetinae general morphology. 29. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male carapace, dorsal, arrows to stridulatory picks; 30. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., stridulatory structures, dorsal; 31. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, patella III, dorsal, showing gland; 32. Darkoneta reddelli sp. nov., juvenile carapace, dorsal; 33. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, carapace, posterior; 34. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male abdomen, ventral, showing gonopore anteriad of epigastric furrow.

FIGURES 43 – 48. Archoleptonetinae spinnerets and calamistra, SEM. 43. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, spinnerets, ventral, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA; 44. A. schusteri, female, cribellum, Burdell Mountain; 45. A. schusteri, female, calamistrum, right metatarsus IV, Burdell Mountain; 46. Darkoneta stridulans, female, spinnerets, ventral, Chiriqui, Panama; 47. A. schusteri, female, cribellum, spigots, Burdell Mountain; 48. A. schusteri, female, calamistrum, right metatarsus IV, Burdell Mountain.

FIGURES 91 – 96. Microstructure views of Darkoneta reddelli sp. nov., male right palp, Cueva de Tasalolpan, Mexico. 91. Retrolateral; 92. Ventral; 93. Prolateral; 94. Bulb, ventral; 95. Embolus, ventral; 96. Accessory sclerites, prolateral. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.