Glenognatha spherella Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936

Jimmy Cabra-García & Antonio D. Brescovit, 2016, Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the orb-weaving spider genus Glenognatha Simon, 1887 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae), Zootaxa 4069 (1), pp. 1-183 : 129-134

Glenognatha spherella Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936

( Figs. 105–109 , 138)

Glenognatha spherella Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936: 66 , pl. 17, fig. 154–156. (male holotype and female paratype from Chilapa, Guerrero, Mexico, x.1929, deposited in ZMB 26040, examined); Cabra-García et al. 2014: 1029, figs. 1P, 3E, 4G, 6E, 8F; World Spider Catalog 2015.

Diagnosis. Males of G. spherella resemble those of G. gloriae and G. australis by the prominent Ret2 ( Figs. 106B– C ) and the absence of anterior tooth ( Fig. 106 A ). It can be distinguished from the former by the shape of the clypeus in lateral view, which is not projected ( Fig. 105B ) and from the latter by the smaller size and the coiled embolus tip ( Figs. 109 A –D ). Females can be easily distinguished from all other Glenognatha species (except G. boraceia , G. lacteovittata and G. florezi ) by the presence of a postero-lateral cheliceral bulge ( Fig. 106E ); distinguished from these species by the presence of spermathecae ( Figs. 108 A –E ).

Description. Male and female described by Chamberlin & Ivie (1936). Additional data.

Male (CAS 9046859). Habitus as in Figures 105 A –D . Carapace yellow-brownish, darker along furrows, with a clear median square. Sternum with darker edges. Abdomen oval, dorsally with two irregular black bands that join medially, forming transverse thin bands. Silver guanine spots scattered in lateral surfaces. Venter with a median black band that ramifies laterally before the posterior tracheal spiracle, two guanine silver spots anterior to the spinnerets. Legs pale yellow-brownish. Total length 1.45. Cephalothorax 0.67 long, 0.57 wide, 0.50 high. Abdomen 0.80 long, 0.62 wide, 0.57 high. Sternum 0.35 long, 0.40 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.05. AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.07, ALE- PLE 0.01. Clypeus height 2.00. Chelicerae yellow-brownish, with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth ( Figs. 106 A –C ). Ret2 enlarged ( Figs. 106B–C ). Leg measurements: I: femur 1.00, patella 0.25, tibia 1.05, metatarsus 0.80, tarsus 0.45, total 3.91; II: 0.90, 0.22, 0.87, 0.67, 0.40, 3.07; III: 0.52, 0.20, 0.40, 0.45, 0.25, 1.82; IV: 0.85, 0.15, 0.71, 0.50, 0.28, 2.50. Femur III and IV without trichobothria. DTS 0.08. DTE 0.35. Palp as in Figures 107E–H . Embolus distal portion coiled and pointed ( Figs. 109 A –D ).

Female (CAS 9046857). Coloration and general habitus as in male ( Figs. 105E–H ). Cephalothorax, abdomen and legs darker than the male. Thin transverse bands formed in the posterior region of the abdomen. Total length 1.50. Cephalothorax 0.67 long, 0.62 wide, 0.65 high. Abdomen 0.87 long, 0.77 wide, 0.80 high. Sternum 0.35 long, 0.41 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.06, PME 0.08, PLE 0.06. AME-AME 0.06, AME- ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.06, ALE-PLE 0.01. Clypeus height 1.7. Chelicerae brownish, with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth ( Figs. 106D–F ). Leg measurements I: femur 0.82, patella 0.23, tibia 0.75, metatarsus 0.67, tarsus 0.42, total 2.91; II: 0.72, 0.18, 0.60, 0.60, 0.37, 2.48; III: 0.6, 0.15, 0.42, 0.33, 0.25, 1.76; IV: 0.77, 0.16, 0.57, 0.51, 0.31, 2.33. Femur III and IV without trichobothria. DTS 0.07. DTE 0.36. Tracheal system as in Figures 108F–H . Genitalia as in Figures 108 A –E . Spermathecae well-developed ( Figs. 108 A –E ). UE with a median projection ( Fig. 108C ).

Variation. Male total length 1.3–1.6 (N = 10; average 1.4), cephalothorax length 0.5–0.8 (N = 10; average 0.7), femur I length 0.9–1.1 (N = 10; average 1.0). Female total length 1.5–2.0 (N = 10; average 1.6), cephalothorax length 0.6–0.8 (N = 10; average 0.7), femur I length 0.7–0.9 (N = 10; average 0.8).

Distribution. Known from Mexico to Peru ( Fig. 138).

Additional material examined (N = 1252). MEXICO: Guerrero: Chilapa , [17º35´N, 99º10´W], elev. [1400m], 29.x.1934, L. Schultze leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) .

New records. MEXICO: Chiapas: Ocosingo, [16º54´N, 92º6´W], elev. [958m], 25.vi.1950, C. & M. Goodnight, L. Stannard leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; Lagos de Montebello, Laguna Pojoj , [16º4´N, 91º41´W], elev. 1500m, 2.vi.1990, H. & A. Howden & B. Gill leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Hillside 5 miles N.E. Chiapa , 16º45´N, 92º53´W, elev. [1444m], 22.viii.1966, J.& W. Ivie leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; Sumidero, Barranca, NE Tuxtla Gutierrez , [16º46´N, 93º5´W], elev. [648m], 19.viii.1966, J. & W. Ivie leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Hillside 5 miles N.E. Chiapa , 16º45´N, 92º53´W, elev. [1444m], 26.viii.1966, J. & W. Ivie leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; 5800' Finca Cuauhtemoc nr. Cacahoatan , [15º0´N, 92º10´W], elev. 526m, 6.viii.1950, C. Goodnight leg., 1♂ 1 immature ( AMNH) . Hidalgo: 3mi. N. Chapulhuacan ,, 21º11´N, 98º54´W, elev. [814m], 20.iv.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) . Michoacán: Tepetates, 19º39´N, 100º45´W, elev. [2428]m, 8.v.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Zitacuaro, [19º25´N, 100º20´W], elev. [2011m], 27.vi.1936, Davis leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; Basencheve National Park, 19º25´N, 100º10´W, elev. [2757m], 7.v.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 1♀ 2♂ 2 immature ( AMNH) ; Garnica Pass (summit, 9300ft), 19º40´N, 100º55´W], elev. [2332m], 8.v.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 12♀ 23♂ 9 immature ( AMNH) . San Luis Potosí: Tamazunchale, [21º15´N, 98º47´W], elev. [135m], 6.vii.1941, L. I. Davies leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; 26.vi.1947, B. Malkin leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; 19.iv.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 3♂ 1 immature ( AMNH) ; 20.v.1944, F. Bonet leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) 26.vi.1947, B. Malkin leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; 8 mi. NNW. Tamazunchale, 21º20´N, 98º50´W, elev. [257m], 19.iv.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. ivie leg., 2♀ 2♂ 2 immature ( AMNH) ; 5 mi. N Tamazunchale, [21º18´N, 98º47´W], elev. [282m], 2.vii.1936, A. M. & L. I. Davis leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Huichihuayan , 21º19´N, 98º50´W, elev. [423m], 24.vii.1966, J. & W. Ivie leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Xilitla , 21º23´50´´N, 98º59´38´´W, elev. 689m, 27–31.viii.2011, FAPLAB leg., 1♀ 3♂ ( CAS 9046859 ) ; 14–18.xi.2011, FAPLAB leg., 1♂ ( CAS 9046858 ) ; 3♀ ( CAS 9046857 ) . Tabasco: Pejelagarto, 18º3´N, 93º10´W, elev. [16m], 14.viii.1966, J. & W. Ivie leg., 2♂ ( AMNH) . Tamaulipas: Miramar Beach, near Tampico , [22º17´N, 97º48´W], elev. [3m], 29.xi.1941, L. I. Davies leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) . Vera Cruz : 5 miles N.E. Orizaba , 18º53´N, 97º2´W, elev. [1280m], 25.iv.1963, W. J. Gertsch & W. Ivie leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; Istmo de Tehantepec, [17º31´N, 94º32´W], elev. [31m], 15.viii.1966, J. & W. Ivie leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) . Yucatán: Dry Cenote Chichen Itza, [20º40´N, 88º34´W], elev. [35m], 10.vii.1948, C. & M. Goodnight leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) ; Chichen-Itza, [20º40´N, 88º34´W], elev. [35m], vi.1948, C. & M. Goodnight leg., 1♀ ( AMNH) . BELIZE: [Cayo]: Near Belmopan , hummingbird hwy., [17º13´N, 84º46´W], elev. [74m], 30.vii.1972, Goodnight leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) . GUATEMALA: [Izabal]: Los Amates , [15º15´N, 89º5´W], elev. [89m], 1908, Kellerman leg., 1♂ ( MCZ 125479 ) . COSTA RICA: [Cartago]: Turrialba, 9º54´N, 83º41´W, elev. [691m], 25.vii–13.viii.1965, A. M. Chickering leg., 2♀ 1♂ ( MCZ 125512 ) ; 23.vii– 13.viii.1965, Chickering leg., 9♀ 7♂ 2 immature ( MCZ 125503 ) . Puntarenas: 10 km N of Malpais, [9º37´N, 85º8´W], elev. 0–20m, xii.1987, W. Eberhard leg., 1♂ ( MCZ 125519 ) . [San José]: San José , [9º56´N, 84º4´W], elev. [1152m], E. Schmidt leg., 7♀ 3♂ ( AMNH) ; San José, 9º59´N, 84º4´W, elev. [1198m], J. Zetek leg., 1♂ ( AMNH) ; San José, San Antonio de Escazu , [9º53´N, 84º8´W], elev. 1300m, viii.1983, W. Eberhard leg., 1♂ ( MCZ 125513 ) ; xii.1981, 1 ♂ ( MCZ 125514 ) ; vi.1983, 1 ♀ ( MCZ 125474 ) . PANAMA: 9–14.viii.1950, Chickering leg., 2♀ 2♂ ( MCZ 125538 ) . [Chiriquí]: Chiri. 2 Km E Cerro Punta , [8º51´N, 82º34´W], elev. 2200m, 8.vi.1977, S. Peck leg., 2♂ ( AMNH) ; El Volcán, [8º46´N, 82º37´W], elev. [1433m], A. M. Chickering leg., 1♂ ( MCZ 125527 ) ; Boquete, [8º46´N, 82º25´W], elev. [1094m], 4–11.viii.1954, Chickering leg., 1♂ ( MCZ 125537 ) ; 4–11.viii.1954, A. M. Chickering leg., 1♀ ( MCZ 125494 ) . [Panamá]: Barro Colorado , Canal Zone, [9º9´N, 79º50´W], elev. [150m], 21.vii.1938, 1♀ ( AMNH) ; 3–20.iv.1953, A. M. Nadler leg., 1♀ 1♂ ( AMNH) ; 20.ii.1958, 1♀ 2♂ 2 immature ( MCZ 84 025) ; viii.1950, 21 ♀ 18♂ ( MCZ 64707 ) ; vii.1950, 1 ♀ ( MCZ 125515 ) ; viii.1954, 2 ♀ ( MCZ 129044 ) ; i.1958, 43♀ 37♂ 4 immature ( MCZ 125529 ) ; 20.ii.1958, 58♀ 89♂ 13 immature ( MCZ 84 026) ; 14.i.1958, 1♂ ( MCZ 125536 ) ; 19–22. ii.1958, 1♀ 1♂ ( MCZ 84028 ) ; 4–10.ii.1958, 49♀ 50♂ 2 immature ( MCZ 84024 ) ; ii.1958, 2 ♀ 1♂ ( MCZ 125552 ) ; viii.1954, 9 ♀ 10♂ 4 immature ( MCZ 129 045 ) ; 14.ii.1958, 2♀ ( MCZ 125516 ) ; 21.xii.1957, 9♀ 2♂ ( MCZ 125558 ) ; 21.vii.1954, 1♂ ( MCZ 125541 ) ; 6.ii.1958, 6♀ 8♂ ( MCZ 125551 ) ; ii.1958, 1 ♂ ( MCZ 125518 ) ; same data, 2♀ 2♂ ( MCZ 125548 ) ; 21.xii.1957, 13♀ 8♂ ( MCZ 129046 ) ; 19– 22.ii.1958, 138♀ 106♂ 5 immature ( MCZ 125554 ) ; 2.i.1958, 1♀ ( MCZ 125533 ) ; 8.ii.1958, 15♀ 10♂ 1 immature ( MCZ 125553 ) ; 21.xii.1957, 1♂ ( MCZ 125555 ) ; 5.iii.1957, 20♀ 17♂ 7 immature ( MCZ 125557 ) ; 18.ii.1958, 26♀ 22♂ 4 immature ( MCZ 125556 ) ; ix.1975, 1 ♂ ( MCZ 125517 ) ; 30.vii.1954, 2♀ ( MCZ 125535 ) ; ii.1958, 8 ♀ 6♂ 1 immature ( MCZ 125 530 ) ; 28.ii.1958, 1♂ ( MCZ 92670 ) ; iii.1958, 83♀ 66♂ 20 immature ( MCZ 125520 ) ; 19– 22. ii.1958, 1♂ ( MCZ 92669 ) ; 18.ii.1958, 18♀ 19♂ ( MCZ 125549 ) ; 4.ii.1958, 7♀ 11♂ 2 immature ( MCZ 125559 ) ; 14.i–3. iii.1958, 3♀ 3♂ ( MCZ 125550 ), all collected by A. M. Chickering ; Barro Colorado , Canal Zone, Forest Reserve , [9º9´N, 79º50´W], elev. [150m], 28.vii.1954, A. M. Chickering leg. 1♂ ( MCZ 84027 ) ; 28.ii.1958, 2♀ ( MCZ 125545 ) ; 29.i.1958, 1♂ ( MCZ 129049 ), all collected by A. M. Chickering ; Gatun , Canal Zone, [9º17´N, 79º46´W], elev. [36m], 30.i.1958, A. M. Chickering leg., 2♀ ( MCZ 129048 ) ; Panama city, [8º59´N, 79º31´W], elev. [19m], 15–30.vii.1979, E. Broadhead et al. leg., 1♂ ( USNM). COLOMBIA: Vaupés: Taraira, Lago Taraira , Estación Biológica Caparu , 1º4´S, 69º29´W, elev. [128m], 11.iv.2004, J. Pinzón leg., 1♀ 2♂ ( ICN 5978 ) . ECUADOR: Napo: Lago Agrío (2 Km N), [0º5´N, 76º52´W], elev. [298m], 26.ix.1975, Andrea Langley leg., 1♀ ( USNM) . PERU: Loreto: 25 Km SW Iquitos , Callicebus Res. Station . Mishana . Rio Nanay , [3º51´N, 73º23´W], elev. 120m, 10–17.i.1980, J. B. Heppener leg., 1♂ ( USNM) .

Figures

FIGURE 105. Glenognatha spherella from Mexico. A – D, male habitus (CAS 9046858). A, dorsal. B, lateral. C, ventral. D, frontal. E – H, female habitus (CAS 9046857). E, dorsal. F, lateral. G, ventral. H, frontal. Scale bars, 200 µm. TS: tracheal spiracle.

FIGURE 106. Glenognatha spherella from Mexico. A – C, male left chelicerae (CAS 9046858). A, anterior. B, posterior. C, mesal. D – F, female left chelicerae (CAS 9046857). D, anterior. E, posterior (arrow, posterolateral bulge). F, mesal. Scale bars, 100 µm. Prt: promarginal tooth. Ret: retromarginal tooth.

FIGURE 107. Glenognatha spherella from Mexico. A – D, male left palp, schematic (AMNH). A, ventral. B, conductor, ventral. C, conductor, dorsal. D, embolus, ventral. E – H, male left palp (CAS 9046858). E, ventral. F, dorsal. G, prolateral. H, retrolateral. Scale bars, 100 µm. C: conductor. CB: cymbium. CRa: conductor retrolateral apophysis. E: embolus. ED: ejaculatory duct. EMg: embolic medial groove. P: paracymbium. T: tegulum. TO: tarsal organ.

FIGURE 108. Glenognatha spherella. A – C, female genitalia. A, dorsal. B, ventral. C, lateral (arrow, uterus externus median projection). D – E, spermathecae and copulatory duct. F – H, female tracheal system. F, dorsal. G, median and lateral trunks. H, tracheal spiracle, posterior view. Scale bars, 100 µm (F), 20 µm (A – C, G), 10 µm (D – E, H). CD: copulatory duct. LSD: longstem ducts. LT: lateral trunk. MC: membranous chamber. MT: median trunk. S: spermathecae. TAG: tracheal atrium gland. UE: uterus externus.

FIGURE 109. Glenognatha spherella. A, male left palp ventroretrolateral. B – D, embolus and conductor. B, ventroretrolateral. C, dorsal. D, retrolateral. Scale bars, 20 µm. C: conductor. CRa: conductor retrolateral apophysis. E: embolus. EMg: embolic medial groove. P: paracymbium. T: tegulum.