Chococtenus neblina, Dupérré, Nadine, 2015

Dupérré, Nadine, 2015, Description of a new genus and thirteen new species of Ctenidae (Araneae, Ctenidae) from the Chocó region of Ecuador, Zootaxa 4028 (4), pp. 451-484 : 456-458

Chococtenus neblina new species

Figs 6–9 , 54 , 56 , 57 .

Type material. Male holotype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve, 21.vi.–02.vii.2014, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré ( QCAZ). Two female paratypes from Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve, 24.v.–08.vi. 2014, 2105m, night collecting, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré ( QCAZ).

Additional material examined. Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province: Otonga Biological Reserve (- 00.41994°S - 79.00623°W), 24.v.–08. vi.2014, 3 ♂, pitfall, 1997m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 08–21. vi.2014, 1 ♀ (DTC); 03–16. viii.2014, 2 ♂ (DTC); 03–16. viii.2014, 1 ♀ (DTC); 16.viii.–05. ix.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC); 05–19. ix.2014, 4 ♂ (DTC); 13–25. xi.2014, 1 ♂ 2♀ (DTC); 25.xi.–08. xii.2014, 1 ♂3♀ (DTC); (- 00.41564°S - 79.00425°W), 24.v.– 08. vi.2014, 2 ♂, pitfall, 2105m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 24.v.–08. vi.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC); 08– 21. vi.2014, 1 ♂ ( QCAZ); 08–21. vi.2014, 2 ♂ (DTC); 03–16. viii.2014, 2 ♂ ( QCAZ);16.viii.–05. ix.2014, 7 ♂2♀ ( AMNH); 05–19. ix.2014, 2 ♀ (DTC); (- 00.42261°S - 79.5107°W), 24.v.–08. vi.2014, 4 ♂, pitfall, 2225m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 16.viii–05. ix.2014, 2 ♂ (DTC); 13–25. xi.2014, 2 ♀ (DTC); 25.xi.–08. xii.2014, 6 ♂3♀ (DTC). Otonga Biological Reserve, 21.vi.–02. vii.2014, 8 ♂, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré ( AMNH); 24.v.– 08. vi.2014, 1 ♀, hand collecting, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré ( AMNH); 24.v.–08. vi.2014, 1 ♀, sifting litter, Berlese, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); January 2013, 1 ♀, night collecting, N. Dupérré (DTC).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the Spanish language, meaning fog.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished from all species by the ventrally projecting tibial apophysis ( Fig. 7 ). Females are distinguished by the elongated lateral processes of the epigynum, from C. otonga by the triangular median sector of the epigynum ( Fig. 8 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 9.2; carapace length: 4.9 carapace width: 4.2; abdomen length: 4.3. COLORATION: As in C. otonga . LEGS: Total length: I: 22.2; II: 22.0; III: 18.0; IV: 24.1. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia I p1-1, r1, d1-1-1; metatarsus I p1-1, r1-1. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia II p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1; metatarsus II p1-1-1, r1-1-1. Femur III pl-1-1-, r1-1-1-1; tibia III p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia IV p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1, r1-1, v1-2. GENITALIA: Palpal cymbial keel strong ( Fig. 6 ). Ventral tibial apophysis elongated and curved, projecting ventrally, retrolateral tibial apophysis spine-liked ( Figs 6, 7 ). Tegulum with small retrolateral swelling; median apophysis elongated and curved, very thin medially; conductor lamelliform, hyaline; membranous tegular process hyaline and elongated, reaching embolus tip; embolus base not twisted; embolus thin, originating prolaterally; tip straight ( Fig. 6 ).

Female (paratype). Total length: 9.8; carapace length: 4.3; carapace width: 4.1; abdomen length: 5.5. COLORATION: Carapace dark brown, sides dark brown with pattern composed of blackish lines, meshes, and a few white setae in rows, pars cephalica light brown with dark brown v-line and white setae; fovea dark brown ( Fig. 56 ); abdomen and legs as in male but slightly darker. LEGS: Total length: I: 17.0; II: 15.6; III: 14.0; IV: 18.2. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia I p0, r0, d0; metatarsus I p0, r0. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia II p0, r0, d0; metatarsus II p0, r0. Femur III pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia III p1-1, r1-1, d1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1- 1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1-1, r1; tibia IV p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1, r1-1-1-1, v1- 1 -1-2. GENITALIA: Epigynum with triangular median sector, apically with wide unsclerotized sector, slightly concave; lateral processes elongated ( Fig. 8 ). Internal genitalia with copulatory ducts elongated, curved; head of spermathecae oval with an apico-lateral pore, base of spermathecae square; fertilization ducts short ( Fig. 9 ).

Natural history. Most specimens where collected in pitfall lines set up between 1997–2225 m, a few where also collected on leaves at night or sifting litter. This species inhabit the cloud forest and qualifies as a cloud forest specialist.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 57 ).

Figures

FIGURE 57. Map of Ecuador showing distribution records of the thirteen new species of the genus Chococtenus. The main collecting site, Otonga Biological Reserve (white box with x inside), holds 10 species (not found: C. suffuscus, C. otongachi and C. piemontana). Other known localities for: C. otonga (white lozenge), C. cappuccino (white x), C. lasdamas (white circle), C. suffuscus (white plus sign), C. otongachi (white rectangle) and C. piemontana (upside down white triangle).

FIGURES 6 – 9. Chococtenus neblina new species. Male. 6, 7. Female. 8, 9. 6. Palp, ventral view. 7. Palp, retrolateral view. 8. Epigynum, ventral view. 9. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Male genitalia: rts, retrolateral tegular swelling. Female genitalia: cd, copulatory ducts; ilp, internal lateral pockets.

FIGURES 53, 54. 53. Male Chococtenus otonga new species, frontal view. 54. Female Chococtenus neblina new species, frontal view.

FIGURES 55, 56. 55. Male Chococtenus otonga new species. 56. Female Chococtenus neblina new species.