Chrysometa sagicuta, Salgueiro-Sepúlveda & Álvarez-Padilla, 2018

Salgueiro-Sepúlveda, F. Javier & Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, 2018, New species of the orb-weaving spider genus Chrysometa (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from oak forests near of the Pico de Orizaba National Park (Veracruz, Mexico), Zootaxa 4450 (3), pp. 301-330 : 318-320

Chrysometa sagicuta new species

Figures 12 , 13 , 19

Type material. Holotype (CNAN-T1182). Female from Pico de Orizaba National Park , Atotonilco , Calcahualco , Veracruz, Mexico. Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,388 m. May 21–30, 2012. Paratypes. Two females. Types are deposited in the Colección Nacional de Arácnidos ( CNAN) at the Instituto de Biología ( IBUNAM) .

Etymology. The species epithet is a combination of the Latin noun sagitta (arrow) and the adjective acutus (sharp) and refers to the thin and large septum.

Diagnosis. Females of C. sagicuta can be distinguished from all sympatric species by the following features: epigynum with a thin and short transverse bar with triangular and pointed arms, large triangular septum and deep and wide copulatory openings ( Figs. 12E , 13D ).

Description. Female. Total length 5. Cephalothorax: length 2.3, width 1.6. Carapace pale-yellow, dark brown patterns over the cephalic region narrowing in the middle and in arrow-shape towards the fovea ( Fig. 12A ). Ocular area dark-brown below the eyes with patterns of small circles on sides of the lateral eyes. Eyes subequal in size ( Fig. 12D ). AME diameter 0.11, PME 0.15, ALE and PLE 0.12. Chelicerae dark-brown, with few scattered setae and cuticle smooth. Patterns of small circles on the posterior part ( Figs. 12B, D ). Endites longer than wide, darkbrown, dark yellow in the tip and the margins. Labium rectangular, wider than long, same color as the endites. Sternum dark-brown, wider between the first and second legs ( Fig. 12C ). Abdomen: dorsally covered with big guanine silvery patches, central and anterior part darker with a rectangular pattern from the middle to the spinnerets, surrounded by large patches of guanine ( Fig. 12A ); ventrally black, four large guanine patches forming a rectangle between the spinnerets and the epigynum, one yellow spot on each side of spinnerets ( Fig. 12C ). Leg lengths: I 11.5, II 8.3, III 4.6 and IV 6.5. Legs yellow, brown on joints, with ventral and dorsal dark-brown spots. Tarsi black. All segment tips dark-brown. Epigynum: epigynal plate rectangular, slightly wider than long and well sclerotized; thin and short transverse bar with triangular pointed arms, large triangular septum wider on the anterior portion, sclerotized margins; deep and wide copulatory openings, in large, sclerotized depressions ( Figs. 12E , 13D ). Spermathecae, copulatory ducts and fertilization ducts as shown in Figure 12F .

Variation. Total length 4.6–5.5, cephalothorax width 1.6–1.7.

Material examined. N=3. Mexico: Veracruz, Atotonilco Calcahualco , three females, Plot II: 19° 8' 30.2" N, 97° 12' 21.5" W, 2,300 m. May 21–30, 2012. Colección Nacional de Arácnidos ( CNAN) at the Instituto de Biología ( IBUNAM) .

Distribution. Veracruz, Mexico. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 19 ).

Biology. Specimens were collected in a Quercus forest with secondary plant growth. Specimens were found only in plot II during the first expedition (May 21–30, 2012) by direct collecting at night.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Chrysometa sagicuta n. sp., female. A, habitus dorsal view. B, lateral view. C, ventral view. D, prosoma anterior view. E, epigynum ventral view. F, epigynum dorsal view (cleared). Scale bars, A, B, C, 1.0 mm; D, 0.5 mm; E, F, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 13. Chrysometa puya n. sp., male. A, pedipalp ventral view. B, retrolateral view. C, dorsal view. Chrysometa sagicuta n. sp. Female. D, epigynum ventral view. E, posterior view. Scale bars, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 19. Species Distribution Map. Atotonilco Locality: Chrysometa citlaltepetl, C. triangulosa, C. rosarium, C. atotonilco and C. sagicuta.. Xamaticpac Locality: C. xamaticpac, C. puya and C. chipinque.