Archoleptoneta gertschi, 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 : 13-14

Archoleptoneta gertschi , sp. nov.

( Figs. 103–108 , 110 )

Type material. Male holotype from 3 miles South-Southeast Jackson, Amador County, California, USA ( CASC).

Other material examined. Amador County: 0.5mi. North of Mokelumne on Hwy 49, 5.iii.1958, L. M. Smith and R. O. Schuster, 38.30N, 120.70W, 3 females ( AMNH); 3mi. SSE Jackson, 27.xii.1965, J. S. Buckett, M. R. and R. C. Gardner, 38.32N, 120.73W, 2 females ( CASC); Connie's Cave, 0.5 mi. N. Volcano, 15.iv.1979, Rudolph, Winterath, Van Ingen, and Cowan, 38.44N, 120.63W, 1 female ( AMNH); Pardee Reservoir, Chrome Cave Area, 24.i.1981, D. Ubick, 38.28N, 120.86W, 2 females (DU); 2mi. Northeast of Jackson, 16.iv.1957, L. M. Smith and R. O. Schuster, 38.37N, 120.75W, 1 male, 3 females ( AMNH); near Buckeye Root Cave, Volcano City, 6.i.2007, N. Dupérré, J. Ledford, and P. Paquin 38.44N, 120.63W, 1 male, 6 females ( CASC); near Humming Bird Cave, Volcano city, 6.i.2007, N. Dupérré, J. Ledford, and P. Paquin 38.44N, 120.63W, 6 females ( CASC); Calaveras County: 2mi. West San Andreas, 25.iii.1958, L. M. Smith and R. O. Schuster, 38.19N, 120.71W, 1 female ( AMNH); 6.0mi. NW Columbia, Peruvian Gulch, 10.v.1980, D. Ubick, 38.08N, 120.49W, 1 female (DU); Grapevine Gulch Cave, 7mi. ESE Angels Camp, 27.iv.1977, A. G. Grubbs, S. Hewson, M. McEachern, and J. Montre, 38.09N, 120.42W, 2 females ( AMNH); Moaning Cave, 6.4km East Angels Camp, 6.xii.1977, W. R. Elliott, A. G. Grubbs, and S. A. Winterath, 38.06N, 120.46W, 6 females ( AMNH); Peruvian Gulch, Speleogen Cave, 24.iii.2000, D. Ubick and S. Ubick, 38.04N, 120.47W, 1 female (DU); Airola Rd., 05.i.2007, N. Dupérré, J. Ledford, and P. Paquin, 38.04N, 120.48W, 1 female ( CASC); El Dorado County: Crystal Cosumnes Cave, 07.i.2007, N. Dupérré, J. Ledford, and P. Paquin, 1 female ( CASC); 6mi. SW Highway 49 on Rattlesnake Bar Road, 4.ii.1995, D. Ubick, 38.78N, 121.08W, 4 females (DU); Placer County: 4 mi. West Newcastle, 10.iii.1959, R. O. Schuster and L. M. Smith, 38.87N, 121.20W, 1 female ( AMNH); 4 mi. West Newcastle, 10.iii.1959, L. M. Smith and R. O. Schuster, 38.87N, 121.20W, 2 females ( AMNH); 4mi. West Newcastle, 3.i.1959, F. Raney and R.O. Schuster, 38.87N, 121.20W, 2 females ( AMNH);

Diagnosis. Separated from A. schusteri by having males with the embolus distinctly bent perpendicular to prolateral side of the tarsus ( Figs. 104, 105, 108 ) and with a broad median sclerite ( Fig. 104, 107 ). Females with spermathecae that are approximately twice as long as wide and with broad bases ( Fig. 110 ).

Description. Male (holotype)

Total length 1.31. Specimen pale, lacking any distinctive markings.

Carapace 0.55 long, 0.45 wide, height at fovea 0.46 x carapace width; clypeus 0.08 high, chelicerae 0.21 long. Ocular area 0.05 long, 0.11 wide. Sternum as long as wide; labium 0.05 long, 0.08 wide; palpal coxae 0.15 long, 0.10 wide.

Legs sparsely setose and lacking spines. Leg formula I, IV, II, III. Measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.71 + 0.21 + 0.68 + 0.58 + 0.35= [2.63]; II: 0.60 + 0.19 + 0.52 + 0.48 + 0.31 = [2.1]; III: 0.53 + 0.15 + 0.44 + 0.40 + 0.32 = [1.84]; IV: 0.74 + 0.16 + 0.66 + 0.52 + 0.34 = [2.42]; pedipalpus: 0.26 + 0.10 + 0.15 + 0.27 = [0.78]. Femur I 1.57 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.57 x carapace width.

Palpal bulb 0.24 long, 0.11 wide. Prolateral sclerite straight, produced to a blunt point apically; median sclerite broad with a shallow central depression; retrolateral sclerite broad at its base and tapering to a fine point apically.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.76 long, 0.45 wide.

Variation (n = 2). Total length 1.30–1.32; carapace length 1.21–1.30 x carapace width; OAL 0.43–0.57 x OAW; length femur I 1.57–1.69 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.57–0.65 x carapace width.

Female (paratype)

Total length 1.35. Coloration identical to male, missing patella-tarsus of leg I.

Carapace 0.56 long, 0.47 wide, height at fovea 0.38 × carapace width; clypeus 0.08 high, chelicerae 0.21 long. Ocular area 0.06 long, 0.11 wide. Sternum 0.34 long, 0.26 wide; labium 0.05 long, 0.09 wide; palpal coxae 0.15 long, 0.11 wide.

Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.69 + missing + missing + missing + missing = [N/A]; II: 0.56 + 0.18 + 0.58 + 0.44 + 0.32 = [2.08]; III: 0.52 + 0.18 + 0.42 + 0.39 + 0.31 = [1.82]; IV: 0.71 + 0.19 + 0.63 + 0.47 + 0.34= [2.34]; pedipalpus: 0.26 + 0.10 + 0.15 + 0.29 = [0.8]. Femur I 1.48 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.55 x carapace width.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.79 long, 0.56 wide. Spermathecae slightly longer than wide and with wide bases ( Fig. 110 ).

Variation (n = 3). Total length 1.16–1.31; carapace length 1.20–1.30 × carapace width; OAL 0.42–0.45 × OAW; length femur I 1.30–1.89 × carapace width, palpal femur 0.45–0.51 × carapace width.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Willis Gertsch, who discovered and described many species of North American Leptonetidae and was a pioneer of North American arachnology.

Natural History. Several records for A. gertschi sp. nov. are from caves in the Mother Lode region of California. Some specimens from caves (particularly Grapevine Gulch Cave) have longer legs than surface populations but no additional troglomorphic morphology. Specimens are most commonly encountered at cave entrances or in the twilight zone under moist stones.

Distribution. Known from localities in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Placer counties ( Fig. 115 ).

Figures

FIGURES 103 – 108. Microstructure views of Archoleptoneta gertschi sp. nov., male right palp, Calaveras Co., California, USA. 103. Retrolateral; 104. Ventral; 105. Prolateral; 106. Bulb, prolateral; 107. Accessory sclerites, ventral; 108. Accessory sclerites, prolateral. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.

FIGURES 109 – 114. Leptonetidae female genitalia and respiratory system. 109. Archoleptoneta schusteri female genitalia, dorsal, Soquel, Santa Cruz Co.; 110. Archoleptoneta gertschi, sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Calaveras Co.; 111. D. stridulans female genitalia, dorsal, Panama; 112. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Guatemala; 113. L. infuscata female genitalia, dorsal; 114. Appaleptoneta sp. female tracheae, dorsal (image from MJR).

FIGURES 115 – 116. Distribution maps for North American Leptonetidae. 115. Distribution of Archoleptoneta in California. A. schusteri localities outlined in orange, A. gertschi sp. nov. localities highlighted in red. Localities for which there are no known males and are in need of additional sampling are outlined in black. 116. Distribution of Darkoneta.