Cybaeodes indalo, Ribera & de Mas, 2015

Ribera, Carles & Mas, Eva De, 2015, Description of three new troglobiontic species of Cybaeodes (Araneae, Liocranidae) endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, Zootaxa 3957 (3), pp. 313-323 : 315-318

Cybaeodes indalo n. sp.

Figs. 1 – 6 , 11 – 16

Type material. Holotype: 1 ♀ from Sima Termal, El Ejido, Almería, Spain; Pardo & Piquer leg., 25.VIII.2000 (CRBA-UB 145-3669) . Paratypes: 1 ♂ from Cueva Nueva, Almería, Barranco & Mayoral leg., 4.I.2002. (CRBA- UB 148–3758) ; 1 ♂ from Cueva de Didier, Almería, Mayoral, García & Pardo leg., 12.V.2001 (CRBA-UB 148- 3759) ; 1 ♂ same locality, Mayoral & Barranco leg. (CRBA-UB 148-3757) ; 1 ♀ from Cueva del Llano de la Montés, Enix, Almería, Mayoral leg., 14.V.2000 (CRBA-UB 144-3647) .

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition derived from the Indalo symbol, a rock painting from Cueva de Los Letreros located in the village of Vélez Blanco and considered to be a carrier of good luck by the inhabitants of Almería. Archaeologists revealed that the Indalo was the image of a prehistoric god holding the rainbow with open arms. The Indalo was baptized in memory of San Indalecio, the precursor of the Catholic religion in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. In the Iberian language, “Indal eccius”, in reference to the Indalo symbol, means “messenger of the gods”.

Diagnosis. Cave-dwelling species with evident troglomorphic features of very pale pigmentation and no eyes ( Fig. 13 ). The epigynum shows a characteristic anterior rim and two lateral lobes strongly sclerotized forming two posterolateral oval plates ( Figs. 2 , 14 ). The species differs from other species of the genus and particularly from C. mallorcensis Wunderlich ( Fig. 21 ), C. dosaguas n. sp. ( Figs. 7 , 17 ), and C magnus n. sp. ( Figs. 9 , 19 ), the three morphologically most similar species, by the shape of the anterior rim of the epigyne, which in this species is heavily sclerotized showing a well-defined hood in the central part. The shape and arrangement of the lateral lobes clearly differ from the rest of species of this genus. Cybaeodes mallorcensis , C. dosaguas n. sp. and C magnus n. sp. show a similar morphology but can be clearly distinguished by the shape and size of these structures. The new species differs by the strong curvature of the insemination ducts, which produces an elevation of the lateral lobes. Males differ by the shape of the median apophysis which is rounded in apical part ( Figs. 5 , 12 ), in contrast to the other species in which the apophysis is in the form of a hook, except in C. mallorcensis . The new species also differs in the shapes of the short spike located on the base of the embolus, of the embolar base, and of the embolus itself. The retrolateral tibial apophysis is also diagnostic.

Description of the female (holotype). Coloration: Prosoma pale yellowish brown. Fovea dark brown. Chelicera with the same color as the carapace but slightly darker. Sternum and appendices pale yellowish brown, with apical segments slightly darker. Opisthosoma pale yellowish with slight pubescence on dorsal part. Prosoma: Slightly longer than wide in dorsal view, fovea clearly visibly, radial grooves scarcely marked. Cephalic region not differentiated from the rest of the prosoma. Eyeless ( Fig. 13 ). Appendages: Robust and prominent chelicerae with dense pilosity on internal side. Long and robust fangs. Promargin with three basal teeth, middle tooth largest. Retromargin with two small apical teeth. Labium slightly longer than wide. Endites subrectangular, slightly convergent and frontally rounded, with an oblique depression and an apical hair tuft and serrula. Long legs with deeply notched trochanters. Tarsal claws with 5 teeth and five pairs of tenent hairs on the tarsal tips. Leg formula 4123. Opisthosoma: Anterior spinnerets conical, almost contiguous at the base. Posterior spinnerets also conical, thinner than the anterior ones but the same length. Median spinnerets thinner and shorter, about half the length ( Fig. 16 ). Epigyne ( Figs. 2 , 14 ): Epigyne oval bounded at upper part by a strongly sclerotized semicircular anterior rim, central part with a well-defined hood. Epigyne with two lateral lobes strongly sclerotized, separated by a rectangular and convex median field. The two lateral lobes have semicircular internal margins and two small sclerotized pits located in the external. Vulva: ( Fig. 3 ). Thin and strongly curved insemination ducts located at the base of the lateral lobes. These ducts lead to a couple of small spermathecae located at the base of lateral lobes. Measurements: PL 2.78; PW 2.1; OL 3.23; OW 1.95; total body length 6.01.

*: small pointy lateral apophysis of the embolus, t: tegulum, ma: median apophysis, rta: retrolateral tibial apophysis, er: epigyne anterior rim, ol: oval lobes.

Description of the male (paratype CRBA-UB 148-3758). Same as female except for the following: opisthosoma with anterodorsal scutum. Spinnerets with typical sexual dimorphism of the genus ( Platnick & Di Franco, 1992): elongate and sclerotized anterior lateral spinnerets bearing five enlarged spigots ( Fig. 15 ), posterior spinnerets also cylindrical, but shorter and thinner than the anterior lateral ones. Tarsal claws with 6 teeth and five pairs of tenent hairs on the tarsal tips. Male palp ( Figs. 4 – 6 , 11 – 12 ): Tibia with long, robust setae on the prolateral side and armed with 6 spines: 1 dorsal, 2 retrolateral and 3 prolateral ( Fig. 4 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis long and triangular, 2 times longer than wide and pointed distally ( Figs. 4, 6 , 11 ). Tegulum wide, located in the basal part of the bulb with a small peak on anterior ridge. Median apophysis robust, elongated, with a rounded apical part and a conspicuous tooth located near apex and directed towards the center. Wide embolar base with a small pointy lateral apophysis. Long and laminar embolus, curved towards the inner part of the bulb and ending behind the apex of the median apophysis ( Figs. 5, 6 , 12 ).

Measurements: PL 2.1; PW 1.86; OL 2.29; OW 1.32; total body length 4.39.

Habitat and distribution. Cybaeodes indalo n. sp. inhabits the karst landscapes west of Almería City, in the municipalities of Almería, Enix and El Ejido ( Fig. 1 ). It is known only from four caves: Sima Termal in the southern slope of the municipality of El Ejido (36.802659N, 2.798219W, 320 m asl.), Cueva Nueva (36.864999N, 2.528796W, 560 m asl.) and Cueva de Didier (36.838042N, 2.551392W, 440 m asl.), both in Almería and Cueva del Llano de la Montés, in Enix (36.829070N, 2.562658W, 434 m asl.). In addition to the material used in the description of this species, we found some juvenile specimens from five caves located in close proximity of the aforementioned distribution range for the species. Although it was is not possible to identify those immature with certainty they are probably C. indalo n. sp. At any rate, all of them are eyeless and belong to Cybaeodes . Localities where juveniles were collected: Complejo GEP, Sorbas, Almería (3 juvs.) (37.114567N, 2.054517W, 390 m asl.); Cueva del Tesoro, Sorbas (1 juv.) (37.123757N, 2.076917W, 411 m asl.); Cueva de la Ramblica, Almería (1 juv.); Cueva del Lobo, Enix, Almería (1 juv.) (36.874335N, 2.618502W, 760 m asl.) and Cueva de la Mudica, Huécija (1 juv.) (36.964478N, 2.618053W, 494 m asl.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of the genus Cybaeodes in the western Mediterranean.

FIGURES 2 – 10. Cybaeodes indalo n. sp. 2: Epigynum ventral view, 3: Vulva dorsal view, 4: male palp dorsal view, 5: male palp ventral view, 6: male palp retrolateral view. Cybaeodes dosaguas n. sp. 7: Epigynum ventral view, 8: Vulva dorsal view. Cybaeodes magnus n. sp. 9: Epigynum ventral view, 10: Vulva dorsal view.

FIGURES 11 – 16. Cybaeodes indalo n. sp. 11: male palp retrolateral view, 12: male palp ventral view, 13: male habitus, 14: Epigynum ventral view, 15: male spinnerets ventral view, 16: female spinnerets ventral view.

FIGURES 17 – 22. Cybaeodes dosaguas n. sp. 17: Epigynum ventral view, 18: female habitus. Cybaeodes magnus n. sp. 19: Epigynum ventral view, 20: female habitus. 21: Cybaeodes mallorcensis epigynum ventral view. 22: Cybaeodes magnus n. sp. Eyes frontal view.