Sparianthis cascalheira, Casas & Rheims, 2024

Casas, Cristian M. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2024, An update on the genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 (Sparassidae: Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 5496 (3), pp. 343-369 : 348-350

Sparianthis cascalheira spec. nov.

Figs 3A–E , 4A–D , 20

Type material: Holotype: ♂, BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: Ribeirão Cascalheira (12º56’31”S, 57º49’26”W), 12–17 November 2011, T. Godoi Plaza leg. ( IBSP 215001 ).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of S. cascalheira spec. nov. resemble those of S. megalopalpa ( Rheims 2020: figs 111– 116) by the mRTA closer to vRTA than to dRTA, by the TBE with long apical projection accompanying embolus throughout most its length and by the TBC projecting distally at retrolateral end. They are distinguished from the latter species by mRTA single branched, half the size of vRTA; TBE with apical projection tapering and pointed, slightly shorter than embolus ( Figs 3D–E , 4C–D ) (mRTA bifid in retrolateral view, as long as vRTA and TBE with apical projection longer than embolus, cylindrical, widened at tip and with subapical prong in S. megalopalpa ). Females are unknown.

Description. Male (holotype): Prosoma brownish orange, slightly darker at eye area with faint reticulated pale brown pattern on lateral margins of thoracic region; chelicerae brownish orange with single brown longitudinal stripe dorsally; legs and pedipalps pale brownish yellow; labium pale brown, distally pale orange; endites pale brownish yellow; sternum pale brownish yellow with slightly darker margins; opisthosoma brownish cream colored; dorsally with brown pattern of elongated marks laterally and 6–7 chevron-like marks down posterior half; ventrally with Vshaped slightly darker area, with pair of longitudinal lines of muscular impressions; spinnerets cream colored ( Figs 3A–B ). Total length 6.0. Prosoma: 2.6 long, 2.3 wide. Opisthosoma: 3.2 long, 1.8 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.20, 0.16, 0.11, 0.17; interdistances: 0.15, 0.03, 0.30, 0.15, 0.14, 0.05. Legs (2143): I: 9.7 (2.8, 1.3, 2.6, 2.4, 0.6); II: 9.9 (2.9, 1.3, 2.5, 2.5, 0.7); III: 7.7 (2.4, 1.1, 1.7, 2.0, 0.5); IV: 9.0 (2.6, 1.0, 2.1, 2.6, 0.7). Spination follows the generic pattern except tibiae I–III d0-1-0; tibia IV d1-0-1. Palp: tibia short, slightly less than half cymbium length with three long prolateral spines (tips surpassing the margin of the alveolus); dRTA cup-shaped, roughly the same size as vRTA, the latter pointed in ventral view and rounded in retrolateral view; ST visible between 3:30–4:00 o’clock; embolus filiform; MA partly hyaline, with margin medially indented ( Figs 3C–E , 4A–D ).

Female: Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 20 ).

Figures

FIGURES 3A–E. Sparianthis cascalheira spec. nov., male (IBSP 215001). A–B Habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C–E Left palp (C prolateral, D ventral, E retrolateral). Scale lines A–B = 2 mm; C–E = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 4A–D. Sparianthis cascalheira spec. nov., male (IBSP 215001), left palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral, D detail of apical projection and embolus). ap = apical projection of TBE; C = conductor; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; mRTA = median branch of RTA; ST = subtegulum; TBC = tegular projection close to conductor base; TBE = tegular projection close to embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA. Scale lines: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 20. Record map for S. boibumba spec. nov., S. cascalheira spec. nov., S. chicaque spec. nov., S. iguaque spec. nov., S. matupiri spec. nov., S. medina spec. nov. and S. tuparro spec. nov.