Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994

Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), Zootaxa 5101 (1), pp. 1-123 : 88-92

Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994

( Figs 19 , 145 , 276–292 )

Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994: 59 , figs 2–15, 6A, 7–11); Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz 2006: 8, figs 11, 13; Mendoza 2014: 734, fig. 17; Bertani et al. 2016: 1, figs 3–5; Cifuentes & Perafán 2020: 109, fig. 4.8C; World Spider Catalog 2021.

Diagnosis. Females of P. irminia resemble those of P cambridgei and P. pulcher by the elongate, non-triangular spermathecae, with straight apex having apical lobe and lobes on central area ( Fig. 283 ). They differ by the shorter and rounded apical lobe, and rounded lobes on central area not protruding ( Fig. 283 ). Males resemble those of P. cambridgei by the embolus 3.0–3.5 times tegulum length ( Fig. 276 ). They can be distinguished from those from P. cambridgei by the embolus slender and distal third curving gently to retrolateral side ( Fig.279 ). Additionally, males and females differ from those of all other species, except P. cambridgei , by the color pattern having a yellow orange line from retrolateral side of metatarsi to its center, and orange spot on dorsal tarsi ( Figs 288–289, 291 ). Females with one dark vertical central stripe connecting with at least 4 gray transverse lines ( Figs 288, 291 ). From P. cambridgei they differ by the darker body and more conspicuous pattern on the abdomen and legs ( Figs 288, 291 ).

Type material. Holotype male, paratype male, parts of a male, 4 exuvia and a living female that should be deposited after death, from Venezuela, Bolivar, Gran Sabana, Santa Elena de Uairén, San Ignacio [5°00’N, 61°08’W], at Zoologischem Museum Hamburg, not examined.

Material examined. VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Cejal, Orinoco river [5°25’N, 67°43’W], silk retreat in low tree cavity, 1 male 1 female, R. West col., February 1992 ( MNRJ 7709 ); 1 male, same collector and data ( MZUSP 76541 ) ; Bolívar: Santa Elena de Uairén, 1 male, S. Marshall col. 21 January 1979 ( MNRJ 7706 ) ; BRAZIL: Roraima: Amajari, Tepequém (3°44’13.4”N, 61°43’33.2”W), 1 female, R. Bertani, M. Q. Almeida and F. F. Xavier, 27 June 2018 ( MZUSP 76542 ); Paracaima, near right margin Miang river , (04°29’44”N 61°07’27”W), 1 female, M. A. Freitas, A. S. Santos, A. Abegg & F. Ortíz col., 12 August 2015 ( MNRJ 6872 ) .

Redescription. Male (MNRJ 7709) Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 30.98. Carapace 14.60 long, 12.58 wide, 7.71 high. Chelicera: 6.85 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.91, 9.44, 16.77, 15.98, 7.28, 67.38; II: 17.15, 8.34, 15.13, 15.30, 7.15, 63.07; III: 12.70, 5.81, 11.09, 12.39, 5.77, 47.76; IV: 15.48, 6.14, 13.94, 14.63, 6.11, 56.30; Palp: 10.08, 5.47, 9.14, -, 3.37, 28.06. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.52, 2.10, 2.03, 1.54, 1.33, palp= 1.92; patellae I–IV= 2.10, 2.37, 2.13, 2.25, palp = 1.96; tibiae I–IV= 2.03, 2.10, 1.66, 1.70, palp = 1.95; metatarsi I–IV= 1.54, 1.55, 1.25, 1.29; tarsi I–IV= 1.33, 1.36, 1.33, 1.24, palp = 1.93. Abdomen: 16.01 long, 8.70 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.47 long, 0.47 wide, 0.50 apart; PLS, 1.48 basal, 1.06 middle, 1.81 distal; midwidths 0.82, 0.69, 0.54, respectively. Carapace: 1.16 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 0.75 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 0.78 high, 2.37 long, 4.11 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.94, ALE 0.91, PME 0.57, PLE 0.77, AME–AME 0.63, AME–ALE 0.31, AME–PME 0.26, ALE– ALE 2.31, ALE–PME 0.27, PME–PME 2.25, PME–PLE 0.23, PLE–PLE 2.96, ALE–PLE 0.34. Maxilla: length to width 1.78. Cuspules: 143 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.47 long, 1.56 wide, with ca. 158 cuspules spaced ca. 1 diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 6 spaced, long filiform setae, disposed on ventralbasal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row ( Fig. 285 ). Sternum: 7.10 long, 5.69 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = II = IV III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.84. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 3/4 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0; I: 1 behind tibial apophysis, II: 2/0; III: 2/3, IV: 2/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ composed of 11 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 12–14 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 284 ). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Tibial apophysis ( Figs 280–282 ): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral, one on apical part of retrolateral process. A small rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis.

Palp ( Figs 276–279 ): tegulum length 1.23, width 1.78, embolus proximal width 0.77, embolus length 4.05. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 3.29. Embolus distal third curving gently to ventral and retrolateral sides. Embolus tapers to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip.

Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace brown, femur of palp and metatarsi with an orange line from the retrolateral side toward the center, tarsi with an orange dorsal spot.

Redescription. Female (MNRJ 7709): Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 43.21. Carapace: 16.97 long, 15.05 wide, 9.48 high. Chelicera: 8.88 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 15.57, 9.44, 13.25, 11.91, 6.03, 56.2; II: 14.10, 8.75, 12.37, 11.64, 6.16, 53.02; III: 12.37, 7.01, 9.85, 10.47, 5.82, 45.52; IV: 14.87, 7.22, 13.18, 13.24, 5.9, 54.41; Palp: 10.2, 5.97, 7.64, -, 7.31, 31.12. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 3.50, 3.08, 3.41, 3.01, palp = 2.45; patellae I–IV= 3.07, 3.11, 2.90, 2.86, palp= 2.58; tibiae I–IV= 3.03, 2.77, 2.34, 2.66, palp= 2.44; metatarsi I–IV= 2.61, 2.13, 1.91, 1.75; tarsi I–IV= 2.16, 2.20, 2.29, 2.02, palp= 2.40. Abdomen: 24.46 long, 14.54 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.07 long, 1.00 wide, 0.86 apart; PLS, 2.94 basal, 1.43 middle, 2.61 distal; midwidths 1.30, 1.02, 0.64, respectively. Carapace: 1.13 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 0.59 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.34 high, 2.57 long, 3.80 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.70, ALE 0.83, PME 0.58, PLE 0.67, AME–AME 0.66, AME–ALE 0.43, AME–PME 0.27, ALE–ALE 2.78, ALE–PME 0.52, PME–PME 2.06, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 2.89, ALE–PLE 0.35. Maxilla: length to width 1.53. Cuspules: ca. 191 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.65 long, 2.99 wide, with ca. 190 cuspules spaced ca. 1 diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 5–9 spaced long filiform setae, disposed on ventralbasal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row ( Fig. 287 ). Sternum: 8.97 long, 7.35 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.97. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 3/4 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0; I: 0/0; II: 2/0; III: 2/0; IV: 1/0. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 12 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 12–14 slender setae after thickest ones ( Fig. 286 ). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I.

Spermathecae ( Fig. 283 ): Two elongate spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with 2–3 rounded, sclerotized lobes disposed on a central fold on middle area, decreasing in size from apex. Apical lobe of spermathecae rounded and well sclerotized.

Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace brown and abdomen with dark longitudinal line connected with at least 4 transverse lines forming orange paired macules dorsally, metatarsi with an orange line from the retrolateral side towards the segment, tarsi with an orange dorsal spot.

Distribution. Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil ( Fig. 145 ).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Single cladogram obtained with setk.run and concavity 10.239258 (continued), showing the resolution of Psalmopoeinae clade. Absolute and relative Bremer support are in each node.

FIGURE 145. Map showing geographic records (dots) of Psalmopoeus species. Psalmopoeus cambridgei (red), P. reduncus (orange), P. ecclesiasticus (purple), P. emeraldus (light blue), P. plantaris (brown), P. pulcher (green), P. irminia (yellow), P. langenbucheri (blue), P. victori (black).

FIGURES 276–283. Psalmopoeus irminia. (276–282) male (MNRJ 7709). (276–279) left bulb (mirrored). 276, retrolateral. 277, prolateral. 278, frontal. 279, dorsal. (280–282) left leg I tibial apophysis. 280, ventral. 281, prolateral. 282, retrolateral. (283) female (MNRJ 7709), spermathecae. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 284–287. Psalmopoeus irminia. (284–285) male (MNRJ 7709). 284, left maxilla showing lyra (mirrored). 285, basal chelicerae showing strikers. (286–287) female (MNRJ 7709). 286, left maxilla showing lyra (mirrored). 287, basal chelicerae showing strikers. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 288–292. Psalmopoeus irminia, living. 288, female from Venezuela, Amazonas, Cejal. 289, male from same locality. 290, female retreat, in cavity of a 10 cm living vine, same locality. 291, female from Brazil, state of Roraima, Amajari, Tepequém. 292, immature from pet trade. Photos: 288–290 Rick C. West, 291–292 Rogério Bertani.