Caponina cajabamba Platnick, 1994

Figs 1A–H, 2A–E, 11–12

Diagnosis (updated from Platnick 1994)

The female of this species resembles that of C. chilensis Platnick, 1994 in having relatively long epigynal sclerotizations but can be distinguished by the club-shaped anterior extensions of the sclerotizations, which reach almost to the pedicel (Fig. 2D–E). Males of C. cajabamba differ from those of C. chilensis by a more elongated, less pointed dorsal tubercle on the palpal femur and a wider embolar base, and from those of C. paramo Platnick, 1994 by having the embolar base proximal instead posteriorly directed as in C. paramo (Fig. 2A–C).

Type material

Holotype PERU • ♀, not examined; Cajamarca, at an elevation of 3000–3100 m above Cajabamba; 25 Sep. 1955; W.K. Weyrauch leg.; CAS.

Other material PERU • 1 ♂; Lima, Huaral; 11°23′14″ S, 77°17′18″ W; alt. 412 m; Nov. 2018; M. Lozano leg.; MUSM – ENT 0515824 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MUSM – ENT 0515825 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 3 juvs; same collection data as for preceding; MUSM – ENT 0515823 • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; MUSM – ENT 0515826 • 1 ♀, 3 juvs; same collection data as for preceding; MUSM – ENT 0515827 .

Description

Male (MUSM–ENT 0515824)

COLORATION (Fig. 1A–B, E, G). Carapace light orange with slightly darker edges. Chelicerae, endites, labium, and sternum light orange. Legs pale yellow. Abdomen: dorsally and ventrally light gray, without noticeable pattern (Fig. 1A–B, E, G). Spinnerets light gray.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.68; carapace length 1.82; width 1.50; height 0.25. Clypeus height 0.25. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.15, PME–PME 0.34. Chelicerae length 0.59. Sternum length 1.24; width 1.09. Legs: I: 5.39; II: 5.52; III: 4.05; IV: 6.36. Abdomen length 2.90.

PALP. Cymbium more than 2 × as long as tibia, rounded tip, tegulum oval, with long embolus protruding prolaterally from the middle surface of tegulum, with a wide curved anteriorly, third distal from the embolus less sclerotized, specially retrolateral side, tip very pointed (Fig. 2A–C).

Female (MUSM–ENT 0515825)

COLORATION AND ABDOMINAL PATTERN. As male, but with vivid color tones (Fig. 1C–D, F, H).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.58, carapace length 1.81, width 1.62, height 0.43. Clypeus height 0.28. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.14, PME–PME 0.34. Chelicerae length 0.76. Sternum length 1.27, width 1.07. Legs: I: 6.14; II: 6.09; III: 5.29; IV: 6.73. Abdomen length 4.09.

GENITALIA. External genital area with weakly sclerotized anterior plate and pair of sclerotized bars visible (Fig. 2D). Internal genitalia with very long pair of sclerotized bars and anterior extensions, reaching virtually to pedicel, anterior extensions club-shaped and fused to the sclerotized bars on its entire length (Fig. 2E).

Variation

Males (n=2): total length: 4.39–4.68; carapace length: 1.73–1.82. Females (n= 3): total length: 4.66– 5.58; carapace length: 1.79–2.01.

Distribution

Only known from Cajabamba in Cajamarca department and Huaral, Lima (Fig. 11).