Pastaza aureliae gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2D1619F8-6B8C-4801-AFCE-B493D26103E7

Figs 13–14, 29B–D, 30

Diagnosis

Females are distinguished from those of P. roberti gen. et sp. nov. by their internal genitalia with spermathecae being closer together and separated by their diameter, on short stalks (Fig. 14C–E) compared to spermathecae separated by 2× their diameter in the latter and on elongated stalks (Fig. 20C– E).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a matronym in honor of Anabelle Aurelia Tapia, one of the collectors of the type specimen.

Type material

Holotype ECUADOR • ♀; Pastaza Province, Via Puyo – Macas, Communidad Chuwitayo 7 km via communidad Chapintza, Propriedad del Sr. Luis Caniras, Cueva de los tallos; 642 m a.s.l.; 5 Oct. 2021; E. Tapia and A. Tapia leg.; hand collected inside cave, in burrow with lid; ECFN 7948; QCAZ.

Paratypes ECUADOR • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; ECFN 8288; ZMH-A0030711; ZMH • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; ECFN 8287; QCAZ • 1 ♀, same data as for holotype; ECFN 8289; ZMH-A0030712; ZMH • 1 ♀, same data as for holotype; ECFN 7949; DTC .

Other material examined

ECUADOR • 1 ♀ juv., same data as for holotype; ECFN 8246; QCAZ • 1 ♀ (juv.), same data as for holotype; ECFN 8299; ZMH-A0030713; ZMH .

Description

Female (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 12.70; carapace length: 6.24; carapace width: 4.95; abdomen length: 6.55. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace elongated-oval, dark orange-brown slightly darker along radiating lines and margin; pars cephalica slightly arched, pars thoracica sloping; fovea straight (Fig. 14A). Labium dark orange-brown margin V-shaped with 15 cuspules (Fig. 14B). Maxillae orange, anterior lobe small; with 19 cuspules; serrula present (Fig. 14B). Sternum wider than long (2.53 length, 2.46 width); with three marginal, oval sigilla (Fig. 14B). Eight eyes in two rows: AME 0.30, ALE 0.34, PME 0.12, PLE 0.32, PME–PME 0.55; ocular quadrangle rectangular (1.24 anterior, 1.22 posterior, 0.56 high).

CHELICERAE. Dark reddish-brown; rastellum absent; with 12 promarginal teeth, 22 intermarginal denticles.

LEGS. Uniformly dark orange-brown (Fig. 13A); without scopula; filiform trichobothria present on all tarsi (Fig. 29B); tarsi with STC with teeth 5–8 per row, ITC present on all legs; tarsal organ highly elevated, smooth (Fig. 29C–D). Leg measurements: I 16.26 (4.72/2.69/3.94/2.85/2.06); II 15.11 (4.41/1.92/3.47/3.26/2.05); III 13.21 (3.19/1.65/3.01/3.42/1.94); IV 20.60 (5.32/2.26/4.82/5.85/2.36); 4123. Leg spination (spines present on all segments except tarsi): I fe d1-1-1-2-1, pa 0, ti v2-2-3(apical), mt v2-2-2; II fe d1-1-1-2-1, pa 0, ti v2-2-3(apical), mt p1, v2-2-2; III fe d1-1-1-1, pa d1, ti d1-1, r1-1-1, p1-1, v2-2-3(apical), mt d1-1-2-1, p1-1, r 1-1-1, v1-1-3(apical); IV fe d1-1-1-1, pa d1, r1, ti d1-1-1, p1-1, r1-1-1, v1-1-3(apical), mt d1-1-2-1, p1-1, r 1-1-1, v1-1-3(apical).

ABDOMEN. Oval, dark grayish-brown with yellowish markings, with thick setae anteriorly on sclerotized socket (Fig. 13A–B); spinnerets short (PMS 0.62\PLS 0.88).

GENITALIA. Spermathecal bases wide; with large, oval spermathecal heads, on short stalks separated by their diameter (Fig. 14C–E).

Male

Unknown.

Natural history

Females were collected inside a cave in a burrow with lid at the base of a rocky wall. Specimens were collected in a karstic cave at 642 m a.s.l., situated in an evergreen foothill forest of the Eastern Cordillera (BsPn03) (Guevara et al. 2013a).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Pastaza Province.