Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940 ), Jaeger & Rheims & Labarque, 2009

Jaeger, Peter, Rheims, Cristina & Labarque, Facundo, 2009, On the huntsman spider genera Sparianthina Banks, 1929 and Anaptomecus Simon, 1903 from South and Central America (Araneae, Sparassidae), ZooKeys 16, pp. 115-147 : 125-127

Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n.

Figs 34-49

Anaptomecus rufescens Mello-Leitão, 1940: 180 , fig. 8-9 (description ♀; holotype ♀ [PJ 1662], Guyana, Essequibo River [ 6°21’53.25”N, 58°37’52.36”W], 1930.1164, No. 3491, A.W. Richards (c.), Oxford University Expedition K.B.G., NHM, examined). Roewer 1954: 712. Platnick 2009.

Notes. Mello-Leitão (1940: 181) listed “type no. 2491”. Although the label shows “3941” it is considered the holotype female according to the match of other data. A juvenile (PJ 1663) apparently of the same species was in the same vial, as well as one male Salticidae . The juvenile is not considered to be a syntype, as Mello-Leitão wrote “type” in singular.

Further material examined. GUYANA. 1 ♁ ( PJ 1665 ), Guest , Maraballi River , Essequibo River , 15 miles above Bartica, Bottle I, No. 68, 1.II.[19]29, R.W.G. Hingston, Mello-Leitão det. ( NHM 1930.4.15.48) ; 1 ♀ ( PJ 1664 ), Guest , Maraballi River , Essequibo River , 15 miles above Bartica, Bottle I, No. 65, 29.X.[19]29, R.W.G. Hingston, Mello-Leitão det. ( NHM 1930.4.15.45) ; 2 ♀♀, Essequibo River , opposite Twasinki Mts. 25.IX.1937, W.G. Hassler ( AMNH) ; 1 ♀, Parish , 1913 ( AMNH) ; 1 ♀, Kangarooma , 13.VI.1911, F.E. Lutz ( AMNH). 1 ♀ ( PJ 1878 ), Bovallius leg. ( NHRS) .

Diagnosis. Males: embolus widened; DTA pointing retrolaterally in ventral view; RTA with three appendages, dorsal one stiletto-like and slightly bent, median one finger-shaped and ventral one roughly triangular (Figs 34-37). Females: epigynal furrows present in the posterior part of epigyne, running diagonally from median to antero-laterally, bent at their anterior end (Figs 40-41, 46). Fertilisation ducts situated in the centre of the internal duct system; glandular appendages long and conspicuous, pointing in an anterior direction, diverging (Figs 42, 48-49).

Description. Male (NHM). Total length 5.9. Prosoma: 3.2 long. Opisthosoma: 2.7 long. Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 20 denticles in a row (Fig. 38).

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus and conductor arising from tegulum at 9- to 9:30-o’clock-position (Fig. 35).

Redescription. Female (AMNH). Total length 8.5. Prosoma: 3.5 long, 3.3 wide. Opisthosoma: 4.8 long, 3.0 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.24, PME 0.18, PLE 0.24, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.26, AME–PME 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.22. Legs: I: femur 4.0, patella 1.6, tibia 3.7, metatarsus 3.6, tarsus 1.4, total 14.3; II: 4.5, 1.7, 4.3, 4.0, 1.6, 16.1; III: 3.9, 1.5, 3.2, 3.4, 1.0, 13.0; IV: 3.8, 1.3, 3.2, 3.8, 1.5, 13.6. Spination: femur I–III: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r1-1-1; femur IV: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r0-0-1; tibia I–II: p1-0-0; r1-0-0;

Figures 34-45. Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n. from Guyana ( 34-39 ♁ NHM 1930.4.15.48 40 ♀ holotype 4Ι- 45 ♀ NHM 1930.4.15.45). 34-37 Left ♁ palp ( 34 prolateral 35 ventral 36-37 retrolateral) 38, 43 Chelicerae, ventral 39, 44 Eyes, dorsal 40-4Ι Epigyne, ventral 42 Internal duct system, dorsal. 45 Labium and left gnathocoxa, ventral.

Figures 46-49. Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n. from Guyana ( ♀ NHRS, PJ 1878). 46-47 Epigyne ( 46 ventral 47 posterior) 48-49 Internal duct system ( 48 dorsal 49 detail of right half). EF – epigynal furrow (explanation see diagnosis for Sparianthina ).

v2-2-2-0; tibia III–IV: p1-0-1; r1-0-1; v2-2-0; metatarsus I–II: p1-0-0; r1-0-0; v2-2-0; metatarsus III: p1-1-0; r1-1-0; v2-2-0; metatarsus IV: p1-1-2; r1-1-2; v2-2-0. Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 20 denticles in a row (Fig. 43).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field rounded, without anterior bands; slit sense organs separated by about one of their lengths from epigynal field. Internal duct system with reticulate pattern in large oval parts (Fig. 49), apparently representing narrow ducts.

Colouration. Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps brownish-orange. Sternum pale orange with darker margins. Gnathocoxae pale orange, labium pale orange with brown base. Opisthosoma cream coloured with faint brown pattern of transverse chevrons.

Variation. Total length: 6.3-6.7. Prosoma length: 3.1-3.3.

Distribution. Guyana.