Epicratinus vader, Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2020

Gonçalves, Ricardo Antonio & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2020, Taxonomic review and cladistic analysis of Neotropical spider genus Epicratinus Jocqué & Baert, 2005 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 4886 (1), pp. 1-77 : 29-34

Epicratinus vader sp. nov.

Figs 28–29 .

Type. Male holotype from Crato, 7º16’40.5”S, 39º27’48.9”W, Ceará, Brazil, 2009, R. Azeredo, deposited in IBSP 168220. Paratype: 1♀, same holotype data, deposited in IBSP 168226 .

Additional material examined: BRAZIL, Ceará, Crato , 7º16’40.5”S, 39º27’48.9”W, 1♁, 2009, R. Azeredo ( IBSP 168225 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168228 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168229 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168230 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168231 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168232 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168233 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168234 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 168235 ) ; Tocantins, Palmas, UHE Luís Eduardo Magalhães , 9º45’05.8”S, 48º22’32.5”W, 1♁, 2♀, J. Guilherme ( MZSP 71741 ) ; 1♁, 1♀ ( MZSP 71742 ) ; Pernambuco, Santa Cruz do Capibaribe , Serra do Pará, 7º52’29,2”S, 36º24’10,06”W,13 1♁, 22–24/VI/2011, F.M.G. Las-Casas ( UFMG 13494 ) ; Mato Grosso, Campo Novo do Parecis, Utiariti , 13º33’42.4”S, 58º01’18.2”W, 1♁, 25/X/1966, K. Lenko & F.S. Pereira ( MZSP 6061 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of E. vader sp. nov. are easily recognized by having black carapace, palpal tibia with row of median bristles in the proximal/medial portion of the retrolateral margin, a diagonal elevation that begins proximally/retrolaterally and ends distally/prolaterally with a central bristle tuft, a depression in front of this elevation until to the base of the RTA. Females also have black carapace, epigynum with open triangular atrium on top (Mshaped) ( Figs 28 , 29 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition and is in reference to Darth Vader, a fictional character in George Lucas film, “Star Wars”. Darth Vader is a character which wears a costume and black helmet, like the color of the male carapace.

Description. Male (IBSP 168220). Color: carapace black, brown sternum with dark brown edges, dark brown chelicerae, brown coxae, dark brown legs; dorsal abdomen predominantly dark brown with five white spots (2-2-1) and medium dorsal shield (half abdomen) brownish brown, short bristles throughout the abdomen; ventral abdomen pale white with brown center, two pale white patches on each side, little sclerotinized, orange above the epigastric furrow. Total length 6.2; carapace length 3.1; width 2.1; abdomen length 2.75; maximum length of spinnerets 0.32; chelicerae length 0.96; clypeus height 0.74. Eyes: diameters AME 0.16, ALE 0.16, PME 0.16, PLE 0.16. Interdistances AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.3, ALE-PLE 0.05. Patella III and IV with four spines. Spinulation: I: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p1-0-0, r0, v1-1-2; Me d0, p0-0-1, r0, v2-2-2. II: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0, r0, v1-0-3; Me d0, p0-0-1, r0, v2-1-4. III: Fe d1-2-1, p0-1-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-2-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d2-2-1, p0-1-2, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d2-2-0, p1-1-2, r1-2-2, v4- 4-4. IV: Fe d0-3-1, p0-0-1, r1-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-2-0, r0-1-0, v1; Ti d1-2-0, p1-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d0-2-0, p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v4-3-2. Formula: 4132.

Measurements of legs:

Palp. Femur with 2 dorsal spines (0-0-2); patella with a simple dorsal distal apical apophysis; tibia with a row of median bristles in the proximal/medial portion of the retrolateral margin, a diagonal elevation that begins proximally/retrolaterally and ends distally/prolaterally with a central bristle tuft, a depression ahead of this elevation to the base of the RTA, a protrusion ventral rounded without bristles; RTA short and bifid retrolaterally directed; cymbium elongated distally with basal lateral projection above the RTA, subtegulum with curved ridge; tegulum with curved spermatic duct in the central area; bifid apex of conductor; tegular apophysis small lanceolate; two projections of the tegulum: one shield shaped, another spatulate with truncated end; embolus short, grooved, with great truncated projection in front of the conductor.

Female (IBSP 168226). Color: carapace almost black, orange sternum, dark brown chelicerae, orange coxae, dark brown legs; predominantly black dorsal abdomen with five pale white spots (2-2-1), short bristles throughout the abdomen; ventral abdomen pale white with a central band in V shape dark brown, two dark brown spots on each side, little sclerotinized, orange and pale white above the epigastric furrow. Total length 6.75; carapace length 3.2; width 2.1; abdomen length 3; maximum length of spinnerets 0.4; chelicerae length 1.03; clypeus height 0.74. Eyes: diameters AME 0.1, ALE 0.14, PME 0.14, PLE 0.14. Interdistances AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PME 0.7, PME-PLE 0.26, ALE-PLE 0.06. Patella III and IV with four spines. Spinulation: I: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0, r0, v2-1-2; Me d0, p0, r0, v2-2-3. II: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0, r0, v1-1-2; Me d0, p0, r0, v2-1-3. III: Fe d1-2-1, p1-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-2-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-1-0, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d0-2-0, p1-2-1, r1-1-2, v3-2-3. IV: Fe d0-3-1, p1-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-2-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-2-0, p2-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d1-1-0, p2-1-1, r2-2-2, v3-2-2-3. Formula: 4123.

Measurements of legs:

Epigynum. Trapezoidal epigynal plate, atrium triangular with opening at the top. Internally has a large chamber visible in each rounded spermathecae. Visible in transparency.

Variation. Males (n = 10): total length 6‾6.4, carapace 3‾3.1, femur I 1.64‾1.72. Females (n = 4): total length 6.6‾6.8, carapace 3‾3.3, femur I 1.7‾1.82.

Distribution. Northeast and west central of Brazil ( Fig. 40 ).

Clade C

Figures

FIGURE 28. A. Epicratinus vader sp. nov. (IBSP 168220) Habitus male, dorsal view. B. Male, ventral view. C. (IBSP 168226) Female, dorsal view. D. Female, ventral view. (Scale = 2 mm).

FIGURE 29. A. Epicratinus vader sp. nov. (IBSP 168220) Male palp, dorsal view. B. (IBSP 168220) and C. (IBSP 168228) Ventral view. D. (IBSP 168226) Epigynum, ventral view. E. (IBSP 168226) Vulva. F. Vulva. (Scale in A, B, C = 0.5; D, E, F = 0.2 mm.).

FIGURE 40. Area of occurrence of Epicratinus omegarugal sp. nov., E. perfidus, E. pikachu sp. nov. and E. vader sp. nov. (clade B).