Euathlus (Schmidt, 1996)

Perafán, Carlos & Pérez-Miles, Fernando, 2014, The Andean tarantulas Euathlus Ausserer, 1875, Paraphysa Simon, 1892 and Phrixotrichus Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): phylogenetic analysis, genera redefinition and new species descriptions, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 48 (39 - 40), pp. 2389-2418 : 2397-2400

Genus Euathlus

( Figures 3–8 )

Paraphysa Simon, 1892, p. 166 [in part, nec P. peruviana Schmidt, 2007 , nec P. riparia Schmidt and Bolle, 2008 ] Syn. nov.

Type species: Euathlus truculentus L. Koch, 1875

Diagnosis

Differs from most Theraphosinae by the presence of type IV urticating setae. Male differs by the palpal organ morphology with two prolateral keels ( PI and PS) and the tip directed retrolaterally ( Figures 4A,B , 5A,B , 6C–E , 7A,B , 8B,C ), tibial apophysis with retrolateral spines, subapical spine on RB and a basal spine on PB ( Figures 4D , 5D , 8A ). Female differs by the presence of two spermathecal receptacles with a lateral spheroid chamber ( Figures 3A , 4C , 5C , 7D ) and only one patch of the urticating setae ( Figures 3C , 4F , 5F ) .

Generic redescription

Carapace: oval, hirsute, red-brown to black-brown. Caput strongly arched. Fovea: short, transverse to slightly recurved. Well-defined ocular tubercle, wider than long. Clypeus: narrow. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row slightly recurved. Chelicerae: normal, with 6–9 well-developed teeth on promargin of furrow and 6–12 small teeth on the proximal area of furrow. Labium wider than long, with 7–117 cuspules on the subapical margin, broad suture. Maxillae longer than wide, prolateral distal angle slightly produced, with numerous cuspules. Sternum longer than wide, posterior sigilla oval, submarginal. Stridulatory setae absent. Legs black-brown, hirsute, spines present even on femora. Paired claws without teeth on legs and well-developed claw tufts. Retrolateral scopulae on femur IV absent. All tarsi with dense scopulae. Metatarsi I at least scopulated on distal two-thirds. Metatarsi II scopulated on the distal half. Metatarsi III scopulated on the distal one-third. Metatarsi IV scopulated on distal portion. Trichobothria of three types on tarsi; clavate (short), filiform (long) and fusiform (medium-sized) randomly dispersed in a dorsal longitudinal arrangement. Metatarsi and tibiae with only filiform trichobothria arranged in a median, longitudinal and dorsal strip. Abdomen hirsute, with one large patch of urticating setae clearly defined in the central dorsum. Type III and IV urticating setae present. PMS well-developed, PLS normal, apical segment digitiform. Tibia I of males with paired distal prolateroventral strong apophysis, with fused bases and retrolateral spines. RB with an internal subapical spine and 1–3 external spines, PB with an internal spine at basal or medial position. Curved male metatarsi I, except in E.truculentus . Palpal tibiae without spines on retrolateral face and with spines on prolateral face. Femora and tibiae with a prolateral curved spine. Palpal organ piriform with extended subtegulum and curved embolus with two prolateral keels (PI and PS); very flat and serrated PI in E.truculentus . Female palpal tibiae with numerous spines. Spermathecae with two seminal receptacles, each one with a lateral spheroid chamber.

Remarks

Pérez-Miles et al. (1996) synonymized Grammostola with Phrixotrichus and transferred Phrixotrichus scrofa to Paraphysa . Schmidt (1996a) included in the synonymy Paraphysa manicata with Paraphysa scrofa . We examined the holotypes of Paraphysa manicata and they clearly differ from Phrixotrichus auratus Pocock 1903 (in the synonymy with Paraphysa scrofa ). Paraphysa manicata differs from Phrixotrichus auratus and Paraphysa scrofa in the morphology of the palpal organ, male tibial apophysis and pattern of distribution of the urticating setae. Based on the descriptions of Schiapelli and Gerschman de P. (1963) and Legendre and Calderon (1984) of the holotype of P. scrofa and our observations, we remove Pa. manicata from the synonymy with Pa. scrofa . On the phylogenetic analysis, Pa. manicata occurred in the clade of Euathlus , consequently we considered Paraphysa as junior synonym of Euathlus . Additionally, we revalidate the genus Phrixotrichus .

Figures

Figure 3. Euathlus antai sp. nov. (A) Spermathecae, dorsal view; (B) cephalotorax; (C) abdomen. Scale bar = 1mm.

Figure 4. Euathlus atacama sp. nov. (A) Palpal organ, prolateral view; (B) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (C) spermathecae, dorsal view; (D) tibial apophysis, ventral view; (E) cephalotorax; (F) abdomen. PB: prolateral branch, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel, RB: retrolateral branch. Scale bar = 1mm.

Figure 5. Euathlus condorito sp. nov. (A) Palpal organ, retrolateral view; (B) palpal organ, prolateral view; (C) spermathecae, dorsal view; (D) tibial apophysis, prolateral view; (E) cephalotorax; (F) abdomen. PB: prolateral branch, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel, RB: retrolateral branch. The arrow shows the small sclerotized nodule on the seminal receptacles. Scale bar = 1mm.

Figure 6. Euathlus manicata comb. nov. (A) Maxilla, retrolateral view; (B) maxilla, detail showing black spiniform setae; (C) palpal organ, prolateral view; (D) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (E) detail of embolus showing prolateral and accessory keels (scale bar = 0.5 mm). AK: accessory keels, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 7. Euathlus parvulus comb. nov. (A) palpal organ, prolateral view; (B) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (C) palpal organ, detail of apex showing PI truncated in the middle of the embolus (scale bar = 0.2 mm); (D) spermathecae, dorsal view. PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel. Scale bar = 1mm.

Figure 8. Euathlus truculentus. (A) tibial apophysis, prolateroventral view; (B) palpal organ, prolateral view; (C) palpal organ, retrolateral view. PB: prolateral branch, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel, RB: retrolateral branch. The arrow shows the PI serrated. Scale bar = 1mm.