Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941)

Achitte-Schmutzler, Helga Cecilia & Avalos, Gilberto, 2024, Teudis fatuus (Mello-Leitão 1942) is a junior synonym of Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941) (Araneae, Anyphaenidae), Zootaxa 5538 (5), pp. 492-496 : 494-495

Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941)

( Figs 1−3 )

Anyphaena morena Mello-Leitão, 1941a: 223 , fig. 34 (holotype female from Calchaquí , Santa Fe (31°39’00”S; 60°43’00”W),

Argentina, M. Birabén leg., deposited in MLP 15821, examined). Osoriella fatua Mello-Leitão, 1942: 423 , figs 53–55. (holotype male from Colonia Dora (28°36’00”S; 62°57’00W), Santiago del Estero, Argentina, E. W. Abalos leg., deposited in MLP 15585, examined). New synonymy. Osoriella fatua ; Soares & Camargo, 1948: 402, figs 79–80. Teudis fatuus ; Brescovit, 1993: 789. Teudis morenus ; Brescovit, 1997: 40.

Other material examined. Argentina: Corrientes Province: Mercedes department, Estancia El Rincón, Iberá macrosystem (28°44'S, 57°40'W), 31.VIII.2004, 15 ♂ 16 ♀, in bird nest, G. Avalos leg., (CA-UNNE 9808) ; Santo Tomé department, Reserva Paraje Galarza (28°6'S, 56°41'W), 23.XI.2012, 1♂ 1♀, forest, G. Avalos leg., (CA-UNNE 9809) .

Diagnosis. Males of the Teudis morenus resemble those T. angusticeps ( Keyserling, 1891) , T. cambridgei Chickering, 1940 , T. geminus Petrunkevitch, 1911 , T. juradoi Chickering, 1940 , T. lenis ( Keyserling, 1891) and T. peragrans (Pickard-Cambridge, 1898) by the embolus inserted prolaterally in the middle in the tegulum and sperm ducts in omega-shaped, but differs by have a triangular median tibial apophysis and a conical and curved median tibial apophysis positioned dorsally ( Figs 1E,G,H,I ; 2A–C ). The median tibial apophysis are short and conical in T. angusticeps (see Brescovit 1997: 41, fig. 76); short and cuspidated in T. cambridgei (see Chickering 1940: 97, figs 28, 29); short, with numerous projections in T. geminus (see Brescovit 1997: 41, figs 65, 68); robust and square in T. lenis (see Keyserling 1891: 88, pl. 3, fig. 51); and long and bifid at the apex in T. peragrans (see Pickard-Cambridge 1900: 101, pl. 7, figs 21, 22). Differ from T. juradoi by having RTA short, with rhomboidal apex, not long, slender and bifurcated distally (see Chickering 1940: 103, figs 39, 40). Female of the T. morenus resemble Argentine species T. cordobensis Mello-Leitão, 1941 and T. gastrotaeniatus Mello-Leitão, 1944 and the other species of Teudis by having the epigynum with sclerotized, parallel and widened lateral borders forming a narrow atrium, and by having oval and medium sized spermathecae. They differ by the epigynum with an elevated area just anterior to the genital groove, with an atrium that narrows forward, with very thickened posterior edge ( Figs 1C ; 2D ). The atrium in T. cordobensis is narrower (see Mello-Leitão 1941b: 195, fig. 88) and it is different in shape in T. gastrotaeniatus (see Mello-Leitão 1944: 359, fig. 52).

Description. For general description see Mello-Leitão (1941a, 1942). Complementary description, Male (CA-UNNE 9808, Figs 1A,D,E,G,H,I ; 2A–C ): chelicerae dark brown, promargin with two teeth joined at the base ( Fig. 1 D ); palp with broad tegulum, ventral tegular projection with tip narrow and curved; median apophysis very sclerotized, wider than embolus, with median insertion and tip curved; embolus originating in the prolateral portion of the tegulum, long and filiform, with a slightly widened base and with the apex close to the apex of the medial apophysis; RTA apical, with rhomboidal apex, and two additional conical apophyses at the middle of the tibia, dorso-retrolaterally oriented ( Figs 1E,G,H,I ; 2A–C ). Female (CA-UNNE 9808, Figs 1B,C,F ; 2D,E ): epigynal atrium with a greatly thickened posterior edge; internally with copulatory ducts openings at the middle of the lateral borders of the atrium ( Figs 1C ; 2D ); copulatory ducts long and curved; seminal receptacles with long and slightly curved ducts; fertilization ducts short and curved ( Figs 1F ; 2E ).

Distribution. Brazil and north of Argentina ( Fig. 3A ).

Natural history. Several specimens (15 ♂ 16 ♀ and juveniles) were found in a single nest of Myiopsitta monachus ( Psittaciformes , Psitacidae) from Estancia El Rincón, Iberá macrosystem. These birds build communal nests using branches ( Fig. 3 B ). This sample was part of another work that had the objective of identify triatomines ( Hemiptera : Reduviidae ) (see Damborsky et al., 2001; Bar et al., 2005). The active nests were destroyed, and insects and spiders were collected on white canvas ( Fig. 3 C ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941), A,D,E,G–I male; B,C,F female (CA-UNNE 9808): A, B habitus, dorsal view; C epigynum, ventral view; D Chelicerae, ventral view (showing projection of the teeth); E left palp, ventral view; F vulva, dorsal view; G left palp, retrolateral view; H same, dorsal view; I same, prolateral view. Abbreviations: A, atrium; LB, lateral borders. Scale bars: A, B 1.50 mm; D 1mm; E, G 0.50 mm; C, F 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 2. Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941), A–C male, D–E female (CA-UNNE 9808): A Palp, ventral view; B Palp, retrolateral view; C Palp, dorsal view; D Epigynum, ventral view; E Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD, copulatory ducts; CO, copulatory openings; E, embolus; FD, fertilization ducts; MA, median apophysis; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; SR, seminal receptacle; VTP, ventral tegular projection. Scale bars: A 0.50 mm; E 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 3. A Distribution map of Teudis morenus (Mello-Leitão, 1941); B, C Examined nests of Myiopsitta monachus (Psitacidae).