Cubanops luquillo, Sánchez, Alexander, Brescovit, Antonio D. & Alayón, Giraldo, 2015

Sánchez, Alexander, Brescovit, Antonio D. & Alayón, Giraldo, 2015, Four new caponiids species (Araneae, Caponiidae) from the West Indies and redescription of Nops blandus (Bryant), Zootaxa 3972 (1), pp. 43-64 : 60

Cubanops luquillo , new species

Figures 13–24, 70–76

Type. Male holotype from Pico del Este, Luquillo , Puerto Rico (18° 16' 06.0" N, 65° 45' 32.0" W), 7–9.x.1996, A. J. Vargas, deposited in IBSP 166242.

Additional material examined. 1♀ imm., same data as holotype, deposited in IBSP 166243.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from other known congeners by having the carapace and dorsal part of abdomen immaculate, lacking the distinctly pattern ( Figs. 73, 75 ), translucent ventral keel on the anterior metatarsi occupying only about half the length of the metatarsus ( Figs. 17, 20 ). Also, males can be distinguished by a pear– shaped bulb and straight large embolus on a distinctively strongly curved base ( Figs. 70–72 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Carapace immaculate yellowish orange, broadly oval, with a slightly elevated black ocular tubercle, pars cephalica slightly depressed, pars thoracica short, sloping posteriorly ( Fig. 73 ); thoracic groove short ( Fig. 75 ). Two black, oval eyes of equal size separated by about two–thirds their diameter. Chelicerae, labium and endites yellowish orange, lighter than carapace. Endites broadly convergent, but not touching, distally rounded, medially narrowed, covered with scattered long setae ( Fig. 76 ). Labium much wider than long ( Fig. 76 ), separated from sternum by depressed groove, with distinct medial invagination at tip. Sternum yellowish orange, darker at the edge, about as wide as long, with few weak pits and numerous stiff setae around the edge ( Fig. 76 ). Coxae yellowish white. Legs pale yellow, femur I elongate, almost four times longer than wide ( Fig. 18 ); anterior legs with ventral translucent keel occupying only about half the length of the anterior metatarsi ( Figs. 17, 20 ), and a translucent fan–shaped extension of the membrane between the anterior metatarsi and tarsi ( Fig. 20 ); metatarsi I– III entire, metatarsus IV and tarsi divided into two subsegments (Figs. 13, 16); tarsi with three claws, inferior claw shorter than paired ones (Figs. 14, 19), anterior paired claws with 12 teeth ( Fig. 19 ) and posterior with 8 (Fig. 14). Tarsal organ exposed, large, with five pronounced, concentric marginal ridges and three large proprioreceptors ( Figs. 21, 22 ). Trichobothria present on metatarsi and tarsi in a single row, bases with semicircular rim bearing two slight longitudinal ridges ( Figs. 23, 24 ). Palp pale yellow, with tibia excavated ventrally; cymbium elongated pointed, prolateral surface densely covered with strong setae; with a pear shaped bulb ( Figs. 70–72 ); embolus straight and large, on a distinctively strongly curved base ( Figs. 70–72 ); tip of embolus with a fine and long extension. Abdomen immaculate light gray ( Figs. 74, 75 ). Spinnerets light gray, six, in typical caponiid arrangement. Total length 3.9. Carapace 1.8 long, 1.4 wide. Eyes 0.15 major diameter, 0.08 minor diameter. Leg measurements: I: femur 3.23/ patella 1.84/ tibia 2.72/ metatarsus 2.72/ tarsus 1.2; II: 3.4/ 1.22/ 2.96/ 2.96/ 1.73; III: 2.82/ 1.43/ 2.39/ 2.7/ 1.7; IV: 3.71/ 1.63/ 3.23/ 3.24/ 2.25. Leg formula: 4213. Sternum 2.23 long, 1.95 wide. Palpal tibia 1.05 long, 0.85 wide.

Female: Adult females unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Puerto Rico ( Fig. 84 ).

Figures

FIGURES 70 – 76. Cubanops luquillo n. sp. male holotype. 70 – 72. Left palp. 70. Prolateral view. 71. Ventral view. 72. Retrolateral view. 73. Habitus, lateral view. 74. Habitus, ventral view. 75. Habitus, dorsal view. 76. Sternum and endites, ventral view. Scale line 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 17 – 24. Cubanops luquillo n. sp., male. 17. Left leg I, prolateral view, arrow point at false suture on tarsus. 18. Same, femur, prolateral view. 19. Same, tarsal claws, prolateral view. 20. Same, join of tarsus and metatarsus, prolateral view, arrow point at translucent ventral longitudinal keel. 21. Same, tarsal organ, dorsal view. 22. Same, detail of tarsal organ, dorsal view. 23. Same, trichobotrial base, dorsal view. 24. Left leg IV, trichobotrial base, dorsal view.

FIGURES 84 – 85. Distribution maps. 84. Distribution in Puerto Rico and Virgin Island of Nops blandus (Bryant) (black circles), Nops agnarssoni n. sp. (black rhombus), Nops finisfurvus n. sp. (black squares) and Cubanops luquillo n. sp. (black triangle). 85. Distribution in Haiti and Dominican Republic of Nops hispaniola n. sp. (black circles).