Scytodes saaristoi, Rheims, Cristina A. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2009

Rheims, Cristina A. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2009, New additions to the Brazilian fauna of the genus Scytodes Latreille (Araneae: Scytodidae) with emphasis on the Atlantic Forest species, Zootaxa 2116, pp. 1-45 : 6

Scytodes saaristoi new species

Figs. 10–15

Type material: Holotype: male from Estação Ecológica de Murici, Murici [09°15' S; 35°51' W], Alagoas, Brazil, 13–22 September 2003, Equipe Biota, deposited in IBSP 92628.

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Alagoas: Murici [09°15' S; 35°51' W], Estação Ecológica de Murici, 33 1Ƥ, 13–22 September 2003, Equipe Biota ( IBSP 92629–92631).

Etymology. The specific name honours Dr. Michael Saaristo, from the Museum of Zoology and University of Turku, Turku, Finland, for his contributions to spider biodiversity and taxonomy.

Diagnosis. Scytodes saaristoi n.sp. resembles species of the " globula group" ( Rheims & Brescovit 2001b) by the conformation of the male palp and female epigynum. The males resemble those of S. eleonorae Rheims & Brescovit by the long sclerotized process ( Rheims & Brescovit, 2001b, figs. 2c–d) but are distinguished by the short and rounded hyaline membrane ( Figs. 11–12 ). Females are distinguished from the remaining species of the group by the small, projected positioning ridges set very close together ( Fig. 14 ).

Description. Male (Holotype, IBSP 92628) Carapace orange with brown pattern as shown on Fig. 10 . Chelicerae slightly lighter than carapace, with dorsal, longitudinal, brown stripe. Labium gray. Endites pale yellow with brown retrolateral margins. Sternum pale yellow with brown markings in front of each coxae. Legs and pedipalps orange with irregular, transversal brown bands. Abdomen gray with black pattern ( Fig. 10 ). Total length 4.1. Carapace slightly domed, 1.8 long, 1.5 wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14, ALE 0.16, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes on a tubercle. Chelicerae with subapical hyaline keel and inconspicuous stridulatory ridges. Labium 0.22 long, 0.24 wide. Sternum 1.2 long, 0.8 wide. Leg measurements: I: femur 6.6, patella 0.6, tibia 6.5, metatarsus 8.2, tarsus 1.2, total 22.9; II: 4.8, 0.5, 4.3, 5.5, 0.9, 16.0; III: 3.0, 0.5, 2.7, 3.2, 0.8, 10.2; IV: 4.5, 0.5, 4.2, 4.9, 0.9, 15.0. Palpal femur with stridulatory pick short and stout with triangular, projected socket. Cymbium with pair of strong distal spines. Bulb 0.72 long and slender. Distal region with distal hyaline membrane, subdistal, slightly more sclerotized, concave keel, and very long, retrolateral sclerotized process ( Figs. 11–13 ). Abdomen 2.3 long, 1.4 wide, covered with slender hairs.

Female (Paratype, IBSP 92630). Coloration pattern as in male. Total length 5.0. Carapace domed, 2.1 long, 1.8 wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14, ALE 0.16, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes on a tubercle. Chelicerae as in male. Labium 0.28 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 1.0 long, 0.9 wide. Leg measurements: I: femur 4.3, patella 0.5, tibia 4.4, metatarsus 4.9, tarsus 1.0, total 15.1; II: 3.4, 0.5, 3.1, 3.6, 0.9, 11.5; III: 2.5, 0.5, 2.1, 2.4, 0.8, 8.3; IV: 3.5, 0.5, 3.3, 3.4, 0.9, 11.6. Palpal femur as in male. Epigynum with small and projected positioning ridges, set very close together ( Fig. 14 ). Vulva with small, round spermathecae on very long stalks, anterior to laterally sinuous hyaline pockets with long, lateral sclerotized area ( Fig. 15 ). Abdomen 2.9 long, 1.8 wide, as in male.

Variation. Four males: total length 3.7–4.1; carapace 1.8–1.9; femur I 6.2–7.7; bulb 0.64–0.72.

Distribution. Atlantic Forest. Only known from the type locality, in the northeastern state of Alagoas.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 21. 10 – 15. Scytodes saaristoi n. sp. 10. Male habitus, dorsal view; 11 – 13. Left male palp (11 prolateral, 12 retrolateral; 13 detail of distal region, dorsal); 14 – 15. Female epigynum (14 ventral; 15 dorsal). 16 – 21. Scytodes tapuia n. sp. 16. Male habitus, dorsal view; 17 – 19. Left male palp (17 prolateral, 18 retrolateral, 19 detail of distal region, dorsal); 20 – 21. Female epigynum (20 ventral, 21 dorsal). (EP = epigynal pouch; F = fold; HP = hyaline pocket; K = keel; PR = positioning ridge; S = spermathecae; SP = sclerotized process). Scale lines: 0.5 mm.