Sparianthis megalopalpa ( Caporiacco, 1954 ) Rheims, 2020

Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, Revision of the spider genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 (Araneae, Sparassidae Sparianthinae), Zootaxa 4890 (2), pp. 151-191 : 181-182

Sparianthis megalopalpa ( Caporiacco, 1954) comb. nov.

Figs 109–116 , 143

Pseudosparianthis megalopalpus Caporiacco, 1954: 127 , figs 34, 34a

(Holotype ³, French Guyana, Lower Oyapock River, 1900, Geay leg., MNHN, not located, not examined). World Spider Catalog 2020.

Additional material examined. ECUADOR: Orellana: 1³, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, near Yasuni National Park ( Erwin Transect T/1 Sta. 1) (-0.6319, -76.1442), 22 October 1998, T . L. Erwin et al. leg. ( USNM); 1³, same locality as previous specimen, 21 October 1998, same collector as previous specimen ( USNM); 1³, same locality as previous specimen, 7 February 1999, same collector as previous specimen ( USNM); 1³, Reserva Etnica Waorani ( Transect Ent. 1km S Onkone Camp, 216.3 m) (-0.6571, -76.4530), 3 October 1996, T . L. Erwin et al. leg. ( USNM); 1³, same locality as previous specimen, 4 October 1996, same collector as previous specimen ( USNM) . FRENCH GUIANA: Cayenne: 1³, Kourou, Piste de Compagnons [5.1167, -52.7000], 2009-2011, V. Vedel leg. ( MNHN) .

Diagnosis. Males of S. megalopalpa resemble those of S. boraris sp. nov. by the palp with mRTA as large as vRTA and larger than dRTA ( Figs 28 , 116 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by vRTA single branched, conical and mRTA bifid, with two truncated branches in retrolateral view (vRTA bifid, with one branch short and blunt and the other longer and conical, and mRTA long, pointed in ventral view and rectangular in retrolateral view in S. boraris sp. nov.) ( Figs 115–116 ). They are additionally distinguished from all species of the genus in having a TBE with apical projection long, cylindrical, widening at tip, and with sub-apical prong-like projection ( Figs 115–116 ).

Redescription. Male (USNM): Coloration generally brown. Prosoma brown, darker at eye area; fovea dark brown; eye borders black. Chelicerae, legs and pedipalps lighter than prosoma. Labium and endites pale brown, distally lighter. Sternum pale brown with slightly darker margins. Opisthosoma pale gray, with no distinct pattern; ventral muscle sigilla inconspicuous ( Figs 109–110 ). Total length: 6.7. Prosoma: 2.7 long, 2.5 wide. Opisthosoma: 3.7 long, 1.6 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.20, 0.14, 0.10, 0.16; interdistances: 0.12, 0.02, 0.26, 0.18, 0.10, 0.04. Legs (2143): I: 17.5 (5.0, 2.2, 4.6, 4.6, 1.1); II: 18.4 (5.5, 2.2, 4.8, 4.7, 1.2); III: 14.3 (4.3, 1.7, 3.5, 3.8, 1.0); IV: 16.6 (4.7, 1.6, 3.9, 4.9, 1.5). Spination follows the generic pattern, except tibia I: p1-0-0; d0; v3-2-2; tibia II: d0, v3-2-2; tibiae III–IV: d0-0-1; metatarsi I–II: v2-2-2. Metatarsus III–IV with ventral distal preening combs. Palp: tibia with prolateral spines long; tegulum retro-proximally indented, without retro-proximal protrusion; TBC keel-like, retrolateral part protruding distally; embolus slender, bent retrolaterally at distal margin of alveolus ( Figs 111–116 ).

Female: unknown.

Variation. Males (n = 5): total length 6.3–7.2; prosoma length: 2.5–2.9; femur I length 2.8–3.1.

Distribution. Known from eastern Ecuador and French Guiana ( Fig. 143 ).

Figures

FIGURES 109–113. Sparianthis megalopalpa (Caporiacco), male (MNHN). 109–110 habitus (109 dorsal, 110 ventral); 111– 113 left palp (111 prolateral, 112 ventral, 113 retrolateral). Scale lines: 109–110: 2 mm; 111–113: 1 mm.

FIGURES 114–116. Sparianthis megalopalpa (Caporiacco), male (MNHN), left palp (114 prolateral, 115 ventral, 116 retrolateral). Scale lines: 1 mm. ap = apical projection of TBE; dRTA = dorsal branch of RTA; E = embolus; mRTA = medial branch of RTA; TBC = tegular projection at conductor base; TBE = tegular projection at embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA.

FIGURES 143–144. Distribution maps for Sparianthis spp. 143 S. beebei sp nov., S. caracarai sp. nov., S. granadensis (Keyserling), S. juruti sp. nov., S. magalopalpa (Caporiacco) and S. picta (Simon); 144 S. boraris sp. nov., S. chickeringi (Gertsch), S. crulsi (Mello-Leitão), S. humaita sp. nov., S. juazeiro sp. nov. and S. ravida (Simon).

FIGURES 26–31. Sparianthis boraris sp. nov. 26–28 male, paratype (MPEG 30638), left palp (26 prolateral, 27 ventral, 28 retrolateral); 29–31 female, paratype (MPEG 30636) (29 epigyne, 30 vulva, 31 schematic course of internal duct system). Scale lines: 1 mm. AA = anterior atrium; af = anterior furrow; ap = apical projection; dRTA = dorsal brach of RTA; lf = lateral furrow; mRTA = medial branch of RTA; MS = median septum; pt = retro-proximal protrusion; TBC = tegular projection at conductor base; TBE = tegular projection at embolus base; vRTA = ventral branch of RTA.