Phonotimpus tetrico, Platnick & Chamé-Vázquez & Ibarra-Núñez, 2022

Platnick, Norman I., Chamé-Vázquez, David & Ibarra-Núñez, Guillermo, 2022, The guardstone spiders of the genus Phonotimpus Gertsch & Davis (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from northeastern Mexico, Zootaxa 5219 (1), pp. 1-48 : 30-31

Phonotimpus tetrico sp. nov.

Figures 192–198, 234–241

Type material. Male holotype and female allotype from Pozo Tetrico [23.8866572°N, 99.4499501°W], 2500 m N Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Nov. 1992; male, P. Sprouse, female, C. Savvas), deposited in AMNH. Details on this cave and its inhabitants can be found in Fogarty et al. (1994) .

Other material examined. MEXICO: Tamaulipas: Cueva de California [23.8930600°N, 99.4472400°W], 4 mi NE Rancho Nuevo, Aug. 23, 1973, D. McKenzie, R . Jameson, 1♀ ( AMNH) [N.B.: Nuevo León per label]. Cueva Tecolote [23.9595018°N, 99.4748048°W], Conrado Castillo, 38 mi SW El Barretal, Aug. 24, 1973, R . Jameson, D. McKenzie, F. Pérez, 1♀ ( AMNH) [N.B.: Nuevo León per label, but “El Barretal Nuevo Leon ” is in the Municipio de Güémez, Tamaulipas]. Pozo del Arrecife [23.8764631°N, 99.4518891°W], 800 m NE Rancho Nuevo, Mar. 15, 1982, P., T . Sprouse, 1♀ ( AMNH). Pozo del Sueño Mandarino [23.8727552°N, 99.4441954°W], 1 km NE Rancho Nuevo, Nov. 1992, P. Sprouse, 1♀ ( AMNH). Sótano de las Calenturas [23.9054488°N, 99.4202091°W], Nov. 19, 1979, D. Pate, 1♀ ( AMNH) .

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

Diagnosis. Male resembles those of P. arcitos sp. nov., P. chipinque sp. nov. and P. vacas sp. nov., but has a distinctive, subrectangular, ventral laminar projection near tip of the retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 193–194). Females can be easily recognized by the remarkable epigynal hood, prolonged medially into a sharp septum that extends almost to the posterior epigynal margin, bursae shorter than the conical, long primary spermathecae ( Figs 196–198).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.27. Carapace yellow, with only vague traces of submarginal bands of maculations, pars thoracica steeply sloping, pars cephalica sloping evenly from thoracic groove to clypeus; sternum, mouthparts yellow, unmarked, each cheliceral paturon with one strong, erect bristle near base; abdomen narrow, dorsum light gray, with faint traces of four threadlike white chevrons on posterior one-third, scutum oval, covering about three-fourths of abdomen length, posteriorly covering about half of abdomen width, sides light gray, posteriorly with longitudinal rows of white spots, venter white, unmarked ( Figs 234–237); legs yellow, unmarked. Leg spination: femora: I d1-0-0, p0-0-2; II–IV d1-0-0; tibiae: I v4-4-4; II v4-4-2; metatarsi I, II v2-2-3.

Palpal femur slightly incrassate distally, with one dorso-distal spine, retrolateral excavation extending over more than three-fourths of femur length, patch of spinules on distal, prolateral half; dorsal tibial apophysis long, straight, slightly leaned to retrolateral side, gently curved ventrally ( Figs 194–195); retrolateral apophysis much shorter, thicker, with large, subrectangular, ventrally directed, laminar projection near tip ( Figs 193–194); distal border of palpal tibia deeply notched prolaterally ( Figs 192–193); shallow groove on middle of cymbium, corresponding with dorsal tibial apophysis ( Fig. 195); tegulum greatly expanded proximally, laterally; membranous embolar base narrow, about one-fifth of bulb width; embolus short, extending along the alveolus edge, obscured by the embolar basal process that is wider distally; conductor long, greatly widened at tip; hook-shaped apical tegular apophysis strong, pointing retrolaterally ( Figs 193–195).

Female (allotype): Total length 2.52.As in male, except each cheliceral paturon with two erect bristles, proximal one near base, strong, more distal bristle weaker, dorsal scutum covering only anterior one-third of abdomen length ( Figs 238–241). Leg spination as in male.

Epigynum very large, dominated by the epigynal hood, produced medially into a sharp septum, ending near posterior margin; copulatory openings diagonally inverted U-shape, about two diameters apart, situated about at middle length of large, deep atria; copulatory ducts heavily sclerotized, greatly elongated, extending just anteriorly to atria; bursae oval, wider than long, with posterior, rounded extension; primary spermathecae conical, about twice as long as bursae, touching posterior epigynal margin, lateral to copulatory ducts; secondary spermatheca tiny, thumblike ( Figs 196–198).

Distribution. Known only from caves of the Purificación area, in at least the Municipios de Güémez and Hidalgo of central Tamaulipas. There are two caves in which this species and P. arcitos sp. nov. have both been collected ( Fig. 339).