Plato omnipraesens, Prete & Brescovit, 2024

Prete, Pedro H. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2024, Taxonomic revision of the orb weaving spider genus Plato Coddington, 1986 (Araneae: Theridiosomatidae) with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 5471 (1), pp. 1-32 : 25-27

Plato omnipraesens new species

Figures 19 , 20 , 23

Types. Male holotype and two female paratypes from Cave Lapa da Bezerra , Parque Estadual da Terra Ronca, São Domingos, Goiás, Brazil, 11.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims col., deposited in IBSP 26108 .

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition and means omnipresent in Latin, and refers to the wide distribution of this species, the largest among the species of Plato .

Additional material examined. PERU. Madre de Dios: Zona Reservada Tambopata (69°17'31"W, 12°5'04"S), 1♀, 04.vi.1988, D. Silva col. ( MUSM 500552 ) ; 1♂, 15.v.1988, D. Silva col. ( MUSM 511438 ) ; 2♀, 04.xii.1988, J. Coddington col. ( USNM) ; Puerto Maldonado (69°03'W, 12°33'S), 1♂, 3, vi–vii.1989, D. Silva col. ( MUSM 500550 ) . BRAZIL. Acre: Rio Branco, Reserva Extrativista Humaitá , 1♂, 12.iv.1996, Equipe IBSP & SMNK col. ( IBSP 8726 ) ; 1♀, 12.iv.1996, Equipe IBSP & SMNK col. ( IBSP 8755 ) ; Mato Grosso do Sul: Bodoquena, Gruta Cinco de Ouros (56°43'29"W, 20°34'16"S), 1♀ ( IBSP 182329 ) ; Gruta das Fadas (56°43'33"W, 20°34'05"S), 1♀, 0 3.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182332 ) ; 1♂, 15.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182335 ) ; 1♀, 03.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182330 ) ; 1♀, 0 3.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182336 ) ; Gruta Manuel Cardoso (56°53'26"W, 20°34'09"S), 1♀, 02.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182337 ) ; 1♀, 02.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182331 ) ; 1♀, 02.vii.2011 ( IBSP 182333 ) , all collected by S.C. Escarpivati; Gruta Dente de Cão (56°47'04"W, 20°44'48"S), 1♀, 04.iv.2010, L.M. Cordeiro et al.. col. ( IBSP 182334 ) ; Gruta do Alex (56°42'35"W, 20°36'25"S), 4♀ ( IBSP 182328 ) ; Bonito, Gruta Pitangueiras , 1♀, 22.x.2002, F. Pioker & M. Hara col. ( IBSP 56099 ) ; Goiás: São Domingos, Parque Estadual Terra Ronca, Cave Lapa da Angélica (46°22'55"W, 13°31'22"S), 1♀, 06–7.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26102 ) ; 34♀, 06–07.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26098 ) ; 1♂, 7♀, 06–07.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26096 ) ; 4♂, 6♀, 06–07.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26099 ) ; 1♀, 06–07.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26101 ) , 2♂, 10♀, 06–07.ix.2000 ( IBSP 26100 ) , all collected by C.A. Rheims; 1♂, 06–07.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims & F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26093 ) ; 1♀, 31.x.2012, L. B. Simões & M. E. Bichuette col. ( IBSP 182222 ) ; Cave Lapa do Córrego Malhado , 1♀, 18.ix.1997, P. Gnaspini col. ( IBSP 23726 ) ; 1♀, 18.ix.1997, P. Gnaspini col. ( IBSP 23725 ) ; Cave Lapa de São Mateus (46°22'01"W, 13°40'02"S), 1♀, vii.1985, F. Chaimowicz col. ( IBSP 56066 ) ; Cave Lapa do Passa Três (46°22'06"W, 13°36'47"S), 2♀, 03–05.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims col. ( IBSP 26115 ) ; 4♂, 11♀, 03–05.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims col. ( IBSP 26114 , SEM) ; 2♂, 6♀, 03–05.ix.2000, C.A. Rheims col. ( IBSP 26118 ) ; 1♀, 03–05.ix.2000, F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26112 ) ; 2♀, 03–05.ix.2000, F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26117 ) ; 1♂, 3♀, 03–05.ix.2000, F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26113 ) ; 1♂, 4♀, 03–05.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims col. ( IBSP 26121 ) ; 2♀, 03–05.ix.2000, C. A. Rheims col. ( IBSP 26116 ) ; 1♀, 03–05.ix.2000, F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26119 ) ; Cave Lapa Terra Ronca I (46°21'31"W, 13°44'02"S), 2♀, 20.ix.1997, P. Gnaspini col. ( IBSP 28320 ) ; Lapa da Bezerra , 1♂, 3♀, 11.ix.2000, F. P. Franco col. ( IBSP 26110 ) ; Guarani de Goiás, Caverna Doralino I e II, 3♀, 24.iv.2011, M. E. Bichuette col. ( IBSP 181734 ) ; Cave Bombas , 2♂, 21.iv.2011, M. E. Bichuette col. ( IBSP 181737 ) ; Cave Sistema Russão , 1♀, 23.iv.2011, M. E. Bichuette col. ( IBSP 181750 ) ; Posse, Cave Sumidouro do Fundão (46°26'11"W, 14°08'28"S), 1♀, 11.iv.2011, J.A.O.Motta, J.N.Araújo & G.M.V. Rosa col. ( IBSP 56030 ) ; Mambaí, Gruta Pasto de Vaca , 2♂, 3♀, 02.v.2013, M.E. Bichuette col. ( IBSP 181692 ) ; Itaberaí, Gruta do Sonho , 1♀, 24.iii.1999, P. Gnaspini col. ( IBSP 24191 ) ; Cave dos Santos , 2♀, 22.i.1998, G. L. Oliveira col. ( IBSP 23758 ) ; Espírito Santo: São Mateus, Reserva Florestal Vale do Rio Doce , 2♀, 19–25.vii.1997, A.D. Brescovit col. ( IBSP 151547 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of Plato omnipraesens n. sp. resemble those of P. novalima by the bifid conductor and P. troglodita by the general shape of the conductor, but differ by the thin, recurved and elongated anterior apophysis of the conductor, posterior apophysis of the conductor strongly sclerotized, subrectangular with a broad tip, with pointed structure in the base of posterior conductor apophysis (fig. 19B, C). Females are recognized by the large and invaginated dorsal plate covering half of the dorsal area of the epigyna, with two small slits in the posterior portion (fig. 20C, G).

Description. Male (Holotype, IBSP 26108). Carapace, sternum, labium, endites and chelicerae brown. Legs light brown. Abdomen grayish, length:1.25. Total length: 2. Carapace length: 1. Clypeus height: 0.2. Sternum: 0.55 in length and width. Eyes: AME: 0.07; AME-AME 0.04; ALE-PLE: contiguous (0.06 each); PME-PME separated by 1 PME (0.07). Legs: I femur 1.3/ patella 0.5/ tibia 1.1/ metatarsus 0.8/ tarsus 0.75/ total 4.45; II 1.25/ 0.5/ 1.1/ 0.8/ 0.65/ 4.3; III 0.9/ 0.37/ 0.75/ 0.55/ 0.5/ 3.07; IV 1.05/ 0.3/ 0.75/ 0.55/ 0.4/ 3.05. Palp: cymbial lamella long (fig. 19G). Embolus with a distally bifid small apophysis, surrounded by membrane (fig. 19F). Abdomen oval.

Female (Paratype, IBSP 26108 ). Same color pattern as male. Abdomen oval, length: 1.6. Total length: 2.7. Carapace length: 1.15. Clypeus height: 0.23. Sternum : 0.62 in length and width. Eyes : OMA: 0.06; AME-AME: 0.06; ALE-PLE: contiguous (0.1 each); PME-PME separated by 0.1 ( OME 0.08). Legs : I femur 1.5/ patella 0.55/ tibia 1.1/ metatarsus 0.8/ tarsus 0.62/ total 4.57; II 1.25/ 0.5/ 1/ 0.75/ 0.7/ 4.2; III 1/ 0.37/ 0.62/ 0.5/ 0.55/ 3.04; IV 1.2/ 0.45/ 0.87/ 0.6/ 0.5/ 3.62. Epigynum : transversal groove accentuated only in the region of the epigynal support (fig. 20B). Copulatory ducts sinuous, with sharp curves (fig. 20C, G). Fertilization ducts long, following the margin of the atrium (fig. 20C) .

Variation. 5 males: total length: 2–2.2; carapace: 1–1.1; femur I: 1.3–1.5; 10 females: total length: 2.2–3.1; carapace: 1–1.4; femur I: 1.2–1.5.

Distribution. Known from Madre de Dios, Peru; Acre, Espírito Santo, and caves in the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul, all in Brazil (fig. 23).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Plato omnipraesens n. sp., from Parque Estadual da Terra Ronca, São Domingos, Goiás, Brazil. A, male body, dorsal view; B–E, male palp, left; B, mesal view; C, ventral view, SEM; D, prolateral view, SEM; E, retrolateral view, SEM; F, embolus, distal view, illustration; G, cymbium, ventral view, SEM. Abbreviations, ACA, anterior conductor apophysis. C, conductor. CA, conductor apophysis. CL, cymbial lamella. Cy, cymbium. E, embolus. EA, embolic apophysis. MA, median apophysis. O, embolic opening. PC, paracymbium. PCA, posterior conductor apophysis. ST, subtegulum. T, tegulum. Scales: A, 2; B, 0.5; C, D, E, 0.1; F, 0.5; G, 0.1.

FIGURE 20. Plato omnipraesens n. sp., from Parque Estadual da Terra Ronca, São Domingos, Goiás, Brazil. A, female body, dorsal view; B–G, epigynum; B, ventral view, C, dorsal view, illustration; D, lateral view, clarified; E, lateral cut view, clarified; F, ventral view, SEM; G, dorsal view, SEM. Abbreviations, At, atrium. CD, copulatory ducts. CP, central pit. DP, dorsal plate. FD, fertilization ducts. S, spermathecae. Su, epigynal support. TG, transversal groove. Scales: A, 2; B, C, D, E, 0.2; F, G, 0.1.

FIGURE 23. Distribution of records of Plato (South America).