Selenops lepidus Muma, 1953

Crews, Sarah C., 2011, A revision of the spider genus Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Arachnida, Araneae, Selenopidae) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 105, pp. 1-182 : 54-56

Selenops lepidus Muma, 1953 Figs 69-72Map 5

Selenops lepidus Muma 1953: 17. Figs 27-29 (♂, ♀, examined).

Type material.

Holotype male: Manzanillo, Colima, México, 17.VI.1941 L.I. Davis (AMNH, examined). Paratypes: Female from San Blas, Nayarit, México, 6.VIII.1947, C. M. Goodnight, B. Malkin (AMNH, examined).

Other material examined.

MÉXICO: Nayarit: San Juan Peyotan, 1-3.VIII.1955, B. Malkin, 1♀ (AMNH).

Diagnosis.

Males can be differentiated from all other species by having a very narrow base of the MA, and the lateral branch of the RTA is a large stalk with an immense triangular distal process (Figs 69-70). Females can be separated from all other species by having the median septum covered distally by the lateral lobes with one lobe partially covering the other (Figs 71-72).

Remarks.

This male and female were not collected together and it is presumed Muma (1953) placed them together based on their size. However, a second small species ( Selenops chamela sp. n., see below) known from a single female has been found in this region, and nearer to the type locality of the male of Selenops lepidus . Thus, it is possible that what is currently described as the female Selenops lepidus is actually a different species. In this region of México, there are 3 females known and 2 males known, and it is unclear if any of them go with the other, or if they are all separate species. At this time I make no changes.

Description.

Holotype male: Color:carapace orange-brown with white setae, markings indistinguishable; chelicerae dark red-brown; labium pale brown; abdomen dorsally grey-tan, darker mediolaterally, laterocaudal festoon present; abdomen ventrally grey-tan; legs orange-brown, some annulations still visible. Carapace: as long as broad. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PME same as PLE, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.10, ALE 0.05, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18; interdistances AME-PME 0.05, PME-ALE 0.08, ALE-PLE 0.13. PME-PME 0.70. ALE-ALE 1.28; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.20, PLE-PLE 1.25. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:posteriorly indented. Legs:disarticulated; leg formula 4321 ( Muma 1953); tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts.Abdomen:without terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:Ti: 0.60, Ta 0.80;cymbium oval in ventral view, slightly angled posterolaterally; conductor large, angular structure arising from the center of bulb on short, curved stalk connected to the side, tapering anterolaterally, pointed distally; embolus long, slender, curved, beginning between 4 and 5 o'clock, ending at 12 o'clock; MA arising at 3 o'clock, directed anterolaterally, with a long ovoid base and a long, narrow curving, finger-like process arising from base; two tibial apophyses, ventral structure curves toward cymbium, below angled portion; lateral apophysis a large angular structure on long stalk which curves away from, then towards, cymbium; RTA extends at least 1/3 length of the cymbium (Figs 69-70). Dimensions: Total length 5.05. Carapace length 2.63, width 2.63. Abdomen length 2.43, width 1.93.

Paratype female:Color:carapace orange-brown with white setae, markings indistinguishable; sternum light brown; chelicerae brown; maxillae light orange-brown lightening distally; labium brown lightening distally; abdomen dorsally grey-tan, broad cream-colored w-shaped mark posteriorly, laterocaudal festoon present; ventrally dusky grey with no markings; legs orange-brown with annulations. Carapace: 1.01 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.12, ALE 0.10, PME 0.20, PLE 0.28; interdistances AME-PME 0.03, PME-ALE 0.10, ALE-PLE 0.30. PME-PME 0.85. ALE-ALE 1.40; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.40, PLE-PLE 1.57; clypeus 0.13 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:1.25 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Legs:leg formula 4321 (Muma, 1953); tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts; prolateral claw per foot slightly toothed. Abdomen:without terminal setal tufts. Epigyne:median septum located in center of epigynal plate, narrow and parallel sided, lateral lobes covering terminus of septum, one lobe atop the other, making the epigynum appear slightly asymmetrical, genital openings located posterolaterally to septum, epigynal pockets present; internally, openings connect to a large, somewhat triangular atrium that connects to lateral anteriorly directed ducts, one small, the other larger with spiralled appearance, fertilization ducts located and directed posterolaterally, posterodorsal fold present, but barely covers part of internal ducts (Figs 71-72). Dimensions: Total length 7.23. Carapace length 2.98, width 2.95. Sternum length 1.25, width 1.00. Abdomen length 4.25, width 2.90. Leg measurements unavailable.

Natural History.

No data.

Distribution.

Southwestern México, from Nayarit to Colima (Map 5).