Hemirrhagus kalebi, Mendoza & Francke, 2018

Mendoza, Jorge I. & Francke, Oscar F., 2018, Five new cave-dwelling species of Hemirrhagus Simon 1903 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with notes on the generic distribution and novel morphological features, Zootaxa 4407 (4), pp. 451-482 : 469-473

Hemirrhagus kalebi sp. nov.

( Figs 14 ̄17)

Type material: Hemirrhagus kalebi holotype Ƌ CNAN-T0933 , MEXICO: Chiapas, Mpio. San Fernando, Cueva de las abejas, 23/VII/2013, coll. O. Francke, A. Valdez, C. Santibañez, J . Mendoza, R. Monjaraz, K. Zarate. Paratype ♀ CNAN-T0934 , MEXICO: Chiapas, Mpio. San Fernando, Cueva de las abejas, 19/VI/2011, coll. O. Francke, A. Valdez, C. Santibañez, J . Cruz, R. Monjaraz, K. Zarate. 2 paratype ♂ CNAN-T0935 and CNAN- T0936, MEXICO: Chiapas, Mpio. San Fernando, Cueva de las abejas, 23/VII/2013, coll. O. Francke, A. Valdez , C. Santibañez , J. Mendoza, R. Monjaraz, K. Zarate.

Diagnosis. Hemirrhagus kalebi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Hemirrhagus species by having only one tibial apophysis, the retrolateral apophysis and by lackin scopula on metatarsus IV. This species and H. perezmilesi are the only ones which have stridulatory claviform parallel setae on palp trochanter.

Hemirrhagus kalebi sp. nov. is identified by possessing the following character combination: male palpal bulb slender, embolus larger than tegulum and almost as wide as tegulum at the base, tapering distally; subapical keel ends proximal to embolus base on retrolateral face. Without ventral groove ( Fig 15A ̄D). Tibia I with one apophysis, prolateral apophysis undeveloped, with presence of one large spinose seta in the same place where it would be located on the prolateral apophysis, the spinose seta is larger than retrolateral apophysis ( Fig 14G ̄H). Lacking scopula on metatarsus IV. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, periocular pigmentation absent. All eyes reduced, posterior median eyes as integumentary spots ( Fig 14E , 16F ). Lacking urticantig setae ( Fig 14C , 16C ). Spermathecae paired, finger shaped, fused at their base, slightly curved outwards from the middle of external margin ( Fig 16G ).

Etymology: The specific name is a patronym in honor to Kaleb Zarate for his contribution in the collection of arachnids in many caves of Chiapas.

Description: Holotype male CNAN-T0933: body length 13.42, carapace 5.87 long, 5.05 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea straight, 1.07 wide ( Fig 14A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row straight. Periocular pigmentation absent. AME, PME and PLE reduced; PME only as integumentary spots. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.10; ALE 0.22; PME -; PLE 0.20; AME-AME 0.12; AME-ALE 0.12; PME-PME -; PME-PLE -; ALE-PLE 0.06. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, ocular quadrangle width 1.22, length 0.32; clypeus lacking ( Fig 14E ). Labium length 0.80, width 1.22; with only two cuspules located on anterior area, one in left and one in right sides. Maxilla inner corner with ~67 (left) and ~62 (right) cuspules ( Fig 14F ). Cheliceral promargin with 12 (left) and 10 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first large, second medium, third-fifth large, sixth medium, seventh-twelfth large; first-tenth large). Sternum length 2.40. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla half its length from the margin ( Fig 14B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 6.75, 3.35, 6.67, 6.03, 4.93, 27.73. II: 6.56, 2.88, 6.47, 5.95, 4.57, 26.43. III: 6.11, 2.55, 5.46, 5.86, 4.34, 24.32. IV: 7.82, 2.95, 7.68, 9.37, 5.78, 33.60. Palp: 4.60, 2.43, 4.41, -, 2.09, 13.53. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.43 long, 0.37 apart; PLS, 0.93 basal, 0.83 middle, 1.23 distal; midwidths: 0.43 basal, 0.40 middle, 0.30 distal.

Scopulae: Tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, II divided by narrow band of setae and III-IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 50 % scopulated distally, IV lacking scopula.

Tibia I with one apophysis, prolateral apophysis undeveloped, with presence of one large spinose seta in the same place where prolateral apophysis would be located, the spinose seta is larger than retrolateral apophysis; retrolateral apophysis reduced, with one large spinose seta on dorsal face, the spinose seta larger than retrolateral apophysis and exceeds the apex of retrolateral apophysis ( Fig 14G ̄H). Metatarsus I straight ( Fig 14D ).

Stridulatory setae: on palpal trochanter retrolateral face, almost as long as trochanter, with three claviform parallel setae that gradually increase in size from 0.6 to 0.8 (ventral to dorsal). Trochanter I with six spinose setae on prolateral face ( Fig 14I ̄J). With plumose setae on palp femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face; leg II trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 3 p; II 2 p; III 2 p, 2r; IV 1 p, 2r; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 2 p, 7v, 1r; II 2 p, 7v, 2r; III 2 p, 9v, 1r; IV 2 p, 9v, 2r; palp 2p, 8v; metatarsi I 1 p, 3v, 1r; II 1 p, 5v, 1r; III 3 p, 10v, 3r; IV 1 d, 3p, 12v, 2r.

Palp. Embolus almost as wide as tegulum at the base, tapering distally and larger than tegulum; subapical keel retrolaterally extended, ends before the embolus base on retrolateral face. Subapical keel does not curve in posterior; without ventral groove. Embolus slightly curved retrolaterally on distal half and slightly curved to dorsal through its lenght ( Fig 15A ̄D).

Urticating setae: lacking ( Fig 14C ).

Color pattern: in ethanol specimen color is pale brown. Live specimens are overall black ( Fig 17C ).

Paratype female CNAN-T0934 body length 23.78, carapace 11.09 long, 9.37 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 2.83 wide ( Fig 16A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row recurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation absent. AME, PME and PLE reduced; PME only as integumentary spots. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.10; ALE 0.22; PME -; PLE 0.20; AME-AME 0.04; AME-ALE 0.50; PME-PME -; PME-PLE -; ALE-PLE 0.08. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, ocular quadrangle width 1.86, length 0.54; clypeus lacking ( Fig 16F ). Labium length 1.53, width 1.57; with two cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with ~98 (left) and ~96 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 12 (left) and 14 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first medium, second-sixth medium, seventh medium, eightheleventh large, twelfth medium; first large, second small, third-fourth large, fifth small, sixth-tenth large, eleventh small, twelfth-thirteenth large, fourteenth medium). Sternum length 4.3. Sigillae oval, first, second and third pairs hardly visible; posterior sigilla half its length from the margin ( Fig 16B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 10.59, 5.41, 8.49, 9.84, 7.14, 41.47. II: 10.23, 5.09, 9.29, 9.86, 6.68, 41.15. III: 9.82, 4.52, 7.28, 10.26, 6.84, 38.72. IV: 11.97, 4.37, 11.34, 15.19, 8.04, 50.91. Palp: 7.75, 4.07, 6.72, -, 6.63, 25.17. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.80 long, 0.85 apart; PLS, 2.10 basal, 1.50 middle, 1.73 distal; midwidths 0.77 basal, 0.70 middle, 0.53 distal.

Scopulae: Tarsi I-IV entirely scopulated, III divided by narrow band of setae and IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I-II densely scopulated; III 50 % scopulated distally, IV lacking scopula.

Stridulatory setae: on palpal trochanter retrolateral face, with eighteen claviform parallel setae, three almost as long as trochanter (1.4 long) and fifteen as long as the half trochanter length (0.43 to 0.9 long). Trochanter I with three spinose setae on prolateral face (16D̄E). With plumose setae on palp femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face; leg II trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1 p, 1r; II 2 p; III 1 p, 2r; IV 1 p, 1r; palp 1p, 2v; patellae III 1 p; IV 1 p; tibiae I 3 p, 5v, 2r; II 2 p, 8v, 2r; III 2 p, 8v, 3r; IV 2 p, 10v, 4r; palp 3p, 8v, 1r; metatarsi I 3v, 1r; II 1 p, 3v, 1r; III 3 p, 8v, 3r; IV 2 d, 3p, 8v, 4r.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, finger shaped, fused at their base, slightly curved outwards from the middle of external margin, without a clearly defined neck on either exterior or interior margins (16G).

Urticating setae: lacking ( Fig 16C )

Color pattern: in ethanol specimen color is pale brown. Live specimens are overall black ( Fig 17B ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva de las Abejas, Chiapas, Mexico ( Fig 22 ). The species lives only inside the cave; specimens were collected on a sloping wall at a depth of 150 m below the entrance ( Fig 17A ). They share habitat with other small arachnids such as pseudoscorpions and ricinulids.

Figures

FIGURE 14. A─J, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species, holotype male CNAN-T0933. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth leg). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, metatarsus I, prolateral view. E, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. F, labial and maxillary cuspules. G, tibial apophyses, prolateral view. H, tibial apophyses, ventral view. I, palp trochanter claviform parallel setae, retrolateral view.J, trochanter I spinose, prolateral view. Scale = 2mm (A̅D), 1mm (E̅J).

FIGURE 15. A─D, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species, male holotype CNAN-T0933. Left palpal bulb: A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, retrolateral view. D, prolateral view.Scale = 1mm.

FIGURE 16. A─G, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species, paratype female CNAN-T0934. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth leg). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, palp trochanter claviform parallel setae, retrolateral view. E, trochanter I spinose setae, prolateral view.F, ocular tubercle, dorsal view.G, spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale = 2mm (A̅C), 1mm (D̅F), 0.5mm (G).

FIGURE 17. A─C, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species habitat and habitus; A, Entrance of Cueva de las Abejas.B, H.kalebi sp. nov., female paratype CNAN-T0934, in life. C, H. kalebi sp. nov., male holotype CNAN-T0933, in life.Photos: A, A. Valdez; B̅C, J. Mendoza.

FIGURE 22. Known distribution of Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch 1971), Hemirrhagus elliotti (Gertsch 1973), Hemirrhagus embolulatus Mendoza 2014, Hemirrhagus eros Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus chilango Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003, Hemirrhagus lochti Estrada-Alvarez 2014, Hemirrhagus sprousei new species, Hemirrhagus kalebi new species, Hemirrhagus nahuanus(Gertsch 1982), Hemirrhagus papalotl Pérez-Miles &Locht 2003, Hemirrhagusgrieta(Gertsch 1982),Hemirrhagus coztic Pérez-Miles & Locht 2003 and Hemirrhagus perezmilesi García-Villafuerte & Locht 2010. Showing the biogeographic provinces where they are found. SMO= Sierra Madre Oriental, EVT= Eje Volcanico Transversal, SMS= Sierra Madre del Sur, PCH= Provincia de Chiapas.