Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) Walckenaer, 1837

Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri & Bertani, Rogerio, 2017, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera 01, ZooKeys 659, pp. 1-185 : 85-90

Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) comb. n. Figs 18, 226, 230, 244-251, 252-255, 306

Mygale versicolor Walckenaer, 1837: 211 (holotype considered lost).

Avicularia rutilans Ausserer, 1875: 184, t. 7, fig. 34 (holotype male, N. Granada, Keyserling collection, BMNH 1890.7.1.359, examined); F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1896: 744; Petrunkevitch 1911: 50, 1939: 28; Mello-Leitão 1923: 377; Roewer 1942: 255; Bonnet 1955: 832; World Spider Catalog 2016. Syn. n.

Avicularia versicolor : Simon 1892: 171, 172; Petrunkevitch 1911: 51, 766, 1939: 288; Mello-Leitão 1923: 377; Roewer 1942: 255; World Spider Catalog 2016.

Remarks.

Avicularia rutilans holotype has same morphology of palpal bulb, tibial apophysis and urticating setae II and the characteristic intense green sheen found in specimens from Martinique. Despite labeled as coming from N. Granada (Colombia, see discussion below), it is undoubtedly a specimen of Caribena versicolor comb. n. Thus, we consider Avicularia rutilans Ausserer, 1875 as junior synonym of Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) comb. nov.

Diagnosis.

Females can be distinguished from those of Caribena laeta comb. n. by spermathecae with accentuated outwards curvature medially and by lacking intumescence on apex (Fig. 230). Males differ from males of Caribena laeta comb. n. by developed prominence on tegulum (Fig. 246), embolus medial portion and tegulum’s margin form an acute angle in retrolateral view (Fig. 245) and by very curved shape of basal part of embolus in frontal view (Fig. 246).

Type material.

Holotype considered, herein, lost since it is not in MNHN–AR where it should be deposited according to description ( Walckenaer 1837). Here, we establish the male AR 4904 as the neotype since no holotype is believed to be extant and a type is considered necessary to define the taxon objectively because the original name is involved in a complex taxonomic problem (article 75.1, ICZN 1999).

Material examined.

Martinique, 6 females, 2 males (one male established here as neotype), 1 immature male, Gambey col., ( MNHN–AR 4904, Box 314).

Additional material.

CUBA: 1 male, 2 females ( MNHN–AR); MARTINIQUE: Le Carbet [14°42'N, 61°10'W], Morne Carbet, 1500 m, forest, 2 males, 18 March 1967 (AMNH); 1 male, Beatty col., 1967 (AMNH), from trees, 1 female (AMNH); Absalon [14°41'N, 61°6'W], 1 immature male, Vaunes, 16 June 1960 (AMNH Ma); Anse Céron [14°50'N, 61°13'W], 1 km SE, 1 male, J. Paterson col., 7 July 1998 (AMNH RW07), same data, 1 male (AMNH RW06); 1 male, Le Prêcheur, west of Mountain Pelée, P. Charbonnet col., 21 August 1998, on side of tree (MNRJ 06914).

Remarks.

In order to describe Mygale versicolor , Walckenaer (1837) used a female from Guadeloupe and a male from Brazil. Even though he considered Aranea hirtipes Fabricius, 1787 described from French Guiana as a synonym of Mygale versicolor , Walckenaer (1837) did not include Cayenne nor Brazil in the distribution area, only Guadeloupe and Martinique. Concerning the description, the female corresponds to Caribena versicolor comb. n., but the male did not, since it was described as having a two-branched tibial apophysis and occurs in Brazil. Therefore, the syntype series is composed of two different species, causing a complex taxonomic problem that lasted for years.

C. L. Koch (1842) apparently followed Walckenaer (1837) but formally extended the species distribution to Brazil. A few years later, the same author (C. L. Koch 1850) transferred this species to Lasiodora , creating the new combination Lasiodora versicolor .

In 1871, Ausserer (1871) erected the new genus Homoeomma Ausserer, 1871 with a single species, Homoeomma versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837). Ausserer (1871) examined a male and a female from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and considered Mygale versicolor sensu C. L. Koch, 1842 and Lasiodora versicolor (C. L. Koch, 1850) synonyms of Homoeomma versicolor . Years later, O. Pickard-Cambridge (1881) explicitly considered as being distinct the concepts of Mygale versicolor from C. L. Koch (1842) and Walckenaer (1837).

He described a new species, Homoeomma stradlingi O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881, based on the concept of Mygale versicolor used by C. L. Koch, and in a female and two males from Brazil (O. Pickard-Cambridge 1881). The species Homoeomma versicolor was included in the synonymic list with a question mark by O. Pickard-Cambridge (1881).

Simon (1892) considered that Mygale versicolor Walckenaer was erroneously reported as Homoeomma and it was, in fact, an Avicularia species very common in Lesser Antilles. As a consequence, it is likely Simon (1892) ignored the combination Homoeomma versicolor and considered Homoeomma stradlingi as the type species of Homoeomma

A problem lies with the identity of Mygale versicolor Walckenaer, 1837. This name is constantly applied to aviculariine species found in Martinique. However, as mentioned before, the type series consists of two different species: one aviculariine; and the other a theraphosine. As the description is vague and syntype series is here considered lost, we decide to establish a neotype in order to preserve the name’s stability and its usage.

Female.

Redescription. AR 4904. Carapace: 19.07 long, 16.75 wide, 5.33 high. Chelicera: 6.90 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 14.29, 8.76, 10.86, 9.49, 6.12, 49.52. II: 13.16, 7.74, 10.32, 9.23, 5.92, 46.37. III: 11.96, 7.64, 9.49, 9.40, 5.18, 43.67. IV: 14.86, 7.98, 12.21, 13.25, 5.99, 54.29. Palp: 10.16, 6.58, 6.79, -, 7.42, 30.95. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.61, 3.74, 3.80, 3.59, palp= 2.90; patellae I–IV = 3.67, 3.62, 3.30, 3.48, palp= 3.06; tibiae I–IV = 3.08, 2.69, 2.91, 3.06, palp= 2.83; metatarsi I–IV = 2.37, 2.27, 2.60, 2.03; tarsi I–IV = 2.86, 2.58, 2.75, 2.89, palp= 2.92. Abdomen: 22.09 long, 17.02 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.45 long, 1.01 wide, 0.10 apart; PLS, 2.56 basal, 0.77 middle, 3.04 distal; midwidths 2.10, 1.75, 1.52, respectively.

Carapace: 1.14 times longer than wide; cephalic region not raised, carapace striae inconspicuous.

Fovea: deep, slightly recurve, 2.33 wide.

Eyes: eye tubercle 1.11 high, 2.20 long, 3.18 wide. Clypeus 0.64. Anterior row of eyes procurve, posterior slightly recurve. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.78, ALE 0.83, PME 0.36, PLE 0.82, AME–AME 0.47, AME–ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.22, ALE–ALE 1.83, ALE–PME 0.75, PME–PME 1.78, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 2.38, ALE–PLE 0.43, AME–PLE 0.67.

Maxilla: length to width: 1.84. Cuspules: 100-200 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.07 long, 3.19 wide, with 115 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Labium sternal groove shallow, flat, sigilla not evident.

Chelicera: basal segment with 11 teeth and some small teeth on promargin. Sternum: 10.21 long, 6.83 wide. Sigilla: only posterior pair evident, rounded, less than one diameter from margin.

Legs: Formula: IV=I II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.10. Clavate trichobothria: distal 1/2 tarsi I–IV. Scopulae: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate, III 1/2, IV 1/3 distal scopulate. IV divided by a row of setae.

Type II urticating setae: 1.33-1.58 long, 0.006-0.009 wide.

Spermathecae (Fig. 230): two completely separated, not-twisted long spermathecae, with walls lacking projections or lobes and accentuated outwards curvature medially. Midwidth as wide as its base width and weakly-sclerotized area shorter than half the length of well-sclerotized area.

Color pattern (Fig. 254): carapace brown with golden short body setae with very intense green sheen. Carapace border with long setae the same color as dorsal carapace short body setae, but with iridescent sheen. Coxae, labium, sternum and maxillae light brown, same color of ventral femora. Legs and palps with gold short body setae with green sheen and brown long guard-setae with very intense iridescent sheen. Leg rings on distal femora, tibiae and metatarsi same color as the rest of segment. Dorsal abdomen with vivid red long guard-setae with very intense iridescent sheen homogeneously distributed and black, short body setae. Ventral abdomen brown. Urticating setae form very distinctive small bronze patch on dorso posterior area of abdomen.

Male.

Description. AR 4904. Carapace: 16.01 long, 15.05 wide, 4.50 high. Chelicera: 6.16 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 14.39, 8.80, 11.38, 10.76, 6.18, 51.51. II: 13.64, 8.34, 11.03, 10.31, 5.80, 49.12. III: 12.28, 6.97, 9.43, 10.27, 5.57, 44.52. IV: 15.01, 7.65, 12.92, 13.89, 5.41, 54.88. Palp: 9.26, 5.83, 7.00, -, 2.93, 25.02. Midwidths: femora I -IV= 3.08, 3.13, 3.20, 2.92, palp= 2.24; patellae I–IV = 3.27, 2.88, 2.92, 3.06, palp= 2.30; tibiae I–IV = 2.59, 2.43, 2.32, 2.59, palp= 2.17; metatarsi I–IV = 1.61, 1.76, 1.85, 1.71; tarsi I–IV = 2.02, 2.01, 2.06, 2.07, palp= 2.23. Abdomen: 18.41 long, 13.01 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.94 long, 0.92 wide, 0.30 apart; PLS, 2.40 basal, 1.14 middle, 2.64 distal; midwidths 1.52, 1.36, 1.14, respectively.

As in female, except:

Carapace: 1.06 times longer than wide.

Fovea: 1.27 wide.

Eyes: eye tubercle 1.14 high, 2.30 long, 3.01 wide. Clypeus 0.54. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.78, ALE 0.70, PME 0.31, PLE 0.62, AME–AME 0.41, AME–ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.13, ALE–ALE 1.94, ALE–PME 0.68, PME–PME 1.73, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 2.14, ALE–PLE 0.18, AME–PLE 0.55.

Maxilla: length to width: 1.77. Labium: 1.89 long, 2.73 wide, with 95 cuspules. Labium sternal groove with two large separate sigilla.

Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth and some small teeth on promargin. Sternum: 7.49 long, 6.41 wide. Sigilla: three pairs, large posterior.

Legs: Length leg IV to leg I: 1.07. Scopula: tarsus IV with few, sparse setae. Metatarsus IV divided by a row of setae.

Type II urticating setae (Fig. 18): 1.61-1.75 long, 0.007-0.011 wide.

Palp (Figs 244-247): globous bulb with small subtegulum and developed prominence on tegulum. Embolus: not flattened, lacking keels, 4.64 long in retrolateral view, about 3 times tegulum’s length. Medial portion and tegulum’s margin form an acute angle in retrolateral view. Proximal part very curved in frontal view; thin distal width, tapering distally; basal, middle, and distal width of 0.70, 0.22, 0.08, respectively. Tegulum: 2.42 long, 1.51 high in retrolateral view. Cymbium subtriangular with subequal lobes, having developed sharp process on retrolateral lobe, bearing thin setae (Figs 248, 306).

Tibial apophysis (Fig. 250): single branch on prolateral leg I, with weakly-developed base and grouped spiniform setae distally. Male metatarsus I touches retrolaterally tibial apophysis’ setae when folded.

Color pattern ontogeny.

Juveniles with metallic sheen, all articles with same blackish color (Fig. 252) and abdomen dorsum with dorsal central longitudinal black stripe connected with all transversal black stripes.(Fig. 253). When mature, they lose this pattern (Figs 254-255).

Distribution.

Martinique (Fig. 226).

Remark.

Contrasting with Walckenaer’s description ( Walckenaer 1837), this species is not found on Guadeloupe Island (P. Marechal, pers. comm.). Thus, it is possible that Walckenaer (1837) used a specimen from Martinique, which is close to Guadeloupe Island and also French territory, but recorded as coming from Guadeloupe. Similar situations were very common in past centuries.

Occurrence of Caribena versicolor comb. n. in Cuba is still doubtful since the specimens here analyzed are very old and the only ones known from Cuba in the entirety of arachnological collections examined. The record of Avicularia rutilans , junior synonym of Caribena versicolor comb. n. in Nova Granada, former name of Colombia, is also doubtful. There is no other record of this species in Colombia nor in any other continental territory. An explanation could be that this specimen was dispatched from Bogota, an important South Amercian commercial center in eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which is near the Antilles.

Natural history.

It was poorly known until a few years ago. The situation changed since an extensive and detailed ecological and populational study was carried out by Maréchal et al. (2009) on Martinique. They pointed out that Caribena versicolor comb. n. prefers mesophyll forests, building its retreat in Bromeliacea leaves, between tree branches, inside bamboo trunks, over tree trunks and also within human constructions ( Maréchal et al. 2009). Its life cycle is about two years, reaching sexual maturity around 18 months, after approximately ten molts; the reproductive period is in March and eggsac eclosion is in May and June ( Maréchal et al. 2009).

Remarks.

Two color forms are known, one with specimens having leg and palp hairs in bright red and the other with specimens with darker hairs on legs and palps.