Myrmekiaphila howelli, BOND & PLATNICK, 2007

BOND, JASON E. & PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2007, A Taxonomic Review of the Trapdoor Spider Genus Myrmekiaphila (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Cyrtaucheniidae), American Museum Novitates 3596 (1), pp. 1-32 : 26-27

Myrmekiaphila howelli , new species

Figures 12 , 22 , 85 , 93–98

TYPES: Male holotype from 1 mile east of Union , [32.5716 –89.1056], Newton County, Mississippi (Feb. 12, 1983; T. Lockley), deposited in AMNH, courtesy of Dr. Patricia Miller .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. W. Howell of Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be recognized by the presence of a bifurcate palpal bulb, with the lower auxiliary prong being much shorter than the embolus, bearing a swollen, distinct accessory ledge which gives it the appearance of being doubled distally, with the tip of the prong curved, and by the ledge of the palpal tibia being short and stubby (figs. 12, 98). Females are unknown.

MALE (HOLOTYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected live from ‘‘under a log’’, preserved in ca. 70% ethanol. Coloration appears to be faded. Both pedipalps, leg I left side removed and stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, and legs dark red (2.5YR 3/6). Abdomen very dusky red (2.5YR 2.5/2) dorsally, ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow; faint dusky stripes on dorsum. Cephalothorax. Carapace 5.94 long, 4.94 wide, glabrous, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved. Eyes on low mound. AER straight to slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 3.28, STRw 3.08. Posterior sternal sigilla large, positioned centrally, contiguous, anteri- or sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row (10 teeth), posterior margin with patch of small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of small cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium with three cuspules, LBw 1.12, LBl 0.62. Rastellum consisting of five very stout spines on mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavier black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 5.12, 2.40, 4.04, 2.80, 2.56; leg IV: 5.00, 2.20, 4.40, 4.48, 2.68. Very light tarsal scopulae present on legs I, II. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of seven trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 22 , 93–95 ; TSp 7, TSr 11, TSrd 3. Pedipalp. Articles stout, lacking distinct spines (figs. 96–98). PTw 0.80, PTl 1.67, Bl 1.05. Ledge on distal-retrolateral surface of palpal tibia. Palpal bulb (figs. 12, 98) distally bifurcate, embolus relatively slender, auxiliary prong very thick, with swollen, distinct accessory ledge.

FEMALE: Unknown.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Only the holotype.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality in Mississippi (fig. 85).

THE MINUTA GROUP

This group includes a single species, from Florida, that may represent the sister group of all other Myrmekiaphila . Males lack the expanded ledge on the palpal tibia (fig. 102) and show only vague traces of a single embolar tooth (on the distal, rather than proximal, edge of the embolus). Alternatively, these features could represent a derived condition, thus representing a loss rather than a plesiomorphy.

Figures

Figs. 2–13. 2, 3. Live M. neilyoungi from Santa Rosa Co., Florida. 2. Male specimen. 3. Female specimen. 4–13. Color images of male pedipalps, ventral view (top of frame) and retrolateral view (bottom); 6, 12, 13 show ventral view only. 4. M. foliata, Knox Co. Tennessee (rl5retrolateral ledge). 5. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 6. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 7. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama (ap5accessory prong, e5embolus). 8. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 9. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 10. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 11. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 12. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi (le5ledge). 13. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Figs. 14–23. Color images of male leg I mating claspers, prolateral (top of frame) and retrolateral views (bottom). 14. M. foliata, Knox Co., Tennessee (ms5metatarsal swelling). 15. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 16. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 17. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama. 18. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 19. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 20. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 21. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 22. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi. 23. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Fig. 85. Records of M. minuta, new species, M. neilyoungi, new species, M. millerae, new species, and M. howelli, new species.

Figs. 93–98. Myrmekiaphila howelli, new species, from Newton Co., Mississippi. 93–95. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 96–98. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views.