Neischnocolus samonellaacademy Peñaherrera-R., León-E., Guerrero-Campoverde, Gabriel, Sherwood & Cisneros-Heredia sp. nov., 2025

Peñaherrera-R, Pedro, Guerrero-Campoverde, Ariel, León-E, Roberto J., Gabriel, Ray, Sherwood, Danniella & Cisneros-Heredia, Diego F., 2025, Revisiting the tarantula genus Neischnocolus Petrunkevitch, 1925 (Araneae, Theraphosidae): new insights on male palpal bulb morphology and description of three new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 1022, pp. 19-50 : 40-43

Neischnocolus samonellaacademy Peñaherrera-R., León-E., Guerrero-Campoverde, Gabriel, Sherwood & Cisneros-Heredia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 2, 14–16

Diagnosis

Males of N. samonellaacademy sp. nov. resemble those of N. tsere by having an embolus with an acute angulation to palpal organ axis, intermediate keel without undulation, presence of a median dorsal granular area, and absence of an apical keel. Nonetheless, N. samonellaacademy differ from N. tsere by comparatively having shorter distal to medial extension of the embolus, prolateral superior keel developed, prolateral inferior keel well developed, short, and smooth, retrolateral superior keel developed, intermediate keel smooth and continuous, intermediate keel emerging below spermatic pore keels, and median dorsal granular area composed of rounded spicules extending only over dorsal surface of bulb (comparatively having more elongated distal to medial extension of the embolus, prolateral superior keel well developed, prolateral inferior keel developed, elongated, and slightly serrated apically, intermediate keel slightly serrated apically and disjunct, intermediate keel emerging between spermatic pore keels, and median dorsal granular area composed of spiky spicules extending only over prolatero-dorsal surface of bulb, retrolateral superior keel absent in N. tsere ).

Etymology

The species epithet samonellaacademy pays homage to Samuel Andrew Miller, as an apposition, creator of the popular and humorous educational YouTube channel Sam O’Nella Academy. Sam often uses crudely drawn animations and stick figures to deliver unconventional knowledge on various intriguing topics. The species name is a response to his request in timestamp 5:24 of “Where Animals’ Scientific Names Come From”, where he states [referring to having a species named in his honour]: “If that gives any of you epic biologists out there any ideas, you know, I wouldn’t be opposed”, and “Please, I would do anything, for the love of God, I will even take a lichen”. This tribute immortalises his unique contribution to science communication and humour, capturing the spirit of curiosity and creativity that inspires audiences worldwide.

Type material

Holotype

REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR – Provincia de Zamora Chinchipe • ♂; Cantón Paquisha, Río Blanco ; 3.90075° S, 78.51787° W; elev. 1700 m; 10 Aug. 2023; A. Hurtado and P. Peñaherrera-R. leg.; ZSFQ-i, ZSFQ-i21619 .

Description ( holotype, ♂, ZSFQ-i21619)

Total length: 15.91. Carapace length 7.55, width 6.80. Abdomen length 8.30, width 4.52. Eyes: anterior and posterior eye rows slightly recurved; AME: 0.17, ALE: 0.39, PME: 0.15, PLE: 0.17, AME–AME: 0.23, AME–ALE: 0.09, PME–PME: 0.53, PME–PLE: 0.13. AlE–PLE: 0.22, OQ length: 0.70, width: 1.50, clypeus: 0.27. Fovea deep, slightly procurved. Chelicerae: 9 promarginal teeth and 17 denticles. Labium: length 0.55, width 1.17, with 6 cuspules. Maxillae: 20–21 cuspules on inner third. Sternum: length: 3.77, width: 3.02. Legs: formula 4123, total length: I, II, III, IV; leg (femur/patella/tibia/ metatarsus/tarsus) and pedipalp (femur/patella/tibia/cymbium) article lengths: I 6.85/3.45/7.51/4.85/3.81, II 7.20/2.88/6.07/4.76/3.77, III 6.34/1.76/5.44/5.63/3.53, IV 8.35/2.02/7.14/9.07/4.28 palp 4.82/2.15/4.29/1.63. Tibia I with paired distal proventral tibial apophyses with one short and wide spine on inner side of each branch ( Fig. 14). Palpal tibia with two small distal conical processes, both processes point towards each other ( Fig. 15). Scopula: tarsi I– IV slightly scopulated, tarsi I– II distally divided by rhomboidal group of setae; tarsi III almost divided by thicker setae than tarsi I– II; tarsi IV fully divided by a line of longer, thicker setae than tarsi III. Metatarsus: I 30%, II 25%, III 25%, IV 0%, absent. Legs and pedipalp spination: femora and patellae I– IV and palp 0. Tibiae I 1 V; II 2 V; III 3 V, 1P, 1 R; IV 3 V, 1 R, 1P; palp 0. Metatarsi; I 2 V; II, 4 V; III, 6 V, 2P, 1 R, 2D; IV, 9 V, 2P, 2 R, 2D. Tarsi I– IV and palp, 0. Palpal bulb ( Figs 2, 16) with a strong retrolateral distal curvature. MDGA composed of rounded spicules extending only over dorsal surface of bulb. Developed rounded TH; IM, PS, and PI keels well-developed, RS keel developed, RI and SA keel absent.

Distribution

Currently known only from its type locality, Río Blanco, in the Cóndor sub-Andean Cordillera, at 1700 m, province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador. The examined specimen was collected in Low Montane Evergreen Forest of the Cordillera del Cóndor-Kutukú, Northern Andes biogeographic province ( Morrone 2014).