Paratropis tuxtlensis, Valdez-Mondragon, Alejandro, Mendoza, Jorge I. & Francke, Oscar F., 2014

Valdez-Mondragon, Alejandro, Mendoza, Jorge I. & Francke, Oscar F., 2014, First record of the mygalomorph spider family Paratropididae (Arachnida, Araneae) in North America with the description of a new species of Paratropis Simon from Mexico, and with new ultramorphological data for the family, ZooKeys 416, pp. 1-21 : 3-10

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Paratropididae

Paratropis tuxtlensis sp. n. Figures 1-60

Type material.

MEXICO: Veracruz: male holotype (CNAN-T0766) from Estación de Biología Tropical "Los Tuxtlas", Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Municipio San Andrés Tuxtla (18.58500°N, 95.07510°W, 1039 m), 10 November 2012; A. Valdez. O. Francke, G. Montiel, J. Cruz, R. Monjaraz Cols. Paratypes: 2 males (CNAN-T0768 and T0769), same data as holotype. 1 female (CNAN-T0822), same locality as holotype, 27 August 2005; A. Valdez. O. Francke, H. Montaño, M. Córdova, A. Jaimes Cols. 2 females (CNAN-T0767 and T0821) from 1 km SE of Díaz Ordaz, Municipio San Andrés Tuxtla (18.52775°N, 95.08691°W, 480 m), 14 June 2011; A. Valdez. O. Francke, C. Santibáñez, J. Cruz, R. Monjaraz, G. Contreras Cols.

Other material.

MEXICO: Veracruz: 1 immature (CNAN), same data as holotype. 1 immature (CNAN), same locality as holotype, 11 January 2012; O. Francke, G. Montiel, J. Cruz, R. Monjaraz Cols.

Diagnosis.

Distinguished from Paratropis papilligera (the other species where the male is known) by the male palp with conical tibia (Fig. 14), in Paratropis papilligera the tibia is cylindrical ( F. O. P.-Cambridge 1896; fig. 7); by the pyriform palp bulb larger in Paratropis tuxtlensis (Figures 10-15); by the bulb with embolus shorter, almost with the same length of the palp tibia (Figure 14), and slightly sigmoid (Figures 10-15), in Paratropis papilligera the embolus is longer than the length of the palp tibia and more curved ( F. O. P.-Cambridge 1896; fig. 7); by the number of conical teeth in the cheliceral furrows, in Paratropis tuxtlensis the promargin has 11 teeth and retromargin 9 (Figure 9), whereas in Paratropis papilligera the promargin has 14 teeth and retromargin 10.

Description.

Holotype male (CNAN-T0766). Body length 8.20 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets); chelicerae length 1.50; carapace length 4.90, width 4.00; opisthosoma length 5.20, width 3.70.

Coloration: The general coloration under alcohol is the same as soil particles encrusted on the body, which is pale brown (Figures 1-4, 6, 8). Chelicerae orange ventrally (Figures 2, 7, 9), becoming brown dorsally (Figures 1, 4), fangs of chelicerae dark reddish brown (Figure 2). The carapace has reddish coloration when the soil particles are cleaned. Sternum pale orange; endites and labium orange (Figure 2). Legs olive color when soil particles are cleaned, becoming paler on tibia, metatarsi, and tarsi. The opisthosoma was difficult to clean, even with longer time in the ultrasonic cleaner, and the coloration could be similar to the carapace. Spinnerets pale yellow.

Carapace: Orbiculate, concave posteriorly (Figure 1). Eye tubercle elevated; fovea shallow, slightly recurved, width 0.4, visible only when the carapace is cleaned of soil encrustations. All eyes well developed; in dorsal view anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.24; ALE 0.26; PME 0.16; PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.08; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.38; PME–PLE 0.05; ALE–PLE 0.08. Ocular tubercle raised: 0.74 length; 0.88 width; clypeus lacking (Figures 5, 6).

Palps: Bulb pyriform (Figures 10-13, 14, 15), spermatic duct visible through integument (Figures 10-13). Embolus very long and conical, filiform apically (Figures 10-13), with spermatic opening distally (Figure 16). Tarsus with two types of setae: (i) numerous long, scattered, slightly curved, acuminate setae (Figure 21); (ii) long, clubbed setae retrolaterally (Figure 20). Tarsus with four medial-dorsal trichobothria (arrows, Figure 20). Tibiae ventrally with numerous long, curved setae (Figures 14, 15); with five trichobothria, two medial-prolateral, and three medial-retrolateral (arrows Figures 17; 18, 46). Tibiae with long, clubbed setae pro- and retrolaterally (Figures 19, 20). Patellae with numerous, curved, barbed setae. Femora concave prolaterally, dorsally with few clubbed setae on distal part. Trochanters cylindrical, with clubbed setae dorsally and ventrally. All palps segments are covered with encrusted soil particles, except the bulbs, embolus (Figures 10-13), and prolateral region of femora and trochanters.

Chelicerae: Cheliceral furrow promargin and retromargin with short, wide, conical teeth, wider on retromargin than on promargin (Figures 9, 30-32); promargin with 11 teeth, retromargin with 9 teeth (Figure 9); on both margins the proximal teeth are wider and longer than distal teeth (Figures 9, 31, 32). Retromargin of chelicerae with numerous long, barbed setae (Figures 30, 31), more numerous and longer than on promargin (Figure 31). Retrolateral face with clubbed setae, curved distally (Figures 36, 37), becoming shorter mesally (Figures 35, 36). Fang with venom gland duct opening dorsal sub-distal (Figures 33, 34). Cuticle on retrolateral face of chelicerae with numerous glandular pores (arrows, Figures 37).

Endites: Longer than wide, with small conical projection anteriorly (Figures 2, 7, 22, 23). Prolaterally with numerous long, curved, barbed setae (Figures 22, 23), shorter proximally (Figures 22); ventrally with scattered, long, curved setae (Figures 22-24). Endites ventrally with numerous, scattered, finger-shaped cuspules; 42 cuspules on right endite and 40 on left one (Figures 7, 24, 25). Endites without pores ventrally (Figures 24, 25). Retrolateral area with small, spine-like setae (Figure 26). The cuticle is not encrusted with soil particles (Figures 2, 7).

Labium: Trapezoidal, length 0.53, width 1.37, with 38 finger-shaped cuspules grouped on anterior part; anteriorly with several long, slightly curved setae (Figure 7); without pores on surface, not encrusted with soil particles. Labium merged to sternum, labium-sternal furrow shallow (Figures 2, 7).

Sternum: Circular, length 2.275, width 2.77, with few, scattered, long setae. Sigillae oval; third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair half its length from margin (Figure 2).

Legs: Length of legs and palp (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 5.60, 2.60, 3.75, 3.55, 1.95, 17.45. II: 3.85, 2.00, 2.70, 3.00, 1.55, 13.10. III: 3.40, 1.60, 2.25, 2.60, 1.60, 11.45. IV: 4.40, 2.00, 3.45, 3.70, 2.00, 15.55. Leg formula: 1-4-2-3. Palp: 2.00, 1.43, 1.65, -, 0.80, 5.88. Leg I longer and stouter than others, leg III shorter and thinner than others (Figure 58). Legs covered with curved, conical, barbed setae; in addition to clubbed setae (Figure 40); with numerous pores on cuticular surface (arrows, Figures 28, 40, 41), which are oval depressions with a longitudinal slit (Figure 29). Leg I without tibial spurs. Femora with long, clubbed setae. Metatarsi and tarsi with spinose setae ventrally, which are wider on legs III and IV. Tarsi with inconspicuous scopula (Figure 42), formed by small setae ending in a blunt tip (Figure 43).

Claws: Tarsi with long paired claws (Figures 42, 44, 45), which have just one long median tooth ventrally (arrow, Figure 44). Only tarsus I has the third, unpaired claw (arrow, Figure 45), tarsus I ventral-distally with some barbed setae, near to unpaired claw (Figure 45).

Leg trichobothria: Located on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi (Figures 46-48). Cuticle around the trichobothria without soil-particle encrustations (Figures 18, 28, 38, 46-48). Trichobothria sockets variable in size, basal-most smallest (Figures 18, 28, 38, 46-48). Dividing each leg segment into thirds (basal, median, apical), tibiae I has six trichobothria, three medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral (Figure 46). Tibia II has six trichobothria, three medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral (Figure 46). Tibia III has four trichobothria, two medial-prolateral, two medial-retrolateral (Figure 46). Tibia IV has four trichobothria, three medial-prolateral, one medial-retrolateral (Figure 46). All metatarsi have three trichobothria apical-dorsal (Figure 47). Finally, tarsus I has six trichobothria medial-dorsal, tarsus II has four medial-dorsal, tarsi III and IV have five trichobothria medial-dorsal (Figure 48).

Chaetotaxy (left side): Metatarsus III 1v; IV 1v. The legs on males have numerous conical, barbed setae.

Opisthosoma: Oval, longer than wide (Figure 3), dorsally with eight longitudinal rows of clubbed setae, each row with eight setae. Opisthosoma completely covered with soil particles (Figure 3), genital gonopore not visible. Booklung openings oval, sclerotized.

Spinnerets: PMS considerably shorter than PLS (arrows Figure 8). First and second segments of PLS cylindrical, third segment finger-shaped distally (Figure 8). Measurements: PMS length 0.22, width 0.12, 0.10 apart. Segments of PLS (length): basal 0.70, middle 0.50, distal 0.90; midwidths PLS (width): basal 0.48, middle 0.46, distal 0.34.

Paratype female (CNAN-T0767). Body length 12.90 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets); chelicerae length 1.80; carapace length 6.00; width 5.70; opistosoma length 6.40, width 5.10.

Female similar to the male, differences:Coloration: Chelicerae, endites, labium, and sternum darker orange than the male (Figures 50, 55).

Carapace: Oblong-orbiculate (Figure 49). Caput elevated (Figure 52); fovea shallow, slightly recurved, 1.08 wide, visible only when carapace is cleaned of soil particle encrustations. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.35; ALE 0.25; PME 0.15; PLE 0.28; AME–AME 0.13; AME–ALE 0.05; PME–PME 0.55; PME–PLE 0.06; ALE–PLE 0.08. Ocular tubercle raised; length 1.08, width 1.13; clypeus lacking (Figure 53).

Palps: Thicker than on male. Tarsi with one distal, long, curved unpaired claw, which has just one tooth. Tarsi ventrally with spines; left tarsus with spines: 2+1, right tarsus with spines: 1+2+2. All palp segments covered with encrusted soil particles, except prolateral regions of femora and trochanters. Tibia with five trichobothria, two medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral. Tarsus with four medial-dorsal trichobothria.

Chelicerae: Fangs wider than on male (Figure 50). Chelicerae furrows with conical, wide, short teeth on promargin and retromargin. Right chelicera promargin with 13 teeth, retromargin with 11 teeth; left chelicera promargin with 12 teeth, retromargin with 11 teeth; teeth on retromargin wider than teeth on promargin; on both rows the proximal teeth are wider and longer than distal teeth.

Endites: Endites ventrally with numerous scattered, finger-shaped cuspules, 61 cuspules on right endite and 64 on left one (Figure 55).

Labium: Trapezoidal, length 1.02, width 1.58, with 69 cuspules grouped on anterior region; with several long and slightly curved setae on anterior part. Cuspules finger-shaped, as on endites. Labium merged to sternum, without glandular pores on surface, cuticle not encrusted with soil. Labium-sternal furrow shallow (Figure 55).

Sternum: Circular, length 2.5, width 3.05; with few scattered, long setae. Sigillae oval, third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair 3/4 times its length from margin.

Legs: Length of legs and palp (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 3.65, 2.65, 3.25, 2.70, 1.40, 13.65. II: 3.50, 2.05, 2.35, 2.50, 1.45, 11.85. III: 2.95, 1.85, 2.05, 2.30, 1.35, 10.50. IV: 4.00, 1.60, 3.10, 3.40, 1.75, 13.85. Leg formula: 4-1-2-3. Palp: 2.67, 1.67, 1.53, -, 1.90, 7.77. Metatarsi and tarsi with spinose setae ventrally, wider on legs III and IV; thicker and more visible than on male. Tarsi with inconspicuous scopula, composed of small setae ending in blunt tip.

Claws: Slightly longer than the male. Only the tarsi I and II with small, unpaired third claw (differing from the male, which lacks it in tarsus II, and from Raven’s 1985 generic diagnosis). Palp tarsus with one single claw, without tooth.

Leg trichobothria: Located on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi. Cuticle around trichobothria not covered with encrusted soil particles. Trichobothrial socket size variable, smallest basally and apically. Tibia I has six trichobothria: three medial-prolateral, two medial-retrolateral, one medial-dorsal; tibia II has six trichobothria: three medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral; tibia III has six trichobothria: three medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral; tibia IV has five trichobothria: one medial-prolateral, one medial-dorsal, three medial-retrolateral; palpal tibia has six trichobothria: three medial-prolateral, three medial-retrolateral. Metatarsi I-III has three apical-dorsal trichobothria, metatarsus IV has four trichobothria: one medial-dorsal, three apical-dorsal. Tarsus I has nine medial-dorsal trichobothria; tarsus II has seven medial-dorsal trichobothria; tarsus III has six medial-dorsal trichobothria; tarsus IV has seven medial-dorsal trichobothria. Palpal tarsus has five medial dorsal trichobothria.

Chaetotaxy (left side): Metatarsus I 28v; II 6v; III 5v; IV 3v; tarsus I 14v; II 7v; III 3v; IV 1v; palp 7v. Conspicuous spines are more visible in females than in males.

Opisthosoma: Bigger than in male (Figure 51), genital operculum not visible due to encrusted soil particles.

Spermathecae: Two long, separated lobes, wider basally, slightly curved outwards from base; apically with paired sigmoid receptacles (Figure 56).

Spinnerets: PMS considerably shorter than PLS (arrows Figure 54), however PLS bigger than on male (Figure 54). First and second segments of PLS cylindrical, third segment finger-shaped distally. Measurements: PMS length 0.24, width 0.18, 0.24 apart; Segments of PLS (length): basal 0.90, middle 0.46, distal 1.00; midwidths PLS (width): basal 0.64, middle 0.58, distal 0.46 (Figure 54).

Variation.

Males (N= 3), females (N= 3). There is no variation in male secondary sexual characteristics. It is difficult to determine if there is variation in coloration in males due to the soil particles encrusted on the cuticle. However, in the endites, labium, and sternum which do not have encrusted soil particles, there was no variation in coloration. Males: Carapace length 4.50-5.35 (x = 4.88), width 4.7-5.2 (x = 4.93). Tibia I length 3.90-4.50 (x = 4.25). Sternum length 2.25-2.50 (x = 2.35), width 2.55-2.85 (x = 2.70). Endites length 2.00-2.30 (x = 2.13). Cuspules: endites, male 1 (right/left) (42/40), male 2 (38/39), male 3 (54/48); labium, male 1 (39), male 2 (47), male 3 (32). Females: Carapace length 5.40-6.10 (x = 5.80), width 5.10-5.80 (x = 5.50). Tibia I length 3.65-4.00 (x = 3.81). Sternum length 2.40-2.85 (x = 2.68), width 3.00-3.30 (x = 3.16). Endites length 2.45-2.75 (x = 2.61). Cuspules: endites, female 1 (60/66), female 2 (75/77), female 3 (43/51); labium, female 1 (64), female 2 (68), female 3 (41).

Juveniles (N= 2) (two different instars): Body lengths 4.30 (#1), 5.10 (#2) (not including chelicerae and spinnerets); Carapace lengths 2.05, 2.25, widths 1.95, 2.37. Tibia I lengths 1.35, 1.55. Sternum lengths 1.10, 1.30, widths 1.40, 1.55. Endites lengths 0.86, 1.00. Cuspules: endites, juvenile #1 (right/left) (12/12), juvenile #2 (19/17); labium: juvenile 1 (14), juvenile 2 (15). Leg trichobothria: Juvenile #1: Tibia I (4 trichobothria) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia II (4) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia III (4) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia IV (3) (2 medial-prolateral, 1 medial-retrolateral). Metatarsus I (2) (1 medial-dorsal, 1 apical-dorsal), metatarsus II (2) (1 medial-dorsal, 1 apical-dorsal), metatarsus III (2) (1 medial-dorsal, 1 apical-dorsal), metatarsus IV (2) (apical-dorsal). All tarsi (2) (medial-dorsal). Juvenile #2: Tibia I (4) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia II (4) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia III (4) (2 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), tibia IV (3) (2 medial-prolateral, 1 medial-retrolateral). All metatarsus (2) (apical-dorsal). Tarsus I (4) (medial-dorsal), tarsi II-IV (3) (medial-dorsal). Palp trichobothria: Juvenile #1: Tibiae (3) (1 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), Tarsus (2) (medial-dorsal). Juvenile #2: Tibiae (3) (1 medial-prolateral, 2 medial-retrolateral), Tarsus (2) (medial-dorsal).

Etymology.

The specific name is an adjective and refers to the type locality: Estación de Biología Tropical "Los Tuxtlas", Municipio San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, Mexico.

Distribution.

The species is known only from the region around the type locality in the Volcan San Martin Biosphere Reserve (Figure 62).

Natural history.

The specimens were collected in tropical rain-forest, under boulders on the ground (Figure 57). The holotype, two paratype males and one juvenile where collected near each other, within around 3 m2, in a zone with numerous small and big boulders on the ground. The specimens remained motionless when they were exposed by removing the rock that provided shelter, possibly as a defense mechanism because the soil particles encrusted on the body cuticle serves as camouflage with the moist ground (Figures 57-60). The type locality is at 1039 m elevation, and two adult females where collected nearby at 480 m.

Towards the end of spring (May 19, 2012), one paratypes female (CNAN-T0767) kept in captivity in the laboratory laid an egg sac (Figure 61). The female kept her palps and legs in contact with the egg sac constantly. Twenty-three spiderlings emerged 38 days after oviposition (July 26, 2012).

Remarks.

Although Paratropis papilligera was described by F. O. P.-Cambridge (1896) based on male and female adults from Pará, Brasil ( F. O. P.-Cambridge 1896; figs 1, 6-8, 17, 23), being the first species where the male is known, the type material of Paratropis papilligera for the comparative description of Paratropis tuxtlensis sp. n. was not revised because the description made by F. O. P.-Cambridge (1896) is complete and enough. The detailed F. O. P.- Cambridge’s description allowed getting enough information about the important morphological characters to separate Paratropis tuxtlensis as a new species as was mentioned in the comparative diagnosis herein.