Scotinella garman Chamé-Vázquez & Guzmán-García, 2023

Chamé-Vázquez, David, Guzmán-García, Carlos Ernesto & Maldonado-Carrizales, Juan, 2023, Two new species of Scotinella Banks, 1911 (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from Mexico, with a discussion on the female genitalic morphology and intraspecific variation, Zootaxa 5351 (4), pp. 453-466 : 454-459

Scotinella garman Chamé-Vázquez & Guzmán-García sp. nov.

Figures 1–40 , 59, 60

Type material. Holotype: 1 ♁ ( CARCIB-Ar-44 ): MEXICO: Michoacán, Ario de Rosales, El Ciprés (19.14752°N, 101.6619°W, 2114 m), pine forest, pitfall trapping, A.A. Mojica, M. Alonso, C.E. Guzmán, J.W. Linares leg., 26/ VIII/2016 - 28/VIII/2016.

Paratypes: 1 ♀ ( CARCIB-Ar-312 ), same data as for holotype, except 30/XI/2016 - 02/XII/2016; 1 ♁ ( CARCIB-Ar-313 ), same data as for holotype ; 22 ♁ 3 ♀ ( CARCIB-Ar-314 ), same data as for holotype, except (19.15185°N, 101.65633°W, 2122 m), avocado orchard ; 1 ♁ 1 ♀ ( CAFBUM-84130 ), same data as for preceding ; 1 ♁ 1 ♀ ( ECOTAAR-011499 ), same data as for preceding .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the letters of the last name of the parents of the second author (Gabriela García and Ernesto Guzmán).

Diagnosis. This appears to be the southern sister species of S. poncei sp. nov.; males are similar in having a relatively short embolus (i.e., about half or less than half of the cymbium length), while females are similar in the short and sinuous copulatory ducts restricted to the anterior half of epigynal length. Nevertheless, in S. garman sp. nov. the dorsal branch of the RTA is more robust and straight and the distal third is gradually tapered ( Figs 11 , 18 ); the embolus is longer and gently curved, and its basal third has a ventral carina, and the embolar base is small ( Figs 10 , 17, 20, 22 ), whereas in S. poncei sp. nov. the dorsal branch of the RTA is slenderer, the distal third is acuminate and gently curved ( Fig. 51 ); the embolus is shorter, thickened basally but attenuated and strongly curved distally, hook-shaped ( Figs 50, 51 ), and the embolar base is prominent ( Figs 50, 51 ). The female of S. garman sp. nov. have small, shallow atria and shallow median indentation restricted to the anterior half of epigyne ( Figs 13 , 30 ), and elongated spermathecae ( Figs 14, 15 ), whereas in S. poncei sp. nov. the atria and median indentation are usually larger and deeper, the latter extending posteriorly (usually beyond mid-length of primary spermathecae), and the spermathecae are pear-shaped ( Figs 53–58 ). Males and females of S. garman sp. nov. have three or four chevrons, of which two or three are well-marked, and the remaining are thread-like ( Figs 2, 6 , 59, 60 ), while S. poncei sp. nov. usually has a single median chevron, usually partially or entirely broken ( Figs 42, 46 , 61, 62 ).

Description. Male holotype. Coloration. Carapace brown with faint dark markings radiating from the center, margins dark ( Fig. 1 ). Chelicerae brownish orange. Labium brownish orange, posterior margin darkest. Endites and sternum brownish orange, the latter with margins brown ( Fig. 3 ). Legs with all femora brown, following segments lighter than previous ones, all tarsi pale yellow. Opisthosoma dorsum dark brown, with a large chevron at about half of the opisthosoma length, followed by two thread-like chevrons; shiny dorsal scutum covering all opisthosoma length ( Fig. 2 ); venter dark grey, with light yellow background, epigastric area brownish orange and sclerotized; small, sclerotized strips posterior of epigastric furrow (arrow in Fig. 4 ). Carapace rounded, posterior edge truncated; pars cephalica narrow ( Fig. 1 ); pars thoracica steeply sloping, pars cephalica gently sloping from thoracic groove to clypeus. Fovea shape indistinct, brown line. AER almost straight as seen from above, procurved as seen from the front, PER straight as seen from above ( Fig. 1 ). Sternum shield-shaped ( Fig. 3 ). Macrosetae. Each cheliceral paturon with two erect bristles near the base; median bristle longer and stronger than lateral bristle. Palp macrosetae: Fe d0-0-1. Leg macrosetae: Fe I p0-0-2, Ti I V6p, 6r, Mt I V4p, 3r, Ti II V5p, 5r, Mt II V4p, 3r, Mt III with preening brush. Measurements. Total length 2.55. Carapace 1.14 long, 0.96 wide. Opisthosoma 1.41 long, 0.90 wide. Sternum 0.65 long, 0.65 wide. Leg: I 3.50 (0.98, 0.37, 0.92, 0.80, 0.43), II 3.02 (0.86, 0.35, 0.71, 0.67, 0.43), III 2.61 (0.73, 0.29, 0.55, 0.61, 0.43), IV 4.00 (1.08, 0.41, 0.90, 0.98, 0.63).

Palp: Femur with broad and moderately deep groove, half-length of the segment, below femoral apophysis ( Figs 24–25 ), femoral apophysis hooked and nearer the base of the segment, setose apically ( Figs 23–26 ). RTA bifid ( Figs 10, 11 , 17, 18 ), dRTA longer than vRTA; dRTA straight, more attenuated on the distal third ( Figs 11 , 18 ) and with a small, basal bump on dorsal margin (black arrow in Figs 10, 12 and white in Figs 17, 19 ); vRTA with blunt apex and striate on dorsal margin ( Figs 11 , 18 ). Cymbium with several modified setae around embolus tip (white arrow in Fig. 21 ). Tegulum protruding ventrally and retrolaterally, oval-shaped in retrolateral view ( Figs 10, 11 , 17, 18 ). Embolus spiniform, slightly curved, extending to anterior alveolus margin ( Figs 10 , 17, 20 ); a ventral serrulate carina on the basal third of embolus (white arrow in Figs 20, 22 ). Conductor (distal extension of tegulum where the embolus lies) broad and slightly sclerotized ( Figs 20–22 ). Bulb with a portion of tegulum protruding and deeply sclerotized (asterisk in Figs 10, 11 , 17, 18, 20, 22 ), just behind the conductor, on ectal side.

Female paratype (CARCIB-Ar-312). Coloration. Carapace dusky pale yellow ( Fig. 5 ). Chelicerae and legs as carapace. Labium, endites, and sternum pale yellowish ( Fig. 7 ). Opisthosoma dorsum gray dark, with pair of inconspicuous spots at the anterior third, followed by four chevrons, of which two are well marked and two threadlike, and then by wide whitish spot immediately above spinnerets ( Fig. 6 ); opisthosoma without scutum; venter dark grey, with center pale yellowish, sclerotized strips present (arrow in Fig. 8 ). Carapace and sternum shape as male. AER and PER as male. Macrosetae: chelicerae as male, palp macrosetae: Fe d0-0-1, Pt p1-0-0, Ti d1-0-0, p1-0-0. Leg macrosetae as male, except Ti II V6p, 4r. Measurements. Total length 2.55. Carapace 1.08 long, 0.86 wide. Opisthosoma 1.47 long, 1.02 wide. Sternum 0.59 long, 0.61 wide. Leg: I 3.21 (0.90, 0.35, 0.84, 0.71, 0.41), II 2.86 (0.80, 0.33, 0.63, 0.63, 0.47), III 2.51 (0.69, 0.31, 0.49, 0.59, 0.43), IV 3.70 (1.00, 0.37, 0.86, 0.88, 0.59).

Epigyne: sclerotized epigynal plate longer than wide ( Figs 8 , 13–15 ); median area, between copulatory openings and spermathecae, uniformly sclerotized ( Figs 13–15 ); median indentation small ( Fig. 30 ). Copulatory openings small, situated at the anterior edge of the plate, separated by about their diameter ( Figs 13–15 , 30 ). Vulva ( Figs 14–15 , 31, 32 ): copulatory ducts restricted to the anterior half of epigynal length, directed posteriorly, then laterally, then again posteriorly toward primary spermathecae; the last third of ducts thinner than anterior one. Primary spermathecae elongated, separated by half their diameter; secondary spermathecae small, digitiform, and arise from the junction of copulatory ducts with spermathecae. Fertilization ducts attenuated distally, curved to anterolateral sides, and longer than secondary spermathecae ( Fig. 15 ).

Variation. In one female, the anterior pair of light spots are conspicuous, followed by four chevrons, three well-marked and one thread-like, followed by the posterior whitish spot ( Fig. 59 ). In the same specimen, the first chevron extends to the sides and reaches the venter.Another specimen has anterior spots barely perceptible and four chevrons, of which the first two are thin and the posterior ones thread-like and barely perceptible ( Fig. 60 ). In males, the first two dorsal chevrons are conspicuous or inconspicuous (i.e., thread-like); in some instances, the whitish spot above the spinnerets is well-marked or indistinct. The coloration of the female paratype described is paler than the holotype, probably because it was collected shortly after its final molt; other females are as dark as the holotype and other males. Measurements: males (N=11): carapace length 1.02–1.14 (mean 1.07); width 0.84–0.96 (mean 0.90); females (N=6): carapace length 1.08–1.18 (mean 1.13); width 0.86–1.01 (mean 0.96).

Natural history. This species inhabits the pine forest floor and is very abundant in organic avocado orchards ( Guzmán-García et al. 2018). All adult males and females were found in August, except just one male, which was found in early December.

Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality; see Fig. 63 .

Remarks. In contrast with the following species, males and females of S. garman sp. nov. do not have noticeable differences in their copulatory organs. Also, several females have copulatory openings occluded with mating plugs (arrow in Fig. 30 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Scotinella garman sp. nov. 1, 2. Male habitus, dorsal view; 3, 4. Same, ventral view (arrow points to postepigastric sclerotized strips); 5, 6. Female habitus, dorsal view; 7, 8. Same, ventral view. Scale bars 1–8: 0.50 mm.

FIGURES 9–15. Scotinella garman sp. nov. 9. Male palp, prolateral view; 10. Same, ventral view (asterisk points to a sclerotized portion of tegulum; arrow points to the basal bump of dRTA); 11. Same, retrolateral view; 12. Same, dorsal view; 13. Uncleared epigyne, ventral view; 14. Cleared epigyne, ventral view; 15. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars 9–15: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: Cb—cymbium, CD—copulatory ducts, CO—copulatory openings, E—embolus, FD—fertilization ducts, dRTA—dorsal branch of RTA, vRTA—ventral branch of RTA, S1—primary spermathecae, S2—secondary spermathecae, T—tegulum, vpb—ventralprolateral bulge.

FIGURES 16–26. Scotinella garman sp. nov. 16. Male palp, prolateral view; 17. Same, ventral view (asterisk points to a sclerotized portion of tegulum; arrow points to the basal bump of dRTA); 18. Same, retrolateral view; 19. Same, dorsal view; 20. Detail of palpal bulb, ventral view (arrow points to the embolar carina); 21. Detail of embolus, ventral view (arrow points to a small patch of modified setae); 22. Same, retrolateral view (arrow points to the embolar carina; asterisk points to a sclerotized portion of tegulum); 23. Palpal femur, prolateral view; 24. Same, ventral view (arrow points to femoral groove); 25. Same, retrolateral view; 26. Detail of femoral apophysis, retrolateral view. Scale bars 16–19, 23–25: 0.10 mm; 20–22, 26: 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: C—conductor, Cb—cymbium, E—embolus, Eb—embolic base, FA—femoral apophysis, dRTA—dorsal branch of RTA, vRTA—ventral branch of RTA, T—tegulum, vpb—ventral-prolateral bulge.

FIGURES 27–40. Scotinella garman sp. nov. 27. Female carapace, dorsal view; 28. Same, lateral view (arrow points to cheliceral bristles); 29. Same, anterior view; 30. Epigyne, ventral view (arrow points to mating plug); 31. Same, dorsal view; 32. Detail of secondary spermathecae, dorsal view; 33. Female tibia I, lateral view; 34. Detail of macrosetae of female tibia I, lateral view; 35. Female palp, lateral view; 36. Female femur I, dorsal view; 37. Detail of modified setae of female femur I, dorsal view; 38. Female palpal claw (arrow), anterior view; 39. Female trichobothrium of tarsus I, dorsal view; 40. Female tarsal organ of leg I, dorsal view. Scale bars 27–29: 0.25 mm; 30–31: 0.10 mm; 32: 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory ducts, CO— copulatory openings, FD—fertilization ducts, in—indentation, S1—primary spermathecae, S2—secondary spermathecae.

FIGURE 59–63. Opisthosomal pattern variation of Scotinella garman sp. nov. (59–60) and Scotinella poncei sp. nov. (61–62). 63. Known distribution of Mexican Scotinella species.

FIGURES 49–58. Scotinella poncei sp. nov. 49. Male palp, prolateral view; 50. Same, ventral view; 51. Same, retrolateral view; 52. Same, dorsal view; 53, 55, 57. Cleared epigyne, ventral view; 54, 56, 58. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars 49–58: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: Cb—cymbium, CD—copulatory ducts, CO—copulatory openings, E—embolus, in—indentation, dRTA— dorsal branch of RTA, vRTA—ventral branch of RTA, S1—primary spermathecae, S2—secondary spermathecae, T—tegulum, vpb—ventral-prolateral bulge.

FIGURES 41–48. Scotinella poncei sp. nov. 41, 42. Male habitus, dorsal view; 43, 44. Same, ventral view (arrow points to postepigastric sclerotized strips); 45, 46. Female habitus, dorsal view; 47, 48, Same, ventral view. Scale bars 41–48: 0.50 mm.