Selenops debilis Banks, 1898

Crews, Sarah C., 2011, A revision of the spider genus Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Arachnida, Araneae, Selenopidae) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 105, pp. 1-182 : 50-52

Selenops debilis Banks, 1898 Figs 57-60198Map 7

Selenops debilis Banks 1898: 267, pl. 16, Fig. 14 (♀, not examined).

Selenops debilis Muma 1953: 13, figs 15-18 (♀, ♂; ♀ neotype examined).

Type material.

Neotype female designated by Muma (1953: 14): San Jose del Cabo, México, G. Eisen, F. Vaslit (MCZ, examined). The holotype, from the same location, was lost or destroyed.

Note.

Muma (1953: 14) also designated a male specimen from Oro Blanco Mountains, 12 miles from Nogales, Arizona, VII.1937, P. Steckler (AMNH), as an 'allotype'. The neotype and Muma's 'allotype' are in terrible shape and the descriptions differ from Muma (1953) in coloration and markings due to aging, drying and fading.

Other material examined.

MÉXICO: Baja California: El Rosario, under reeds along lagoon, hillsides, 5.V.1961, W.J. Gertsch, V. Roth, 1♀ (AMNH). Baja California Sur: 23 km north of La Paz, Neotoma 8460, 10.VII.1957, Ryckman, Spencer, 1♀ (AMNH); Sierra La Laguna, Cañon de la Zorra, 240 m, 22.VIII.1986, M. Jiminez, 1♂ (USNM). Sinaloa: 6 mi S of Culiacán, 22.VII.1954, W.J. Gertsch, 1♀ (AMNH). Sonora: San Miguel Hercostos, 2♀ (USNM). UNITED STATES: Arizona: Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mtns., 6000', 31.V.1952, M. Cazier, W.J. Gertsch, R. Schrammel, 1♀ (AMNH); Cochise Co., Portal, 12.VI.1923, W.J. Gertsch, 1♂ (AMNH); Pima Co.,Tucson, O. Bryant, 1♀ (AMNH); Pima Co., Santa Catalina Mountains, 17.V.1941, R.H. Crandall, 1p♀, 1♀ (AMNH); Santa Cruz Co., Paradise, 10.V.1989, S. Roth, 1♂ (CAS); Santa Cruz Co., Madera Canyon, Mt. Wrightson Trail, 1.VIII.2005, J. Starrett, S. Thomas, under rocks, logs in forest, 4 imm. (EME sel_264, 270, 271, 272). New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., Antelope Pass, 2.VI.1988, Tomberlin, pan trap, 1♂ (AMNH).

Diagnosis.

Females can be distinguished from others by the combination of a wider median septum with parallel lateral margins, and long, cylindrical spermathecae directed anterolaterally (Figs 57-58). Males can be distinguished from other species by the RTA, which is a very small stalk, distally bifurcated into a v-shape, with a small angular lateral projection (Figs 59-60).

Remarks.

The male was matched to the female neotype by Muma (1953) based on the general appearance, including coloration, pattern and structure. They are from distant localities, and there are other species in this group that are very similar, and species boundaries are unclear. Thus, it is entirely possible that this male and this female are not the same species.

Description.

Male (fromOro Blanco Mountains, Muma's 'allotype'):carapace orange-brown; chelicerae orange-brown; maxillae brown-yellow, lighter distally; labium brown, lightening distally; abdomen dorsally orange-brown, no marks visible; legs orange-brown, markings indistinct. Carapace: 0.94 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER nearly straight; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.30, PLE 0.35; interdistances AME-PME 0.03, PME-ALE 0.10, ALE-PLE 0.50. PME-PME 1.00. ALE-ALE 1.60; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.35, PLE-PLE 1.88; clypeus 0.09 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:as long as broad, posteriorly indented. Legs:leg formula 4321 (Muma, 1953); scopulae present on distal end of all 4 tarsi; tarsi I-IV with strong claw tufts; both claws with same number of teeth; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, rl 1 –0– 1, d 1 –2– 0, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –0– 0, v 2 –2– 0, rl 1 –1– 0; II, F pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –2– 0, rl 1 –1– 0, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –0– 0, v 2-2, rl 1 –0– 0; III, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti pr 1 –0– 1, rl 1 –0– 1, d 1 –1– 1, v 2 –2– 2; Mt pr 1 –0– 0, rl 1 –0– 0, v 2-2. Abdomen:without terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:Fm, spination d 0 –1– 4; cymbium oval in ventral view, slightly angled posterolaterally; conductor large angular structure arising laterally, curved on one side, sinuate on other, tapering upwards, pointed distally; embolus long, slender, curved, beginning at 5 o'clock, terminating at 12 o'clock; MA with short round base, tapering abruptly to longer finger-like process, originating at 2 o'clock, directed laterally; RTA with two processes, dorsal process bifurcated, on short stalk, distally v-shaped, with angular process; ventral apophysis small, rounded,directed ventrally; apophyses extend at least ¼ the length of the cymbium in ventral view (Figs 59-60). Dimensions: Total length 8.70. Carapace length 4.15, width 4.40. Sternum length 1.70, width 1.70. Abdomen length 4.55, width 3.00. Pedipalp: Fm 1.50, Pt 0.35, Ti 0.75, Ta 1.40, total 4.00. Leg I: Fm 4.75, Pt 2.00, Ti 4.90, Mt 4.50, Ta 2.40, total 18.55. Leg II: Fm 5.30, Pt 2.40, Ti 5.00, Mt 5.00, Ta 2.00, total 19.70. Leg III: Fm 5.00, Pt 1.85, Ti 4.80, Mt 5.00, Ta 2.00, total 18.65. Leg IV: Absent, Fm 4.99, Pt 1.53, Ti 4.58, Mt 4.16, Ta 1.87, total 17.13.

Neotype female: Color:carapace orange-brown, no markings visible; chelicerae orange-brown; maxillae orange-brown, lightening distally; labium orange-brown, lightening distally; abdomen dorsally yellow-tan with mediolateral dark spots and laterocaudal festoon; ventrally dusky yellow-grey, no markings; legs pale-yellow. Carapace: 0.94 times longer than broad. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye diameters, AME 0.15, ALE 0.10, PME 0.30, PLE 0.45; interdistances AME-PME 0.05, PME-ALE 0.08, ALE-PLE 0.45. PME-PME 1.00. ALE-ALE 1.60; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.35, PLE-PLE 1.80; clypeus 0.15 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:1.14 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Legs:leg formula 4321 (Muma, 1953); spination: unavailable, legs disarticulated. Abdomen:without terminal setal tufts. Pedipalp:claw with 13 teeth. Epigyne: Median septum conspicuous, sides of septum mostly parallel, somewhat truncate posteriorly, genital openings located at lateral margins of septum, posterior margin of plate sinuous; internally, ducts elongated, directed anterolaterally, fertilization ducts located laterally; small posterodorsal fold present, sinuous, not covering internal ducts (Figs 55-56). Dimensions: Total length 8.85. Carapace length 3.85, width 4.10. Sternum length 2.00, width 1.75. Abdomen length 5.00, width 4.00.

Natural History.

Found under rocks and logs in both arid regions (Fig. 198) and oak woodlands.

Distribution.

Known from the southwest of North America, from southwestern New Mexico to Baja California, México (Map 7).