Agalenocosa gentilis Mello-Leitão

(Figs 17, 24 e, 26)

Agalenocosa gentilis Mello-Leitão 1944: 336, f. 23, female from Argentina, Buenos Aires, Tigre (MLP 16000), examined.

Other material examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Paraná, Isla Catalina, Doello, Daguerre, J. B., 25. ii.1934, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22743); Paraná de las Palmas, Bachmann, A., ii.1963, 2 ♀ 6 immatures (MACN-Ar 22788); Delta, Río Sarmiento, Bachmann, A., 4. xii.1947, 1 ♀ 1 immature (MACN-Ar 22753); Tigre, Damico, xi.1947, 4 ♀ 3 eggsac (MACN-Ar 22760); Delta, Paraná de las Palmas, Bachmann, A., 28. i.1964, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22765); Rincón de Milberg, xii.1980, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 28987); San Fernando, Piacentini, L., xii.2002, 1 ♀ 1 immature (MACN-Ar 22758); same data, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22777); Punta Lara, Partridge, W., 1. xi.1946, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 22776); same locality, Miranda & Ramírez, M., 4. xii.1981, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 30642).

Diagnosis. The females of A. gentilis resembles those of A. punctata and A. velox by the coloration pattern (Figs 15, 17), but can be differentiated by the acute shape on the anterior margin of the lightly sclerotised area that surrounds the copulatory opening, and by the vulval chamber dorsal to the spermathecae (Fig. 17 b).

Description. Male. Unknown.

Female (MACN-Ar 22765). Carapace brown with light brown median band with a conspicuous Y-shaped dark mark that extends from the fovea to the PLE, pale submarginal bands (Figs 17 a–c). Sternum yellow, sparsely covered with brown bristles, more abundant on the margins. Labium dark grey. Chelicerae lighter than labium, light brown, covered with brown bristles. Dorsum of abdomen brown with longitudinal irregular pale marks on the center and longitudinal lines of white pubescence on its lateral sides (Figs 17 a–c). Venter pale brown. Legs pale brown without annulations. Leg formula IV> I> II> III.

Spination: femur I p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, II p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r d1-0-d1, III p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r d1-0-d1, IV p d1- 0-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-0-d1; patella II p 1, III p 1 d 1-1 r 1, IV p 1 d 1-1 r 1; tibia I v 2-2-0, II p d1-0-d1 v 2-2 -0, III p d1-0-1 d 1-1-0 r 0-1-1 v 2-2 -2ap, IV p 0-d1-d1 d 1-0-1 r 0-1- 1 v p2-2-2ap; metatarsus I v 2-2-2ap, II p 1-0-2ap r 0-0-1ap v 2-2 -1ap, III p d1-d1-2ap r d1-d1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap, IV p d1-1-1 d 0-0-2 r d1-1-1 v 2-2 -1ap.

Epigynal plate without pockets or atria, copulatory openings surrounded by a rounded lightly sclerotised area with an acute anterior margin (Fig. 17 d). Vulva: head of spermatheca rounded, almost of the same length of the stalk, which has a dorsal protrusion. Vulval chamber small and rounded, next to the base of spermathecae in dorsal view (Fig. 17 e).

Measurements. MACN-Ar 22765: TL 5.47, PL 3.33, PW 2.27, PH 1.07, OL 2.27. Eyes: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.22, PLE 0.18. Row of eyes: AER 0.52, PME 0.55, PLE 0.78. Sternum (length/width) 1.42/1.22. Labium (length/width) 0.50/0.47. Legs: length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I 2.47 + 3.07 + 2.00 + 1.00 = 8.54, II 2.33 + 2.73 + 1.93 + 1.00 = 7.99, III 2.27 + 2.40 + 2.00 + 0.87 = 7.54, IV 3.00 + 3.67 + 3.27 + 0.93 = 10.87.

Variation (range, mean ± s.d.). TL 5.07 – 6.47, 5.82 ± 0.46; CL 3.00 – 3.67, 3.16 ± 0.20; CW 2.13 – 2.60, 2.33 ± 0.13 n = 10.

Distribution. Known only from eastern central Argentina at northeast of Buenos Aires Province (Fig. 26).