Syspira medialuna sp. nov

Figs 5A −D, 6A −E, 7

Types. Holotype ♂ from Reserva Científica Ébano Verde, 19°1'56.8"N 70°32'30.9"W, 1029 m, Constanza, Province La Vega, Dominican Republic, 16‒17.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra (IBSP 168415) . Paratypes: 1♀ from the same locality, 16–17.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra (IBSP 168416); 1♀ with same data (MNHNSD 09.1541) .

Other material examined. Dominican Republic. Province La Vega, Constanza, Reserva Científica Ébano Verde, 19°1'56.8"N 70°32'30.9"W, 1029 m, 1♀, 16–17.IV.2015, A. Sánchez & J. Cabra (IBSP 168417; for SEM).

Etymology. The specific name alludes to the half-moon shape (media luna in Spanish) of the retrolateral cymbial groove in the male palp. Media Luna is also a delicacy typical from Argentina, especially from Buenos Aires, which are very appreciated by the authors.

Diagnosis. Males of Syspira medialuna are easily distinguished from other Dominican species by the short, truncated tip of the retrolateral tibial apophysis and by the relatively small median apophysis (Figs 5A‒B). Females are distinguished from other Dominican species by the epigynal plate projected medially, with rounded anterior borders (Figs 5C, 6E).

Description. Male (Holotype). Coloration as in Syspira cimitarra . Total length 10.2, carapace length 4.9, width 3.8. Eye diameters: AME 0.21, ALE 0.24, PME 0.23, PLE 0.22. Chelicerae 1.6 long, with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth (Fig. 6A). Leg measurements: femur I—4.5; II—4.3; III—3.9; IV—5.1. Leg spination: Itibia v2-2 -2, p0, r1-1-0, d0; metatarsus v2-2 -0, p0, r1-1-0, d0; II—tibia v2-2 -2, p0, r1-1-0, d0-2-0, metatarsus v2-2 - 0, p0-1-0, r1-1-0, d0-2-0; III‒IV—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-1-0, metatarsus v2-2 -2, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d1-1-2. Palp: cymbial groove half-moon shaped, distally closed, touching ventral margin of cymbium; retrolateral tibial apophysis short and truncated distally; median apophysis small, cup-shaped; distal projection of embolar base curved and sharp at tip; embolar base covered by sub-quadrangular ventral tegular process, directed proximally (Fig. 4A −B).

Female (Paratype, IBSP 168416). Coloration as in male, except palp, orange. Abdomen with dorsal white spots and ventrally orange, including the spinnerets. Total length 10.7, carapace length 5.2, width 3.8. Eye diameters: AME 0.21, ALE 0.21, PME 0.25, PLE 0.24. Chelicerae 2.3 long, with teeth as in male (Fig. 6B). Leg measurements: femur I—3.9; II—3.8; III—3.4; IV—4.5. Tricobothrium capsulated, striated transversally (Fig. 6D). Palp haired distally (Fig. 6C), spination: patella p1; tibia p2-1-0, d1-1-0; tarsus p1-0-0, r1-1-0, d1-0-0. Leg spination: I—tibia v2-2 -0, p0, r0, d0, metatarsus v2-2 -2, p0, r0, d0; II—tibia v1 r-1r-2, p0, r0, d0, metatarsus v2-2 - 0, p0, r0, d0; III—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-1-0, metatarsus v2-2 -1, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d2-2-0; IV—tibia v2-2 -2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-1-0, metatarsus v2-2 -2, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, d2-2-2. Epigynum: Atrium small, triangular; primary spermathecae small and rounded; secondary spermathecae globose and very small; copulatory ducts very long and coiled; fertilization ducts narrow and larger than primary spermathecae (Figs 5C −D; 6E).

Distribution. Known only from Province La Vega, Dominican Republic (Fig. 7).