Linothele spinosa, Drolshagen & Bäckstam, 2021

Drolshagen, Bastian & Bäckstam, Christian M., 2021, A taxonomic review of the mygalomorph spider genus Linothele Karsch, 1879 (Araneae, Dipluridae), Zoosystema 43 (10), pp. 163-196 : 184-186

Linothele spinosa n. sp.

( Figs 15 ; 17 K-M; 19 F)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B9735F95-4D4F-46E2-9CDE-7F9CF1DAA503

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Peru • ♂ F1; near Iquitos ; 2007; H. W. Auer leg.; NHRS-KASI000000036 .

Paratypes. Peru • 1 ♀ *, 2 ♀ F1; same data as for holotype; NHRS-KASI000000037 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘spined’ and refers to the presence of preening-combs on ventrodistal posterior metatarsi, otherwise only observed in L. macrothelifera ; the gender is feminine.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Iquitos, Peru.

DISTRIBUTION. — Only known from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS. — The male of L. spinosa n. sp. can be distinguished from those of other species of Linothele by the MP [(IML*100)/ MAD = 416], being low and domed ( Fig. 15C, D ), as well as their proportionally long [(PL*100)/BD = 385] embolus bearing no keels ( Fig. 15A, B ). Females differ from those of most other species of Linothele by the presence of preening-combs and can further be distinguished from those of L. macrothelifera by their longer spermathecae stalks bearing an elongated vesicle ( Fig. 15G ) and their distribution.

DESCRIPTION

Male (holotype)

CL = 8.6. CT = 12. MC = 50-51. Colouration in alcohol: Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps pale, yellow; opisthosoma (length: 12.04) with distinct pattern, mid-dorsally consisting of quadrate spots anteriorly, which become more rectangular posteriorly, or can be interconnected, forming longitudinal lines, laterally with several spots, ventrally with longitudinal lines and spots ( Fig. 17K, L ); maculae absent. Clypeus narrow. Palp measurements: 15.3 (5.6, 3.1, 4.8, 1.8). Leg measurements: I: 39.8 (9.7, 5.1, 8.8, 8.6, 7.6); II: 36.9 (9.0, 4.3, 7.9, 8.5, 7.2); III: 35.1 (8.4, 3.8, 7.2, 9.7, 6.0); IV: 43.9 (10.5, 4.2, 8.9, 12.9, 7.4). Leg formula 4123. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: PMS: 1.43; PLS: apical segment broken off. Palpal organ: [(PL*100)/BD = 385], see Figure 15A, B . Megaspine and MP: [(IML*100)/MAD = 416], see Figure 15C, D .

Female

Colouration as for male, but prosoma, chelicerae, legs, and pedipalps light brown and dorsal pattern on opisthosoma more distinct ( Fig. 17M ). Colouration alive ( Fig. 19F ): Carapace covered with golden setae. Clypeus: narrow, see Figure 15H . Sternum, labium and maxillae: see Figure 15F . Leg formula: 4123. Scopula divided. Preening-combs present. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segment of the PLS rigid, see Figure 15E . Spermathecae: consisting of two apically elongated stalks with thin bases, bearing several short and an elongated vesicle at 1:2–1:3B, see Figure 15G .

Varibility

CL = 8.3-10.8. CT = 11-14. MC = 40-72. Palp measurements: 15.0-20.0 (5.0-6.3, 2.7-3.6, 3.7-5.2, 3.6-4.9). Leg measurements: I: 34.0-36.1 (8.9-9.6, 5.1-5.3, 8.0-8.5, 7.0-7.6, 5.0- 5.1); II: 26.0-34.1 (7.0-9.1, 3.8-5.2, 5.7-7.7, 5.5-7.1, 4.0-5.0); III: 24.5-32.9 (6.2-8.5, 3.0-4.4, 5.3-6.8, 6.4-8.4, 3.6-4.8); IV: 37.9-42.1 (8.0-10.5, 4.5-9.4, 7.0-9.2, 9.1-11.6, 4.4-6.0).

REMARKS

The male holotype has been preserved immediately after the moult to adulthood which might have caused its very light colouration.

NATURAL HISTORY

Unknown.

Figures

FIG. 15. — Linothele spinosa n. sp.: A-D, L. spinosa n. sp. male holotype (NHRS-KASI 000000036); E-H, L. spinosa n. sp. female paratypes (NHRS-KASI 000000037); A, left palp, prolateral view; B, left palp, retrolateral view; C, right tibia I and metatarsus I, ventral view; D, right tibia I and metatarsus I, retrolateral view; E, spinnerets, ventral view; F, maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; G, spermatheca, dorsal view; H, eye tubercle, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 17. — Patterns on opisthosoma in Linothele Karsch, 1879: A-E, L. curvitarsis Karsch, 1879; F-H, L. macrothelifera Strand, 1908; I, J, L. septentrionalis n. sp.; K-M, L. spinosa n. sp.; A, L. curvitarsis indet. holotype (ZMB Arach-458), dorsal view; B, C, L. curvitarsis male (NHRS-KASI 000000032); B, dorsal view; C, ventral view; D, Diplura soricina Simon, 1889 female (MNHN (339)), dorsal view; E, Diplura soricina male (MNHN (339)), dorsal view; F, L. macrothelifera imm. male (MCZ-76020), dorsal view; G, H, L. macrothelifera undet. (MCZ-76021); G, dorsal view; H, ventral view; I, J, L. septentrionalis n. sp. female holotype (MCZ- 76012); I, dorsal view; J, ventral view; K-M, L. spinosa n. sp. male holotype (NHRS-KASI 000000036); K, dorsal view; L, ventral view; M, L. spinosa n. sp. female paratype (NHRS-KASI 000000037), dorsal view. Not to scale.

FIG. 19. — Specimens of Linothele Karsch, 1879 in life: A, B, L. curvitarsis Karsch,1879; C-E, L. sericata (Karsch, 1879); F, L. spinosa n. sp.; G, L. gaujoni (Simon, 1889); H-J, L. fallax (Mello-Leitão, 1926); A, adult female; B, adult male; C, adult female; D, adult male (both distal articles of PLS are broken); E, undet. juvenile; F, adult female; G, adult female; H, adult female; I. adult male; J, juvenile female. Not to scale.