Nops toballus Chickering, 1967

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2018, A revision of the Neotropical spider genus Nops MacLeay (Araneae: Caponiidae) with the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Nopinae genera, Zootaxa 4427 (1), pp. 1-121 : 53

Nops toballus Chickering, 1967

Figures 32A‒F ; 33A‒L

Nops toballus Chickering, 1967: 14 , figs 18–19. Male holotype from St. Catherine Parish, near May Pen (17°56′57″N, 77°08′33″W), Jamaica, 22.xi.1957, A. M. Chickering ( MCZ 23306) ; female paratype from Clarendon Parish, 2.5 miles N of May Pen (17°59′N, 77°14′W), Jamaica, 10.xi.1963 ( MCZ 128549 ); all types examined.

Additional material examined. JAMAICA: St. Catherine: Port Henderson (17°56′N, 76°52′W), 4.v.1956, A. M. Chickering , 1 immature ( MCZ 12 8547). Innswood Estate , 10.xi.1963, A. M. Chickering, 1 immature ( MCZ 128546 ). 7 miles SE of Toundung 4,5 thorn scrub, 28.vii‒1.viii.1974, S. Peck, 1immature ( MCZ 128240 ) . St. Andrew: NW part of Long Mountain (17°59′N, 76°44′W), 8.v.1956, C.C. Hoff, 1 immature ( MCZ 128550 ) . St. Thomas : 14 miles E of Kingston (17°57′N, 76°36′W), 25.v.1956, A. M. Chickering, 1♂ ( MCZ 128545 ) . Morant Bay (17°53′N, 76°19′W), 4.x.1957, A. M. Chickering, 2 immatures ( MCZ 128551 ). Portland: Blue Mountains , main range (18°08′N, 76°40′W), 17‒19.viii.1934 , Darlington, 1♀ ( MCZ 128548 ) . Blue Mountains (18°02′N, 76°37′W), 19.xi.2013, CarBio Team, 2♂ (for SEM) ( USNM). Ditto, 14‒16, 22.xi.2013, CarBio Team, 2 immatures ( USNM).

Diagnosis. Males resemble similar congeners Nops ernestoi and Nops campeche n. sp. by having a long and prolaterally twisted embolus; but can be distinguished by its embolus with a narrower base and weakly curved ( Fig. 32B‒C ), ending with three extensions, one thicker than the other ( Fig. 33D‒E ). Females with narrow invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base ( Fig. 33G‒H ).

Description. Male (holotype): Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter ( Fig. 32A ). Endites, labium and sternum light orange. Abdomen green grayish dorsal pattern as in figure 6I ( Fig. 32A ). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.4. Carapace 5.7 long, 4.7 wide. Leg measurements: I: 4.0; II: 3.9; III: 3.5; IV: 4.15. Posterior unpaired claws elongated and dorsally reflexed ( Fig. 33K‒L ). PLS longer than PMS. Palp with embolus longer than palpal tibia, with a narrow base and weakly curved ( Fig. 32B‒C ), ending with three extensions, one thicker than the other ( Fig. 33D‒E ).

Female (paratype): Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in male. Abdomen as in male, but somewhat darker. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 8.6. Carapace 5.8 long, 4.7 wide. Sternum 3.8 long, 3.2 wide. Leg measurements: I: 4.0; II: 3.85; III: 3.60; IV: 4.15. Posterior unpaired claws and PLS as in male. External genital area with weakly sclerotized anterior plate and lep, unremarkable ess ( Fig. 32E ). Internal genitalia with narrow invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base ( Figs 32F ; 33G‒H).

Natural history. The majority of specimens were collected under stones.

Distribution. Known only from Jamaica ( Fig. 32G ).

Figures

FIGURE 32. Nops toballus Chickering; A–C male (holotype); D–F female (paratype). A habitus, dorsal view. B left palp, prolateral view. C left palp, retrolateral view. D habitus, dorsal view. E external genital area, ventral view. F internal genitalia, dorsal view. G distribution map. Abbreviations: ap—anterior plate, ess—sclerotization around spiracles, lep—lateral extensions of posterior plate, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, D), 0.5 mm (B–C, E–F).

FIGURE 33. A–H Nops toballus Chickering; A–F male (Blue Mountains: USNM); G–L female (Blue Mountains: MCZ 128548). A left palp, prolateral view. B left palp, anterior view. C tibial brush, prolateral view. D tip of embolus, anterior view. E tip of embolus, prolateral view. F stridulatory pick, prolateral view. G internal genitalia, dorsal view. H internal genitalia, anterior view. I detail of receptaculum and uterus externus, dorsal view. J pretarsal claws on left leg I, prolateral view. K pretarsal claws on left leg IV, prolateral oblique view. L tarsus of left leg IV, prolateral view. Abbreviations: aj—adesmatic joints, ar—arolium, ap—anterior plate, ete—embolar tip extensions, IC—pretarsal unpaired claw, MtS –metatarsal dorsal stopper, pp—posterior plate, re—posterior receptaculum, ue—uterus externus.