Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924

Silva-Moreira, Thiago Da & Machado, Miguel, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the crab spider genus Epicadus Simon, 1895 (Arachnida: Araneae: Thomisidae) with notes on related genera of Stephanopinae Simon, 1895, Zootaxa 4147 (3), pp. 281-310 : 292-297

Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924

Figs 1 D–F, 7–10, 15G–I, 16E–F, 19

Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924: 280 . Mello-Leitão 1929: 96, fig 45; Roewer 1954: 755; Brignoli 1983: 604, World Spider Catalog 2016.

Epicadus pallidus Mello-Leitão, 1929: 97 . New synonymy.

Etymology. “ Rubripes ” is the combination of the Latin words ruber “reddish” and pedis “foot”. Rubripes is an adjective.

Type material: Holotype of Epicadus rubripes (designated by Mello-Leitão 1924): female, BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro: Niterói , [-22.8844; -43.0944], C.F. de Mello-Leitão leg. ( MNRJ 911 ; examined).

Holotype of Epicadus palidus holotype (designated by Mello-Leitão, 1929): juvenile female, BRAZIL, São Paulo, [-23.5333; -46.6166], E. Borgmeier leg. ( MNHN 12646; examined).

Note. The type specimen of E. rubripes was found dry and in poor preservation conditions (see Silva-Moreira 2010 for details), perhaps due to its previous preservation as a pinned specimen. Upon study of the type of E. pallidus , which is a juvenile specimen, we concluded that E. pallidus is a junior subjective synonym of E. rubripes because both have the large, round-ended vertically oriented posterior median projection.

Other material examined. BRAZIL: Bahia : 1 female, Ilhéus, [-14.8167, -39.0333], May leg. ( MLP 17893) ; 1 female, Camacan, Fazenda Matiapã, [-15.4; -39.5], J.S. Santos leg., 14 October 1980 (MCN 10683); 1 female, Itamaraju, Fazenda Nossa Senhora das Neves, [-17.0666, -39.5333], J.S. Santos leg., 9 October 1978 (MCN 10691). Minas Gerais: 1 female, Barbacena, [-21.2258, -43.7902], J.M. Xavier leg., December 1964, ( IBSP 5279 ) ; 1 female, Catas Altas, Serra do Caraça), [-20.1363, -43.5105], K. Lenko, R.G. Kloss & U.R. Martins leg., 23 October 1961 (MZSP 6713). Mato Grosso do Sul: 1 male, Brasilândia, Usina Hidrelétrica Sérgio Motta, [- 21.3125, -52.0369] ( IBSP 35338 ) ; Rio de Janeiro: 1 female , Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional da Tijuca ), [-22.95, - 43.2833], Mendes leg., 31 December 1944 ( MZSP 03545 ) ; 1 female, Casemiro de Abreu, Barra de São João, Morro de São João , [-22.5374, -42.0310], Expedição Arachnée, 21–24 March 2003 ( MNRJ 11494 ) ; 1 male, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Estaçao Ecologica de Guapiaçu, [-22.4497, -42.7666], E. Arcoverd leg, August 1985, (MNRJ 10369); 1 juvenile, Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, [-21.1333, -41.6833], R.L.C. Baptista leg., 4 April 1985 (MNRJ 11572). São Paulo: 1 female, Jundiaí, Serra do Japi), [-22.2808, -47.5483], E.N. Ramires leg., 18 June 1990 ( IBSP 06244 ) ; 1 female, E.N. Ramires leg., 24 May 1990 (IBSP 6250); 1 female, A.J. Santos leg., 21 November 2001 (IBSP 35117); 1 male, Botucatu, Fazenda Lageado), [-22.8582, -48.4347], E.H. Wienskoski leg. (MNRJ 12697); 1 female, Cotia [-23.6041, -46.9194], A.M. Corvicho leg, 18 November 1977 (IBSP 198560). Paraná: 1 female, Ponta Grossa, Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, [-25.2166, -50.0333], L. Mestre leg., October 1995 ( IBSP 11793 ) ; 1 male, Foz do Iguaçu, Refúgio Biológico da Bela Vista, [-25.55, -54.5833], A.B. Bonaldo leg., 17 March.1997 (MCN 20936). Rio Grande do Sul: 1 female, Montenegro, Pesqueiro, [-29.7, -51.4666], A.A. Lise leg., 18 May 1977 ( MCN 5322 ) ; 1 female, M.L. Tavares leg., 1 April 1977 (MCN 6360); 1 male (MCN 6364); 1 female, M.H. Galileo leg., 6 October 1993 (MCN 06732); 1 male, H. Bischoff leg, 1 September 1977 (MCN 08179); 1 male, Viamão, Parque Saint-Hilaire, [-30.0867, -51.0922] (MCN 8090); 1 female, A.A. Lise leg., 7 May 1976 (MCN 8094); 1 male, Viamão, Tarumã), [-30.0833, -51.0285], E.H. Buckup leg., 17 November 1976 (MCN 8095); 1 male, Viamão, Fepagro), [-30.0362, -51.0216], A.D. Brescovit,, 18 October 1985 (MCN 14455); 1 female, Viamão, [-30.1340, -51.0157], P.P. Junior leg., 20 December 2000 (MCTP 21868); 1 male, M.C. de Paula leg., 7 October 1991 (MCTP 2855); 2 females, Campo Bom, [-29.6833, -51.05], C.J. Becker leg., 16 November 1979 (MCN 8962); 1 male, C.J. Becker leg., 12 October 1980 (MCN 09371); 1 male, General Câmara, [-29.9, - 51.7666], E.H. Buckup leg., 19 October 1982 (MCN 10898); 1 male, Porto Alegre, Morro Santana), [-30.0333, - 51.2], A.A. Lise leg., 3 September 1983 (MCN 11756); 1 female, A.A. Lise leg., 15 December 1989 (MCN 19221); 1 female, São Leopoldo, C.J. Becker leg., 17 June 1983 (MCN 11778); 1 female, Porto Alegre, [-30.0363, -51.2160], A.D. Brescovit leg., 9 December 1983 (MCN 11879); 2 males, Rio Grande , Estação Ecológica do Taim, [-32.4912, -52.5842], H.A. Gastal leg., 28 November 1985 ( MCN 13946) ; 2 males, A.A. Lise leg., 17 December 1985 (MCN 14172); 1 male, E.H. Buckup leg., 10 March 1986 (MCN 14661); 1 male, A.A. Lise leg., 4 March 1986 (MCN 15745); 1 male, M. Rosenau leg., 4 December 1986 (MCN 16125); 1 male, M. Rosenau leg., 2 December 1986 (MCN 16350); 1 male, Novo Hamburgo, [-29.6833, -51.1333], C.J. Becker leg, 17 June 1983 (MCN 15172); 1 female, Canoas, [-29.9333; -51.1833], M.A.L. Marques leg., 14 November 1990 (MCN 20082); 1 male, Gravataí, Morro do Itacolomi , [-29.8557, -50.9777], A.A. Lise leg., 17 June 1975 ( MCTP 02589 ) ; 1 male and 1 subadult female, Santa Maria, [-29.6833, -53.8], L. Indrusiak leg., 30 September 1992 (MCTP 10255); 1 female, Novo Cabrais, Parque Witeck, [-29.7830, -52.9716],.R Buss leg., 21 January 2008 (MCTP 33693).

Diagnosis. The females of E. rubripes can be distinguished from its congeners by having a large, round-ended and vertically oriented posterior median projection vertically on the opithosoma ( Figs 7 B, C). Male pedipalp: RTA short and wide at its basis, with both margins slightly folded ( Figs 10 A, 10C, D; 15F, 15I). Tegulum discoid with tegular furrow at nine o’clock.

Description. Female (MCN 8962): Total length 10.90; prosoma width 4.50; opisthosoma width 4.50; prosoma height without MS 1.90; opisthosoma height without projections 2.80. Leg measurements: femur I 4.67; patella I 2.20; tibia I 2.83; metatarsus I 1.87. tarsus I 1.37; femur II 4.53; patella II 2.20; tibia II 2.70; metatarsus II 1.87; tarsus II 1.50; femur III 2.33; patella III 1.13; tibia III 1.53; metatarsus III 1.13; tarsus III 0.70; femur IV 3.00; patella IV 1.20; tibia IV 1.67; metatarsus IV 1.33; tarsus IV 0.80. Leg spination: tibia I 2-2 (variation: 1(left side)- 1(right side)-1(left side)-2); metatarsus I 2 -0-2-2ap; tibia II 0-2-2 (variation: 1(left side)-1(right side)-1(left side)- 2); metatarsus II 2-2 -2ap. (ventral); 0-1-1ap (retrolateral). Epigynum and genital features as in Fig. 8 .

Male (MCTP 10255): Total length 2.76; prosoma width 1.29; opisthosoma width 1.53; prosoma height 0.55; opisthosoma height without projections 1.36. Leg measurements: femur I 1.13; patella I 0.45; tibia I 0.72; metatarsus I 0.45; tarsus I 0.45; femur II 1.13; patella II 0.47; tibia II 0.71; metatarsus II 0.45; tarsus II 0.41; femur III 0.64; patella III 0.27; tibia III 0.40; metatarsus III 0.33; tarsus III 0.25; femur IV 0.75; patella IV 0.26; tibia IV 0.43; metatarsus IV 0.36; tarsus IV 0.22. Leg spination: tibia I 2-2; metatarsus I 2-2 -2; tibia II 1; metatarsus II 2-2 - 2. Male palp as in Fig. 10 .

Distribution. BRAZIL: Bahia , Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo ( Fig. 19 ).

N.B. In the original description Mello-Leitão (1929: 97) indicates “Sao Paulo” as the type locality of E. pallidus . However, in the same work in the section titled " Conspectus Thomisidarum” (p. 253) he mentions this species as being from “Amazonas.” After checking the original type labels, where it is written "S.Paulo Borgmeier" we conclude that the correct type locality is São Paulo, and that the Amazonas information is probably a lapsus.

Natural history. A photograph shows a female of E. rubripes on a rolled leaf in a bed of silk ( Fig. 16 F), suggesting an egg-sac guarding behavior. Other live images from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (P.N. Tijuca) show a female of E. rubripes on a spadix of a plant (apparently a Zantedeschia sp., commonly known as “calla lily”, a common Asteraceae widely used as ornamental plant) preying on a hymenopteran ( Fig. 16 E). Its color as well as its large robust median abdominal projection seems to mimic the spadix of Zantedeschia , and may work as part of a sit-and-wait strategy to capture floral visitors.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Epicadus species, color variation. A – C E. heterogaster; D – F E. rubripes; G – I E. planus. Photo credits (and localities): A Maxwel Rocha (Unknown locality); B Carlos Viquez (Costa Rica); C Anonymous (Amazônia, Brazil); D – F, Almir Cândido de Almeida (Ribeirão Grande, São Paulo, Brazil); G Arthur Anker (Peru); H Enio Branco (Aracoiaba da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil); I Projeto Dacnis team (Alex Mariano and Edelcio Muscat) (Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil).

FIGURE 7. Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924. Female (IBSP 5279). A – C habitus (A dorsal, B lateral, C ventral);. D cephalic region, frontal view; E leg I, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A – C, E), 1 mm (D).

FIGURE 8. Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924. Female (IBSP 05279). A – E epigynum / vulva (A, E ventral, B anteriorarrows point to FDs, C – D dorsal—arrow in C shows the pathway from CO to FD). Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, B, D), 0.25 mm (C); 0.15 mm (D).

FIGURE 10. Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924. A – E Male pedipalp (MCTP 10255) (A dorsal, B and E ventral, C and D retrolateral). Arrows in D and E indicate flow direction of the sperm during copulation. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Epicadus species, behavior. A (unknown locality) and C (PN Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) E. heterogaster, sitand-wait behavior using aggressive mimicry; B and D (PN Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) E. heterogaster, female guarding egg sac; E (PN Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) E rubripes, sit-and-wait behavior using aggressive mimicry; F (Costa Rica) E. rubripes, female guarding egg sac. Photo credits: A Maxwel Rocha (Unknown locality); B – E Henrique Cafundó; F Carlos Viquez.

FIGURE 19. Records of Epicadus rubripes Mello-Leitão, 1924. White circle, E. rubripes type locality; white square, E. pallidus type locality.