Neoanagraphis chamberlini, Gertsch & Mulaik, 1936

Vetter, Richard S., 2001, Revision Of The Spider Genus Neoanagraphis (Araneae, Liocranidae), The Journal of Arachnology 29 (1), pp. 1-10 : 4-5

Neoanagraphis chamberlini Gertsch & Mulaik 1936

Figs. 2-5 , 10

Neoanagraphis chamberlini Gertsch & Mulaik 1936: 11 -12, fig. 15. Male holotype - White Sands, New Mexico, August 1934, in AMNH, examined.

Diagnosis.—The two species in the genus differ consistently in a number of traits and can be readily separated. Neoanagraphis chamberlini is characterized by (1) anterior tibia with two pairs of ventral spines (discounting smaller apicals if present), (2) the dorsal process of the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) is thick and projected laterally ( Fig. 2 ), (3) the dorsally-projecting embolus tip is truncate and looks like a folded flap or cresting wave ( Fig. 3 ), and (4) the epigynal plate extends posteriorly past the midpoint, and most often to the posteriormost edge of the spermathecae (visible through the integument) or beyond ( Fig. 4, 5 ). In contrast, N. pearcei has (1) anterior tibia with three pairs of ventral spines (discounting smaller apicals if present), (2) the RTA is forked with the dorsal process straight, thin and apically-directed ( Fig. 7 ), (3) dorsally-projecting embolus is long, thin and scythe-like ( Fig. 7 ), and (4) the epigynal plate extends posteriorly only to the middle of the spermathecae ( Fig. 8 ). Although there is some overlap of the sizes, in general, the typical N. chamberlini is distinctly larger than the typical N. pearcei .

Description.— Male: Total length 6.9 (3.8- 9.1). Carapace 3.4 (1.9-4.5) length, 2.7 (1.6- 3.7) width. Abdomen 3.4 (1.8-4.9) length, 2.1 (1.1-3.0) width. Cymbium 1.08 (0.85-1.26) length. Additional spination differing from that presented for genus: femora: I r 0-1-1-1, II r 0- 1-1 or 0-1-1-1, III p 0-1-1-0-1 or l-l-l-l, IV p 0-1-1-0-1, r 0-1-1 or 0-1-1-0-1; tibiae: I p (variable with 2 or 3 spines), v 2-2 -(2) (apicals weak), II p 1-1-1, r (variable with 0 to 2 spines), v 2-2 -(2) (apicals weak), III r 0-1-1 or 1-0-1, IV r 1-0-1 or 1-1-0-1; metatarsi: II p (variable with 0 to 2 spines), d 1-1-0.

Female: Total length 7.7 (5.5-9.7). Carapace 3.6 (2.9-4.5) length, 2.8 (2.2-3.6) width. Abdomen 4.1 (2.3-5.7) length, 2.5 (1.3-3.8) width. Epigynal plate: 0.20 (0.14-0.24) for both length and width. Epigynal plate bordered anteriolaterally by conspicuous, posteriorly-directed spurs varying in shape from sharp spike to equilateral triangle. At posterior edge, plate varying from smoothly rounded Ushape (rare) to sharp, narrow V-shape (common); if extends posteriorly, plate more likely to be V-shaped. Spination as in male except for: femora: I d 1-1-01, II d 1-1-01, III r 0- 1-1; tibiae: I p (variable with 0 to 2 spines).

Distribution.— From the mountains around the Central Valley through the southeastern deserts in California, into southern Nevada, the southern half of Arizona, New Mexico and the western edge of Texas ( Fig. 10 ). Also in the state of Sonora in Mexico.

Material examined. —Holotype male, 112 ♂ 21♀,

46 immatures. MEXICO: Sonora: 5 mi. N. Her ­ mosillo, near sea level, in unidentified rodent burrow , 16 April 1952, 1♀, R. Ryckman & K. Arakawa ( AMNH) , S. end Sonoita River , 26 November 1959, 1 ♂, V. Roth ( AMNH) . UNITED STATES: Arizona: Cochise County: Portal, 4800 feet, 8 August 1965, 1 imm., W. Gertsch ( AMNH) ; 13.5 mi S. Apache , 4330 feet, in kangaroo rat mound, 8 September 1968, 1 ♂, 1 imm., E. Moore & T. Walk­ er ( VDR) , 5 mi. N. Portal , 4770 feet, 19 April 1977, 1♀, R. Chew ( VDR) ; Chiricahua Mountains, Southwest Research Station , 5400 feet, 16 September 1985, 1 ♂, V. Roth ( CAS) . Graham County: Calva , 3500 feet, 3 November 1955, 1♀, V. Roth ( AMNH) . Pima County: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument , 1700 feet, on restroom floor, 18 November 1989, 1 ♂, W. Icenogle & T. Prentice ( WRI) ; Tucson , 2400 feet, 8 October 1953, 1 ♂, M. Cazier ( AMNH) , no date, 1 ♂, O. Bryant ( AMNH) . Yavapai County: Congress , 3000 feet, 8 August 1948, 1 imm., C. & P. Laurie ( AMNH) . Yuma County: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Tule Well , 600 feet, pitfall traps, 9 November 1996, 3 ♂, V. Roth & D. Richman ( NMSU) ; California: Fresno County: N. Kettleman Hills, under boards , 8 December 1993, 1♀, W.H. Tyson ( CDFA) . Imperial County: 1 mi W Harper’s Well, San Felipe Creek , — 100 feet, in dunes, probably 11 July 1968 (not 7 November), 1 imm., M.E. Irwin & PA. Rauch ( UCR) ; 3 mi NW Glamis, sand dunes , 4 March 1972, 1♀, A.R. Hardy ( UCR) . Inyo County: China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, near S. Coso Village , 5800 feet, 27 May-8 June 1996, 1♀ ; 22 June- 10 August 1996, 1 penult. ♀ ; in wash, 9 June-10 August 1996, 3 imm .; near Birchum Springs , 10 August-14 September 1996, 16 ; 22 June- 10 August 1996, 1♂ ; White Hills, in pitfall trap under Joshua trees , 10 August-14 September 1996, 3 ♂ ; 4 mi N Flight Line & GI roads , 14 September 1996 — 15 February 1997, 1♀, G. Pratt & C. Pierce ( UCR) . Kern County: E. Randsburg , 12 April 1968, 1 imm., J. Cherry ( UCR) , Edwards Air Force Base, Leuman Ridge , 23 November 1997, in pitfall under Larrea tridentata , 1♂, C. & M. Breidenbaugh ( UCR) . Riverside County: Rice Dunes , 25 February 1978, 1♀, F. Andrews & A. Hardy ( CDFA) . San Bernardino County: Cadiz Dunes , 25 April 1978, 1 imm., A. Hardy & F. Andrews ( CDFA) ; Joshua Tree National Monument, Cow Camp , 5800 feet, in pitfall traps, 24 September 1994, 5 ♂, W. Sakai ( UCR) ; Twentynine Palms , October 1944, 1 ♂, J. Branch ( AMNH) . Nevada: Nye County: Nevada Test Site (see below), 61 ♂ 5 ♀, 35 imm., D. Allred ( AMNH) . New Mexico: Bernalillo County: Albuquerque, Indian Petroglyph State Park , 5000 feet, 7 June 1995, 1 ♂, summer 1996, 1 ♂, D. Lightfoot ( UCR) . Doña Ana County: Jornada Experimental Range , 4300 feet, in lowland grass pasture, 21 October 1999, 1 ♂, D. Richman ( NMSU) . Otero County: White Sands , August 1934, 1 ♂ (holotype), S. Mulaik ( AMNH) . Socorro County: 20 mi N Socorro , 4500-6500 feet, 1989-1992, 26 ♂ 7♀, 1 imm., S. Brantley ( UCR) . Texas: Hudspeth County: 8 mi. W. Sierra Blanca , 5 September 1946, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) . Presidio County: in nest of Cratageomys castanops , August 1948, 1 ♀, G. Menzies ( AMNH) .

Figures

Figure 10. — Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Distribution of Neoanagraphis chamberlini (o) and N. pearcei (•).

Figures 2 - 5. — Neoanagraphis chamberlini Gertsch & Mulaik. 2. Male left palp, ventral view; 3. Same, retrolateral view (scale = 0.25 mm); 4. Epigynum, ventral view, hairs removed from ventral surface (scale = 0.1 mm); 5. Schematic drawings of epigyna showing variation of epigynal plate and its position relative to the spermathecae. “ e ” = dorsally-directed embolus, additional arrows point to dorsal process of retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figures 6 - 8. — Neoanagraphis pearcei Gertsch. 6. Male left palp, ventral view; 7. Same, retrolateral view (scale = 0.25 mm); 8. Epigynum, ventral view, hairs removed from ventral surface (scale = 0.1 mm), “ e ” = dorsally-directed embolus, additional arrows point to dorsal process of retrolateral tibial apophysis.