Euathlus atacama, Perafán & Pérez-Miles, 2014

Perafán, Carlos & Pérez-Miles, Fernando, 2014, The Andean tarantulas Euathlus Ausserer, 1875, Paraphysa Simon, 1892 and Phrixotrichus Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): phylogenetic analysis, genera redefinition and new species descriptions, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 48 (39 - 40), pp. 2389-2418 : 2402-2404

Euathlus atacama sp. nov.

( Figure 4 )

Types

Holotype ♂, Chile, II Región Antofagasta, San Pedro de Atacama, 2400 m asl, 10 February 1997, J.C. Ortíz leg. Paratype ♀, from the same locality of the holotype. Both types are deposited in the arachnological collection of the Museo de Zoología , Universidad de Concepción, Chile ( MZUC-UCCC 35892 ) .

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition for one of Chile’ s regions with some of the most arid and beautiful landscapes on the planet, located in the north of this Andean country, and characterized by its vast deserts, salty flats and blue skies.

Diagnosis

Male differs from other Euathlus species except E. truculentus by the tibial apophysis with convergent branches ( Figure 4D ). Differs from E. truculentus by the palpal organ morphology with wide and not serrated PI ( Figure 4A,B ), and very curved metatarsi I. Female differs from other Euathlus species by the shape of the spermathecae ( Figure 4C ) with longer basis and the spheroid chamber directed to the epigastric furrow.

Description

Male (holotype). Total length, not including chelicerae, nor spinnerets 28.0, carapace length 13.5, width 13.5. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Eyes

sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.44, PME 0.28, PLE 0.38, AME–AME 0.52, AME–ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.98, PME–PLE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.38, OQ length 1.70, width 2.30, clypeus 0.30. Fovea transverse, recurved, width 2.7. Labium length 2.10, width 2.7 with 114 cuspules. Maxillae (right/left) with 96/102 cuspules. Sternum length 6.80, width 6.0. Chelicerae with 6 well-developed teeth on promargin of furrow and 6 small teeth on the proximal area of furrow. Tarsi I–IV densely scopulated, scopula I– IV entire. Metatarsi I scopulated more than a distal half , II scopulated on distal half, III on distal third, IV apically scopulated. Tibia I with prolateroventral distal duel short-stout apophyses with near-equal length branches ( Figure 4D ); two retrolateral basal spines to the tibial apophysis, PB with a medial spine, RB with an internal subapical spine and other small spine over it. Flexion of metatarsus I on the RB. Metatarsus I strongly curved. Palpal organ with unequal prolateral keels, flat PS and wide PI on the curvature of the embolus ( Figure 4A,B ). Leg and palpal segments lengths in Table 3. Spination: Femora I 2P ; II 3 P, 1 R; III 2 P, 2 R; IV 2 P, 2R; palp 1 R (curved). Patellae I 1P, 1 R; II 1 P; III 1 P; IV 0 and palp 1P. Tibiae I 5P, 4 R, 4 V; II 3 P, 4R, 6 V; III 4 P, 2R, 6 V; IV 4 P, 2R, 5V; palp 3P, 1 R, 2 V. Metatarsi I 3 V; II, 1R, 3 V; III 3 P, 3R, 7 V; IV 3 P, 5 R, 7 V; Tarsi I – IV and palp 0. Colour (in alcohol): Cephalothorax and legs dark reddish brown, abdomen brown with longer brown setae; light grey small setae on cephalothorax ( Figure 4E,F ). Type III, IV and intermediate III–IV urticating setae present; urticating setae gathered in a conspicuous golden patch ( Figure 4F ). PMS well-developed, PLS normal, apical segment digitiform.

Female (paratype). Total length, not including chelicerae, nor spinnerets 34.0, carapace length 15.0, width 13.8. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior row slightly recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.34, ALE 0.44, PME 0.26, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.52, AME–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.92, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE– PLE 0.38, OQ length 1.90, width 2.40, clypeus 0.10. Fovea slightly recurved width 3.00. Labium length 2.00, width 3.40, with 106 cuspules. Maxillae (right/left) with 151/145 cuspules. Sternum length 6.5, width 6.5. Chelicerae with 7 well-developed teeth on promargin of furrow and 8 small teeth on the proximal area of furrow. Tarsi densely scopulated, scopulae I– IV entire. Metatarsi scopulae as in male. Leg and palpal segments lengths in Table 4. Spination: Femora I 1P; II 1 P; III and IV 0; palp 1P. Patellae I– IV and palp 0. Tibiae I 4 V; II 4 V; III 2 P, 1R, 4 V; IV 2 R , 3V; palp 1P, 6V. Metatarsi : I 3 V; II 4 V; III 1 P, 2D, 2R, 5 V; IV 2 P, 5R, 4V. Tarsi I– IV and palp, 0. Colour (in alcohol): As in male. Urticating setae and spinnerets as in male .

Spermathecae with two wide seminal receptacles each with a lateral spheroid chamber ( Figure 4C ). Other characters as in male.

Figures

Figure 4. Euathlus atacama sp. nov. (A) Palpal organ, prolateral view; (B) palpal organ, retrolateral view; (C) spermathecae, dorsal view; (D) tibial apophysis, ventral view; (E) cephalotorax; (F) abdomen. PB: prolateral branch, PI: prolateral inferior keel, PS: prolateral superior keel, RB: retrolateral branch. Scale bar = 1mm.