Ephebopus uatuman Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1992

West, Rick C., Marshall, Samuel D., Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri & Bertani, Rogério, 2008, Review and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical tarantula genus Ephebopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) with notes on the Aviculariinae, Zootaxa 1849, pp. 35-58 : 41-44

Ephebopus uatuman Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1992

( Figs 3–4 , 13 , 30 )

Ephebopus uatuman Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1992: 161 , f.1–7

Types: BRAZIL: Male holotype IB 4939, female paratype IB 4940, state of Amazonas, Presidente Figueiredo [2o02’ S, 60o01’ W], Uatuman River, Balbina Hydroelectric Power Station, 19.II.1988, M. Costa; examined.

Diagnosis: Similar to E. cyanognathus but this species differs from all congeners by the coloration in females, lacks the metallic blue chelicerae ( Fig. 13 ), and shape of the genitalia of both sexes. The male ale differs from those of all other congeners by the palpal bulb being globular with a long embolus that abruptly tapers and is slightly bent apically ( Fig. 3 ). Spermathecae of females of E. uatuman ( Fig. 4 ) are similar to those of E. rufescens but differ from that of other congeners by having two stout columnar lobes that are widely separated, widest at base, and by being narrower apically.

Description: Holotype male, lengths: total body, 34.0; chelicerae, 4.9; carapace, 12.0; abdomen, 17.1; leg I, 56.5; leg II, 50.3; leg III, 44.2; leg IV, 52.9. Leg formula I, IV, II, III. Color of carapace and legs dark amber brown; abdomen same color but with numerous longer reddish hairs; transverse narrow buff yellow banding between all femora and patellae. Palpal bulb globular, embolus long, abruptly tapers and slightly bent apically, and stouter than in E. cyanognathus ( Fig. 3 ). Paratype female, lengths: total body, 37.9; chelicerae, 5.1; carapace, 14.8; abdomen, 18.0; leg I, 54.4; leg II, 47.84; leg III, 38.88; leg, 52.48. Leg formula I, IV, II, III. Color of carapace pale brown; legs darker than abdomen and carapace; abdomen with greenish metallic pubescence. Spermathecae: two columnar lobes, widely separated, widest at base and narrowing more apically ( Fig. 4 ) than in E. rufescens .

Additional Material Examined: 3 males (IB 7853–7855) and 3 females (IB 7850–7852) from same data as type material.

Distribution: The type locality and Brazil, Amazonas, 30 km W. of Manaus, Jacaré Creek ( Fig. 30 ).

Natural History: Spiders were found in upland forest areas in Brazil: Amazonas, Reserva Balbina and 30 km W. of Manaus, Jacaré Creek. Antepenultimate, penultimate and female E. uatuman constructed a simple flare-mouthed tubular burrow in rainforest in soft year long damp soil covered in leaf litter ( Fig. 15 ), similar to that of E. cyanognathus . The entrances were all a raised flared collar of leaves bound together with silk and opened above the litter. The burrow terminated in an enlarged chamber and was about 30–40 cm deep. Mature males were found in February.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Map showing records of Ephebopus species in northern South America.

FIGURES 1 – 10. Ephebopus, genitalia. (1 – 2) E. murinus. 1, Male, AMNH, palpal bulb, retrolateral. 2, Female, AMNH, spermathecae. (3 – 4) E. uatuman. 3, Male, holotype, palpal bulb, retrolateral. 4, Female, paratype, spermathecae. (5 – 6) E. cyanognathus. 5, Male, paratype, palpal bulb, retrolateral. 6, Female, paratype, spermathecae. (7 – 8) E. rufescens. 7, Male, paratype, palpal bulb, retrolateral. 8, Female, paratype, spermathecae. (9 – 10) E. foliatus sp. nov .. 9, Male, holotype, palpal bulb, retrolateral. 10, Female, paratype, spermathecae. Scale line: 1 mm.

FIGURES 11 – 16. Ephebopus, habitus and burrow. (11 – 12) E. murinus. 11, Female in burrow entrance. 12, Antepenultimate female in retreat in bromeliad leaf. (13, 15) E. uatuman. 13, Female. 15, Detail of burrow entrance. (14) E. foliatus sp. nov., female paratype, in life. (16). E. cyanognathus, female. Photos: 14, M. Kuntner, other by R. C. West.