Ephebopus Simon 1892

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 : 38-41

Ephebopus Simon 1892

( Figs 1–20 , 30 )

Ephebopus Simon 1892: 155 ; Pocock 1903: 85; Raven 1985: 119; Marshall & Uetz 1990: 120; Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1991:161; West & Marshall 2000: 6; Platnick 2008.

Type species: Mygale murina Walckenaer 1837 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Differs from all other theraphosid genera by the apical patch of type V urticating hairs on prolateral pedipalp femora of males and females ( Figs 19–20 ).

Description: Cephalothorax longer than wide, cephalic region slightly raised, convex. Cephalic and thoracic striae distinct. Fovea deep, straight. Chelicerae without rastellum. Eye tubercle distinct, wider than long. Clypeus absent. Anterior eye row straight. Labium subquadrate, slightly wider than long, with numerous (100–300) cuspules concentrated on anterior half. Maxilla subrectangular, anterior lobe distinctly produced into conical process, inner angle bearing numerous cuspules (more than 100). Sternum longer than wide. Posterior sigilla submarginal. STC of males and female with median row of few small teeth. Tarsi I–IV and metatarsi I–II fully scopulated, metatarsus III scopulated along half its length, metatarsus IV apically scopulated. Scopulae of tarsi and metatarsi I–II extended very laterally giving them a spatulate appearance. Femur IV without retrolateral scopula. Type V of urticating hair in pad on distal prolateral palpal femora ( Marshall & Uetz 1990). Legs with few spines on distal ventral tibiae and metatarsi. Stridulatory setae absent. Males. Spur on tibia I bipartite; metatarsus I straight, when flexed closes on outer upper process; male palpal bulb pyriform; embolus narrow, long, 2–3 times longer than tegulum, keels absent. Females. Two spermathecae weakly sclerotized.

Species included: Ephebopus murinus ( Figs 1–2 , 11–12 ), E. uatuman ( Figs 3–4 , 13 ), E. cyanognathus ( Figs 5–6 , 16 ), E. rufescens ( Figs 7–8 , 17–18 ) and E. foliatus ( Figs 9–10 , 14 ).

Distribution & Habitat: Northeastern and Central Brazilian Amazon, French Guiana, Southern Suriname and Southwestern Guyana ( Fig. 30 ). E. murinus is found in lowland rainforests, in fringing grasslands above riparian flood plains; E. rufescens is found in both lowland and upland rainforest; E. uatuman and E.

cyanognathus are found in upland rainforest areas; E. foliatus specimens were collected in lowland riparian rainforest.

Remarks: Ephebopus fossor is considered a nomen dubium, as its type specimen is lost (pers. comm. J. Beccaloni, BMNH, 2000). Pocock’s (1903) original description is too vague to determine the correct generic placement of this species (e.g., lacking any reference to the brush of urticating hairs on the palpal femur) and its type locality in Ecuador is outside the otherwise known zoogeographical range of Ephebopus (i.e., northeastern South America).

Ephebopus violaceus was transferred to Avicularia by Lucas et al. (1991) who failed to locate the holotype. They based the transfer only on the original description: first ocular row procurved, pattern on the dorsal side of abdomen and the division of the posterior tarsal scopulae; the latter suggesting the specimen was a juvenile. Recently, the holotype was rediscovered in the arachnological collection of Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. Although a small specimen, after dissection of the genital region, we found well-formed spermathecae which do not resemble those of Avicularia species, since each receptaculum is short and lacks median curvature ( Fig. 21 ). Furthermore, the specimen lacks type II urticating hairs, has an almost straight anterior ocular row, and has a few spines only on the ventral apex of tibiae and metatarsi. These two characteristics indicate it would belong to Ephebopus or Tapinauchenius . The absence of a type V urticating hair pad on the pedipalp femur suggests it is a Tapinauchenius species.

In comparing the holotype of E. violaceus with that of Tapinauchenius purpureus , we found a strong resemblance in spermathecal shape ( Figs 21–22 ). Furthermore, the two species are from the same region (north of Para state, Brazil and French Guiana), and both have the same typical purple color pattern (viz., " violaceus " and " purpureus "). Thus, E. violaceus is transferred to Tapinauchenius , creating the new combination Tapinauchenius violaceus ( Mello-Leitão 1930) and T. purpureus is considered a junior synonym of T. violaceus , new synonymy.

Ephebopus murinus ( Walckenaer 1837) ( Figs 1–2 , 11–12 , 30 )

Mygale murina Walckenaer 1837: 220 .

Ephebopus murinus: Simon 1892: 155 ; Mello-Leitão 1923: 316; Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1991: 246, f. 1–4. Santaremia pococki F.O.P.- Cambridge 1896: 746, pl. 33, f. 8–9, pl. 34, f. 20, pl. 35, f. 12; Pocock 1901: 548 –549. Holo-

type female from Santarém, Pará, Brazil, in BMNH, not examined. First synonymized by Simon 1903: 952. Type: Mygale murina holotype female (MNHP AR4760, 2160) from ‘Le Para’; examined.

Remarks: Walckenaer did not state the county of origin in the original description. Simon (1892) examined the type and placed it into Ephebopus ; he also noted the country of origin was unknown, but cited there was the indication " Brazil ", "probably by mistake", since E. murinus "resembles the Aviculariids of the Old World" (translated from Simon 1892: 155). When Simon visited Pocock at the BMNH and examined the type specimens of Santaremia pococki , both Pocock and Simon concluded that Santaremia pococki was a junior synonym of E. murinus ( Pocock 1901: 547–548; Simon 1903: 952) and concluded that Walckenaer's 1837 'Le Para' specimen came from that region of Brazil ( Simon 1903). Actually, Belém, the present capital of the state of Pará was, at that time, called Santa Maria do Grão Belem do Pará, and was commonly abbreviated to 'Para' ( Papavero 1973). Santaremia pococki was described from Santarem, also in the state of Pará, where E. murinus is very common (F.O.P.- Cambridge 1896; pers. obs.). Because of the detailed original description of Santaremia pococki , which includes a color plate, together with type locality, we support the synonymy proposed by Simon and Pocock.

Diagnosis: E. murinus differs from all other Ephebopus species by the bold, ivory-colored parallel bands dorsally on the patellae and tibiae I–IV of both sexes, more so in females on patellae and tibiae I–II ( Fig. 11 ).

Additionally, males differ from congeners in that the male palpal bulb is large and globular with a strong embolus tapering apically with the tip outwardly geniculate ( Fig. 1 ). Females differ by the spermathecae having two widely separated tall columnar lobes, widest at the base, tapering apically with a small process medially on the outer edge of each lobe ( Fig. 2 ).

Description: Holotype female, lengths: total body, 61.3; chelicerae, 12.0; carapace, 24.1; abdomen, 25.2; leg I, 74.6; leg II, 67.0; leg III, 55.7; leg IV, 68.9. Leg formula I, IV, II, III. Color of legs and abdomen dark gray; patellae and tibiae dorsum with bold ivory colored parallel stripes, more so on legs I, II; carapace pale buff. Spermathecae: two tall columnar lobes, widely separated, widest at base constricting medially, continuing apically as tall lobes, outer edge of each lobe with small medial process ( Fig. 2 ). Male (IBSP 4937), Brazil, state of Pará, Tucuruí [3o45' S, 49o40' W], VI.1986, lengths: total body, 37.8; chelicerae, 3.6; carapace, 15.3; abdomen, 18.9; leg I, 68.88; leg II, 59.14; leg III, 51.53; leg IV, 61.32. Leg formula, I, IV, II, III. Color of legs and abdomen dark reddish brown, legs and abdomen with longer amber setae; carapace with lighter amber pubescence; ivory-colored parallel stripes on all patellae and tibiae but not as bold as that found in females. Palpal bulb large, globular; embolus strong and tapering apically, tip outwardly geniculate ( Fig. 1 ).

Additional Material Examined: FRENCH GUIANA: 1 female, Iracoubo District, Iracoubo (05o28’ N, 53o12’ W), III.2001, S. Marshall; 1 female, Montsinéry District, Emerald Jungle Village [4o49’ N, 52o21’ W], IV.1999, S. Marshall; 1 male, Montsinéry District, Emerald Jungle Village [4o49’ N, 52o21’ W], IV.1999 (matured IX.1999), S. Marshall. BRAZIL: 1 female, state of Pará, Ananindeua [1o21’S, 48o22’ W], 18.VII.1974, R. F. de Silva; 2 males, state of Amapá, no other data.

Distribution: Northeastern Brazilian Amazon, French Guiana and Southern Suriname ( Fig. 30 ).

Natural History: The burrows of E. murinus are distinctive among Ephebopus species. They are a vertical tube terminating in a retreat chamber as do some fossorial theraphosids, but the burrow entrance has a large and elaborate trumpet-shaped turret of silk ( Fig. 11 ). We have also observed that early instars of E. murinus live in arboreal refugia, constructing retreats of silk in terrestrial bromeliads (SDM & RCW, pers. obs.) ( Fig. 12 ). Unlike spiderlings of E. murinus , spiderlings of other Ephebopus species have not been found living in silk tubes in vegetation.

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.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Ephebopus rufescens. 17, Female exposed in retreat under overturned rock. 18, Female in arboreal retreat two meters above ground in palm tree. Photos: R. C. West.

FIGURES 19 – 20. Ephebopus murinus. 19, Threat display showing urticating hair pad on apical prolateral pedipalp femur (arrow). 20, Detail of type V urticating hairs. Photo: R. Bertani.

FIGURES 21 – 22. 21, Tapinauchenius violaceus, holotype, spermathecae. 22, Tapinauchenius purpureus, holotype, spermathecae.