Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017

Salgado, Alexandre & Ruiz, Gustavo R. S., 2019, Seven new species of Amphidraus Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini), Zootaxa 4563 (3), pp. 451-481 : 474-477

Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017

Figs 26 A–D, 26G, 27A–E, 28A, 29A–B, 30

Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017: 427 , figs 22–24 (Holotype ♂ from Pium, 09°58'38.7"S, 50°02'05.0"W, Tocantins, Brazil, 11–26.V.2016, Serrão et al. leg., deposided in MPEG 32689; 1♂ and 2♀ paratypes, same data as holotype, deposited in IBSP 211843–211844, MPEG 32690); World Spider Catalog 2018.

Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Tocantins: Caseara , 9°18'15.6"S, 49°57'28.4"W: 2♂, 11.V.2016, A.B. Bonaldo et al. leg. ( MPEG 35018 ); Pium , 09°58'38.7"S, 50°02'05.0"W: 1♂, 19.V.2016, A.B. Bonaldo et al. leg. ( MPEG 35019 ) .

Revised diagnosis. A. draconicaudatus is similar to A. shenlong sp. nov. by having an elongate and stout projection on the retrolateral border of the embolic disc that extends towards the retrolateral tegulum border and bears several branches ( Figs 21D , 26A, 26C , 27A ); also, by having the RvTA pointing ventrally, with projections on its border ( Figs 21F , 22B , 26G ). However, the male of A. draconicaudatus can be distinguished by having the RvTA with a single serrated projection, and a RTA reduced to spikes ( Figs 26G , 27 B–D), whereas in A. shenlong sp. nov. the RvTA has four projections (three with acute tip and one with serrated tip), and the RTA serrated tip reaches the same height of the RvTA tip along palp axis ( Figs 21F , 22B , 26H ). The female of A. shenlong sp. nov. is unknown, but among the currently known females of Amphidraus , A. draconicaudatus sp. nov. is most similar to those of A. draconitupan sp. nov., both with spermathecae kidney-shaped, with glands near copulatory openings and with a narrow dorsal pocket placed posteriorly on epigynal plate ( Figs 24D , 25D , 27E ). However, the female of A. draconicaudatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from that of A. draconitupan sp. nov. by having longer copulatory ducts connected to the inner posterior border of spermathecae (see Salgado & Ruiz 2017: fig. 24F), whereas they connect to the outer border of the spermathecae in A. draconitupan ( Fig. 25D ).

Description. See Salgado & Ruiz (2017).

Variation. Among the males examined, we observed the following variation in palpal structures ( Figs 26 A–D, 26G): the superior border of the branched projection of embolic disc can be smooth ( Figs 26 A–B) or occupied by large serial spikes (similar to a comb) ( Figs 26 C–D). We decided to refrain from describing this variation as a new species and all these forms are considered conspecific. Also, the number and shape of branches on the RvTA is variable ( Fig. 26G ; see Salgado & Ruiz 2017: figs 23B, 24B, 24D).

Note. Amphidraus draconicaudatus , A. shenlong sp. nov. and A. draconitupan sp. nov. clearly compose a particular group within the genus. The males in this group have one stout projection that emerges from the retrolateral border of the embolic disc and extends towards to retrolateral border of tegulum ( Figs 22A , 25A , 26A , 27A ). Moreover, males also have pockets on outer faces of chelicerae ( Figs 28 A–C, 29A–B), of unknown use.

Distribution. Known only from the state of Tocantins ( Brazil) ( Fig. 30 ).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Amphidraus shenlong sp. nov. A–B male (A dorsal, B ventral); C–F left male palp (C ventral; D retroventral; E bulb, ventral; F femur + patella + tibia, retrolateral). Abbreviations: cc, cymbial conductor; dPED, distal process on embolic disc; e, embolus shaft; ef, embolic filament; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA, retroventral tibial apophysis; TL, tegular lobe; vPED, ventral process on embolic disc. White arrow in D shows branchy projection of embolic disc.

FIGURE 22. Amphidraus shenlong sp. nov., left male palp (A ventral; B retrolateral). Abbreviations: cc, cymbial conductor; dPED, distal processes on embolic disc; e, embolus shaft; ed, embolic disc; ef, embolic filament; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA, retroventral tibial apophysis; TL, tegular lobe; vPED, ventral process on embolic disc.

FIGURE 24. Amphidraus draconitupan sp. nov. A–C female (A dorsal, B ventral, C live specimen); D epigyne/vulva, ventral. Abbreviation: po, coupling pocket.

FIGURE 25. Amphidraus draconitupan sp. nov., A–C left male palp (A ventral, B prolateral, C retrolateral); D epigyne/vulva, cleared, ventral. Abbreviations: cc, cymbial conductor; co, copulatory opening; dPED, distal process on embolic disc; e, embolus shaft; ed, embolic disc; ef, embolic filament; fd, fertilization duct; gl, gland; po, coupling pocket; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA, retroventral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; TL, tegular lobe; vPED, ventral process on embolic disc.

FIGURE 26. Left male palp in Amphidraus spp. A–D, G Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017. A–B, G new specimen from Pium (A bulb, ventral; B retroventral; G tibia, retrolateral). C–D specimen from Caseara (C bulb, ventral; D retroventral). E–F, H Amphidraus shenlong sp. nov. (E bulb, ventral; F retroventral; H tibia, retrolateral). Abbreviations: dPED, distal process on embolic disc; e, embolus shaft; ef, embolic filament; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; RvTA, retroventral tibial apophysis; vPED, ventral process on embolic disc.

FIGURE 27. Copulatory structures of Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017. A–D left male palp (A embolic disc, ventral; patella + tibia, retrolateral; C detail of RvTA projection; D detail of reduced RTA). E epigyne/vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: dPED, distal processes on embolic disc; e, embolus shaft; ef, embolic filament; po, coupling pocket; RvTA, retroventral tibial apophysis; vPED, ventral process on embolic disc. White arrows in B and C show projection on RvTA, and black arrow in C shows one spike of the reduced RTA.

FIGURE 28. Right chelicera, retrolateral (A Amphidraus draconicaudatus, B A. shenlong sp. nov. C A. draconitupan sp. nov.). Black arrow shows pocket on outer face.

FIGURE 30. Map of northern Brazil showing records of Amphidraus draconicaudatus, A. shenlong sp. nov. and A. draconitupan sp. nov. White lines represent the borders of Brazilian states. Acronyms of states: MG, Minas Gerais; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; PA, Pará; SP, São Paulo; TO, Tocantins. Map modified from Google Earth ®.