Curicaberis chiapas, Rheims, Cristina A., 2015

Rheims, Cristina A., 2015, Curicaberis, a new genus of Sparassidae from North and Central America (Araneae, Sparassidae, Sparassinae), Zootaxa 4012 (3), pp. 401-446 : 416-417

Curicaberis chiapas sp. nov.

Figs 1−2 , 31−34, Map 1

Type material: Holotype: ♂, 6 miles from Finca Santa Marta, near Huehuetan [15°00’N, 92°21’W], Chiapas , Mexico, 31 July–1 August 1950, C. & M. Goodnight leg. ( AMNH). Paratypes: 1♂, Zacapa [14°58’N, 89°32’W], Zacapa, Guatemala, 19–20 July 1947, C. & P. Vaurie leg. ( AMNH); 1♀, Ocozocuautla [16°45’N, 93°22’W], Chiapas , Mexico, 10 July 1987, W.L.R. leg. ( CNAM 3346); 1♀, 15 miles NW Arriaga [16°25’N, 94°01’W], Chiapas , Mexico, 27 August 1966, J. & W. Ivie leg. ( AMNH); 1♀, Teapa [17°32’N, 92°57’W], Tabasco, Mexico, 11 April 1960 ( AMNH).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis. Males of C. chiapas sp. nov. are distinguished from those of the other species of the genus by vRTA1 with slightly longitudinal depression at base, vRTA2 with short, similar sized branches, one slightly flattened at tip and the other gently curved, and embolus with retro-proximal bulge (Figs 31−32: b). Females resemble those of C. eberhardi sp. nov. and C. elpunto sp. nov. by the epigyne with median septum with pair of lateral protrusions and median, longitudinal protrusion (Figs 33, 43, 47: lp, mp). They are distinguished from these species by the median septum squared, as long as wide, and median protrusion reaching slightly more than half the septum length (Fig. 33). They are further distinguished from the other species of the genus by the vulva, with copulatory ducts medially bent towards each other and basal part of fertilization ducts with a double coil (Fig. 34).

Description. Male (holotype): Prosoma orange, slightly darker along fovea and thoracic striae. Chelicerae, legs and pedipalps orange. Labium and endites orange, darker at base. Sternum orange with slightly darker margins. Opisthosoma yellowish white, dorsally with cream colored cardiac impression. Total length 10.6. Prosoma: 4.7 long, 4.8 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.4 long, 3.4 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.34, 0.30, 0.24, 0.30; interdistances: 0.26, 0.06, 0.40, 0.38, 0.24, 0.24. Legs (2143): I: 33.1 (8.7, 2.8, 9.1, 9.9, 2.6); II: 36.0 (9.5, 2.9, 10.2, 10.7, 2.7); III: 22.9 (6.8, 2.4, 6.0, 6.0, 1.7); IV: 27.8 (8.0, 2.4, 7.6, 7.8, 2.0). Palp: dRTA long. vRTA1 small and rounded in retrolateral view. Subtegulum visible at 10 o’clock position. Embolus arising medially from tegulum. Conductor cylindrical and slightly curved retrolaterally with the same width throughout its entire length (Figs 31−32).

Female (AMNH, Teapa): Coloration pattern as in male. Total length 9.7. Prosoma: 4.3 long, 4.2 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.2 long, 3.4 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.30, 0.26, 0.22, 0.26; interdistances: 0.24, 0.20, 0.36, 0.40, 0.30, 0.20. Legs (2134): I: 20.0 (5.5, 2.3, 5.1, 5.5, 1.6); II: 21.5 (6.2, 2.5, 5.5, 5.6, 1.7); III: 14.7 (4.4, 1.9, 3.5, 3.7, 1.2); IV: 17.4 (5.5, 1.9, 4.1, 4.7, 1.2). Epigyne: epigynal field longer than wide with shape resembling a top hat. Posterior margin of median septum surpassing the epigastric furrow by one-fourth septum length (Fig. 33). Vulva: copulatory ducts slightly shorter than largest spermathecae (smaller spermathecae approximately the same length). Spermathecae asymmetrical, one smaller and rounded and the other more elongate roughly U-shaped. Basal part of fertilization ducts as wide as copulatory ducts, narrowing at coils, distal part anteriad (Fig. 34).

Variation. Males (n = 2): total length 9.4−10.6; prosoma length 4.2−4.7; femur I length 7.7−8.7. Females (n = 3): total length 9.7−14.2; prosoma length 4.3−4.7; femur I length 5.5−6.4.

Distribution. Known from Chiapas , Mexico to Zacapa, Guatemala (Map 1).

Figures

FIGURES 1 − 4. Habitus, dorsal view. 1 − 2 Curicaberis chiapas sp. nov. (1 male, 2 female); 3 − 4 C. jalisco sp. nov. (3 male, 4 female). Scale lines: 2 mm.