Tekellina araucana Marusik, Eskov & Ramírez, 2022

Ramírez, Martín J., Magalhaes, Ivan L. F., Pizarro-Araya, Jaime, Ballarin, Francesco, Marusik, Yuri M. & Eskov, Kirill Yu., 2022, A new species of the spider genus Tekellina Levi, 1957 from Chile, with a broadened definition of the family Synotaxidae (Arachnida, Araneae), Zoologischer Anzeiger 301, pp. 76-90 : 82-87

Tekellina araucana Marusik, Eskov & Ramírez , sp. n.

Type material. Holotype male and paratype (allotype) female. CHILE: Valparaíso Region: Petorca Province, Parque El Boldo, nr. Zapallar , 300 m, NNE de ruta costera, S32.54593 ◦ W71.45179 ◦, 114 m, 12 Feb. 2011, forest near creek , by beating vegetation, Ramírez M., Soto E., Pizarro-Araya J. (MJR-loc-01) (deposited in MHNS, ex MACN-Ar 41,608). Same data, 1 ♂ and 2 ♀ paratypes (MACN-Ar 42,771), trail to Quebrada El Tigre , 2.3 km E Zapallar, S32.55368 ◦ W71.43493 ◦, 348–357 m, 12 Feb. 2011, forest with boldo ( Peumus boldus ), Ramírez M., Soto E., Pizarro-Araya J. ( MJR-loc-03 ), 2 ♂ and 1 ♀ paratypes ( LEULS, ex MACNAr 41,610). Araucanía Region : Cautín Province , Huerquehue National Park , 39 ◦ 09 ′ 19 ′′ S, 71 ◦ 42 ′ 49 ′′ W, lowland Notophagus - Podocarpus forest, in epiphytic moss and lichens, 20–22 Dec. 2014, K. Eskov, 1 ♂ and 5 ♀ paratypes ( ZMMU). de Los Ríos Region, Valdivia and Ranco Provinces, Alerce Costero National Park , 39 ◦ 57 ′ 37 ′′ S, 73 ◦ 32 ′ 07 ′′ W, floodland mixed forest, in epiphytic moss and plants 22–26 Jan. 2015, K. Eskov, 7 ♂ and 2 ♀ paratypes ( ZMMU). de Los Lagos Region, Chiloe´Province , Chiloe´Island, Senda Darwin Biological Station ( EBSD) (15 km E of Ancud), 41 ◦ 52 ′ 56 ′′ S, 73 ◦ 40 ′ 04 ′′ W, lowland forest of Nothofagus and Podocarpus , in epiphytic moss, 3–4 Jan. 2014, K. Eskov, 1 ♂ paratype ( ZMMU).

Other material examined. CHILE: Valparaíso Region: Petorca Province, Same data as holotype, 1 ♂ 3 ♀ (MACN-Ar 41,608, one of the females with opisthosoma digested), 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 36,362, MAI-1835, DLP-188, tissue DLP-4188, sequenced co1, low quality), 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 36,368, DLP-202, tissue DLP-4202, MAI-1836, sequenced co1), Parque El Boldo, nr. Zapallar, 32.543351, 71.450540, elev. 239 m, 22–23 Nov. 2021, Pizarro-Araya J., Alfaro F.M., Ojanguren-Affilastro A.A., Iuri H., Calder´on J.E., Proyecto SIMEF VI-Maule), 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (LEULS), 2 ♀ (MACN-Ar vchMJR-2625), Quebrada El Tigre, 2.5 km E Zapallar, S32.55143 ◦ W71.43278 ◦, 357 m, 12 Feb. 2011, forest with boldo ( P. boldus ) and belloto ( Beilschmiedia miersii ) in creek, beating vegetation, Ramírez M., Soto E., Pizarro-Araya J. (MJR-loc-02), 2 ♀ 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 41,606), Sendero a Quebrada El Tigre, 2.3 km E Zapallar, S32.55368 ◦ W71.43493 ◦, elev. 348–357 m, 12 Feb. 2011, forest with boldo ( P. boldus ), Ramírez M., Soto E., Pizarro-Araya J. (MJR-loc-03), 3 ♂ (MACN-Ar 41,610); 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 41,607, SEM stub MJR-1400); 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 41,609, SEM stubs MJR-1398-99, 1401). Maule Region: Curico´Province, 20 km E Potrero Grande, El Relvo, S 35 ◦ 11 ′ 09 ′′, W 70 ◦ 56 ′ 14 ′′, 16 Jan. 2004, leg. J. E. Barriga, fogging Nothofagus dombeyi , Laurelia , C. kystrix , Podocarpus saligna 7 ♂ 9 ♀ (MHNS), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (MACNAr 42,885); El Relvo, S 35 ◦ 11.14 ′, W 70 ◦ 56.1 ′′, elev. 1100 m, 8 May 2004, leg. J. E. Barriga, fogging N. dombeyi , 2 ♀ (MACN-Ar 42,764), 2 ♀ (MACN-Ar 42,884); 20 km E Potrero Grande, Fundo El Coihue, S 35 ◦ 10.739 ′ W 70 ◦ 57.800 ′, elev. 1035 m, 25 May 2004, leg. J. E. Barriga, fogging P. saligna 39 ♂ 31 ♀ (MACN-Ar 42,765; one male with palp artificially expanded, Fig. 10B ). Talca Province, road to Rapilermo, conglomerado 780,456, -35.145807, 71.797101, elev. 350 m, 25–27 Nov. 2021, manual collecting, beating vegetation, Pizarro-Araya J., Alfaro F.M., Ojanguren-Affilastro A.A., Iuri H., Calderon´J.E., Proyecto SIMEF VI-Maule), 1 ♀ (LEULS). ARGENTINA: Tierra del Fuego Province: Basin Hall, Isla de los Estados, 16 km (by air) ENE from Puerto Parry, S54.76971 ◦ W64.13471 ◦, elev. 4 m, 10 Mar. 2017, wet coastal forest with mosses, canelo ( Drymis winteri ) and guindo ( Nothofagus betuloides ), manual collecting, M.J. Ramírez (MJR-loc-282), 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 42,070, vchMJR-2542, sequenced 16S, co1, H3).

Diagnosis. Males are similar to those of other Tekellina species by having a circular conductor around the bulb in ventral view, but can be distinguished by the short, acute triangular ventral arm of the conductor (Cv; Figs. 9B and 10 A–B ) instead of twisted, and the wide lamellar shape of the retrolateral arm (Cv) placed apically ( Fig. 9E ), instead of acute or placed retrolaterally; females can be distinguished by the compact, longitudinal arrangement of spermathecae and ducts, with few coils of the copulatory ducts (other species have many coils or divergent ducts), and by the narrow transversal epigynal plate between the copulatory ducts ( Figs. 8B and 10C ) (some other species have spiral ridges around the copulatory openings). In addition, T. araucana sp. n. may be distinguished from other Tekellina species by the eye area with a pair of humps ( Figs. 3D and 4B ), and the presence of stout ventral curved macrosetae on tibia III of male ( Fig. 4C and D ), although those characters may not have been recorded in the other species.

Measurements (paratypes male and female ZMMU). Total length of male/female 0.875 / 1.167. Carapace length/width/height 0.505/0.500/ 0.417 in male, 0.458/0.458/0.500 in female. Abdomen length of male/ female 0.542 / 0.833. Male leg (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus (total): I, 0.5, 0.175, 0.292, 0.185, 0.183 (1.335); II, 0.458, 0.167, 0.25, 0.183, 0.167 (1.225); III, 0.3, 0.15, 0.208, 0. 142, 0. 153 (0.953); IV, 0.417, 0.175, 0.292, 0.200, 0.208, total 1.292. Female leg articles: I, 0.441, 0.2, 0.283, 0.208, 0.225, total 1.357. II, 0.375, 0.167, 0.25, 0.167, 0.175, total 1.134. III, 0.333, 0.167, 0.2, 0.167, 0.208, total 1.075. IV, 0.417, 0.167, 0.25, 0.167, 0.183, total 1.184.

Coloration (both sexes). Carapace yellow, with dark-grey spots around eyes; leg joints yellow, with dark-grey medial bands; abdomen speckled, light-yellow with irregular pattern of small grey spots ( Fig. 2 ).

Description. Carapace as wide as long, moderately high, without fovea and with strongly bulging eyes ( Fig. 3B, D , 4 A–B ); anterior median eyes slightly smaller than the rest, eye area with pair of humps in front of posterior median eyes ( Figs. 3D and 4B ); clypeus high, about 1.5 diameters of posterior lateral eye; setae present on dorsal cephalic part, around eyes and on clypeus; carapace cuticle imbricate or imbricatefingerprint, with a patch of rugose cuticle at eye area. Sternum convex in lateral view, posteriorly truncated, hind margin is broader than the diameter of the coxa IV ( Fig. 3A and B ); sternal cuticle imbricate. Labium 2 times wider than long, subrectangular, distal margin straight and rebordered. Chelicerae without promarginal or retromarginal teeth in both sexes ( Fig. 3C ); fangs moderately long; cheliceral cuticle imbricate. Labrum with wide rounded labral tongue and a framing of plumose setae ( Fig. 3C ). Maxilla with serrula of a single row of teeth, with both clavate and plumose setae ( Fig. 3C ). Legs 1.4.2.3, relatively short (leg I femur/carapace ratio ca. 0.9) and thick (tibia I length/width ratio ca. 4), spineless (except tibia III in male); tibia III in male with ventral row of stout curved macrosetae ( Fig. 4C and D ); tibial trichobothria 3-3-4-4, metatarsal trichobothria 1-1-1-0, bothria with a distinct transversal ridge ( Fig. 5C ); tarsi longer than metatarsi, tarsal organ in middle portion of tarsus, flat and small ( Fig. 5D, F ); tibia to tarsi of legs I–II with ventral and lateral long setae with curving tips ( Fig. 5E and F ); superior claws of legs I–III asymmetrically pectinated, proclaw with sinuous line of teeth, retroclaw with teeth on ectal side ( Fig. 5I ), inferior claw I–II with single tooth, III without teeth (claws of leg IV not examined in detail); leg cuticle imbricate; patellae and tibiae with a longitudinal dorsal row of small tubercles, each formed on the separate scale of cuticle. Female palp with all articles present, palpal tibia with one trichobothrium, tarsal organ prolateral-apical ( Fig. 5A ), claw with three teeth on ventral line ( Fig. 5B ). Abdomen globular, in lateral view almost 2 times higher than carapace; pedicel area with suprapedicillate nubbins and dorsal proprioreceptor setae; anal tubercle large, wider than posterior lateral spinnerets, separated from spinneret field by row of bottle-like setae ( Fig. 6A–D , 7 A–G ); tracheal spiracle as wide as the pair of anterior lateral spinnerets ( Figs. 6A and 7A ); male epigastric area without epiandric gland spigots ( Fig. 7F ); abdominal cuticle mainly fingerprint, its parallel ridges alternating with small elongated plates; book lung cuticle strigate-rugose, epigyne and epigastric cuticle imbricate ( Figs. 7F and 8A ). Spinnerets six (see above in Morphological remarks); spinneret cuticle imbricate; colulus completely absent ( Figs. 6A and 7A ). Respiratory system ( Fig. 10C ) composed of normal book lungs united by interpulmonary fold, and four tracheae arising from wide tracheal spiracle, median tracheae short, stiff, not reaching epigastric fold, lateral tracheae longer, running at sides of the opisthosoma below the abdominal cuticle, up to the ¾ the way to anterior margin. The female dissected for tracheae has only two relatively large eggs (opisthosoma width 0.80, eggs diameter 0.41–0.42).

Male palp ( Figs. 9 and 10 A–B ) with patella and tibia without outgrowths, tibia with one trichobothrium ( Fig. 9A ). Cymbium spoonshaped, as long as wide, tarsal organ apical ( Fig. 9D and E ); paracymbium (Pc) located retrolateral basally, fused to cymbium, with a wide ventral depression behind (Pcd) ( Fig. 10B, E–F ). Copulatory bulb in ventral position. Tegulum (T) flat, discoid, in ventral view partly hidden by large, coiled conductor. Conductor arising centrally from membranous area on tegulum ( Figs. 9B and 10 A–B ) with three distinct arms: prolateral (Cp), retrolateral (Cr) and ventral (Cv); prolateral arm coiled anticlockwise in left palp, makes more than 405 ◦ loop and serve as rail/ sheath for long embolus; retrolateral arm short, subtriangular, with rounded tip, about two times longer than wide at base; ventral arm (Cv) length equal to bulb/cymbium radius, triangular, about 2.5 times longer than wide, furrow ending in acute distal tip; embolus filamentous, makes round clockwise loop over 400 ◦. Spermophor simple, originating from fundus in prolateral side and running clockwise ( Fig. 10A and B ).

Epigyne ( Fig. 8 ) weakly sclerotized, epigynal plate trapezoidal, ca 1.3 times wider than long, posterior edge lacking setae, with smooth tegument between pair of copulatory openings (CO) spaced by about 8 diameters ( Fig. 8A ); copulatory duct long, wrapped in longitudinal axis, leading to anterior receptacle with irregular lumen (Rc), fertilization duct running along the central axis from receptacle to posterior margin, then directed mesally (FD) ( Fig. 8B ).

Remarks on possible functional morphology of male palp. Several males had the palps partially expanded ( Fig. 9F ). In these palps the discoid tegulum was rotated into the spoon-like cymbium clockwise (left palp) up to a quarter of circle, so that the retrolateral and ventral arms of the conductor and the embolic base were displaced from “1 o’ clock” to “4 o’ clock”. In so doing the filamentous embolus disengaged itself from its sheath, i.e., from the furrow on the inner side of the prolateral arm of the conductor. As a result, the tip of the tongue-like retrolateral arm of the conductor find itself facing the retrolateral depression of the cymbium behind the paracymbium. Hence, this depression probably receives the retrolateral arm of the conductor after its rotation, until the ventral arm of the conductor contacts the paracymbium. The bracing of the paracymbium with bulbal sclerites is common in araneoids (e.g., Eberhard & Huber 1998; Blest & Pomeroy 1978). If the locking of the conductor and paracymbium worked as we suspect, that would be only at the start of bulb expansion; note that the haematodocha has only started to expand and uncoil at that point.

Given that the embolus and the copulatory duct are very long, we wonder how the embolus is projected its full length through the conductor into the female copulatory ducts, if the conductor were locked by the paracymbium. One possibility is that the tegulum continues rotating as the haematodocha expands, and a flexible membrane at the base of the conductor allows for the rotation of the tegulum relative to the immobile conductor. In this way, the embolus may slide along the prolateral arm of the conductor (Cp) and through the pointed ventral arm (Cv), which would lead the embolus into the female copulatory duct. Marusik & Omelko (2017: Fig. 2 ) have noted a stem of the conductor with corkscrew shape in T. sadamotoi (labeled Cs in Fig. 12A ) which is compatible with a rotation of the tegulum relative to the conductor. Males of T. sadamotoi have a very long embolus, which is consistent with a highly coiled stem. The artificially expanded palp of T. araucana ( Fig. 10B ) shows that the conductor is also connected to the tegulum through a narrow stem, although in this case the stem is not coiled.

Distribution and ecology. From central Chile, in Valparaíso Region southward to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina ( Fig. 8C ). Specimens from Valparaíso, Talca, and Tierra del Fuego were collected by means of a beating tray on vegetation. Specimens from de Los Lagos Region were found on epiphytes including mosses and lichens in wet Nothofagus forests, both mountain and lowland. Many specimens from Curico´were collected by Juan Enrique Barriga-Tunon ˜(Universidad Cat´olica del Maule, Chile) by fogging the forest canopy. We were not able to observe webs.

Figures

Fig. 10. Tekellina araucana sp. n. A, left palp, ventral view, cleared. B, left palp, copulatory bulb partially expanded. C, female genitalia and tracheae, dorsal view, digested, both in original size and relative position (Abbreviations: Bl book lung, BlSp Book lung spiracle, Cp prolateral arm of conductor, Cr retrolateral arm of conductor, Cv ventral arm of conductor, EB embolus base, ET embolus tip, F fundus, FD fertilization duct, IpF interpulmonary fold, LT lateral trachea, MT median trachea, Pc paracymbium, Rc receptacle of female genitalia, Sf spermophor, T tegulum, TrSp tracheal spiracle, St subtegulum.)

Fig. 9. Tekellina araucana sp. n., male palp. A, right palp (image flipped to show as left palp), retrolateral view; B, ventral; C, prolateral; D, dorsal; E, apical. F, left palp partially expanded (Abbreviations: Cp prolateral arm of conductor, Cp* end of prolateral arm of conductor, Cr retrolateral arm of conductor, Cv ventral arm of conductor, E embolus, Pc paracymbium, Pcd depression behind paracymbium, T tegulum, Tb trichobothria, TO tarsal organ.)

Fig. 8. Tekellina araucana sp. n., female genitalia and distribution. A, epigyne, ventral view. B, endogyne digested, dorsal view. C, map with records (Abbreviations: CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Rc receptacle.)

Fig. 3. Female Tekellina araucana sp. n. A, ventral view. B, prosoma, lateral view. C, chelicerae and mouth parts, anterior view. D, prosoma, anterior view.

Fig. 4. Male Tekellina araucana sp. n. A, anterior view. B, eyes, anterior view. C, left leg III, retrolateral view. D, same, detail of ventral macrosetae on tibia.

Fig. 2. Habitus of Tekellina araucana sp. n. A–B, female. D–E, male.

Fig. 5. Tekellina araucana sp. n., structures on female appendages. A, left palpal tarsus, dorsal view. B, palpal claw, retrolateral view. C, base of trichobothria, tibia I. D, tarsal organ I. E, right leg I, prolateral view. F, tarsus and metatarsus I, dorsal view. G, right tarsus IV, ventral view. H, right claws I, prolateral view. I, same, apical view. J, right metatarsal organ I, dorsal view (Abbreviations: TO tarsal organ, Tb trichobothria.).

Fig. 6. Tekellina araucana sp. n., female spinnerets and anal tubercle. A, spinnerets. B, left ALS. C, right PLS. D, modified setae on anal tubercle. E, PMS. F, PMS and left PLS (Abbreviations: ALS anterior lateral spinneret, AT anal tubercle, Ac aciniform gland spigot, Ag aggregate gland spigot, Cy cylindrical gland spigot, Fl flagelliform gland spigot, MA major ampullate gland spigot, mi minor ampullate gland spigot, MS modified seta of anal tubercle, Nu nubbin, PLS posterior lateral spinneret, PMS posterior median spinneret, Pi piriform gland spigot, Ta tartipore, TrSp tracheal spiracle.)

Fig. 7. Tekellina araucana sp. n., male opisthosoma. A, Spinnerets. B, left ALS. C, right ALS. D, PMS. E, left PLS. F, epiandrum and epigastric area. G, modified setae on anal tubercle (Abbreviations: ALS anterior lateral spinneret, AT anal tubercle, Ac aciniform gland spigot, Ag aggregate gland spigot, BlSp Book lung spiracle, Cy cylindrical gland spigot, Ea Epiandrum, Fl flagelliform gland spigot, MA major ampullate gland spigot, mi minor ampullate gland spigot, MS modified seta of anal tubercle, Nu nubbin, PLS posterior lateral spinneret, PMS posterior median spinneret, Pi piriform gland spigot, Ta tartipore, TrSp tracheal spiracle.)

Fig. 12. Male palps of araneoids. A, Tekellina sadamotoi Yoshida & Ogata 2016, right palp, partially expanded, retrolateral view; B, same, left palp. C, Synotaxus turbinatus Simon 1895, left palp, retrolateral view. D, same, ventral view. E, Physoglenes sp., left palp, retrolateral view. F, same, ventral view (Abbreviations: Cp prolateral arm of conductor, Cr retrolateral arm of conductor, Cs conductor stem, Cv ventral arm of conductor, E embolus, Pc paracymbium, Pcd depression behind paracymbium, T tegulum, Tb trichobothria.) Images C–D from Fernando´Alvarez Padilla and Charles Griswold.