Phonotimpus llera, Platnick & Chamé-Vázquez & Ibarra-Núñez, 2022

Platnick, Norman I., Chamé-Vázquez, David & Ibarra-Núñez, Guillermo, 2022, The guardstone spiders of the genus Phonotimpus Gertsch & Davis (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from northeastern Mexico, Zootaxa 5219 (1), pp. 1-48 : 44-46

Phonotimpus llera sp. nov.

Figures 280–286 , 331–338

Type material. Male holotype and four male paratypes taken near the summit of Llera Mesa , [23.38333°N, 98.98333°W], Tamaulipas, Mexico (Apr. 16, 1963; W. Gertsch, W. Ivie), deposited in AMNH .

Other material examined. MEXICO: Tamaulipas: Aldama , Dec. 5, 1945, F. Bonet, 1♀ ( AMNH) . Arroyo de Nacimiento del Río Frío , Mar. 15, 1972, J. Cooke, 1♂ ( AMNH) . Rancho del Cielo , 6 mi NW Gómez Farías, Mar. 9, 1969, J. Reddell et al., 1♂ ( AMNH) .

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Males of this small species can be easily recognized by the very small dorsal and retrolateral tibial apophyses ( Figs 280– 283 ). The female described here is easily recognized by the circular, closely spaced atria situated at the posterior half of the epigynum and by rounded primary spermathecae situated between the atria and rounded bursae, which are about the same size as primary spermathecae ( Figs 284–286 ). That female was not collected with a male, but a good match seems to be a female that was taken with the holotype but is unfortunately missing its epigynum.

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 1.31. Carapace yellow, with only vague indications of paramedian longitudinal bands of darker maculations, pars thoracica steeply sloping, pars cephalica sloping evenly from thoracic groove to clypeus; sternum, mouthparts yellow, each cheliceral paturon with one weak bristle near base; abdomen narrow, dorsum, sides light gray, posterior half with four white chevrons, most anterior chevron largest, others decreasing in size toward spinnerets, anterior three situated under weak scutum covering almost full length, width of dorsum, venter white, unmarked ( Figs 331–334 ); legs yellow, unmarked. Leg spination: femora: I d1-0-0, p0- 0-2; II–IV d1-0-0; tibiae: I v4-4-4; II v4-2-2; metatarsi I v2-2-3; II v2-2- 1p.

Palpal femur with one dorso-distal spine, weak retrolateral excavation extending over distal two-thirds of femur length, patch of spinules on distal, prolateral half; dorsal tibial apophysis very short, triangular ( Figs 280, 282–283 ); retrolateral apophysis much stronger, short, wide, truncated, slightly bent ventrally ( Figs 281–283 ); tegulum expanded proximally; embolar base membranous, about one-fifth of bulb width; embolus weak, thin, relatively long, extending obliquely to retrolateral edge of alveolus, visible ventrally and laterally; embolar basal process about as wide as embolar base; conductor short, slender, widened at apex; apical tegular apophysis absent ( Figs 280–282 ).

Female (Aldama): Total length 1.73. As in male, but carapace maculations more obvious than in male, each cheliceral paturon with two strong, erect bristles near base, dorsal scutum small, triangular, confined to cardiac area, white chevrons connected at sides, leaving four light gray chevrons on white background ( Figs 335–338 ). Leg spination as in male except tibia II v4-4-2; metatarsus II 3-2-2.

Epigynum small, with pair of circular, narrowly separated atria near posterior edge; small copulatory openings at anterior margin of atria; copulatory ducts sinuous, extending half-length of epigynum; rounded bursae closely spaced; rounded primary spermathecae situated between bursae and atria, about same size of bursae; fertilization ducts posteriorly directed, lateral to atria, as long as primary spermathecae ( Figs 284–286 ).

Distribution. Known only from the Municipios de Llera, El Mante, Gómez Farías, and Aldama in southern Tamaulipas ( Fig. 339 ).

Figures

FIGURE 339. Northeast Mexico, showing distribution of the Phonotimpus species described in this work.

FIGURES 280–286. Phonotimpus llera sp. nov., male (280–283) and female (284–286). 280. Left palp, prolateral view. 281. Same, ventral view. 282. Same, retrolateral view. 283. Same, dorsal view. 284. Epigynum, ventral view. 285. Cleared epigynum, ventral view. 286. Same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 327–338. 327–330. Phonotimpus calenturas sp. nov., female. 331–338. P. llera sp. nov., male (331–334) and female (335–338). 327, 331, 335. Carapace, dorsal view. 329, 333, 337. Same, ventral view. 328, 332, 336. Abdomen, dorsal view. 330, 334, 338. Same, ventral view.