Phonotimpus cima, 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 : 8-9

Phonotimpus cima sp. nov.

Figures 31–37 , 73–80

Type material. Male holotype and female allotype from a Winkler sample of sifted cloud forest leaf litter taken at El Cielo, 3 km SE Alta Cima, 23.03440°N, 99.18697°W, elev. 860 m, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Aug. 24, 2009; M. Branstetter), deposited in MCZ (94044).

Other material examined. MEXICO: Tamaulipas: El Cielo , 1.2 km SE Alta Cima, 23.05005°N, 99.19926°W, elev. 920 m, Aug. 24, 2009, Winkler trap, sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, M. Branstetter, 1♀ ( MCZ 95746) . El Cielo , 1.3 km NW Joya de Manantiales, 23.0233°N, 99.28830°W, elev. 1620 m, Aug. 22, 2009, sifted leaf litter, mesophyll forest, M. Branstetter, 1♂ (ex MCZ 95546) . El Cielo , 1.8 km W Alta Cima, 23.06110°N, 99.21564°W, elev. 1340 m, Aug. 23, 2009, Winkler trap, sifted leaf litter, mesophyll forest, M. Branstetter, 2♀ (ex MCZ 93767) . El Cielo , 2.5 km SSE Alta Cima, 23.03787°N, 99.18941°W, elev. 870 m, Aug. 24, 2009, Winkler trap, sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, M. Branstetter, 1♀ ( MCZ 95691) . El Cielo, Julilo , 23.14122°N, 99.21315°W, elev. 1450 m, July 19, 2006, liquidambar/oak forest litter, R. Anderson, L. Benavides, 3♀ (ex MCZ 140486 ) .

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

Diagnosis. Males of this species are easily recognized by the twisted dorsal tibial apophysis, the tip of which is directed prolaterally rather than distally, retrolateral tibial apophysis projecting far to the side of the tibia, embolus short, apical tegular apophysis absent ( Figs 31–34 ). Females have an epigynum that resembles that of P. separatus , but the copulatory openings are more separated, the bursae and the secondary spermathecae are much longer, the primary spermathecae are much shorter and separated by the chalice-shaped gap formed by the borders of the spermathecae and copulatory ducts ( Figs 33–37 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 1.94. Carapace pale olive, with dark maculations everywhere except median, top portion of pars cephalica, pars thoracica steeply sloping, pars cephalica gently sloping; sternum, mouthparts yellow, each cheliceral paturon anteriorly darkened, with two strong, erect bristles near base; abdomen narrow, greatly narrowed posteriorly, dorsum, sides dark gray, dorsum with single broad, white chevron at about half its length, with small white spot above spinnerets, scutum covering entire dorsum, sides with longitudinal rows of white spots, venter white, unmarked ( Figs 73–76 ); legs yellow, with vague indications of dark rings proximally, distally on femora, patellae, tibiae. Leg spination: femora: I d1-0-0, p0-0-2; II d1-0-0, p0-0-1; III–IV d1-0-0; tibiae I v4-4-4-1r; II v4-4-4; metatarsi: I v2-2-3; II v3-2-2.

Palpal femur distally incrassate, with retrolateral excavation extending over distal half of femur length, patch of spinules on distal, prolateral half; dorsal tibial apophysis long, sinuous, base massive, subbasally widened, tip acuminate, directed prolaterally ( Figs 33–34 ); retrolateral apophysis projecting far to the side of the tibia, bent ventrally at about half its length ( Figs 32–33 ); tegulum slightly expanded retrolaterally; embolar base narrow, occupying about one-fifth of bulb width; embolus short, narrow, weak, directed retrolaterally, obscured by the embolar basal process and conductor; embolar basal process narrower than embolar base; conductor narrow, slightly widened at apex; apical tegular apophysis absent.

Female (allotype): Total length 2.57. As in male, except abdomen wider posteriorly, dorsal abdominal scutum short, triangular, covering cardiac area only, dorsum with three threadlike white chevrons on posterior half, followed by larger white chevron above spinnerets, dorsum, sides with longitudinal rows of white spots ( Figs 77–80 ), leg rings even less obvious. Leg spination as in male except tibiae: II v4-4-2- 1p.

Epigynum narrow, small copulatory openings situated at middle of epigynum; first part of copulatory ducts short, laterally directed, second part longer than first, posteriorly directed; bursae large, elongated, narrower at base, contiguous at its distal ends; primary spermathecae subquadrate, much smaller than bursae, shorter than copulatory ducts; fingerlike secondary spermathecae arising near the union of copulatory ducts and primary spermathecae, parallel and contiguous to copulatory ducts; fertilization ducts horn-shaped, lateral to primary spermathecae; the borders of the spermathecae and copulatory ducts form a chalice-shaped gap ( Figs 35 –37 ).

Distribution. Known only from the Municipio de Gómez Farías in southern Tamaulipas, where it is sometimes sympatric with P. cielo sp. nov. and P. farias sp. nov. ( Fig. 339 ).

Figures

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

FIGURES 31–37. Phonotimpus cima sp. nov., male (31–34) and female (35–37). 31. Left palp, prolateral view. 32. Same, ventral view. 33. Same, retrolateral view. 34. Same, dorsal view. 35. Epigynum, ventral view. 36. Cleared epigynum, ventral view. 37. Same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 65–84. 65–72. Phonotimpus separatus Gertsch & Davis, 1940 male (65–68) and female (69–72). 73–80. P. cima sp. nov., male (73–76) and female (77–80). 81–84. P. cumbres sp. nov., male. 65, 69, 73, 77, 81. Carapace, dorsal view. 67, 71, 75, 79, 83. Same, ventral view. 66, 70, 74, 78, 82. Abdomen, dorsal view. 68, 72, 76, 80, 84. Same, ventral view.