Linothele pukachumpi, Dupérré, Nadine & Tapia, Elicio, 2015

Dupérré, Nadine & Tapia, Elicio, 2015, Descriptions of four kleptoparasitic spiders of the genus Mysmenopsis (Araneae, Mysmenidae) and their potential host spider species in the genus Linothele (Araneae, Dipluridae) from Ecuador, Zootaxa 3972 (3), pp. 343-368 : 356-358

Linothele pukachumpi new species

Figs. 30–33

Material examined. Female holotype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve (00.42261°S 79.5107°W), 2225m, 04–09.ix.2014, hand collected from web with 1♂ 1♀ Mysmenopsis otonga symbionts, N. Dupérré, E. Tapia and C. Tapia ( QCAZ). Female paratype, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve (00.42261°S 79. 5107°W), 2225m, 26.v.2014, hand collected from web, C. Tapia ( QCAZ).

Additional material examined. Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve (00.42261°S 79.5107°W), 2225m, 26.v.2014, 4♀, hand collected from webs, N. Dupérré, E. Tapia and C. Tapia (DTC).

Etymology. The specific epithet is taken from the Kichwa language and represents the combination of two words, “puka” (red) and “chumpi” (brown).

Diagnosis. Females are diagnosed by their uniform red-brown colour ( Fig. 30 ). From L. longicauda , L.

aequatorialis and L. cousini by the presence of yellowish setae on the carapace ( Fig. 30 ). Females can be further diagnosed by their elongated and apically tapering spermathecae, with a few elongated vesicles medially ( Figs. 32, 33 ).

Description. Female: Total length: 28; carapace length: 11.0; carapace width: 10.0; abdomen length: 17.0; abdomen width: 12.0. Cephalothorax: Carapace slightly longer than wide, dark reddish-brown, covered with a mix of numerous short black and golden setae, black setae positioned along radiating lines; margin covered with short golden setae; cephalic region elevated, delimited by deep furrow; fovea recurved, deep ( Fig. 30 ). Chelicerae black, covered with long black setae; promargin with 10 teeth, fang furrow with seven denticles, retromargin without teeth. Labium without cuspules, base reddish-brown, apex light reddish-brown. Maxillae light reddish-brown with 25–30 cuspules, maxillary lyra absent. Sternum uniformly brown, covered with long, black, erect setae, flat, slightly longer than wide, with three oval to rounded sigilla, weakly rebordered, border light yellow ( Fig. 31 ). Eyes: eight on a tubercle; AME rounded, separated by half their width; LE-PME oval, LE touching, ALE the largest; PME the smallest, separated by three times their diameter; anterior row straight, posterior row recurved ( Fig. 30 ). Abdomen: Elongated oval, dorsally dark red-brown covered with short black setae and black erect setae ( Fig. 30 ); ventrally dark red-brown covered with short black setae. Spinnerets: PLS brown, total length: 12.0, basal median apical: 3.5/4.0/4.5 respectively; PMS brown, total length: 2.5. Legs: Dark reddish-brown, covered with black setae, femora I–II with retrolateral longitudinal pale line, femora III–IV with prolateral longitudinal pale line ( Fig. 30 ); tarsi I–IV flexible and pseudosegmented, with weak scopulae; leg formula 4123; total length: I 35.5 II 34.0 III 33.0 IV 43.0; leg articles length (femur/patella/tibia/metatarsus/tarsus): leg I 10 /4.5/8/6.5/6.5; leg II 9.5/ 4.5/6.5/7/6.5; leg III 8.5/4.5/6.5/8/5.5; leg IV 11 /4.5/9/12/6.5. Paired tarsal claws bipectinate, legs I–II with rows of 7 teeth; legs III–IV with rows of 5 teeth, third claw bare. Palpal claw unipectinate with row of 7 teeth. Leg spination: leg I: femur d1-1-1, p0-0-1, r0-0-1; tibia r1-1-0, v0-0-2; metatarsus v1-1 -2. Leg II: femur d1-1-1, r0-0-1; tibia r0-0-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus r1-0-0, v2-2 -2. Leg III: femur d1-1-1, p1-1-1-1-1, r0-0-1; tibia p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-0- 0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-0, r1-1-1, d1-1-2, v2-2 -3. Leg IV: femur d1-1-1, p1-1-1-1, r0-1-1; tibia p1-1-0, r1-1-0, d1-0-0, v1-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-0, r1-1-1, d1-1-2, v2-2 -3. Genitalia: Spermathecae joined at base, elongated and tapering apically, with a few elongated vesicles medially, most on long stalk ( Figs. 32, 33 ).

Male: Unknown.

Distribution. Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province.

Natural history. Specimens of L. pukachumpi were collected in a primary cloud forest at 2225m, they build webs of 50 x 40 cm on dirt talus along trails, the retreat is located in soil crevices.

Figures

FIGURES 30 – 33. Linothele pukachumpi n. sp. Female. 30, Holotype, lateral view. 31, Sternum, ventral view. 32, Holotype internal genitalia, dorsal view. 33, Paratype internal genitalia, dorsal view.