Caribena, Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri & Bertani, Rogerio, 2017

Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri & Bertani, Rogerio, 2017, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera 01, ZooKeys 659, pp. 1-185 : 83

Caribena gen. n.

Diagnosis.

Females and males differ from those of all Aviculariinae genera by having type II urticating setae longer (more than 1 mm long) and slender (less than 0.009 mm wide) (Figs 18, 243) on a conspicuous patch on abdomen dorsum (Figs 241, 254). Additionally, males have a sharp spiniform process in the retrolateral lobe of cymbium (Fig. 306).

Etymology.

From the Spanish word “caribeña”, meaning "from Caribbean", the occurrence area of this genus, and is considered feminine in gender.

Description.

Carapace longer than wide, cephalic region slightly raised. Cephalic and thoracic striae inconspicuous or evident. Fovea deep, straight or recurve. Chelicera without rastelum. Eye tubercle distinct, slightly raised to raised, wider than long. Anterior row of eyes procurve, posterior slightly recurve. Clypeus narrow or absent. Labium subquadrate, longer than wide, with 95-115 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third center. Maxillary lyra absent. Maxilla subretangular, anterior lobe distinctly produced into conical process, inner angle bearing 100-200 cuspules. Sternum longer than wide, with posterior angle acute, not separating coxae IV. Anterior pair of sigilla not evident, middle fusiform, posterior rounded or ellipsoidal; all less than one diameter from margin. Leg formula: I=IV II III. Clavate trichobothria on distal 2/3 or 1/2 of tarsi I–IV. Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate, IV divided or not by a band of setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate, III 1/2 to 2/3 distal scopulate, IV 1/2 to 1/3 distal scopulate. Metatarsi IV divided by row of setae. Scopulae of tarsi and metatarsi I–II extended very laterally giving them spatulate appearance. Femora IV without retrolateral scopulae. Stridulatory setae absent. Leg aspinose. ITC absent; STC without denticles. Posterior lateral spinneret distally elongating, digitiform. Type II urticating setae very slender on dorsal abdomen, with barbs along entire length in both sexes (Figs 18, 243). Tibial apophysis single branch on prolateral leg I, with weakly-developed base and grouped spiniform setae distally (Fig. 310). Tibial apophysis on leg II absent. Male metatarsus I touches retrolaterally tibial apophysis’ setae when folded. Globous bulb with small subtegulum, lacking prominence ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 233) or with developed prominence on tegulum ( Caribena versicolor comb. nov., Fig. 246). Embolus not flattened, lacking keels, about 3.0 to 3.5 times tegulum’s length. Embolus medial portion and tegulum’s margin forming an obtuse ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 232) or an acute angle ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 245) in retrolateral view. Embolus proximal part slightly curved ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 233) or very curved ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 246) in frontal view; thin distal width, tapering distally (Figs 234; 318). Cymbium subtriangular with subequal lobes, having well-developed sharp process on retrolateral lobe, bearing thin setae (Figs 235, 306). Two completely separated, not-twisted, short ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 227) or long spermathecae ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 230); with apex with intumescence ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 227) or lacking it ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 230). Spermathecae almost straight ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 227) or with an accentuated outwards curvature medially ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 230). Spermatheca midwidth as wide as its base width and weakly-sclerotized area shorter than half the length of well-sclerotized area. Drastic ontogenetic changes on abdominal color pattern. Juveniles have green metallic sheen, no black tarsi (Figs 240, 252) and abdomen with dorsal central longitudinal black stripe connected ( Caribena versicolor comb. n., Fig. 252) or not ( Caribena laeta comb. n., Fig. 240) with conspicuous transversal black stripes. When mature, they lose this pattern.

Type species.

Mygale laeta C. L. Koch, 1842, herein, designated.

Species included.

Caribena laeta (C. L. Koch, 1842) comb. n. and Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) comb. n.

Distribution.

Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Island and Martinique (Fig. 226).

Key to males

Key to females