Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, 1951

Piacentini, Luis N., Ávila Calero, Sergio L., Pérez, Marianela E. & Grismado, Cristian J., 2013, The first palpimanid spiders from Bolivia: two new species of the genus Otiothops MacLeay, and the female of Fernandezina pulchra Birabén (Araneae: Palpimanidae: Otiothopinae), Zootaxa 3619 (4), pp. 491-500 : 499

Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, 1951

( Figs 5–6 )

Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, 1951: 546 , figs 1–3 (male holotype from Laguna Yema, Formosa, Argentina, deposited in MACN-Ar, examined). Zapfe, 1961: 141. Platnick et al. 1999: 10.

Other material examined. Bolivia: Santa Cruz: 1 male, Concesión Forestal La Chonta, Prov. Guarayos, 15°42'42"s, 62°46'20"W, 26–30 October 2010, Amazonian forest with selective logging, pitfall trap, elev. 330 m, C. Grismado, M. R. Vacaflores, M. Pérez (CBF); 1 female, same data except Berlese trap (MACN-Ar 28903); 1 juvenile, same data except sifting litter (MACN-Ar 28902).

Diagnosis. The female resembles that of F. dasilvai Platnick, Grismado & Ramírez, 1999 in the dorsal chevron pattern on the abdomen ( Figs 5 a–c), but differs by lacking claw tufts and by the genitalia, which have anteriorly directed median receptacula and a less extended posterior extension of the bursa ( Fig. 6 b).

Description. Female (MACN-Ar 28903): Total length 2.76. Carapace 1.28 long, 0.84 wide. Femur I 1.20 long, 0.30 high. Posterior median eyes separated by more than their diameter ( Fig 5 a). Paturon with inconspicuous lateral ridge. Sclerotized portions of body orange brown ( Figs 5 a–c); abdominal scutum orange, with lateroventral notches where two oblique, elongated ventral plates fit, converging posteriorly toward middle of venter, but not touching ( Fig. 6 a). Unsclerotized portion of dorsum with about six dark brown, transverse paired chevrons on yellowish background ( Figs 5 a–c), last three connected at middle ( Fig. 5 a); venter uniformly yellowish, more posterior chevrons extending partially near spinnerets ( Fig. 5 c). Tarsi II-IV without claw tufts. Internal genitalia ( Fig. 6 b) with paired median receptacula, with nearly squared proximal part, anteriorly directed, rounded, distal part; poreplates situated on anterior wall of the proximal part of each receptaculum (PP in Fig. 6 b). Posterior extension of bursa (PE) not extended posteriorly; uterus externus not visible.

Male. See Birabén (1951) and Platnick et al. (1999).

Note. Although Platnick et al. (1999) reported that the abdomen of the type specimen of F. pu lc h r a lacked chevrons, the fresh specimen here obtained clearly shows the abdominal markings ( Figs 5 d–f). The current pale, uniform, color of the holotype seems to be a consequence of preservation conditions, given that Birabén (1951: 549) mentioned the chevrons (“…por detrás del escudo hay cuatro bandas irregulares más oscuras que convergen hacia la línea mediana; la banda más anterior es en parte cubierta por el borde posterior del escudo dorsal” [behind the scutum there are four irregular, darker bands converging towards the median line; the anterior band is partly covered by the posterior edge of dorsal scutum]). The palp of the Bolivian specimen ( Figs 6 c–e) was compared with the holotype and shows no significant differences.

Distribution. Formosa ( Argentina) and Santa Cruz ( Bolivia).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, habitus of preserved specimens: a – c, female (MACN-Ar 28903); d – f, male (CBF); a, d, dorsal views; b, e, lateral views; c, f, ventral views.

FIGURE 6. Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, copulatory organs: a – b, female (MACN-Ar 28903); c – e, male (CBF); a, epigastric region, ventral view; b, KOH digested internal genitalia, dorsal view (MR = median receptacula, PE = posterior extension of the bursa, PP = poreplate); c – e, left pedipalp; c, prolateral view; d, ventral view; e, retrolateral view.