Ixchela viquezi, Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2013

Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro, 2013, Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Ixchela Huber, 2000 (Araneae: Pholcidae), with description of ten new species from Mexico and Central America, Zootaxa 3608 (5), pp. 285-327 : 324-325

Ixchela viquezi new species

Figures 202–213

Type data. HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: 1 3 holotype (INBio) [24 September 2008; C. Víquez] from Oyuca (lat 14.0160°, lon -87.0833°, 1504m). 1 Ƥ paratype (INBio) [28 September 2008; C. Víquez] from Parque Nacional La Tigra, about 10 km NE Tegucigalpa (lat 14.2121°, lon -87.0950°, 1800–1900 m).

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Dr. Carlos Víquez from Costa Rica, who loaned spiders of the family Pholcidae from Central America and for his participation in collecting the type series.

Diagnosis. Resembles to I. franckei , distinguished by the FAC smaller, with small tip distally ( Figs 204, 205 ); by the SAC smaller ( Fig. 204 ); by the PAB rounded and bigger ( Figs 207, 208 ); and by the epigynum with wide apophysis, rounded distally ( Figs 211, 213 ),

Description. Male (Holotype). Prosoma: Carapace pale orange, paler in anterior part behind the ocular region, and pale grey in distal half ( Fig. 203 ). Carapace with three inconspicuous lines on each side ( Fig. 203 ). Fovea without pattern surrounding it; ocular region brown, with a sparse reddish pattern posteriorly, next to the fovea, U-shaped ( Fig. 203 ). Clypeus pale orange, with a wide light orange region, longitudinal ( Fig. 206 ). Chelicerae light brown ( Figs 204, 205 ). Sternum light olive, labium and endites pale brown, pale distally. Retrolateral apophysis of endites pale. Legs: Coxae and trochanters pale orange. Femora brown, paler basally, without rings, even without sub-distal ring that other species have. Tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi pale brown. Opisthosoma: Globular, dark blue, as long as high ( Fig. 202 ). Plate of genital gonopore olive, trapezoidal. Palp: Femur conical, slightly curved, pale orange, becoming paler ventrally ( Figs 207, 208 ). VAF small, conical, located in retrolateral-ventral position ( Fig. 207 ). Patella and tibia orange. Procursus orange, darker distally, with distal spine, large and curved ( Fig. 207 ). VPP conical, with few and large setae ( Fig. 207 ). Embolus wide, distally curved; apically with dorsal small spine and ventrally with small projection spine-shaped ( Figs 207–209 ). Measurements. Total length 5.30. Carapace 2.25 long, 2.10 wide. Clypeus length 1.00. Diameter AME 0.06, ALE 0.17, PME 0.14, PLE 0.20. Distance ALE-PME 0.09, PME-PME 0.26. Leg I: missing, tibia II: missing, tibia III: missing, tibia IV: 7.30; tibia I l/d missing.

Female (Paratype). Similar to the male, differences: Prosoma: Distal half of carapace grey, darker than the male. Ocular region paler brown than on male. Clypeus with a brown region, wide and longitudinal. Sternum olive, darker than on male. Legs: Coxae and trochanters pale orange, becoming olive in prolateral and retrolateral part. Femora, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi paler brown than the male. Epigynum: Wider than long ( Figs 210, 211, 213 ). In frontal and ventral views with small rounded pit ( Figs 210, 211 ). PP larger than wide, forming a space U-shaped upside down between them; MSE thin and inconspicuous ( Fig. 212 ). Measurements: Total length 5.00. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.95 wide. Clypeus 0.90 long. Diameter AME 0.08, ALE 0.16, PME 0.12, PLE 0.14. Distance ALE- PME 0.08. PME-PME 0.22. Leg I: 33.27 (9.00+0.87+8.90+11.00+3.50), tibia II: 6.40, tibia III: missing, tibia IV: missing; tibia I l/d 35.60.

Distribution. HONDURAS ( Fig. 214 ).

Figures

FIGURE 214. Known distribution of Ixchela franckei new species, Ixchela huasteca new species, Ixchela santibanezi new species, Ixchela tzotzil new species and Ixchela viquezi new species.

FIGURES 202 – 213. Ixchela viquezi new species. Male: 202, Habitus, lateral view. 203, Carapace, dorsal view. 204, Chelicerae, frontal view. 205, Chelicera, lateral view. 206, Carapace, frontal view. 207 – 208, Left palp, retrolateral and prolateral views respectively. 209, Bulb and procursus, dorsal view. Female: 210, Epigynum, frontal view. 211, Epigynum, ventral view. 212, Epigynum, dorsal view. 213, Epigynum, left lateral view. Scales: 1 mm (Figs 202, 206 – 208), 0.5 mm (Figs 203 – 205, 209 – 213).