Novalena approximata (Gertsch & Ivie 1936)

Maya-Morales, Julieta & Jiménez, María Luisa, 2017, Revision of the funnel-web spider genus Novalena (Araneae: Agelenidae), Zootaxa 4262 (1), pp. 1-88 : 12-15

Novalena approximata (Gertsch & Ivie 1936)

Figures 1 a, e, 3, 4; Map 7

Agelena approximata Gertsch & Ivie 1936: 23 , figures 45, 51–52 (♂ ♀) Agelena tolucana Gertsch & Davis 1940: 3 , figure 4, 6 (♀) NEW SYNONYMY Novalena approximata Chamberlin & Ivie 1942: 226 , figure 63 (♂) Novalena tolucana Chamberlin & Ivie 1942: 226 (♂)

Types. Holotype male of N. approximata : COSTA RICA: San José: 9°59′N, 84°05′W, no date and collector data, deposited at AMNH (examined) . Holotype female of N. tolucana : MEXICO: Estado de México: Nevado de Toluca , 19°10′N, 99°42′W, 28.VI.1936, A.M. Davis and L.I. Davis, deposited at AMNH (examined).

Synonymy justification. The male pedipalps of N. approximata and N. tolucana each present a straight embolus, two-piece tegular median process, and a RTA with a dorsal projection larger than ventral projection. The epigynum of N. tolucana is as in N. approximata except for the proportional distance between the copulatory openings (slightly closer together in N. tolucana ). This variation is present throughout the examined material from central Mexico where the species is broadly distributed.

Diagnosis. The males of this species are similar to N. bosencheve in having the tegular median process with two projections and to N. clara in having a short embolus. They differ from N. bosencheve in having the RTA with ventral and dorsal projections of different size ( Figs. 3 d, 4b), and from N. clara in having the RTA without a small subprocess on the ventral projection ( Fig. 4 b). The females are similar to N. cieneguilla and N. clara in having the atrium superficial, but differ from N. cieneguilla in having the atrium occupying half the width of epigynal plate ( Fig. 4 c), and from N. clara in having the spurs less conspicuous ( Fig. 4 e).

Description. Male (holotype) of N. approximata : Carapace light brown. Chelicerae and condyles dark brown. Endites and labium brown with orange and white tips. Sternum with lateral black spots. Legs orange with three diffuse rings on femur. Opisthosoma light brown with several lateral black spots and foliage. Basal part of spinnerets with black diffuse spots and distal part yellow. Total length 7.1. Carapace length 3.8, width 2.4, cephalic region width 1.3, ocular region width 0.8. Chelicerae with three retromarginal teeth; basal segment length 1.3, fang length 0.8. Labium as long as wide (0.5/0.5). Endites almost straight (distance at their base compared at their tips 0.5/0.4). Sternum longer than wide (1.9/1.5). Opisthosoma longer than wide (3.7/2.1). PLS with distal segment shorter than basal segment (0.25/0.35). Leg lengths: I—femur 2.6/ patella-tibia 3.4/ metatarsus 2.4/ tarsus 1.6; II— 2.6/ 3.1/ 2.2/ 1.6; III—2.5/ 3.1/ 2.6/ 1.5; IV—3 / 3.9/ 3.6/ 1.8. Spination: femur dorsal I—1-1 -3/ II—1-3 -3/ III—1- 3 -3/ IV—1-2 -3; patella I—dorsal 1-1/ prolateral 1/ retrolateral 0; II—1-1 / 1/ 0; III—1-1 / 1/ 1; IV—1-1 / 1/ 1; tibia I—dorsal 0/ ventral 2-2-2/ prolateral 1-1-0/ retrolateral 0; II—0/ 1-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 0; III—1-1 -0/ 1-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 1-1-0; IV—1-1 -0/ 1-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 1-1-0; metatarsus I—0/ 2-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 0; II—0/ 2-2-2/ 0-1-1/ 0-1-1; III—2-1 -2/ 2-2-2/ 0-1- 1/ 0-1-1; IV—1-1 -2/ 2-1-1-2/ 1-1-1/ 0-0-1. Number of trichobothria on tarsus: I—6, II—6, III—5, IV—6. Number of dorsal spines on pedipalp: femur 3, tibia?. Cymbium length 1.4, width 0.8. Embolus straight; conductor with ventral projection slightly larger than dorsal projection; two-piece tegular median process; dorsal projection of RTA larger than ventral projection ( Figs. 3 , 4 a, b).

Female (allotype) of N. approximata : Carapace yellow, cephalic region reddish. Chelicerae and condyles reddish. Endites and labium dark brown with white tips. Sternum with a median yellow band. Legs brown with three diffuse rings on femur. Opisthosoma yellow with lateral brown spots. Spinnerets light brown. Total length 10.5. Carapace length 5, width 3.2, cephalic region width 1.6, ocular region width 1. Chelicerae with three retromarginal teeth; basal segment length 1.8, fang length 0.9. Labium as long as wide (0.6/0.6). Endites slightly convergent (distance at their base compared at their tips 0.6/0.45). Sternum longer than wide (2.3/1.9). Opisthosoma longer than wide (5.8/3.8). ALS separated by less their basal diameter (0.25/0.45), PLS with distal segment slightly longer than basal segment (0.6/0.5). Leg lengths: I—femur 3.2/ patella-tibia 3.8/ metatarsus 2.8/ tarsus 1.5; II—3.2/ 3.8/ 2.7/ 1.5; III—3 / 3.6/ 2.8/ 1.4; IV—3.8/ 4.4/ 4/ 1.8. Spination: femur dorsal I—1-3 -3/ II—1- 3 -3/ III—1-3 -3/ IV—1-3 -3; patella I—dorsal 1-1/ prolateral 1/ retrolateral 0; II—1-1 / 1/ 0; III—1-1 / 1/ 1; IV—1-1 / 1/ 1; tibia I—dorsal 0/ ventral 2-2-2/ prolateral 1-1-0/ retrolateral 0; II—0/ 2-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 0; III—1-1 -0/ 2-1-2/ 1-1-0/ 1-1-0; IV—1-1 -0/ 2-2-2/ 1-1-0/ 1-1-0; metatarsus I—0/ 2-2-2/ 0-1-1/ 0; II—0/ 2-2-2/ 0-1-1/ 0; III—2-1 -2/ 2-2-2/ 0- 1-1/ 0-1-0; IV—3-1 -2/ 2-1-1-2/ 0-1-1/ 0-0-1. Number of trichobothria on tarsus: I—6, II—6, III—7, IV—7. Dorsal spines on pedipalp femur: 3. Epigynal plate wider than long (1.8/0.8); atrium superficial; lateral spurs ( Fig. 4 c, e). Internal genitalia: copulatory ducts straight, primary spermathecae separated by less their width ( Fig. 4 d).

Variation. Males (n=10): body length 7–9.13; carapace length 3.8–4.75; patella-tibia I length 3.5–4.25. Females: body length 7.5–12.5 (n=10); carapace length 3.63–5.75 (n=10); patella-tibia I length 3.5–4.63 (n=8).

Additional material examined. Allotype of N. approximata : COSTA RICA: San José: 9°59′N, 84°05′W, no date and collector data, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . Allotype of N. tolucana : MEXICO: Estado de México: Nevado de Toluca , 19°10′N, 99°42′W, 28.VI.1936, A.M. Davis and L.I. Davis, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) . Paratypes of N. tolucana : MEXICO: Estado de México: Toluca , 28.VI.1936, A.M. Davis and L.I. Davis, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . Mexico City: mountain pass, W Mexico City, 20.VI.1936, L.I. Davis, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) .

Other material: MEXICO: Estado de México: 8 km W Toluca, 19°17′N, 99°42′W, 7.V.1963, W.J. Gertsch and W. Ivie, 2 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Nevado de Toluca, 9.V.1976, no collector data, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10164) ; same data except 16.VII.1944, C. Bolivar and D. Peláez, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 4267 m, 7–9.IX.1969, S. Peck and J. Peck, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 3200 m, 7.VIII.1951, C.M. Bogert, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Río Frío , 1.V.1941, M. Cárdenas and M. Correa, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data, 2 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 3000 m, 26.IV.1942, C. Bolivar, B. Osorio, and D. Peláez, 3 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; 3.2 km SW Río Frío , 19°20′N, 98°40′W, 24.IV.1963, W.J. Gertsch and W. Ivie, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; 3.2 km Río Frío , 3200 m, 24.VII.1956, W.J. Gertsch and V. Roth, 1 ♀ (CASENT 9048872); Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, El Batán, 22.III.1976, J.A. Mihm, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Tenancingo , X.1946, H. Wagner, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Iztaccíhuatl, no date and collector data, 2 ♀ (CNAN- Ar10149); Naucalpan de Juárez , 31.VII.1999, L. Gutiérrez, 1 ♂ (CNAN-Ar10151); Nepantla, 8.XII.1981, J. Martínez, 1 ♂ (CNAN-Ar10153); Municipality of Ocuilan, Parque Nacional Lagunas de Zempoala, 11.VIII.2001, no collector data, 4 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10165) ; same data except 9.VI.1976, no collector data, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10167) ; same data except 9.XI.1976, R. Pineda, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10156) ; same data except, P. Sánchez, 1 ♀ (CNAN- Ar10155) ; 4 km W Lagunas de Zempoala , 11.VIII.2001, no collector data, 2 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10158) ; same data except, 8 km W Lagunas de Zempoala , 3150 m, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10157) . Guerrero: Taxco , 1946, L. Isaacs, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . Hidalgo: Taxquillo, Tzindejek, Río Tula , 20°33′N, 99°19′W, 20.VIII.1964, J. Ivie and W. Ivie, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . Mexico City: V.1940, H. Wagner, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) ; same data except VII–VIII.1941, 2 ♂ ( AMNH) ; same data, 1♂ (CNAN-Ar10175) ; same data except IV.1941, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) ; 4.III.1976, no collector data, 1 ♀ (CNAN- Ar10154); Parque Nacional Desierto de los Leones , VI.1946, N.L.H. Krauss, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; La Venta , 2.XI.1939, no collector data, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 27.X.1940, J. Álvarez, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Contreras , 14.VIII.1946, Goodnight and Bordas, 2 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Ciudad Jardín , 14.VI.1957, no collector data, 2 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Chapultepec , 29.III.1949, no collector data, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 20.VI.1951, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 4.III.1953, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Santa Rosa, 17.I.1942, H. Wagner, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data except 28.VI.1942, M. Cárdenas, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Tenayuca , 28.I.1939, no collector data, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Álvaro Obregón , no date data, V. López, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10147); Gustavo A. Madero, towards Cueva del Fraile, 19°35′15.5″N, 99°07′51.4″W, H . Montaño, A. Valdez, R. Paredes, and T. Garrido, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10178) . Michoacán: Zamora , 10.V.1978, R. Esquivel, 1 ♂ (CNAN-Ar10150) . Morelos: Cuernavaca , 1700 m, IX.1941, H. Wagner, 2 ♀ ( AMNH) ; same data, 1 ♀ (CNAN-Ar10148); Coajomulco , 7.VI.1946, J.C. Pallister and D.L. Pallister, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Huitzilac , 2400 m, 14.VIII.1955, B. Malkin, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Municipality of Yautepec, Oaxtepec , 25.XI.1996, R. Lamothe, 2 ♂ (CNAN-Ar10152) . Puebla : Poza Rica , Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, 24.III.1976, J.A. Mihm, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . Veracruz: Jalacingo , 1650 m, 18.I.1947, H. Wagner, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) .

Distribution. MEXICO: Estado de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla , Veracruz; COSTA RICA: San José (Map 7).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Novalena spp., habitus: a, e, N. approximata (Gertsch & Ivie 1936), female; b, f, N. alvarezi sp. nov., female; c, g, N. chamberlini sp. nov., male; d, h, N. clara sp. nov., female; i, m, N. dentata sp. nov., male; j, n, N. irazu sp. nov., female; k, o, N. iviei sp. nov., male; l, p, N. leonensis sp. nov., female; q, u, N. mexiquensis sp. nov., male; r, v, N. poncei sp. nov., female; s, w, N. puebla sp. nov., female; t, x, N. rothi sp. nov., female. a – d, i – l, q – t, dorsal view; e – h, m – p, v – x, ventral view. Scale bars: a, d, j, q, s, t = 4 mm; b, i, l, r = 3 mm; c, k = 2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Novalena approximata (Gertsch & Ivie 1936), male pedipalp (SEM): a, ventral view; b, prolateral view; c, d, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: Cd, dorsal projection of conductor; Cv, ventral projection of conductor; E, embolus; MA, median apophysis; RTAd, distal projection of RTA; RTAo, dorsal projection of RTA; RTAv, ventral projection of RTA; St, subtegulum; T, tegulum; TMP, tegular median process.

FIGURE 4. Novalena approximata (Gertsch & Ivie 1936): a, male pedipalp, ventral view; b, same, retrolateral view; c, epigynum, ventral view; d, internal genitalia, dorsal view; e, epigynum, posterior view. Abbreviations: A, atrium; C, conductor; CD, copulatory ducts; E, embolus; FD, fertilization ducts; MA, median apophysis; RTAd, distal projection of RTA; RTAo, dorsal projection of RTA; RTAv, ventral projection of RTA; S, spurs; S 1, primary spermathecae; S 2, secondary spermathecae; T, tegulum; TMP, tegular median process. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.