Notes on the orb-weaving spider genus Alpaida (Araneae, Araneidae) with description of four new species from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Baptista, Renner Luiz Cerqueira Castanheira, Pedro De Souza Prado, André Wanderley Do Zootaxa 2018 2018-04-11 4407 3 321 345 C5WC Baptista & Castanheira & Prado, 2018 Baptista & Castanheira & Prado 2018 [151,374,943,969] Arachnida Araneidae Alpaida GBIF Animalia Araneae 5 326 Arthropoda species imperialis sp. nov.    Type-material. Holotype ♂. BRAZIL,   Rio de Janeiro:  Mendes: Centro Marista São Josédas Paineiras( Sede) 22° 30’ 35.1” S, 043° 45’ 16.5” W,  551 m,  25.II.2015, looking down, R. Baptistacoll. ( MNRJ 7468).  Paratypes: BRAZIL,   Rio de Janeiro:  Mendes: Centro Marista São Josédas Paineiras( Cruzeirotrail) 22° 30’ 41.8” S, 043° 45’ 41.7” W,  652 m,  17.XI.2014, looking down, R. Baptistacoll., 1 ♀( UFRJ 1421); 24.VIII.2014, litter sieving, A. do Prado coll., 1 ♂ (UFRJ 1422); 26.II.2015, looking down, A. do Prado coll., 1 ♀ (MNRJ 7469);  idem, Centro Marista São Josédas Paineiras( Sede) 22° 30’ 35.1” S, 043° 45’ 16.5” W,  551 m,  25.II.2015, looking down, R. Baptistacoll., 2 ♀( MNRJ 7470);    Rio de Janeiro: Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca, Camorim( Açudetrail) 22° 58’ 08.3” S, 43° 26’ 38.5” W,  342 m,  14.IX.2013, cryptic, R. Baptistacoll., 2 ♀( MNRJ 7471).    Additional material examined. BRAZIL,   Rio de Janeiro:  Mendes: Fazenda Arvoredo( Encruzilhada) 22° 30’ 16.8” S, 043° 45’ 34.6” W,  510 m,  16.XI.2014, looking down, R. Baptistacoll., 1 ♀, 1 immature ( UFRJ 1425);    Rio de Janeiro: Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca, Pau-da-fome ( Padariatrail) 22° 56’ 12.8” S, 043° 26’ 29.1” W,  133 m,  22.IX.2013, looking down, R. Baptistacoll., 1 ♀( UFRJ 1426); 17.XII.2013, cryptic, R. Baptista coll., 1 ♀ (UFRJ 1427); 16.III.2014, looking down, R. Baptista coll., 1 ♀ (UFRJ 1428);  idem, Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca, Camorim( Açudetrail) 22°58’08.3”S, 43°26’38.5”W,  342 m,  14.IX.2013, looking down, R. Baptistacoll., 1 ♀( UFRJ 1429).   Etymology. The specific epithet “ imperialis” is a Latin word meaning “from emperor”. It is a reference to the Pedro II Railway, a railroad that connects the cities of  Rio de Janeiroand Mendesand is named after Pedro II ( 1825–1891), last emperor of Brazil.   Diagnosis.Among closely related species,  Alpaida imperialis  new speciesseems to be most similar to  Alpaida imperatrix  new species(see diagnosis of the latter species above for details), but it differs by the absence of a contrasting medial sternal patch, and the epigynum almost rectangular, normally with a smaller notch, and less roundish lips, evidently excavated near the scape and wider at its median portion, which is projected over the sides of the posterior plate ( Fig. 4C–E). Also, the palp of  A. imperialis  new speciesis diagnosed by its terminal apophysis much wider than long, with a median crest (instead of a tooth) and larger and inward bent distal lobe ( Fig. 3C), a longer and acute tegular lobe, the wider and less slanted embolus and median apophysis longer and thinner ( Fig. 3C), much shorter in ventral view ( Fig. 3D).   Description. Male( holotype). Carapace, endites, sternum and chelicerae beige. Carapace with a wide median dark-brown stripe from eyes to pedicel, a bit thinner after the fovea ( Fig. 3A). Eyes placed in anterior black patch ( Fig. 3A). Chelicerae with paturon covered by black patches over most of its length and with reddish brown fangs. Endites also with black patches at its external side. Sternum beige, with brown margins. Legs pale beige with black patches on basal articles, darker on articulations ( Fig. 3A–B). Abdomen cylindrical, longer than wide. Abdomen black with some beige spots and white cardiac area ( Fig. 3A), sidescovered in black, with a median interrupted beige stripe on its first and second thirds, and venter beige, with a pair of transversal thin black stripes over the book-lung openings, a large black patch on its middle third and another one at its posterior margin. Spinnerets beige with a basal black patch. Palp with huge terminal apophysis, much wider than long, bearing a median crest and robust distal lobe, with its tip projected inward; embolus wide, elongated and blade-shaped, slightly slanted ( Figs. 3C); median apophysis crescent-shaped, around three times longer than wide, also projected inward ( Figs. 3C); tegular lobe thin and long, laterally projected ( Figs. 3C). Paracymbium short, hooked ( Fig. 3D–E). Total length: 3.82. Carapace: 2.14 long, 1.62 wide. Leg I: femur 1.79, patella 0.60, tibia 1.40, metatarsus 1.10 and tarsus 0.59. Patella + tibia II 1.50; III 1.35; IV 1.78.   FIGURE 3.  Alpaida imperialis  new speciesmale holotype: A, dorsal habitus. B, ventral habitus. C–E, left male palp; C, mesal. D, ventral. E, ectal. Abbreviations, D, distal lobe; Cr, crest. Scale bars, A, B, 2 mm; C, D, E, 0.2 mm.   FIGURE 4.  Alpaida imperialis  new speciesfemale paratype (UFRJ 1421): A, dorsal habitus. B, ventral habitus. C–E, epigynum views; C, ventral. D, frontal. E, posterior. Scale bars, A, B, 2 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm.  Female( paratypeUFRJ 1421). Carapace and endites light yellow. Carapace with a wide median light-brown stripe from eyes to fovea ( Fig. 4A). Eyes, sternum and legs as in male. Chelicerae with brown paturon and reddish brown fangs. Abdomen elongated, roundish at sides and with a posterior acute tip ( Fig. 4B). Dorsum greyish, with white cardiac area, sided by a pair of dark grey patches, followed by a pair of U shaped dark grey streaks on the middle third and a big dark grey area on the posterior third ( Fig. 4A). Sides covered in black with a median interrupted brown stripe. Venter grey, with abundant guanine dots forming a white contour ( Fig. 4B). Spinnerets light brown with basal dark grey spots. Epigynum rectangular, much wider than long, with large and protruding rounded lips, excavated around the short scape, much lighter than surrounding areas ( Fig. 4C–D). Posterior plate high, but still wider that high, and slightly depressed in both sides, with lips projected over it at its middle portion ( Fig. 4E). Total length: 4.75. Carapace: 1.75 long, 1.51 wide. Leg I: femur 1.26, patella 0.69, tibia 1.20, metatarsus 1.12 and tarsus 0.50. Patella + tibia II 1.73; III 1.24; IV 1.74.  Variation. Males (n = 2): total length, 3,82–4.00; females (n = 11): total length, 3.72–5.34. Endites may vary in colour strength among specimens. Female abdomen can be darker, with black patches more strongly marked, reducing its greyish area. The amount of guanine in venter is variable among specimens of both sexes. Living specimens tend to be darker too. Epigynal notch can be rounded and not as pointed as described (e. g. UFRJ 1429).  Natural History.  Alpaida imperialis  new speciescan be found in habitats very alike  Alpaida imperatrix  new species. It was collected near ground by “sieving” litter, searching “cryptic” habitats and using “looking down” sampling techniques. During night, the small vertical orb-webs were easily spotted near rotten logs and large tree roots. The spider was usually crouched at some crevice on the wood surface, holding a signal line connected to the web hub. Sometimes, their webs were placed near the much larger webs of  A. tijuca.   Distribution. Only know from Mendes and  Rio de Janeirocities, at  Rio de Janeirostate, Brazil(Map 1). 1837804068 2015-02-25 MNRJ R. Baptista Brazil Mendes 551 -22.50975 Paineiras 1 -43.75458 Centro Marista Sao Jose 5 326 MNRJ 7468 1 1 Rio de Janeiro holotype 1837804080 2014-11-17 UFRJ R. Baptista Brazil Mendes 652 -22.511612 Paineiras 1 -43.761585 Centro Marista Sao Jose 5 326 UFRJ 1421 1 1 Rio de Janeiro paratype 1837804084 2015-02-25 MNRJ R. Baptista Brazil Centro Marista Sao Jose 551 -22.50975 Sede 1 -43.75458 Paineiras 5 326 MNRJ 7470 2 2 Rio de Janeiro paratype 1837804060 2013-09-14 MNRJ R. Baptista Brazil Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca 342 -22.968973 Acude 1 -43.444027 Camorim 5 326 MNRJ 7471 2 2 Rio de Janeiro paratype 1837804050 2014-11-16 UFRJ R. Baptista Brazil Mendes 510 -22.504667 Encruzilhada 1 -43.75961 Fazenda Arvoredo 5 326 UFRJ 1425 1 1 Rio de Janeiro 1837804066 2013-09-22 UFRJ R. Baptista Brazil 133 -22.936888 Padaria 1 -43.441418 Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca 5 326 UFRJ 1426 1 1 Rio de Janeiro 1837804065 2013-09-14 UFRJ R. Baptista Brazil Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca 342 -22.968973 Acude 1 -43.444027 Camorim 5 326 UFRJ 1429 1 1 Rio de Janeiro