Brachypelma klaasi, (SCHMIDT & KRAUSSE, 1994)

Mendoza, Jorge & Francke, Oscar, 2020, Systematic revision of Mexican threatened tarantulas Brachypelma (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae), with a description of a new genus, and implications on the conservation, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 188, pp. 82-147 : 119-122

BRACHYPELMA KLAASI (SCHMIDT & KRAUSSE, 1994)

( FIGS 2, 29–32, 36I–L, 38)

Brachypelmides klaasi Schmidt & Krause, 1994: 7 , figs 1–2, D male and female; Schmidt (1997b: 19, figs 198, 202), male and female; Locht et al. (1999: 196, figs 4, 9), male and female; Vol (1999: 11, fig. A), female; Peters (2000: 75, figs 244–247), male and female; Peters (2003: 131, figs 533–535, 537), male and female; Schmidt (2003: 137, figs 204, 208), male and female. Smith (1994: 159) transferred the species to Brachypelma .

Brachypelma klaasi Smith (1994: 169 , figs 926–939), male and female.

Material examined

Holotype of Brachypelmides klaasi (by original designation): MEXICO: Nayarit: ♀, close to Tepic, K. Böhme ( SMF 40599 ) (only microscope slide with spermatheca).

Other material: MEXICO: 1 ♀, without more data ( SMF 58101–84 ) (only microscope slide with spermatheca) ; 1 ♂, without more data, Böhme ( SMF 38044 ); Jalisco : 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Mpio. Tomatlán , 6/XII/2012, D. Ortiz, E. Goyer, E. Hijmensen (CNAN-Ar003333, CNAN-Ar003341, CNAN-Ar007831) ; 1 ♂, Mpio. Cihuatlán , 4/XII/2013, D. Ortiz, D. Barrales, G. Contreras (CNAN-Ar007160) ; 1 ♀, Mpio. La Huerta, Reserva Chamela , 6/XII/2013, D. Ortíz, E. Goyer, E. Hijmensen (CNAN-Ar007879) ; 1 ♂, Mpio. La Huerta, Reserva Chamela , 8–20/ XI/2014, W. Maddison (CNAN-Ar007857) ; 1 ♂, Mpio. La Huerta, Reserva Chamela , 18/ V /1981, A. Pescador (CNAN-Ar003432) ; 1 ♂, donation received from private collection of J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar003344); Colima : 1 ♂, Mpio. Manzanillo , 4/XII/2013, D. Ortiz, D. Barrales, G. Contreras (CNAN-Ar007162) ; 1 ♂, Mpio. Colima , 30/XI/2012, D. Ortiz, E. Goyer, E. Hijmensen (CNAN-Ar007845).

Diagnosis

Brachypelma klaasi can be distinguished from all other known Brachypelma species in the coloration of the legs with pinkish colour on the tibiae and metatarsi ( Fig. 36I–L). It also differs in the shape of the genitalia in both sexes with palpal bulb almost straight, tapering and lacking the typical spoon-shape ( Fig. 30C–D). The prolateral superior keel reduced, directed retrolaterally and slightly extended to backward ( Fig. 30C). Apical keel thin and reduced, shorter than prolateral superior keel ( Fig. 30B). Lacking prolateral inferior keel. Also differs by the divided spermatheca widely separated, with spermathecal baseplate oblong. Ventral face smooth ( Fig. 31D–F).

Brachypelma klaasi is identified by possesing the following character combination: male palpal bulb with embolus almost straight, tapering and without typycal spoon-shape due to the reduced apical keel. Prolateral superior keel reduced, apical keel thin and reduced, shorter than prolateral superior keel. Embolus tip directed to retrolateral. Embolus similar in length to tegulum ( Fig. 30A–D). Spermatheca separated with semitriangular receptacles. Spermathecal baseplate divided, oblong; twice wider than its height ( Fig. 31D–F). Carapace of both sexes black ( Fig. 32A–C).

Redescription

Male (CNAN-Ar003333) ( Figs 29, 30, 32A): Body length 48.60 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 22.82 length, 22.17 width. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea straight, 4.15 wide ( Fig. 29A). Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.55; ALE 0.80; PME 0.40; PLE 0.70; AME–AME 0.55; AME–ALE 0.20; PME–PME 1.20; PME–PLE 0.05; ALE–PLE 0.23. Ocular tubercle width 2.80, length 2.55; clypeus 0.25 ( Fig. 29D). Labium length 3.05, width 3.55; with 98 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 175 (left) and 171 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 11 (left) and 12 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first–second large, third medium, fourth large, fifth small, sixth–11th large; first large, second small, third large, fourth small, fifth large, sixth small, seventh– 12th large). Sternum length 10.80, width 10.04. Sigilla oval, second to third pairs hardly visible, posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig 29B). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 18.95, 10.29, 14.84, 15.15, 10.72, 69.95; II: 17.25, 9.79, 13.15, 14.09, 10.07, 64.35; III: 16.11, 8.27, 11.83, 15.10, 10.28, 61.59; IV: 18.89, 9.38, 15.53, 18.32, 10.63, 72.75. Palp: 12.28, 7.47, 11.92, -, 5.71, 37.38. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.40 long, 1.15 apart; PLS, 4.05 basal, 2.35 middle, 3.60 distal. Tarsi I – IV entirely scopulated. Metatarsus I entirely scopulated, II scopulated 90%, III scopulated 60% distally, IV scopulated 40% distally. Tibia I with two tibial apophyses normally developed, which originate from a common base. Prolateral apophysis with inner spine half its length; retrolateral apophysis tapering throughout its length, apex slightly curved to prolateral ( Fig. 29F, G). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 29E). Stridulatory setae: with claviform stridulating setae on palp trochanter and femur retrolateral face; leg I trochanter and femur prolateral face. Chaetotaxy (left side): femora none; patellae none; tibiae II 1 v; III 3 v; IV 2 v; palp 1v; metatarsi I 1v; II 3 v; III 1 p, 5v; IV 9 v. Palp: embolus almost straight, tapering and lacking the typical spoon-shape due to the reduced apical keel. Prolateral superior keel reduced, directed retrolaterally and slightly extended to backward; prolateral inferior keel absent. Apical keel thin and reduce, shorter than prolateral superior keel. Opening of the embolus is on the prolateral side, just behind the opening is located a concavity which delimits the apical keel boundary from the remaining part of the embolus. Embolus apex slightly curved to retrolateral. Embolus similar in length as tegulum ( Fig. 30A–D). Urticating setae: types I and III arranged in one dorsoposterior patch, black in colour. Type III are located in an oval dorsomedial area extended to posterior. Type I surround the type III area, with intermediates between type III and I in transition areas ( Fig. 29C) .

Female (CNAN-Ar007831) ( Figs 31, 32B): Body length 63.26 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 27.65 length, 24.27 width. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea straight, 6.40 wide ( Figs 31A). Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.57; ALE 0.63; PME 0.43; PLE 0.67; AME–AME 0.50; AME–ALE 0.33; PME–PME 1.33; PME–PLE 0.07; ALE–PLE 0.07. Ocular tubercle width 2.80, length 2.33; clypeus 0.47. Labium length 3.65, width 5.25; with 94 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 68 (left)–58 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 10 (left)–11 (right) teeth. Sternum length 11.60, width 10.63. Sigilla oval, first to third pairs hardly visible; posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 31B). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 16.86, 10.39, 12.94, 12.74, 8.92, 61.85; II: 15.61, 10.06, 11.28, 12.49, 9.04, 58.48; III: 14.82, 9.59, 10.07, 13.65, 9.09, 57.22; IV: 17.26, 9.68, 12.32, 18.29, 9.53, 67.08. Palp: 12.55, 8.02, 9.09, -, 9.29, 38.95. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.80 long, 3.65 apart; PLS, 5.50 basal, 4.15 middle, 4.75 distal. Tarsi I – IV entirely scopulated. Metatarsus I entirely scopulated, II scopulated 80%, III scopulated 70% distally, IV scopulated 50% distally. Stridulatory setae: with claviform stridulating setae on palp trochanter and femur retrolateral face; leg I trochanter and femur prolateral face. Chaetotaxy (left side): femora none; patellae none; tibiae I 2v; II 2 v; III 3 v; IV 2 v; palp 1p, 5v; metatarsi I 3v; II 4 v; III 5 v; IV 1 p, 14v, 1r. Genitalia: spermatheca separated with subtriangular receptacles strongly sclerotized, each receptacle almost the same height as width. Spermatheca baseplate divided and widely separated, each baseplate oblong twice wider than high ( Fig. 31D). Baseplate division can vary in length ( Fig. 31E, F). Urticating setae: types I and III arranged in one dorsoposterior patch, black in colour. Type III are located in an oval dorsomedial area extended to posterior. Type I surround the type III area, with intermediates between type III and I in transition areas ( Fig. 31C) .

Colour pattern: In live specimens, adults of both sexes have the carapace black (pantone process black c) with zinnwaldite colour (pantone 489c) around the border; despite the black carapace, the radiating thoracic sulci are clearly seen ( Fig. 32A–C); chelicerae dorsally brown colour (pantone 7533c) with some large setae French beige colour (pantone 4715c); ventral coxae, labium, maxillae and sternum