Hemirrhagus stygius, (GERTSCH, 1971)

Mendoza Marroquín, Jorge I., 2014, Taxonomic revision of Hemirrhagus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with description of five new species from Mexico, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 170 (4), pp. 634-689 : 667-669

HEMIRRHAGUS STYGIUS ( GERTSCH, 1971)

( FIGS 1J, K , 2H , 30A–H , 31A–I , 32A–D , 48 )

Aphonopelma stygia Gertsch, 1971: 49 (D juvenile).

Schizopelma stygia Gertsch, 1973: 142 , figs 1, 2a (D ♀)

Spelopelma stygium Gertsch, 1982: 89 , fig. 13; Brignoli, 1983: 140; Schmidt, 1993: 68, fig. 129; Smith, 1995: 37, figs 64, 65; Schmidt, 2003: 118, fig. 72.

Hemirrhagus stygius Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003: 374 .

Type material: Holotype juvenile AMNH, MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, 1 mile west of Ahuacatlán, Cueva de los Potrerillos. 12.vii.1967, col. J. Reddell, J. Fish and P. Russell. Examined.

Additional material examined: 1 ♀ AMNH, MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, 2 miles west of Ahuacatlán, Cueva de los Potrerillos. 12.vii.1967, col. J. Reddell, J. Fish and W. Russell ; 1 ♀ AMNH, MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, 1 mile west of Ahuacatlán, Cueva de los Potrerillos. 12.vii.1967, col. J. Reddell, J. Fish and P. Russell ; 1 ♀ AMNH, MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, Ahuacatlán, Cueva de Potrerillos. 31.viii.1961, col. P. Sprouse and T. Tracy ; 2 ♀ AMNH, MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, 2 km west of Ahuacatlán, Sótano del pozo. 25.v.1974, col. C. Elliott ; 4 ♀ and 1 ♂ CNAN 4462 , MEXICO: San Luis Potosí, Mpio. Xilitla, Cueva de los Potrerillos. 10.v.2012, col. J. Mendoza, J. Cruz, G. Contreras and R. Monjaraz .

Emended diagnosis: The following character combination is diagnostic for H. stygius . Male palpal bulb with embolus broad at base, tapering distally, and longer than tegulum; SA retrolaterally extended, ends before the embolus base ( Fig. 32C ). SA does not curve posteriorly; VG shallow ( Fig. 32D ). Embolus slightly curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 32A, B ). Metatarsus I straight ( Fig. 31I ); tibial apophyses very reduced, with large spines ( Fig. 31G, H ). Ocular tubercle undeveloped; AME and PLE as integumentary spots, ALE and PME reduced; periocular pigmentation absent ( Figs 30C , 31D ). Abdomen lacking urticating setae ( Fig. 30E , 31A ). Spermathecae paired, slightly fused at base, receptacles slender throughout their length and slightly bent laterally ( Fig. 30H ). Hemirrhagus stygius differs from all other Hemirrhagus species by the SA ending before the embolus base. It also differs by tibial apophyses being very reduced with large spines.

Redescription: Female CNAN 4462: body length (not including chelicerae and spinnerets) 24.22, carapace: 10.08 long, 8.58 wide. Caput not elevated; fovea recurved, width 2.6. Carapace with brown setae ( Fig. 30A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation absent. AME and PLE as integumentary spots, ALE and PME reduced. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.126; ALE 0.38; PME 0.21; PLE 0.22; AME–AME 0.19; AME–ALE 0.24; PME–PME 0.81; PME–PLE 0.11; ALE–PLE 0.13. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, width 1.8; length 0.4; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 30C ). Labium: length 1.8; width 2.3; with 14 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 151 cuspules ( Fig. 30D ). Cheliceral promargin with 19 teeth (proximal to distal: first-second medium, third large, fourth small, fifth large, sixth medium, seventh small, eighth large, ninth-eleventh medium, twelfth large, thirteenth medium, fourteenth-seventeenth large, eighteenthnineteenth medium) ( Fig. 30G ). Sternum length 4.5. Sigillae large oval, second, third, and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair one and a half times its length from the margin ( Fig. 30B, F ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 10.34, 5.40, 9.59, 8.55, 6.09, 39.97. II: 8.12, 4.17, 6.96, 7.02, 5.20, 31.47. III: 9.20, 4.43, 7.43, 9.71, 6.15, 36.92. IV: 11.39, 4.47, 10.27, 13.44, 6.75, 46.32. Palp: 7.14, 4.47, 6.39, -, 5.37, 23.37. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.3 long, 0.7 apart; PLS, 2.2 basal, 1.1 middle, 2.0 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I– IV densely scopulate, I divided by narrow band of setae; II, III, and IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I and II densely scopulate; III scopulate on distal half, and IV scopulate on distal fifth.

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face, femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa retrolateral face, trochanter prolateral and retrolateral faces, femur prolateral face; leg II trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1p; II 1p; III 3p, 3r; IV 2p, 2r; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 1p, 4v; II 2p, 9v; III 2p, 9v, 2r; IV 2p, 9v, 3r; palp 1p, 7v; metatarsi I 2v; II 1p, 2v; III 3p, 8v, 2r; IV 3p, 10v, 3r.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, slightly fused at their base; receptacles slender throughout their length and slightly bent laterally ( Fig. 30H ).

Urticating setae: lacking ( Fig. 30E ).

Colour pattern: in ethanol the colour is brown; with carapace, legs, and palps darker; chelicerae reddish. In live specimens the colour is dark brown with the femora slightly darker ( Fig. 1K ).

Description: Male: body length (not including chelicerae and spinnerets) 9.6, carapace: 4.6 long, 4.0 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 0.54 width. Carapace with brown setae ( Fig. 31A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row straight. Periocular pigmentation absent. AME and PLE as integumentary spots, ALE and PME reduced. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.06; ALE 0.12; PME 0.06; PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.12; AME–ALE 0.08; PME–PME 0.36; PME–PLE 0.02; ALE–PLE 0.02. Ocular tubercle undeveloped, width 0.8; length 0.24; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 31D ). Labium: length 0.625; width 1.0; with 17 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 77 cuspules ( Fig. 31E ). Cheliceral promargin with 11 teeth (proximal to distal: firstsecond large, third small, fourth medium, fifth small, sixth-seventh medium, eighth-tenth large, eleventh small). Sternum length 2.07. Sigillae circular, second, third, and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 31C, F ).

Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 6.20, 2.83, 6.04, 5.57, 4.28, 24.92. II: 5.99, 2.49, 5.44, 5.35, 4.17, 23.44. III: 5.80, 2.19, 5.48, 5.58, 3.96, 23.01. IV: 7.07, 2.68, 6.68, 8.89, 5.10, 30.42. Palp: 3.72, 2.60, 4.21, -, 1.27, 11.80. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.6 long, 0.3 apart; PLS, 1.2 basal, 0.6 middle, 1.0 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I– III densely scopulate; I and II divided by narrow band of setae, III divided by strong band of setae, IV almost replaced by strong bands of setae. Metatarsi I and II densely scopulate; III scopulate on distal half, and IV scopulate on distal eighth.

Tibia I with two apophyses, which do not originate from a common base, Pap very reduced with one large spinose seta on ventral face, spinose seta very long and almost replaces the Pap; Rap reduced with one very large spinose seta on prolateral face, spinose seta almost replaces the Rap ( Fig. 31G, H ). Metatarsus I straight ( Fig. 31I ).

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face, femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa retrolateral face, trochanter prolateral and retrolateral faces, femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg II trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1p; II 2p; III 2p, 2r; IV 1p, 1r; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 2p, 5v, 2r; II 2p, 4v; III 2p, 7v, 2r; IV 2p, 8v, 2r; palp 1p, 6v; metatarsi I 2p, 6v, 1r; II 2p, 7v, 1r; III 3p, 8v, 3r; IV 3p, 8v, 3r.

Palp: embolus as wide as tegulum at the base, tapering distally and larger than tegulum; SA retrolaterally extended, ends before the embolus base ( Fig. 32C ). SA does not curve in posterior; VG shallow ( Fig. 32D ). Embolus slightly curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 32A, B ).

Urticating setae: lacking.

Colour pattern: In ethanol the colour is brown, with the opisthosoma, legs, and palps darker ( Fig. 31A ). In live specimens the colour is dark brown, with the femora slightly darker ( Fig. 1J ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva de los Potrerillos and Sótano del Pozo in San Luis Potosí, México ( Fig. 48 ). The species has not been found outside of this cave. The adult male was collected in May and so it is possible that the mating season is between April and May. All the specimens were collected on walls about 300 m from the entrance ( Fig. 2H ).

Figures

Figure 1. A–H, J–L, Hemirrhagus spp. habitus; I, Hemirrhagus papalotl egg-sac. A, Hemirrhagus chilango, male CNAN 4253, in life; B, C, Hemirrhagus eros, B, female, C, male; D, E, Hemirrhagus ocellatus, D, male CNAN 4457, in life, E, female; F, Hemirrhagus benzaa sp. nov., female; G–I, H. papalotl, G, male CNAN 4461, in life, H, female CNAN 4461, in life, I, female CNAN 4459 with fixed hammock egg-sac, in life; J, K, Hemirrhagus stygius, J, male CNAN 4462, in life, K, female CNAN 4462, in life; L, Hemirrhagus franckei sp. nov., holotype male CNAN-T0776, in life. Photos: A, C, D, E, G–K: J. Mendoza; B, F, L: E. Goyer.

Figure 2. A–C, Hemirrhagus spp. habitus; D–K, habitat. A, B, Hemirrhagus embolulatus sp. nov., A, holotype male CNAN-T0774, in life, B, paratype female CNAN-T0775, in life; C, Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., paratype female CNAN-T0780, in life; D, Cueva de la Peña Blanca entrance, type locality of Hemirrhagus ocellatus; E, 4 km west of Puerto de la Soledad, pine forest, type locality of Hemirrhagus franckei sp. nov.; F, Bosque del ajusco, pine forest, locality of Hemirrhagus chilango; G, Valle de los fantasmas, oak forest on the road to Cueva de la Laguna, type locality of Hemirrhagus elliotti; H, Cueva de los Potrerillos entrance, type locality of Hemirrhagus stygius; I, Paradero Puerta del Sol, pine forest, locality of Hemirrhagus benzaa sp. nov.; J, Omiltemi, tropical forest-pine forest ecotone, type locality of H. embolulatus sp. nov.; K, El punto, type locality of Hemirrhagus eros. Photos: A: M. Gamache; B, E, I, K: E. Goyer; C: L. Vazquez; D, F, J: J. Mendoza; G, H: J. Cruz.

Figure 30. Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch, 1971), female CNAN 4462. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection of the coxa (RP) on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). C, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. D, labial and maxillary cuspules. E, opisthosoma, dorsal view. F, sternum. G, cheliceral teeth, ventral view. H, spermathecae, ventral view. Scale bars = 4 mm (B), 2 mm (A, D, E), 1 mm (C, G, F), 0.5 mm (H).

Figure 31. Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch, 1971), male CNAN 4462. A, body, dorsal view. B, carapace, dorsal view. C, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection of the coxa (RP) on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). D, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. E, labial and maxillary cuspules. F, sternum. G, tibial apophyses, ventral view. H, tibial apophyses, prolateral view. I, metatarsus I, prolateral view. Scale bars = 2 mm (A–C), 1 mm (E, F), 0.8 mm (G, H, I), 0.2 mm (D).

Figure 32. Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch, 1971), male CNAN 4462, left palpal bulb: A, ventral view. B, dorsal view. C, retrolateral view. D, prolateral view. Abbreviations: SA, subapical keel; VG, ventral groove. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 48. Known distribution of Hemirrhagus stygius (Gertsch, 1971), Hemirrhagus elliotti (Gertsch, 1973), Hemirrhagus embolulatus sp. nov., Hemirrhagus eros Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, Hemirrhagus chilango Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, Hemirrhagus nahuanus (Gertsch, 1982), Hemirrhagus papalotl Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, Hemirrhagus grieta (Gertsch, 1982), Hemirrhagus coztic Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, and Hemirrhagus perezmilesi García-Villafuerte & Locht, 2010.