Hemirrhagus valdezi, Mendoza Marroquín, 2014

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 : 681-685

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/zoj.12112
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7BA11142-CBC1-4026-A578-EBAB6D2B6C0C
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E087B4-5645-FFEA-FC41-4C15B36D15A3
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Hemirrhagus valdezi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

HEMIRRHAGUS VALDEZI View in CoL SP. NOV.

( FIGS 2C View Figure 2 , 45A–J View Figure 45 , 46A–D View Figure 46 , 47A–G View Figure 47 , 49 View Figure 49 )

Type material: Holotype ♂ CNAN-T0779 , 1 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0780 , 5 paratype ♂ CNAN-T0781 , 3 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0782 and 1 paratype ♂ AMNH, MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 22.x.2010, col. A. Valdez, J. Cruz, G. Contreras and D. Barrales.

Additional material examined: 1 ♀ CNAN 3468 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 9.xi.2004, col. A. Valdez and H. Montaño ; 1 ♀ and 2 immatures CNAN 3483 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 30.vii.2009, col. O. Francke, C. Quijano, A. Valdez, C. Santibañez and T. Palafox ; 1 ♂ and 1 immature CNAN 3482 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 22.x.2010, col. A. Valdez, J. Cruz, G. Contreras and D. Barrales.

Diagnosis: The following character combination is diagnostic for H. valdezi sp. nov. Male palpal bulb with slender embolus, similar in length to tegulum, SA retrolaterally extended, ends at embolus retrolateral face; the posterior curvature of SA occurs at the base of the embolus and forms an angle of 90° ( Fig. 46A View Figure 46 ), VG deep ( Fig. 46B View Figure 46 ); embolus curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 46C, D View Figure 46 ). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 45H View Figure 45 ). Ocular tubercle and eyes normally developed, periocular pigmentation complete ( Figs 45C View Figure 45 , 47D View Figure 47 ). Urticating setae arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour; with poorly defined margins ( Figs 45E, I View Figure 45 , 47C View Figure 47 ). Spermathecae paired, slightly fused at the base; receptacles curved outwards from the middle, without a clearly defined neck by either exterior or interior margins ( Fig. 47F View Figure 47 ). Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov. differs from most Hemirrhagus species by the urticating setae being arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour. It differs from H. chilango by metatarsus I being curved and urticating setae patches having poorly defined margins.

Etymology: The specific name is a patronym in honour of Alejandro Valdez Mondragon for his contribution to the knowledge of Mexican arachnology. He also collected the first specimen of the species.

Description: Holotype male CNAN-T0779 ( Figs 45A–J View Figure 45 , 46A–D View Figure 46 ): body length (not including chelicerae and spinnerets) 23.37, chelicera length 3.69; carapace: 9.40 long, 8.94 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 1.55 wide ( Fig. 45A View Figure 45 ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation complete, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.30; ALE 0.35; PME 0.275; PLE 0.35; AME–AME 0.225; AME–ALE 0.075; PME–PME 0.625; PME–PLE 0.05; ALE–PLE 0.15. Ocular tubercle normally developed, width 1.5, length 1.125; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 45C View Figure 45 ). Labium length 0.95, width 1.50; with 21 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 68 cuspules ( Fig. 45D View Figure 45 ). Cheliceral promargin with ten teeth (proximal to distal: firstsecond small, third large, fourth-sixth medium, seventh-tenth large). Sternum length 4.5. Sigillae oval, third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair twice its length from the margin ( Fig. 45B View Figure 45 ).

Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 9.47, 5.05, 7.44, 7.68, 6.21, 35.85. II: 9.02, 4.85, 6.97, 7.71, 5.79, 34.34. III: 8.64, 4.43, 6.91, 8.60, 5.73, 34.31. IV: 11.06, 4.90, 9.30, 13.66, 7.14, 46.06. Palp: 6.83, 4.23, 5.89, -, 2.90, 19.85. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.8 long, 0.3 apart; PLS, 1.9 basal, 1.2 middle, 2.0 distal.

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

Tibia I with two apophyses, which do not originate from a common base, Pap normally developed, with one large spinose seta on ventral face, spinose seta bent in the middle and exceeds the apex of Pap; Rap normally developed, broad at its base with one short and wide spinose seta on dorsal face, spinose seta exceeds the apex of Rap ( Fig. 45F, G View Figure 45 ). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 45H View Figure 45 ).

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face ( Fig. 45J View Figure 45 ), femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face ( Fig. 45J View Figure 45 ), femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 3p; II 3p; III 3p, 6r; IV 2p, 4r; palp 2p; patellae III 1r; tibiae I 3p, 6v, 1r; II 4p, 7v, 3r; III 4p, 17v, 10r; IV 7p, 29v, 16r; palp 2p, 10v; metatarsi I 1v; II 1p, 8v; III 6p, 11v, 4r; IV 8p, 20v, 13r.

Palp: embolus slender, similar in length to tegulum, SA retrolaterally extended, ends at embolus retrolateral face, VG deep. Embolus curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 46A–D View Figure 46 ).

Urticating setae: type VI arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour, with poorly defined margins ( Fig. 45E, I View Figure 45 ).

Colour pattern: in life carapace dark brown; ventrally coxae, labium, maxillae, and sternum brown; abdomen dorsally shiny brown, ventrally brown. Legs and palps: femur dark brown, patella, tibia, and metatarsus with brown.

Paratype female CNAN-T0780 ( Figs 2C View Figure 2 , 47A–G View Figure 47 ): body length 26.39 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 9.21 long, 8.24 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea procurved, 4.53 wide ( Fig. 47A View Figure 47 ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation complete, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.73; ALE 1.30; PME 0.60; PLE1.20; AME–AME 0.53; AME–ALE 0.20; PME–PME1.53; PME–PLE 0.13; ALE–PLP 0.23. Eye tubercle normally developed, width 4.33, length 2.73; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 47D View Figure 47 ). Labium length 2.6, width 3.86; with 24 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 100 cuspules ( Fig. 47E View Figure 47 ). Cheliceral promargin with ten teeth (proximal to distal: first-fourth large, fifth-sixth medium, seventh-tenth large). Sternum length 4.35. Sigillae oval, third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair one and a half its length from the margin ( Fig. 47B View Figure 47 ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 8.61, 4.85, 6.88, 6.32, 5.18, 31.84. II: 7.72, 4.90, 6.01, 5.27, 5.08, 28.98. III: 7.43, 4.38, 6.09, 6.75, 5.08, 29.73. IV: 9.70, 4.53, 8.29, 10.86, 6.22, 39.60. Palp: 6.03, 3.98, 4.79, -, 4.58, 19.38. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.8 long, 0.4 apart; PLS, 2.0 basal, 1.3 middle, 1.9 distal.

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

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face ( Fig. 47G View Figure 47 ), femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa retrolateral face, trochanter prolateral face ( Fig. 47G View Figure 47 ), femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1d; II 2d; III 4d; IV 4d; palp 2d; patellae III 1v; tibiae I 2p, 4v; II 2p, 4v; III 3p, 12v, 6r; IV 6d, 4p, 17v, 5r; palp 1p, 12v; metatarsi I 3v; II 1p, 4v; III 2d, 4p, 12v, 4r; IV 6d, 5p, 13v, 5r.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, slightly fused at their base, curved outwards from the middle, without a clearly defined neck by either exterior or interior margins ( Fig. 47F View Figure 47 ).

Urticating setae: type VI arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour, with poorly defined margins ( Fig. 47C View Figure 47 ).

Colour pattern: in life carapace dark brown; ventral coxae, labium, maxillae, and sternum brown; abdomen dorsally shiny brown, ventrally brown. Legs and palps: femur dark brown, patella, tibia, and metatarsus brown ( Fig. 2C View Figure 2 ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva Redonda in Guerrero, Mexico ( Fig. 49 View Figure 49 ). This is a troglophile species that does not live deep into the cave system (less than 50 m from the entrance); specimens were collected on walls.

Note: On 9 November 2010 a couple of H. valdezi sp. nov. were placed together and they mated. Towards the beginning of spring (18 March 2011), the female laid a fixed hammock egg-sac between two rocks placed perpendicularly in the terrarium. The female kept her palpi and legs in contact with the egg-sac. Spiderlings emerged 31 days following oviposition (17 April 2011). The count was 40 spiderlings of less than 1 cm of leg-span, light brown in colour.