Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) Perger & Rubio, 2020

Perger, Robert & Rubio, Gonzalo D., 2020, Sympolymnia, a new genus of Neotropical ant-like spider, with description of two new species and indirect evidence for transformational mimicry (Araneae, Salticidae, Simonellini), Zoosystematics and Evolution 96 (2), pp. 781-795 : 781

Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) comb. nov. Figs 3B , 4A , 8I-K

Synemosyna lauretta Peckham & Peckham, 1892: 79, pl. 7, fig. 1.

Synemosyna lauretta Simon, 1901: 509, figs 610, 611.

Synemosyna melanura Mello-Leitão, 1917: 142.

Simonella atrogaster Mello-Leitão, 1941: 256.

Synemosyna lauretta Galiano, 1966: 362, figs 23, 24, 42, 43, 47, 58.

Type deposit.

The type of S. lauretta and its synonyms were destroyed in a recent fire ( WSC 2020; A. Kury, unpublished).

Diagnosis.

Abdomen not constricted; bulb about 75% of cymbium length, tibial apophysis in retro-lateral view with broad base, obtusely angulated in the middle, apex triangular, evenly tapering; opening of epigyne very large (width: ~ 0.21 mm), longitudinal-elliptical (see Galiano 1966 for line drawings).

Variation.

Smaller juveniles (BL ≤ 3.1 mm) of S. lauretta had a shiny black body with pointed abdominal apex (Fig. 8I ). Larger juveniles (BL 3.2-3.9 mm) had a bright and pointed abdomen, but a black, matt carapace. The body of the adults (BL ≥ 3.9 mm) was completely matt, and the abdomen apically more rounded (Figs 3B , 8K ).

Geographical and ecological distribution (Fig. 7 ).

Sympolymnia lauretta was reported from Brazil ( Peckham and Peckham 1892; Galiano 1966; Podgaiski et al. 2007; Rodrigues et al. 2016), Argentina ( Galiano 1966) and Peru ( Cutler 1985). This species is predominately found in seasonal forests south of 15°S. According to the biogeographic regionalisation by Olson et al. (2011), the records of this species refer to Araucaria moist forest, Cerrado, Alto Parana Atlantic forest and Serra do Mar coastal forests. In the present study, S. lauretta was observed in Tucuman (Tarija Department: Arambulo) and Chiquitano forests (Santa Cruz Department: Bermejo, Santa Rosa de la Mina, Santiago de Chiquitos). The records of the present study are the first for Bolivia. In almost all primary forest locations, S. lauretta was obtained from isolated smaller trees and larger bushes overgrown with climbing plants (Fig. 2C, D ), which are typically found in early successional forest and along forest edges. Sympolymnia lauretta was not collected in closed, moist forests in the study area. Cutler and Edwards (2002) recorded S. cf. lauretta from Trinidad Island (Lesser Antilles). The taxonomic status of this population remains to be determined.

Material examined.

Bolivia • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Santa Cruz Department, Bermejo; 18.1361°S, 63.6191°W; 8 Aug 2017; R. Perger leg.; CBF • 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 1 juv.; Santa Rosa de la Mina; 16.5391°S, 62.4622°W; 9-13 Sep 2016; R. Perger leg.; CBF • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Santiago de Chiquitos; 18.3225°S, 59.5763°W; 27-28 Dec 2017; R. Perger leg.; CBF. Brazil • 2 ♂, 2; Santa Catarina State, Governador Celso Ramos; 27.314°S, 48.570°W; 2 Nov 2016; J.E. Baigorria leg.; IBSI-Ara 0909. Argentina • 1 ♀; Misiones province, General Manuel Belgrano, Reserva Karadya; 25.859°S, 53.960°W; 21 Mar 2016; J.E. Baigorria leg.; IBSI-Ara 0610 • 1 ♀; Iguazú, Puerto Iguazú; 25.592°S, 54.569°W; 14 Sep 2016, leg. J.E. Baigorria; IBSI-Ara 0788 • 1 ♀; Leandro N. Alem, EEA INTA Cerro Azul; 27.654°S, 55.435°W; 20 Oct 2017; G.D. Rubio leg.; IBSI-Ara 0985 • 2 ♂; same location and collector as for preceding; 22 Jan 2018; IBSI-Ara 0998 • 1 ♂; same location and collector as for preceding; 21 Nov 2017; IBSI-Ara 1013 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; IBSI-Ara 1036 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; IBSI-Ara 1041.

Figures

Figure 2. Examples for sampled habitat types; A. Bolivian Yungas forest (forest edge) in Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; B. Southwest Amazon forest (forest edge) in Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; C. Cerrado vegetation in Chiquitano forest, Santiago de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz Dept.; D. Bolivian Tucuman forest, Arambulo, Tarija Dept. (this area is comparably dry in the dry season).

Figure 3. Dorsal habitus of A. Synemosyna myrmeciaeformis (Taczanowski, 1871), adult female; B. Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892), adult female; C. S. shinahota sp. nov. (IBSI-Ara 0726), female holotype. Scale bars: 1 cm.

Figure 4. Lateral habitus of A. Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892), adult female; B. S. shinahota sp. nov. (IBSI-Ara 0726), female holotype. Scale bars: 1 cm. Arrows indicate the two light patches between the cephalic and thoracic areas (these patches are translucent white in live specimens).

Figure 7. Ecoregion distribution: " Sympolymnia lucasi (Taczanowski, 1871); 3 / 4 S. cutleri sp. nov.; · S. shinahota sp. nov.; l S. lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892).

Figure 8. Live habitus of Sympolymnia spp. and potential ant models. Please note the ontogenetic shift of shine and abdomen shape in the spiders. Sympolymnia shinahota sp. nov.: A. Juvenile female, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept. (please note the shiny, pointed abdomen); B, C. Adult females, same location; D. Holotype female, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; E. Pseudomyrmex ethicus, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; F. Crematogaster sp., Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; G. Camponotus sanctaefidei, La Guardia, Santa Cruz Dept.; H. C. latangulus, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; Sympolymnia lauretta: I. Juvenile, Bermejo, Santa Cruz Dept. (please note the shiny and pointed abdomen); J. Sub-adult male, Santiago de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz Dept.; K. Adult female, Santa Rosa de la Mina, Santa Cruz Dept.; L. Sympolymnia cutleri sp. nov.: adult female, Chairo, La Paz Dept.