Tafana silhavyi ( Caporiacco, 1955 )

De Oliveira, Luiz Fernando M. & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2021, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of ghost spiders of the genus Tafana Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Dionycha, Anyphaenidae), with the descriptions of twelve new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 742, pp. 1-77 : 39-42

Tafana silhavyi ( Caporiacco, 1955)

Figs 6E , 8A–B, G–K , 9A, C–D , 22–23 , 33C , 34

Anyphaena silhavyi Caporiacco, 1955: 386 , fig. 51a–b (type: male holotype from El Junquito, Venezuela, deposited in MUCV, examined).

Tafana silhavyi – Brescovit 1997: 90.

Diagnosis

Males of Tafana silhavyi resemble those of T. chimirae sp. nov., T. maracay sp. nov., T. arawak sp. nov. and T. pittieri sp. nov. by having the laminar apophysis at the base of the embolus, but differ by presenting a secondary looping with wide curvature ( Figs 9A , 22C ). Females resemble those of T. maracay sp. nov. and T. arawak sp. nov. by having the wide atrium, but differ by having the copulatory ducts extremely large in the anterior region ( Figs 22F–G , 33C ).

Material examined

Holotype VENEZUELA • ♂; Federal District, El Junquito ; [10°28′0″ N, 67°5′00″ W]; Marcuzzi leg.; MUCV 741 .

Other material

VENEZUELA – Aragua • 2 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Colonia Tovar; [10°24′20″ N, 67°17′22″ W]; no date; E. Simon leg.; MNHN 11312 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; IBSP 258184 .

Description

Male (MNHN 11312)

COLOR. Exemplar probably discolored. Carapace orange with cephalic region dark ( Fig. 22A ). Labium, sternum and endites yellow. Chelicerae reddish. Legs I–IV yellow, darker at tarsi. Abdomen gray with dark spots ( Fig. 22A ).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.2, carapace length 1.73, width 1.1. Clypeus height 0.06. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.1, PLE 0.1; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME– PME 0.1, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.04. Chelicerae 0.9 long, with four promarginal teeth and seven retromarginal denticles.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I—femur 1.9 /patella 0.7/ tibia 2.1/ metatarsus 1.8/ tarsus 0.7 /total 7.2; II— 1.7/ 0.7/ 1.13 / 1.49 / 0.65 / 5.67; III—1.3 /0.5 / 0.9/ 1.1/ 0.4/ 4.2; IV—1.9 / 0.7/ 1.5/ 1.9/ 0.5/ 6.5.

LEG SPINATION. I—tibia v2-2-2, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, metatarsus v2-0-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0; II—tibia v2-2-2, p1-0-1, r1-0-1, metatarsus p0-1-0, r0-1-0; III—tibia v1-2-2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0; IV—tibia p1-1-1.

PALP. Retrolateral tibial apophysis short and curved; cymbium with retrolateral projection; projection at the base of the embolus laminar and coiled; embolus long, with large base and narrow apex; median apophysis long and curved apically; ventral tegular process hyaline and short; sperm duct an inverted ‘S-shape’ ( Figs 22C–E , 23A–C ).

ABDOMEN. Length 2.4, epigastric furrow 0.6 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 1.2 from base of spinnerets.

Female (MNHN 11312)

COLOR. Exemplar probably discolored. Coloration as in males of this species ( Fig. 22B ).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.4, carapace length 1.45, width 1.3. Clypeus height 0.04. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 0.1, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.04. Chelicerae 0.6 long, with four promarginal teeth and five retromarginal denticles.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I—femur 1.3 /patella 0.6/ tibia 1.3/ metatarsus 1.1/ tarsus 0.5 /total 4.8; II— 1.2/ 0.6/ 1.13 / 1.0/ 0.5 /4.43; III—1.0/ 0.4/ 0.7 /0.9 /0.4 / 3.4; IV—1.4/ 0.5 /1.1 / 1.3/ 0.48 / 4.78.

LEG SPINATION. I—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, metatarsus v2-0-0, p1-0-0, r1-0-0; II—tibia v2-2-2, p1- 1-0, r1-1-0, metatarsus p1-0-0, r1-0-0; III—tibia v1-2-2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, metatarsus v2-1-2; IV—tibia v1-2-2, r1-1-0, metatarsus v2-1-2.

EPIGYNUM. Hood triangular and sclerotized, connecting with lateral lobes; atrium large; epigynal plate covered by cuticle in the posterior region; lateral lobes sinuous. Internally, copulatory ducts large in the anterior region; primary spermathecae oval; secondary spermathecae small, above the primary spermathecae; fertilization ducts long ( Figs 22F–G , 33C ).

ABDOMEN. Length 2.9, epigastric furrow 0.8 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 1.1 from base of spinnerets.

Variation

Two males: total length 4.1–4.4; carapace 1.83–1.9; femur I 1.7–1.9. Ten females: total length 4.0–6.2; carapace 1.6–2.3; femur I 1.3–1.9.

Distribution

Venezuela ( Fig. 34 ).

Figures

Fig. 6. A. Arachosia praesignis (Keyserling, 1891), ♂, cephalothorax, dorsal view (arrow shows row of the eyes) (IBSP 87975). B. Patrera fulvastra Simon, 1903, ♂, cephalothorax, dorsal view (MCN 24207). C. Arachosia praesignis, ♂, chelicera, ventral view (IBSP 87975). D. Aysha prospera Keyserling, 1891, ♀, palp femur, prolateral view (arrows show setal row) (IBSP 19780). E. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955), ♀, prolateral view (arrow indicating the absence of setae) (MNHN 11312). F. Arachosia praesignis, ♂, leg I, tibia, ventral view, scopulae (IBSP 87975). G. Tafana riveti Simon, 1903, ♂, leg I, tibia, ventral view, scopulae (MCZ). H. Arachosia praesignis, ♂, palp, retrolateral view (IBSP 87975). I. Aysha prospera, ♂, palp, retrolateral view (IBSP 38914). J. Arachosia praesignis, ♂, palp, ventral view (arrow shows the basal notch on the tegulum) (IBSP 87975). K. Xiruana gracilipes (Keyserling, 1891), ♂, palp, ventral view (IBSP 72660). L. Patrera fulvastra, ♂, palp, retrolateral view (MCN 24207). Abbreviations: AEP=apophysis of embolic process; C= cymbium; Co =conductor; Co2 =secondary conductor; E =embolus; MA =median apophysis; MTA=median tibial apophysis; PMA =paramedian apophysis; RTA= retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD =sperm duct; ST=subtegulum; T =tegulum; VTP=ventral tegular process. Scale bars: C=0.2 mm; D, K =0.4 mm; E= 0.3 mm; F, H–J =0.5 mm; G, L=1 mm.

Fig. 8. A–B, G–K. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955), ♂ (MNHN 11312). A. Cephalothorax, dorsal view.B. Chelicera, ventral view. G. Claws, tarsus I, prolateral view. H. Claws, tarsus IV, prolateral view. I. Tarsal organ, dorsal view. J. Tricobothrium, dorsal view. K. Slit sensilla, dorsal view. – C–F. Tafana maracay sp. nov. (MNHN 11314), ♀. C. Spinnerets, frontal view. D. Anterior lateral spinneret. E. Posterior median spinneret. F. Posterior lateral spinneret. – L. Tafana pastaza sp. nov. (AMNH), ♂, abdomen, tracheal system, ventral view. Abbreviations: Ac= aciniform gland spigot; ALS =anterior lateral spinnerets; CL=colulus; Ch =character; MaAm =major ampullate gland spigot; MiAm =minor ampullate gland spigot; MTr =median tracheae; PLS=posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS=posterior median spinnerets; Pi =piriform gland spigot; Tp=tartipore; TrSp =tracheal spiracle; 1stB =first bifurcation of median trachea. Scale bars: A=0.5 mm; B=0.3 mm; C =0.2 mm; D–E =0.04 mm; F–G=0.05 mm; H–J =0.01 mm; K =0.02 mm.

Fig. 9. A, C–D. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955), ♂ (MNHN 11312). A. Left palp unexpanded, ventral view (arrow indicating character). C. Left palp expanded, prolateral view. D. Left palp expanded, retrolateral view (arrow indicating character). B. Tafana riveti (MCZ), ♂, left palp. E–F. Tafana riveti (MCZ), ♂. E. Left palp, retrolateral view. F. Left palp, prolateral view (arrow indicating character). Abbreviations: 1= primary loop of the sperm duct; 2= secondary loop of the sperm duct; ABE=apophysis of base of the embolus; BH =basal haematodocha; C=cymbium; Ch =character; E =embolus; EP=embolic process; F = fundus; MA=median apophysis; MH= median haematodocha; P=petiole; SD = sperm duct; ST =subtegulum; T=tegulum. Scale bars: A–B, E–F =0.25 mm; C–D=0.5 mm.

Fig. 22. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955) (A, C–E= ♂, MNHN 11312; B, F–G=♀, MNHN 11312). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Left palp, ventral view. D. Left palp, retrolateral view. E. Left palp, dorsal view. F. Epigynum, ventral view (arrow indicating character). G. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A= atrium; ABE =apophysis of base of the embolus; CD=copulatory ducts; CO =copulatory opening; Ch =character; E= embolus; FD =fertilization ducts; H =hood; LL=lateral lobes; MA =median apophysis; PA=patellar apophysis; RP=retrolateral projection; RTA=retrolateral tibial apophysis; S1=primary spermathecae; S2 =secondary spermathecae; SD =spermduct;T =tegulum; VTP =ventral tegular process. Scale bars: A–B =2.16 mm; C–G =0.25 mm.

Fig. 23. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955), ♂ (MNHN 13312). A. Left palp, ventral view. B. Left palp, frontal view. C. Left palp, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: ABE =apophysis of base of the embolus; C =cymbium; E= embolus; MA=median apophysis; RP=retrolateral projection; RTA=retrolateral tibial apophysis; T =tegulum. Scale bars: A, C =0.4 mm; B=0.2 mm.

Fig. 33. Female genitalia, digested. A. Tafana huatanay sp. nov. (MUSM). B. Tafana ruizi sp. nov. (IBSP 258183). C. Tafana silhavyi (Caporiacco, 1955) (MNHN). D. Tafana maracay sp. nov. (MNHN 11314). E. Tafana arawak sp. nov. (MNHN 11320). F. Tafana pittieri sp. nov. (AMNH). G. Tafana oliviae sp. nov. (MCZ). H. Tafana orinoco sp. nov. (MIZA 07062). Abbreviations: CD =copulatory ducts; FD =fertilization ducts; H =hood; S1 =primary spermathecae; S2 =secondary spermathecae. Scale bars: A–H =0.25 mm.

Fig. 34. Distribution map of species of Tafana.