Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov.

Figures 11–13, 14 A−D, 15, 16B, D, 20B, F.

Type material. Holotype: CUBA. Santiago: Santiago de Cuba, Río Mata, Yegua, 2km NE El Escandel, 266m, (20°05'34''N, 75°41'49''W), N. Platnick, A. Sánchez, A. Pérez & G. Alayón leg., 19.V.2010, 1 ♂ (AMNH, vchLAM-563) . Paratypes: same data as the holotype, 4 ♂ 5 ♀ (AMNH), 1 ♀ (AMNH, vchLAM-564) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the country where the species is distributed.

Diagnosis. Males of Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from to those of Monoblemma cambridgei (Bryant, 1940) new combination by the longer embolus with a laminar projection at the base (Figs. 12 A−D, 16B, D, 20B). Males are further distinguished by the laminar, canaliculate cheliceral apophyses (Fig. 13 B−F). Females are characterized by the elongated and wider central process and larger seminal receptacles (Figs. 12 E−F, 15E−F, 20F).

Description. Male (holotype, AMNH). Total body length 1.04, carapace length 0.46, width 0.37, height 0.26. Clypeus height 0.15. Eye diameters and interdistances: four eyes, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.05; PLE separated by almost one ALE diameter. Sternum sub-rhomboidal with recurved posterior edge, length 0.26, width 0.27. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.08. Legs: Leg I—femur 0.31/ patella 0.07/ tibia 0.22/ metatarsus 0.18/ tarsus 0.21/ total 0.99; II—0.26/ 0.11/ 0.22/ 0.15/ 0.21/ 0.95; III—0.23/ 0.09/ 0.14/ 0.16/ 0.18/ 0.80; IV—0.21/ 0.08/ 0.25/ 0.22/ 0.22/ 0.98. Abdomen length 0.64, width 0.51. Body coloration reddish-brown, carapace marginally darker (Fig. 11 A−C). Legs brown, femora darker, metatarsi and tarsi yellow. Spinnerets brown. Carapace: cephalothorax reticulate, with small granules on posterior side, suboval-shaped, anterior edge strongly projected; four eyes arranged in two rows widely separated each other, ALE>PLE, ALE and PLE adjacent; clypeus high and anteriorly projected with rounded anterior edge (Fig. 13 A−C); thoracic region reticulate, high, thoracic very short, transversal (Figs. 13 A−C, E); Chelicerae with developed laminar, canaliculate frontal apophysis, anteriorly positioned (Fig. 13 B−C); endites sub-quadrangular, anteriorly narrow; labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long; sternum rugose almost as long as wide (Fig. 11C). Legs with many fine setae, femora with granulated cuticle, tibiae-tarsi cuticle striated, tarsi longer than metatarsi. Opisthosoma: with some black, fine setae on posterior edge (Figs. 11A, 14A); dorsal scutum oval-shaped and smooth; ventral scutum (pulmonar scutum) finely reticulated and with some fine setae and four spigots at the epyadrium (Fig. 14D); with three lateral scuta, extending to the posterior side of the anal plate, lateral regions with some free sclerites (Figs. 11B, 14A); postgenital scutum rectangular, long, very narrow; preanal scutum rectangular, approximately as wide as the pulmonar scutum, with straight lateral edges. Six spinnerets surrounding by the anal plate (Fig. 14 A−C), ALS large with two articles, basal article very wide, distal article short, with several piriform gland spigots and two major ampullate gland spigots; PMS short with two articles, covered by modified setae and a large spigot, presumably a minor ampullate gland, and several aciniform gland spigots; PLS with two articles, the apical article is flat and is covered by long modified setae and aciniform gland spigots (Fig. 14C). Palp: femur cylindric with simple setae on the cuticle; patella short with long setae; tibia swollen with simple and long setae; cymbium short with black, long setae; bulb large, pear-shaped, strongly projected and anteriorly constricted; spermatic ducts very wide at base, narrower toward the embolus, with a medial expansion; embolus long but shorter than bulb, filiform, straight, with a laminar projection at base (Figs. 12 A−D, 16B, D, 20B).

Female (paratype, AMNH). Total body length 1.01, carapace length 0.45, width 0.39, height 0.26. Clypeus height 0.13. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.04, PLE 0.03; PLE separated by one ALE diameter. Sternum length 0.27, width 0.28. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.11. Leg measurements: Leg I—femur 0.36/ patella 0.12/ tibia 0.28/ metatarsus 0.19/ tarsus 0.21/ total 1.19; II—0.30/ 0.12/ 0.25/ 0.15/ 0.16/ 1.01; III—0.27/ 0.11/ 0.22/ 0.18/ 0.21/ 1.02; IV—0.26/ 0.12/ 0.32/ 0.25/ 0.26/ 1.22. Abdomen length 0.69, width 0.59. Coloration as male, legs uniformly brown (Fig. 11 D−F). Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, with striated at posterior edge and under eyes; eyes white in two rows ALE>PLE; clypeus high, anteriorly projected (Fig.15 A−C); thoracic region rugous (Fig. 15A); Chelicerae with large developed lateral apophyses at distal edges (Fig. 15B); endites sub-quadrangular-shaped with the wide basal edge, narrowing towards the distal edge (Fig. 5D); labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long (Fig. 11F); sternum rugose with few setae on margins (Fig. 11F). Opisthosoma: covered with white and black fine setae (Figs. 10E, 11F); scuta as in the male; postgenital scutum narrower. Genitalia orifice small, placed at posterior edge of epigynal fold; central process wide, distally rounded; seminal receptacles massive, membranous; internal glands rounded; vulval ducts short, very wide (Figs. 12 E−F, 15E−F, 20F).

Variation. Males (n=5): total length: 1.02-1.08; carapace length: 0.39-0.46. Females (n=5): total length: 1.01- 1.04; carapace length: 0.41-0.45.

Distribution. Only known from Cuba (Fig. 21).