Monoblemma cambridgei (Bryant, 1940) new combination

Figures 2–10, 14 E−H, 16A, C, 20A, E.

Tetrablemma cambridgei Bryant, 1940: 269, figs. 8–10, 13 (male holotype, female allotype, and males paratypes from Cuba, Soledad, 8.VIII.1932, Bates & Fairchild, deposited in MCZ, examined).

Matta cambridgei: Shear, 1978: 16, figs. 24–32 (transferred from Tetrablemma, misidentification based on specimens from Jamaica, examined).

Caraimatta cambridgei: Lehtinen, 1981: 71 (transferred from Matta, misidentification based on Shear (1978) ’ drawings.

Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978: 23, figs. 51–56 (male holotype and female paratype from St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands, 6.V.1974, W. Muchmore leg., deposited in AMNH, examined). New synonymy.

Other material examined. PUERTO RICO. Luquillo, El Junque Trail: litter bamboo mixed forest, 150m, [18°17'43.35"N, 65° 47' 59.81"W], R. Edwards leg., 4.II.2002, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (AMNH, vchLAM-561-562), 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (AMNH), 12 ♂ 3 ♀ (AMNH) .

Diagnosis. Monoblemma cambridgei (Bryant, 1940), comb. nov., is similar to Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov. by the presence of four eyes and a medially expanded spermatic duct (Figs. 2; 3A–B; 6A–B; 8A–C; 10A–C; 13A–C; 15A–C; 3A–B; 5A–B; 7A–B; 12A–B; 20A–B). Males of M. cambridgei can be distinguished from M. cubaensis by a thinner and shorter embolus, and the poorly projected bulb (Figs. 3A–D; 5A–D; 7A–D; 16A, C; 20A). They are further separated by the shape of the cheliceral apophyses, which are pointed, anteriorly projected, with many denticles on the frontal surface (Figs. 5E; 8B–F). Females of M. cambridgei are characterized by a knob-like, thinner central process and smaller seminal receptacles (Figs. 3E–F; 7E–F; 20E).

Redescription. Male (based on holotype and paratype, MCZ-IZ 20680). Total body length 1.01, carapace length 0.42, width 0.33, height 0.24. Clypeus height 0.13. Eye diameters and interdistances: four eyes, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.04; PLE separated by more than one ALE diameter. Sternum sub-rhomboidal with recurved posterior edge, length 0.23, width 0.26. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.09. Legs: Leg I—femur 0.32/ patella 0.09/ tibia 0.26/ metatarsus 0.16/ tarsus 0.18/ total 1.02; II—0.28/ 0.11/ 0.24/ 0.13/ 0.15/ 0.93; III—0.21/ 0.13/ 0.14/ 0.12/ 0.13/ 0.74; IV—0.27/ 0.08/ 0.26/ 0.18/ 0.19/ 0.99. Abdomen length 0.60, width 0.47. Body coloration reddish-brown, carapace marginally darker (Fig. 2 A−C). Legs pale brown, metatarsi and tarsi whitish. Spinnerets pale whitish. Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, anteriorly reticulated few raised, suboval-shaped, anterior edge procurved, slightly projected (Fig. 8); 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 (Figs. 2A, 8C); thoracic region smooth, thoracic furrow represented by a transversal very short line (Figs. 2A, 8A); Chelicerae with developed frontal apophysis, projected and pointed at medial region and anteriorly represented by many denticles (Figs. 5E, 8B–F); endites sub-quadrangular, anteriorly narrow; labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long; sternum rugose almost as long as wide (Figs. 2C, 4C, 6C). Legs with many fine setae, femora with granulated cuticle, tibiae-tarsi cuticle striated, tarsi longer than metatarsi, metatarsi with a distal lyriform organ with six furrows; patellae with developed lyriform organ with two plates, with nine and five furrows, respectively (Figs. 9 E−H, 14E−H); tarsal claw very small, pectinated, anterior legs with 7−8 teeth and posterior legs with 5-6 (Fig. 14G). Opisthosoma: covered with black and fine setae on posterior edge (Fig. 9A); dorsal scutum oval-shaped and smooth; ventral scutum (pulmonar scutum) finely reticulated and with some fine setae and four spigots at the epyadrium (Fig. 9D); with three lateral scuta, extending to the posterior side of the anal plate, lateral regions with some free sclerites (Fig. 2B); postgenital scutum rectangular, long, very narrow; preanal scutum rectangular-shaped and approximately twice as wide as postgenital scutum with all edges rounded. Six spinnerets surrounded by the anal plate (Fig. 9B, C), ALS large with two articles, basal article very wide, distal article short and narrow, covered by piriform gland spigots and two major ampullate gland spigots; PMS very short with two articles, one relatively large spigot, presumably from a minor ampullate gland, and several aciniform gland spigots; PLS also with two articles, apical article flat, covered by long modified setae and aciniform gland spigots (Fig. 9B, C),. Palp: femur cylindric with some 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 and pear-shaped; spermatic ducts very wide at base, narrower toward the embolus, and with a medial expansion; embolus long, filiform, straight, apically needle-shaped (Figs. 3A–D, 5A–D, 7A–D, 16A, C, 20A).

Female (based on allotype MCZ-IZ 68481 and complementary with a female AMNH; vchLAM-00560 from Puerto Rico). Total body length 1.04, carapace length 0.42, width 0.34, height 0.27. 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 0.26. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.10. Leg measurements: Leg I—femur 0.27/ patella 0.08/ tibia 0.16/ metatarsus 0.10/ tarsus 0.14/ total 0.79; II—0.12/ 0.07/ 0.11/ 0.13/ 0.12/ 0.57; III—0.21/ 0.06/ 0.16/ 0.13/ 0.15/ 0.72; IV—0.31/ 0.09/ 0.25/ 0.21/ 0.15/ 1.04. Abdomen length 0.61, width 0.42. Coloration as male but paler, legs uniformly whitish (Figs. 2 D−F, 4D−F, 6D−F). Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, with striated at posterior edge and under eyes; eyes white in two rows ALE>PLE; clypeus high and anteriorly projected (Fig.10 A−C); thoracic region smooth (Fig. 10A); Chelicerae with a wide, poorly developed lateral apophysis at distal edges (Fig. 10B); endites sub-quadrangular-shaped with the wide basal edge, narrowing towards the distal edge (Figs. 2F, 4F, 6F); labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long (Figs. 2F, 4F, 6F); sternum rugose with few setae (Figs. 2F, 4F, 6F). Legs cuticle as in the male (Figs. 2 D−F, 4D−F, 6D−F). Opisthosoma: covered with white and black fine setae; scuta as in the male; postgenital scutum narrow. Six spinnerets surrounded by the anal plate as in the male (Fig. 10D). Genital orifice small, placed at posterior edge of epigynal fold; central process elongated, distally knob-shaped; seminal receptacles very large, oval, membranous; internal glands rounded; vulval ducts short, very wide (Figs. 7 E−F, 20E).

Variation. Males (n=5): total length: 0.98-1.06; carapace length: 0.42-0.50. Females (n=5): total length: 1.02- 1.09; carapace length: 0.41-0.42. Male and females from Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are more pigmented (Fig. 6 A−F), males present developer chelicera apophysis (Fig. 8D, F). Furthermore, males show slight variation in the embolus length and in the tip, males from Virgin Island (Fig. 5 A−D) present slightly shorter and curved embolus while population from Puerto Rico present straight and needle-shaped embolus (Fig. 7 A−D), very similar in shape to those of the male types.

Remark. Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978 was originally described from the Virgin Islands, with an additional population reported from Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia. Shear (1978) noted some intraspecific variation, particularly in body size and the morphology of the cheliceral apophyses. Although the type specimens of Monoblemma cambridgei exhibit smaller cheliceral apophyses, no significant differences were observed in the male palp when compared with specimens of M. muchmorei from both the Virgin Islands and Colombia.

Distribution. Known from Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands (Fig. 21).