Paratropis arenosa new species

Figs 20–22, Map 1

Type material. Female holotype from Sucumbíos Province, Lumbaqui, Las Antenas (-00.036226° –77.308526°) 826 m, 22 May 2019, hand collected under pile of rocks, E. Tapia, ECFN 1332 (QCAZ) . Paratypes: 1♀, Las Antenas (–00.036226° –77.308526°) 826 m, 24 Feb. 2018, en talud de tierra bosque primario humedo, E. Tapia, ECFN 1323 (ZMH-A0002999) ; 1♀, Lago Agrio (18N) 2014/11/02, C. Rodriguez, ECFN 7220 (QCAZ) .

Diagnosis. Females most resemble those of P. cryptica sp. nov. but are distinguished by their spermathecal head being elongated, sinuous (Fig. 22C, D), while short and condensed spermathecal head in the latter (Fig. 25C–F).

Etymology. The specific epithet is non-Latin adjective (invariable) taken from Spanish language meaning “with sand” in reference to the species covered with sand particles.

Description. Coloration (live female paratype ECFN 1323). Female carapace dark brown, completely covered with soil particles; abdomen completely covered with soil particles; legs blackish, covered with soil particles (Fig. 20A). (Female holotype): Total length: 13.82; carapace length: 5.90; carapace width: 6.51; abdomen length: 7.92. Coloration in ethanol. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace: reddish-brown, caput arched; fovea, slightly procurved (Fig. 22A). Chelicerae reddish-brown; promargin 11 teeth, retromargin 13 teeth. Labium sub-rectangular, 43 cuspules anteriorly (Fig. 22B). Maxillae longer than wide, anterior prolateral lobe elongated, conical; 72 cuspules (Fig. 22B). Sternum length 2.96; width 3.51, oval; three pairs of oval sigilla (Fig. 22B). EYES: eight eyes on tubercle, elevated, height 0.91; AME: 0.21; ALE: 0.30: PLE:0.27; PME: 0.14; PME–PME 0.59. ABDOMEN. Dorsally dark gray, slightly encrusted with soil, with 5 transversal rows of thin spatulate setae on low tubercles; laterally gray fewer and smaller spatulate setae; ventrally light gray without spatulate setae (Fig. 21A, B). LEGS: Uniformly reddish-brown, slightly encrusted with soil particles. Macrosetae present ventrally on tibia III–IV, metatarsi and tarsi II–IV. Spinules on leg I ventrally, metatarsus: 9; tarsus: 17; trichobothria: palpal tarsus: 8, tarsus I: 9, II: 7, III: 6, IV: 8/9; metatarsus I: 5, II: 4, III: 4, IV: 4; tarsal scopula absent. Leg measurements: I 17.33 (5.69/2.16/4.34/3.14/2.00); II 13.16 (4.28/2.11/2.60/2.46/1.71); III 12.82 (3.89/2.00/2.35/2.50/2.08); IV 18.33 (5.24/2.04/4.20/4.10/2.75); leg formula 4123. Tarsus I third claw present; tarsi II–IV without third claw; all paired claws with one tooth. GENITALIA. Two long spermathecae (5x longer than wide as wide); spermathecae head with elongated, sinuous vesicles, stalks elongated, sinuous (Fig. 22C).

Variation. Female (ECFN 7220) carapace length: 7.50; abdomen length: 10.09; (ZMH-A0002999) carapace length: 8.19; abdomen length: 10.09. Female body length: 13.82–18.89, x 17.05, n= 3.

Distribution. Sucumbíos Province (Map 1).

Natural history. Specimens were collected at 826 m a.s.l. in an evergreen foothill forest of the Eastern Cordillera (BsPn03) (Guevara et al. 2013b) and at 301 m in Aguarico-Putumayo-Caquetá lowland evergreen forest (BsTa01) (Guevara et al. 2013c).