Neostasina paraiso sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A94F3A61-5AE2-46A5-A900-170C0E8880C5

Figs 12−14, 21

Diagnosis

Males of N. paraiso sp. nov. resemble those of N. elverde (Rheims & Alayón 2016: figs 53−56) by the vRTA and dRTA of similar size, E filiform, TBE bifid and subdistally bent retrolaterally and TBC slightly longer than MA. They are distinguished from the latter species by the vRTA pointed and TBE with secondary branch arising medially (Figs 14 B−D) (vRTA distally blunt; TBE with secondary branch arising subdistally, close to tip in N. elverde). Females resemble those of N. jamaicana (Rheims & Alayón 2016: figs 79−81) by the epigyne with EF bearing an anterior groove. They are distinguished from the latter species by the medially depressed groove and by the smooth MS (Fig. 14E) (strongly recurved groove and MS bearing a posterior medial protrusion in N. jamaicana).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype PUERTO RICO • 1 ♂; Ponce [18.1167, 66.5333]; Hacienda Paraiso; Dec. 1993; E. Gutierres and A. Pérez leg.; USNM.

Paratypes PUERTO RICO • 1 ♂; Junquillo; El Yunque; Pico del Este [18.2333, 65.7667]; 24 Feb. 2008; J. Mercado leg.; USNM • 1 ♀, Junquillo; El Yunque [18.2833; 65.8000]; 1 Apr. 2008, J. Mercado leg.; USNM .

Description

Male (holotype)

COLOR. Prosoma brown with darker margins and few small, scattered brown spots on thoracic region; fovea brown; eye border black. Chelicerae brown. Legs and palps pale brown, with few scattered brown spots ventrally. Labium brown, distally pale orange. Endites pale orange distally pale yellow. Sternum pale orange with slightly darker margins. Opisthosoma brownish gray; dorsally with brown pattern of irregular marks laterally; scattered spots on anterior half and five median chevrons down posterior half; ventrally with scattered brown marks. Spinnerets yellowish cream colored (Fig. 12 A−B).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 11.1; prosoma length 5.3, width 4.7, opisthosoma length 5.6, width 2.9. Eye diameters: 0.38, 0.30, 0.21, 0.27; interdistances: 0.24, 0.19, 0.55, 0.42, 0.18, 0.09. Legs (1/243): I: 21.2 (5.7, 2.8, 5.6, 5.6, 1.5); II: 21.2 (6.0, 2.9, 5.5, 5.4, 1.4); III: 16.5 (5.0, 2.3, 3.9, 4.2, 1.1); IV: 19.1 (5.5, 2.1, 4.5, 5.6, 1.4).

PALP. dRTA pointed in ventral view, distally rounded in retrolateral view, with slender base; VTA arising medial-retrolaterally; cymbium bulging retrolaterally, with large retroproximal protrusion; tegulum without pt; E filiform, arising from tegulum at 7:30 o’clock; C distally fanned; MA arising from tegulum at 3 o’clock position (Figs 13 A−C, 14A−D).

Female (paratype)

COLOR. Coloration pattern as in male, slightly lighter, with opisthosoma with few scattered brown spots dorsally and no distinctive pattern ventrally (Fig. 12 C−D).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 9.7, prosoma length 4.6, width 3.9, opisthosoma length 4.7, width 3.2. Eye diameters: 0.31, 0.25, 0.18, 0.24; interdistances: 0.26, 0.21, 0.51, 0.45, 0.25, 0.15. Legs: I: absent; II: 14.7 (4.5, 2.3, 4.0, 3.1, 0.8); III: 12.1 (3.8, 1.9, 2.8, 2.8, 0.8); IV: 14.6 (4.3, 1.7, 3.5, 4.0, 1.1).

EPIGYNE. EF longer than wide; MS roughly triangular, wider than long with posterior margin at level with tips of triangular projections of LL (Figs 13D, 14E).

VULVA. GP inconspicuous; SP not encapsulated, with single anterior twist; FD laterad (Figs 13E, 14 F−G).

Variation

Two males: total length 7.8−11.1; prosoma length 3.8−5.3; femur I length 4.4−5.7.

Distribution

Known from central and eastern Puerto Rico (Fig. 21).