NERUDIA NONO HUBER SP. NOV.

(FIGS 1H, 31, 32)

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. o r g: a c t: D 3 1 A 8 1 F 7 - 8 F 7 F - 4 D C A - B E 7 E - 6EEAFFE52FBF.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from known congeners by shapes of procursus (Fig. 31A–C; wide in lateral view, narrow in dorsal view, with small prolateral flap distally) and by armature of male chelicerae (Fig. 31G, H; frontal apophyses directed towards frontal, with pointed tips), from some congeners also by bulbal processes (Fig. 31D–F; ventral apophysis distally slender, curved towards ventral, slightly longer than embolus), and by epigynum and female internal genitalia (Figs 31I, 32; main epigynal plate semi-circular, with almost straight posterior margin; internal genitalia with indistinct semi-circular receptacle).

Type material: ARGENTINA – Córdoba: • ♂ holotype; ~ 5 km E Nono; 31.7982° S, 64.9515° W; 995 m a.s.l.; 20 Feb. 2021; M. Izquierdo, F. Cargnelutti, F. Bollatti & G. Boaglio leg.; LABRE-Ar 592 • 3 ♂♂, paratypes; same data as holotype; LABRE AR525 • 1 ♂, paratype; same data as holotype; ZFMK Ar 23909 • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as holotype; LABRE AR534 • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; same locality as holotype; 2 Mar 2019; B.A. Huber & M.A. Izquierdo leg.; ZFMK Ar 23910 .

Other material examined: ARGENTINA – Córdoba: • 5 ♀♀, 7 juvs, in pure ethanol; same locality as holotype; 2 Mar 2019; B.A. Huber & M.A. Izquierdo leg.; ZFMK Arg 124 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as holotype; 5 Jan. 2022; M. Izquierdo, F. Cargnelutti, G. Boaglio leg.; LABRE-Ar 593 • 6 ♀♀; same data as preceding; LABRE-Ar 595 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv.; same locality as holotype; 20 Feb. 2021; M. Izquierdo, F. Cargnelutti, F. Bollatti, G. Boaglio, leg.; LABRE-Ar 594 • 2 ♂♂, in Karnovsky (MAI-4780); same data as preceding, LABRE-Ar 568 • 1 ♂, in Karnovsky (MAI-4771); same data as preceding; LABRE-Ar 569 • 6 ♀♀, in Karnovsky (MAI-4781); same data as preceding; LABRE-Ar 570 .

Etymology: The species epithet is derived from the type locality Nono in Córdoba, Argentina; noun in apposition.

Description

Male (holotype. Measurements: Total body length 1.70, carapace width 0.70. Distance PME-PME 90 µm; diameter PME 60 µm; distance PME–ALE 35 µm; distance AME–AME 20 µm; diameter AME 50 µm. Leg 1: 5.20 (1.40 + 0.25 + 1.40 + 1.55 + 0.60), tibia 2: 1.15, tibia 3: 0.95, tibia 4: 1.40; tibia 1 L/d: 20.

Colour (in ethanol): Prosoma and legs mostly pale ochre-grey; carapace with large median brown mark including ocular area, not reaching posterior margin of carapace; sternum whitish; legs without dark rings; abdomen monochromous greenish-grey.

Body: Habitus as in Figure 1H. Ocular area barely raised. Carapace with indistinct thoracic groove. Clypeus more sclerotized than in female and slightly bulging. Sternum wider than long (0.50/0.40), with pair of distinct anterior processes near coxae 1. Abdomen globular.

Chelicerae: As in Figure 31G, H; pair of frontal apophyses directed forward, with flattened tips; stridulatory files on pair of lateral protrusions, ridges barely visible in dissecting microscope.

Palps: In general, similar to N. colina (cf. Fig. 4); coxa unmodified; trochanter with indistinct ventral projection; femur cylindrical, only slightly widened distally, proximally with indistinct retrolateral hump and prolateral stridulatory pick (modified hair); patella short, dorsally more bulging than in N. colina; tibia globular; procursus wide in lateral view, narrow in dorsal view, distally with small apophysis and prolateral flap (Fig. 31A–C); genital bulb with ventral apophysis distally slender, curved towards ventral, embolus partly membranous (Fig. 31D–F).

Legs: Without spines and curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 59%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1; tarsus 1 with seven to eight pseudosegments, mostly distinct.

Variation (male): Tibia 1 in five males (including holotype): 1.35–1.40 (mean 1.37).

Female: In general, similar to male but sternum without pair of anterior humps, chelicerae apparently without stridulatory ridges, and clypeus unmodified. Tibia 1 in nine females: 1.30–1.45 (mean 1.36). Epigynum (Fig. 32A) anterior plate weakly protruding, semi-circular, with almost straight posterior margin; posterior plate large, simple. Internal genitalia (Figs 31I, 32B–D) with indistinct semi-circular receptacle.

Distribution: Known from type locality only, near Nono in Córdoba, Argentina (Fig. 3).

Natural history: The spiders were found among the stones of a loosely built stone wall in the plain sun in a relatively arid environment (Fig. 45F). In small containers in laboratory conditions, the spiders built flimsy webs. Like other pholcids, they hang upside down in these webs. Copulation attempts were not successful. In one of them (25 Feb. 2021), the female attacked the male and started to wrap him.