PORTERIA SIMON, 1904

Porteria Simon, 1904: 109

(type species Porteria albopunctata Simon, 1904, by monotypy).

Diagnosis: Porteria species resemble their relative porteriines Nanocambridgea, Cambridgea and Corasoides in the remarkable narrowing of the ALS piriform gland spigot field (Fig. 5), the cymbium highly elongated beyond the bulb and the lack of a median apophysis, but it differs from all of these by the presence of a thin tibial apophysis (LRTA) arising near the base of the RTA on the male palpal tibia (Fig. 68), and a line of five to six stout setae just posterior to the ALS spinning field of both sexes (Fig. 5B). Among the Chilean fauna, Porteria species are the only marronoids with the narrow tip of the cymbium extending 1.5 to 5 times the length of the copulatory bulb. The epigyne has a minute to large anterior median scape (Figs 30C, 53A), and the spermatheca is bilobed, here referred to as base 1 and base 2 of the spermatheca. All species except P. eddardstarki have distinctive dorsal abdominal markings consisting of white to yellow anterolateral lines and median spots (Fig. 13). Porteria are like Corasoides but differ from Nanocambridgea and Cambridgea by walking on the upper surface of the sheet web instead of hanging from it.

Description: Small to medium sized spiders with total length 3.9–9.1. Characteristic markings as follows (Figs 13, 14): carapace pale yellow to orange-brown with darkened lateral margins with three distinct, sometimes diffuse grey lines radiating outward from thoracic furrow; grey lines outline cephalic region along cervical groove. Black pigment surrounding each eye, connecting the lateral eyes and AMEs. Sternum with dark grey margins enclosing a pale yellow median region. Paler region varies in size and shape from large oval to small sliver: this contrast is faded in older specimens. Endites, labium and chelicerae orange-brown in colour; endites and labium lighter in colour toward tips. Coxae pale yellow with grey distal margins. Legs with alternating yellow and grey rings that vary from distinct to subtle, more obvious in fresh specimens. Dorsum of abdomen dark grey with white to golden yellow, longitudinal anterolateral lines converging anteriorly; lines half the length of abdomen, becoming indistinct spots posteriorly. Fainter paired median spots sometimes present. Porteria eddardstarki with anterolateral lines reduced and dark grey dorsum mottled with golden yellow (see species descriptions). Venter yellow to grey, with median grey rectangle and two dark grey semi-circles anterior to spinnerets. Epigyne outlined with grey trapezoid with two yellow spots; trapezoid also present in males between book lungs. Spinnerets orange-brown to grey. Carapace length 1.20–1.51 times carapace width, height 0.23–0.61 times width. Thoracic fovea 0.07–0.31 times carapace length, slit like and moderately deep. Posterior eye row (PER) straight when viewed from above; anterior eye row (AER) slightly procurved from anterior view (Fig. 15B). Anterior lateral eyes (ALE) diameter 1.29– 2.00 times anterior median eyes (AME). Clypeus height 1.67–2.83 times diameter of AME. Posterior median eyes (PME) about equal to posterior lateral eyes (PLE) diameter. Secondary eyes with canoeshaped tapetum (Fig. 15B). Sternum length 0.94–1.46 times width; labium as long as wide. Chelicera length 5.20–16.5 times clypeus height. Chelicera vertical in most species, porrect in P. eddardstarki males (Fig. 31). Cheliceral fang margin with escort setae, rake setae and whisker setae (see Ramírez, 2014). Retromargin of chelicera with two teeth separated far apart; promargin typically with five teeth and one to three small denticles (Fig. 16C); see variations in species descriptions. Fangs constricted or not; constriction highly exaggerated in P. albopunctata males (Fig. 23D). Male femur I 1.23–1.63 times carapace length; female femur I 1.03–1.34 times carapace le ngth. L eg formulaty pically 4123, sometimes 1423; leg I and IV about equal in total length. General spination as follows (based on P. eddardstarki, Figs 18–21; see spine map Fig. 22): Male: palp: femur d1-1-2, patella d1-1, tarsus r0-0-1, v0-0-1; leg I: femur d1-1-1(p)-1(p)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-0, v0-2-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg II: femur d1-3-2-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-0, v0-0-2, metatarsus p0-1-0-1, r0-0-1, v1(r)-2-2; leg III: femur d1-3-1(r)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)-1-0, p0-1-1-0, r0-0-1-0, v0-0-2, metatarsus d1(r)-2-2, p1-0-0, v2-2-3; leg IV: femur d1-1-1(r)-1(r)-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r)- 1-1, p1-1-0, r0-1-1-0, v0-1(r)-2, metatarsus d1(r)-1-1, p1-1-1, r0-1-0-1, v2-2-2, tarsus r0-1. Female: palp: femur d1-1-3, patella d1-1, tibia 1(p)-1(r)-0-1(r), tarsus d2-1(p)-1(p)-0, p1-0-1-1, r0-1-0-0, v1-1-2; leg I: femur d1-2-1-1(r)-1(p)-2, p0-1-0, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r), p0-1-0, v0-2-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg II: femur d2-1-1(p)-2-2-2, patella d1-1, tibia d1(r), v2-2-2, metatarsus p0-1-1, r0-0-1, v2-2-2; leg III: femur d3-1(p)-1-1(r)-1(p)-1(r)-2, patella 1-1, tibia d1(r)-1-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v2-2-2, metatarsus d2-0-0, p0-1-2, r0-1- 1, v2-2-2, tarsus r0-1; leg IV: femur d1-2-1(p)-1(r)-2, patella 1-1, tibia d1(r)-0-1-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v2-2-2, metatarsus d2-2-2-0, p0-0-2, r0-0-1, v0-2-2-2, tarsus r0-1. Spination can vary slightly between and within species, even between left and right legs of the same individual. Tibia I with one to three pairs of ventral spines; spination listed in species descriptions when possible. Single row of trichobothria on tarsus and metatarsus, increasing in length distally; few scattered trichobothria on tibia, present on the male and female palps; trichobothrial base as in Figure 17E, simple, hood smooth. Tarsi three clawed, with many teeth on the superior claws and two teeth on the smaller, inferior claw (Fig. 17A, C), female palp with single claw with several teeth (Fig. 17D). Tarsal organ flat, aperture tear shaped, located on dorsal surface, less than 0.2 mm from claw (Fig. 17F). Trochanters shallowly notched; notch more obvious on leg IV (Fig. 15C). Spinnerets as follows (Figs 5–7): anterior spinnerets broad, much wider than long; bases almost touching. Apical segment small relative to basal segment. Posterior spinnerets much narrower, with medians small and short and laterals more elongate. Apical segments smaller, 1/4 to 1/5 the length of basal segment. Anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS) with spinning field of males and females with distinctive ‘tail’ formed by the narrowed piriform gland spigot field curving inward and posteriorly towards base from circular main field (Fig. 5B). A line of five to six stout setae just posterior to spinning field. Female spinnerets as follows: ALS piriform gland spigots (PI) larger in the main field and decreasing in size towards the piriform field tail’s apex; numerous piriform tartipores (Tp). Two major ampullate gland spigots (MAP) and major ampullate tartipore clustered, sunken down and mesad to the main piriform gland spigot field (Fig. 5C). PMS with aciniform gland spigots (AC) and two cylindrical gland spigots (CY) nested within the aciniforms, one on anterior margin, another on posterior margin. Posterior lateral spinnerets (PLS) with aciniform gland spigots, with more elongate shafts than those on the posterior median spinnerets and a single anterior cylindrical gland spigot. Spinnerets of males as follows: ALS with spinning field similarly shaped to that of females, with piriform gland spigots, numerous piriform tartipores, and a single MAP gland spigot with adjacent MAP nubbin (Nu) and tartipore. PMS with aciniform gland spigots. PLS with aciniform gland spigots. Colulus (Cl) of both sexes linguiform with setae on anterior half (Fig. 5F). Tracheal system (Fig. 16D): spiracle just anteriad of colulus, less than colulus’ length away; lateral tracheae unbranched, medians branched, all tracheae limited to opisthosoma. Male palp with cymbium greatly elongated distal to bulb (Figs 25E, 28E, 32E, 38E, 45E, 50E, 55D, 58D, 61E, 66D, 71E); cymbium 2.21–5.94 times length of bulb. Prominent bulb structures include tegulum with median concavity present or absent, fleshy conductor, and a slender embolus of varying lengths; embolus base varies in shape and is diagnostic in species identification. Tibia of male palp with three to four apophyses: stout, acuminate RTA; needle-like LRTA positioned mesad to RTA; dark, flattened ventral apophysis (VTA); dorsal tibial apophysis (DTA) present or absent, shape diagnostic for some species. Knob-like paracymbium (PC) on retroapical side of alveolus present or absent. Palpal bulb (Fig. 68B, D) without median apophysis; embolus (E) with slender tip converging onto large, fleshy conductor (C). Epigyne and vulva highly variable; heavily sclerotized or fleshy, with little to no sclerotization; median scape (Sc) present in all species but varies in form and size. Epigyne usually partially obscured by a covering of long setae. Vulva with short to long copulatory ducts (CD), spermathecal head (HS) differentiated or not from rest of spermathecae; pores present on head and spermathecal stalk (SS); stalk leads to base 1 and base 2 of the spermatheca. Base 1 of spermatheca can be distinguished from base 2 by the presence of the Bennett’s gland (BG) and the attachment of the fertilization duct (FD). Females of the bunnyana species group with a central atrium, with ventral wall flexible, wrinkled (Fig. 64D, F), and a pair of invaginations on the posterior margin of the epigyne (Fig. 64A, B; uncertain where they lead).

Biology: The biology that follows is mostly known from observations made in the field during a January 2013 excursion by the authors Charles Griswold, Elizabeth Morrill and colleagues Hannah Wood, David Faber and Luke Macaulay, complemented with data from several excursions by Martín Ramírez. Porteria are sheet web builders that construct webs in low lying vegetation, fallen logs and leaf litter (Fig. 2). They are abundant with many individuals residing in a small area. The spiders walk or run on top of the sheet. The web itself is made of a strong, finely woven sheet; above this is a loosely woven system of knock-down threads that probably help prevent prey from escaping, and a mess of supporting lines to secure the sheet to the substrate. At one edge of the sheet lies the funnelled retreat that leads into leaf litter, hollow logs or other crevices. Porteria were often found near austrochilids and seem to prefer a similar habitat, though austrochilid webs are generally much higher off the ground than those of Porteria . The web of Porteria can be distinguished from often sympatric linyphiid spiders by the sheen and glittering appearance of the silk in the sunlight; linyphiid webs often appear softer and duller; Porteria ’s sheet is stronger to the touch than those of linyphiids. Porteria sheets are not found on artificial or man-made substrates. The spiders often hide in the funnel retreats during the day or when their web has been disturbed. At night, the spiders stand just outside of the funnel and are much more active pursuing prey. Many spiders were successfully collected by mimicking small prey vibrations on the sheet (either by aspirating small insects or using small twigs) to draw the spider out of the retreat and then a spoon was used to cut off access back into the retreat; the spiders were fast, and if they were able to retreat into the funnel, they were often lost in the great expanse of leaf litter and other debris. It is expected that once males reach maturity, they discontinue web building and search for females. Adult males were often found in penultimate and adult female webs at night. When males did make small movements towards the female, she would often move underneath the web nearby and hang upside down. We know nothing of the eggs or maternal care of Porteria .

Composition: Twelve species, including the type species P. albopunctata Simon 1904, and 11 species newly described here: P. ajimayo, P. alopobre, P. ariasbohartae, P. bunnyana, P. contulmo, P. correcaminos, P. eddardstarki, P. faberi, P. fiura, P. misbianka and P. torobayo .

Distribution: Chile, ranging from IV Región de Coquimbo at the northern end of their range to Punta Arenas in Magallanes Province at the southern end of their range (Fig. 76 A-F).

Phylogenetics: Like the other porteriines Nanocambridgea, Cambridgea and Corasoides, Porteria have the remarkable narrowing of the ALS piriform gland spigot field (Fig. 5), the cymbium highly elongated beyond the bulb and lack a median apophysis, but Porteria differ from all of these by the synapomorphies of the presence of a thin tibial apophysis (LRTA) arising near the base of the RTA on the male palpal tibia (Fig. 68) and a line of five to six stout setae just posterior to the ALS spinning field of both sexes (Fig. 5B).