Melychiopharis davincii Dupérré & Tapia new species

Figs 6–7, map 1.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Ecuador, Napo Prov., Paroquia Ahuano, Via Misahualli Yuralpa, Comunidad Campo Cocha, Sector Puerto Barantilla (-01.087475 °, -77.547185 °), 473 m, 27.XII.2022, shaking small trees, E.E. Tapia, I.G. Tapia (QCAZ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Leornardo da Vinci.

Diagnosis. Males most resemble M. cynips by the absence of opisthosomal modified tubercles (Fig. 6A), present in the latter (Santos et al. 2005; figs 1, 3); from all other species by the dark uniform coloration of the opisthosoma dorsal scutum (Fig. 6A); while all other species with opisthosoma dorsal scutum orange with black or brown markings (Figs 1A, 8A; see Santos et al. 2005: figs 1, 3; Brescovit et al. 2011: fig. 1).

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements. Total length: 2.08; carapace 0.97 long; 0.71 wide; abdomen 1.11 long. Coloration in ethanol: prosoma, carapace reddish-orange, flat (Fig. 6A). Sternum reddish-orange, rugose; longer than wide; surrounding the coxae (Fig. 6B). Labium orange. Endites orange, converging (Fig. 6B). Eyes: AME: 0.05; ALE: 0.09; PLE: 0.07; PME: 0.05; eyes distances: AME-AME: 0.05, AME-LE: 0.11, PME-PME: 0.07. Clypeus: 0.17 high. Chelicerae: orange, promargin with three teeth, retromargin not observed. Legs. Coxae white, femora basally white, remaining segments dark reddish-brown (Figs 6A, B). Legs measurements: I: 2.53 (0.90/0.24/0.60/0.53/0.26); II: 2.22 (0.79/0.21/0.46/0.50/0.26); III: 1.74 (0.56/0.21/0.38/0.37/0.22); IV: 2.32 (0.82 /0.21/0.52/0.52/0.25). Tibia I with two pairs of ventral spines, metatarsi I with one pair of ventral spines; metatarsi I, II with one trichobothrium, and III, IV with two trichobothria. Opisthosoma: dorsally blackish-brown; with large reticulate scutum (Fig. 6A); ventrally with large epigastric scutum (Fig. 6B); with median basal scutum, fused to spinnerets scutum; spinnerets scutum incomplete (Fig. 6B). Genitalia: palpal tibia short, with one retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria (Fig. 7B). Cymbium with shallow excavation (Fig. 6E); paracymbim small, lacking setae (Fig. 7B). Tegulum large and striated; median apophysis wide and membranous, without elongation, with large and strongly rugose proximal end; embolus long and filiform, splitting with large folded bases; conductor short, square (Figs 7A, B).

Female: unknown.

Distribution. Ecuador, Napo province (Map 1).

Natural History. The male was collected shaking small trees in a tropical rainforest.