Linothele gaujoni (Simon, 1889)

(Figs 8; 18 D-E; 19 G)

Uruchus gaujoni Simon, 1889a: 401 .

Linothele gaujoni – Raven 1985: 74, 75.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Syntypes. Ecuador • 2 ♀; Loja; Gaujon leg.; MNHN-AR-AR4951 (B4348), examined .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Ecuador • 1 ♀; Cuenca to Guamote; 19-21.II.1965; L. Peña leg.; MCZ-76019 • 3 ♀, 8 undet.; Loja; 23.III.1965; L. Peña leg.; MCZ-76017 MCZ-76018 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Loja, Ecuador.

DISTRIBUTION. — Guamote to Loja, Ecuador.

DIAGNOSIS. — Females of Linothele gaujoni differ from those of all other species of Linothele by the combined presence of undivided scopula, a wide clypeus (Fig. 8D) and their elongated, tube-shaped spermathecae stalks bearing only few vesicles distally (Fig. 8B, C). They can further be distinguished by their habitat and distribution (Paramó regions of southern Ecuador).

DESCRIPTION

Male

Unknown.

Female

Colouration in alcohol: prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps brown; opisthosoma with distinct patterns, dorsally with chevrons extending laterally, ventrally with longitudinal lines and spots (Fig. 18D, E); maculae absent. Colouration alive (Fig. 19G): see Samadi (2009) Clypeus: wide, see Figure 8D. Sternum, labium and maxillae: see Figure 8A. Leg formula: 4123. Scopula undivided, see Figure 5C, D. Preening-combs absent. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segments of the PLS rigid. Spermathecae: consisting of two tube-shaped stalks bearing few vesicles at 1:5A, see Figure 8B, C.

Variability

CL = 6.6-11.8. CT = 11-14. MC = 26-40.

REMARK

The vial sent to us from MNHN contained two females. Hence, we cannot comment on the male.

NATURAL HISTORY

Linothele gaujoni occurs in Paramó regions of southern Ecuador. According to Samadi (2009) the species occupies 20 cm deep, almost vertical, burrows. At the entrance, there is a small funnel-web, which is approximately 15-20 cm in diameter. The species may not live only in burrows, but also occupy natural crevices at rocky steeps along roads (Samadi, pers. comm.). The average temperature in the natural habitat of the species is around 16 °C, at high humidity during the whole year.