Galapa spiniphila Huber sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 43841C1C-F973-4B31-8DC0-63958E477005

Figs 174–175, 178–188, 1040

Diagnosis

Easily distinguished from most described Ninetinae (except congeners) by processes on male cheliceral fangs but otherwise unmodified male chelicerae (Fig. 181); from other Galapa species by distinctive shape of procursus (Figs 179–180; distal apophysis curved toward retrolateral, large dorsal branch curved toward prolateral and lodged in pocket of genital bulb), by large genital bulb with three distal pointed apophyses (Figs 178, 180), and by membranous elements posteriorly in internal female genitalia (Figs 182, 185, 188); a very similar undescribed species from Costa Rica (see Notes above) differs by pair of pointed processes distally on procursus pointing toward retrolateral.

Etymology

The species name (Latin: the one who likes spines) refers to one microhabitat of this species, among the spiny leaves of ground-dwelling bromeliads; adjective.

Type material

VENEZUELA – Falcón • ♂ holotype, ZFMK (Ar 21860), Península de Paraguaná, near Cueva del Guano (11.9026° N, 69.9456° W), 140 m a.s.l., 16 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) .

Other material examined

VENEZUELA – Falcón • 2 ♀♀ (and two female abdomens transferred from ZFMK, Ven18-183), together with male holotype, and 4 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-183), same collection data as for holotype .

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 0.95, carapace width 0.42. Distance PME–PME 40 µm; diameter PME 40 µm; distance PME–ALE 15 µm; distance AME–AME 10 µm; diameter AME 20 µm. Leg 1: 1.84 (0.52+ 0.12 +0.48 +0.44 +0.28), tibia 2: 0.40, tibia 3: 0.36, tibia 4: 0.58; tibia 1 L/d: 9.

COLOR (in ethanol). Prosoma and legs monochromous ochre-yellow; abdomen monochromous pale gray. BODY. Habitus as in Fig. 174. Ocular area barely raised. Carapace without thoracic groove. Clypeus barely modified (slightly bulging). Sternum slightly wider than long (0.30/0.26), with pair of indistinct anterior humps. Abdomen globular.

CHELICERAE. As in Fig. 181, main segments unmodified except for low lateral elevations with fine stridulatory ridges; fangs with distinctive proximal processes.

PALPS. As in Figs 178–179; coxa ( not shown) unmodified; trochanter barely modified; femur slender, with proximal prolateral stridulatory pick; tibia large; procursus wide in lateral view, main branch distally curved toward retrolateral, large dorsal branch curved toward prolateral and lodged in pocket of genital bulb (Fig. 180); genital bulb very large, with fine hair-like processes on prolateral side, with three distal pointed apophyses.

LEGS. Without spines and curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 52%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1; tarsus 1 with 5 pseudosegments.

Female

In general similar to male (Fig. 175) but without humps on sternum. Tibia 1 in four females: 0.43, 0.44, 0.45, 0.46. Epigynum (Figs 183, 186) light brown semicircular plate, weakly protruding. Internal genitalia (Figs 182, 185, 188) apparently with thin membranous anterior chamber and thick membranous posterior elements of unknown significance; apparently with pore plates (few pores, very indistinct).

Distribution

Known from type locality only, in Venezuela, Falcón (Fig. 1040).

Natural history

The spiders were found on the ground in xerophytic thorn forest. They were hiding among the extremely spiny hard leaves of a terrestrial bromeliad and ran rapidly when disturbed.