Aschnaoonops aquada, new species

Figures 477–483

TYPE: Male holotype taken in Espeletia leafbase at an elevation of 3450 m on a paramo at the La Aguada cable car (Telefe´rico) station in Me´rida, Me´rida, Venezuela (June 28, 1989; S., J. Peck), deposited in AMNH (PBI_OON 44) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can easily be recognized by the highly complex embolus, with four narrow, elongate, distally directed processes (figs. 478–480).

MALE (PBI_OON 44, figs. 477–483): Total length 2.38. ALE separated by their radius to diameter. Sternum surface coarsely reticulate, microsculpture everywhere but front. Endites with tip of anterior process truncated. Dorsal scutum covering full length of abdomen, no soft tissue visible from above, not fused to epigastric scutum. Postepigastric scutum long, almost rectangular, extending to nearly full length of abdomen. Leg spination: femora: I p0-0-2, r1-1-1; II p0-0-2; tibiae: I v4-2-2; II v4-4-1p; metatarsi: I v1p-2-2; II v1p-1r-2. Sperm pore small, narrow, slitlike. Cymbium without distal patch of setae. Embolus hand shaped, with thumb-shaped proximal prong and four processes on distal prong.

FEMALE: Unknown.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: None.

DISTRIBUTION: Venezuela (Me´rida).