Baalzebub sukia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A30E74E7-A9B7-4F33-B7B2-30AD228CCBE6

Figs 1, 51–52

Diagnosis

Males and females of Baalzebub sukia sp. nov. also resemble those of Baalzebub innatuledi sp. nov. by the overall dark coloration (Figs 49A–C, 50A–C, 51A–C, 52A–C), but B. sukia can be distinguished by one pair of round guanine silver patches centrally on the dorsum of the opisthosoma (i.e., above the second pair of opisthosomal apodemes) (Figs 51A–B, 52A–B), whereas B. innatuledi have three pairs (Figs 49A–B, 50A–B). Females of B. sukia resemble those of B. innatuledi by the subtriangular spermathecae (i.e., forming a square angle laterally), connated distally, forming a straight line anteriorly (Figs 50D, 52D), but B. sukia can be distinguished by the backward-pointed triangular epigynal plate posteriorly acute (Fig. 52C–D), whereas B. innatuledi have it wider (Fig. 50C–D).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the word ‘sukia’ which means ‘shaman’ in the Naso, Ngäbe and Buglé languages.

Type material

Holotype

PANAMA – Chiriquí Province • ♂; Parque Internacional La Amistad, Cerro Picacho, one-hectare PANCODING inventory; 8.890500° N, 82.618778° W; 2299 m a.s.l.; 12–17 Jun. 2008; M. Arnedo, L. Benavides, G. Hormiga, F. Labarque, L. Piacentini and M. Ramírez leg.; voucher code SAD1NHL020; DNA barcode SPIPA421-10; MIUP.

Paratypes

PANAMA – Chiriquí Province • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; voucher code SAU1NCH032; preparation codes FML-00839, FML-00899; DNA barcode SPIPA425-10; MACN-Ar 29071 • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; voucher code SAC1DGH006; preparation code FML-00900; MACN-Ar 29070 • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; voucher code SAC1DFB011; preparation code FML-00736; DNA code baaba254; GenBank code PX096882; MCZ • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; voucher code SAU1NGH020; DNA barcode SPIPA424-10; MCZ.

Other material

PANAMA – Chiriquí Province • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; MCZ • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; CRBA .

Description

Male (paratypes MACN-Ar 29071, MCZ SAC1DFB011)

Total length 1.53. Prosoma: length 0.86, width 0.72, height 0.72. Sternum: length 0.40, width 0.43. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.07, PME 0.07, AME–PME 0.08. Opisthosoma: length 1.20, width 0.99, height 0.89. Leg formula: 1243. Dorsal shield of prosoma dark (Fig. 51A–B). Dorsum of the ocular area dark (Fig. 51A–B). Sternum dark olive-green (Fig. 51C). Opisthosoma color overall dark gray with three dorsal whitish-gray patches centrally, and second patch with one pair of round guanine silver patches laterally (Fig. 51A–B). Epiandrium, booklung cover, tracheal spiracle, spinneret field and behind anal tubercle dark gray (Fig. 51C). Femora greenish-yellow but distally olive-green, patella olive-green, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi brownish-orange (Fig. 51A–C). Palp: paracymbium hooked, paracymbial process with setae row, median apophysis with deep trough, conductor covering embolic division, embolus laminated, multiple divided embolic apophysis (Fig. 51D–F).

Female (paratype MACN-Ar 29070)

Total length 1.98. Prosoma: length 0.77, width 0.64, height 0.54. Sternum: length 0.35, width 0.37. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.07, PME 0.07, AME–PME 0.06. Opisthosoma: length 1.49, width 1.29, height 1.39. Leg formula: 1243. Coloration as in male (Fig. 52A–C). Epigynal plate: triangular, backward-pointed, central pit deep (Fig. 52C–D). Vulva: copulatory ducts irregular and membranous, inserting ventromedially posteriorly into spermathecae, subtriangular spermathecae, sclerotized, and connated distally, forming straight line anteriorly, fertilization ducts sclerotized, emerging laterally posteriorly from spermathecae, curving dorsally anteriorly to meet uterus externus (Fig. 52D).

Records and biology

Records are limited to collections made at 2299 m a.s.l. in lower montane rainforest from Parque Internacional La Amistad (Fig. 1). Females have been collected mostly during the day by looking down and cryptic techniques; males have been collected during the night by looking down and looking up.