Cubanops glochidiosus, Sánchez-Ruiz & Bonaldo, 2024

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2024, Four new spider species of Cubanops Sánchez-Ruiz, Platnick & Dupérré from Eastern Cuba (Araneae: Caponiidae), Zootaxa 5448 (4), pp. 569-580 : 572-574

Cubanops glochidiosus sp. nov.

Figures 3–4 , 8B , 9

Types. Holotype: male ( MPEG 37301 ) from Márgenes Carretera entre Morro y La Estrella [ 19°58'08.2"N 75°51'48.8"W], Santiago de Cuba, 22.VIII.2012, R. Teruel & A. Sánchez-Ruiz leg., under rock.

Additional material examined. CUBA: Santiago de Cuba: Márgenes Carretera entre Morro y La Estrella [ 19°58’08.2”N 75°51’48.8”W], 22.VIII.2012, R. Teruel & A. Sánchez-Ruiz leg., under rock, 1♀ ( MPEG 37302 )

Etymology. The specific name refers to the small spinules at the tip of embolus that resembles the glochids, a barbed bristle on the areole of some cacti.

Diagnosis. Members of C. glochidiosus sp. nov. resembles those of C. juragua Sánchez-Ruiz, Platnick & Dupérré and C. serrucho sp. nov. by having a similar pattern on abdomen and carapace ( Figs 3C , 4C ), but males can be distinguished by the morphology of the embolus tip ( Fig. 3D ) where the embolus have two long spine-like projections (instead only one in C. juragua and C. serrucho sp. nov.) and several small spinules at the tip ( Fig. 8B ); females with a lower posterior receptacle, formed on the anterior margins by two thick membranous bars and a well-sclerotized central one ( Fig. 4E ).

Description. Male ( holotype): Carapace orangish brown with a dark and poorly developed pattern as in Fig. 3C . Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum and legs light orangish brown; femora and tibiae of legs and palps without dark brown stains; coxae and trochanters lighter; abdomen pale gray, with dark brown dorsal chevron pattern as in Fig. 3A ; anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Total length 2.25. Carapace 0.70 long, 0.55 wide. Tegulum oval with embolus longer than tegulum width; embolus tip shape as figures 3D, 8B; with two long spine-like projections and several small spinules at the tip. Female (MPEG 37302): orangish brown with a dark and poorly developed pattern as in Fig. 4C . Chelicerae, palps, endites, labium, sternum, coxae, legs, abdomen, anal tubercle and spinnerets as in male. Total length 3.05. Carapace 1.00 long, 0.65 wide. External genital area with weakly sclerotized area ( Fig. 4D ). Internal genitalia with a low triangular posterior receptacle, where sperm are stored during mating, formed on the anterior margins by two thick membranous bars and a well-sclerotized central one ( Fig. 4E ), and a short membranous uterus externus (presumed anterior receptacle), where fertilization occurs.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Cuba ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cubanops glochidiosus sp. nov., holotype male (MPEG 37301). A Habitus, dorsal view. B Habitus, ventral view. C Carapace, dorsal view. D Left palp, in square a detail of the embolus tip, prolateral view. E Left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A‒B: 0.5 mm, C‒E: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Cubanops glochidiosus sp. nov., female (MPEG 37302). A Habitus, dorsal view. B Habitus, ventral view. C Carapace, dorsal view. D External genitalia area, ventral view. E Internal genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars:A‒B: 0.5 mm, C‒D: 0.2 mm, E: 0.1mm. Abbreviations: mpr = anterior margins of posterior receptacle; pr = posterior receptacle.

FIGURE 8. Drawings of the embolus tip in males of the four Cubanops especies described, prolateral view. A. Cubanops chamarreta sp. nov. B Cubanops glochidiosus sp. nov. C Cubanops guama sp. nov. D. Cubanops serrucho sp. nov. Scale bars: A‒D: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: eo = embolar opening; slp = spine-like projection; sp = spinules on embolus.

FIGURE 9. Distribution map of Cubanops species from Eastern Cuba: C. chamarreta sp. nov. (black circles); C. glochidiosus sp. nov. (black heart); C. guama sp. nov. (black triangles); C. serrucho sp. nov. (black star); C. armasi (black squares); C. alayoni (white squares); C. juragua (black and white triangle); C. granpiedra (black and white circle) and C. tortuguilla (circle with cross).