Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940 ) Jaeger & Rheims & Labarque, 2009

Jaeger, Peter, Rheims, Cristina & Labarque, Facundo, 2009, On the huntsman spider genera Sparianthina Banks, 1929 and Anaptomecus Simon, 1903 from South and Central America (Araneae, Sparassidae), ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 115-147 : 125-127

Sparianthina rufescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n.

Figs 34-49

Anaptomecus rufescens Mello-Leitão, 1940: 180 , fig. 8-9 (description ♀; holotype ♀ [PJ 1662], Guyana, Essequibo River [6°21’53.25”N, 58°37’52.36”W], 1930.1164, No. 3491, A.W. Richards (c.), Oxford University Expedition K.B.G., NHM, examined). Roewer 1954: 712. Platnick 2009.

Notes. Mello-Leitão (1940: 181) listed “type no. 2491”. Although the label shows “3941” it is considered the holotype female according to the match of other data. A juvenile (PJ 1663) apparently of the same species was in the same vial, as well as one male Salticidae . The juvenile is not considered to be a syntype, as Mello-Leitão wrote “type” in singular.

Further material examined. GUYANA. 1 ♁ ( PJ 1665 ), Guest , Maraballi River , Essequibo River , 15 miles above Bartica, Bottle I, No. 68, 1.II.[19]29, R.W.G. Hingston, Mello-Leitão det. ( NHM 1930.4.15.48) ; 1 ♀ ( PJ 1664 ), Guest , Maraballi River , Essequibo River , 15 miles above Bartica, Bottle I, No. 65, 29.X.[19]29, R.W.G. Hingston, Mello-Leitão det. ( NHM 1930.4.15.45) ; 2 ♀♀, Essequibo River , opposite Twasinki Mts. 25.IX.1937, W.G. Hassler ( AMNH) ; 1 ♀, Parish , 1913 ( AMNH) ; 1 ♀, Kangarooma , 13.VI.1911, F.E. Lutz ( AMNH). 1 ♀ ( PJ 1878 ), Bovallius leg. ( NHRS) .

Diagnosis. Males: embolus widened; DTA pointing retrolaterally in ventral view; RTA with three appendages, dorsal one stiletto-like and slightly bent, median one finger-shaped and ventral one roughly triangular ( Figs 34-37 ). Females: epigynal furrows present in the posterior part of epigyne, running diagonally from median to antero-laterally, bent at their anterior end ( Figs 40-41 , 46 ). Fertilisation ducts situated in the centre of the internal duct system; glandular appendages long and conspicuous, pointing in an anterior direction, diverging ( Figs 42 , 48-49 ).

Description. Male (NHM). Total length 5.9. Prosoma: 3.2 long. Opisthosoma: 2.7 long. Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 20 denticles in a row ( Fig. 38 ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus and conductor arising from tegulum at 9- to 9:30-o’clock-position ( Fig. 35 ).

Redescription. Female (AMNH). Total length 8.5. Prosoma: 3.5 long, 3.3 wide. Opisthosoma: 4.8 long, 3.0 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.24, PME 0.18, PLE 0.24, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.26, AME–PME 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.22. Legs: I: femur 4.0, patella 1.6, tibia 3.7, metatarsus 3.6, tarsus 1.4, total 14.3; II: 4.5, 1.7, 4.3, 4.0, 1.6, 16.1; III: 3.9, 1.5, 3.2, 3.4, 1.0, 13.0; IV: 3.8, 1.3, 3.2, 3.8, 1.5, 13.6. Spination: femur I–III: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r1-1-1; femur IV: p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r0-0-1; tibia I–II: p1-0-0; r1-0-0;

v2-2-2-0; tibia III–IV: p1-0-1; r1-0-1; v2-2-0; metatarsus I–II: p1-0-0; r1-0-0; v2-2-0; metatarsus III: p1-1-0; r1-1-0; v2-2-0; metatarsus IV: p1-1-2; r1-1-2; v2-2-0. Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 20 denticles in a row ( Fig. 43 ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field rounded, without anterior bands; slit sense organs separated by about one of their lengths from epigynal field. Internal duct system with reticulate pattern in large oval parts ( Fig. 49 ), apparently representing narrow ducts.

Colouration. Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps brownish-orange. Sternum pale orange with darker margins. Gnathocoxae pale orange, labium pale orange with brown base. Opisthosoma cream coloured with faint brown pattern of transverse chevrons.

Variation. Total length: 6.3-6.7. Prosoma length: 3.1-3.3.

Distribution. Guyana.

Figures

Figures 34-45. Sparianthina rufescens (Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n. from Guyana (34-39 ♁ NHM 1930.4.15.48 40 ♀ holotype 41-45 ♀ NHM 1930.4.15.45). 34-37 Left ♁ palp (34 prolateral 35 ventral 36-37 retrolateral) 38, 43 Chelicerae, ventral 39, 44 Eyes, dorsal 40-41 Epigyne, ventral 42 Internal duct system, dorsal. 45 Labium and left gnathocoxa, ventral.

Figures 46-49. Sparianthina rufescens (Mello-Leitão, 1940) comb. n. from Guyana (♀ NHRS, PJ 1878). 46-47 Epigyne (46 ventral 47 posterior) 48-49 Internal duct system (48 dorsal 49 detail of right half). EF – epigynal furrow (explanation see diagnosis for Sparianthina).