Epicratinus dookan, Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2020

Gonçalves, Ricardo Antonio & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2020, Taxonomic review and cladistic analysis of Neotropical spider genus Epicratinus Jocqué & Baert, 2005 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 4886 (1), pp. 1-77 : 48-50

Epicratinus dookan sp. nov.

Figs 34–35 .

Type. Male holotype from Estaç „o Ecológica do Una, 15º17’48’’S, 39º03’28’’W, Una, Bahia, Brazil, 2003, M.F. Dias, deposited in IBSP 62518. Paratype: 1♀, same data of holotype, deposited in IBSP 62512 .

Additional material examined: BRAZIL, Bahia, Una, Reserva Biológica do Una , 15º17’48’’S, 39º03’28’’W, 2♁, 14/IV/1998, A.D. Brescovit et al. ( IBSP 18097 ) ; 4♁ ( IBSP 18104 ) ; 2♁ ( IBSP 18122 ) ; 1♀ ( IBSP 18123 ) ; 1♁, X/1999 - IX/2000, M.F. Dias ( IBSP 64275 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 64297 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 65386 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 65416 ) ; 1♁ ( IBSP 65454 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of Epicratinus dookan sp. nov. are easily recognized by the long RTA with the pointed and curved tip facing the center of the cymbium, differing from E. petropolitanus by having a dorsal projection at the base of the RTA. Females, vulva presents small reniform spermathecae with corner at the external upper, edges of the atrium like inverted jar shaped ( Figs 34 , 35 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition and is in reference to Count Dookan (Brazilian name), a fictional character in George Lucas film, “Star Wars”. Count Dookan is a character which wears a curved hilt of his lightsaber, as the curved dorsal projection at the base of the RTA.

Description. Male (IBSP 62518). Color: carapace light brown uniform, sternum burnt orange, burnt orange chelicerae, pale yellow coxae, yellow legs; dorsal abdomen predominantly dark brown with seven pale yellow spots (2-2-2-1) and speckled spots, absent dorsal shell but with light brown color where it should be, short bristles throughout abdomen; ventral abdomen pale yellow with four brown bands (two central and one on each side), a little sclerotinized, yellow above the epigastric furrow. Total length 4.4; carapace length 2.3; width 1.7; abdomen length 1.9; maximum length of spinnerets 0.2; chelicerae length 0.75; clypeus height 0.6. Eyes: diameters AME 0.08, ALE 0.07, PME 0.1, PLE 0.1. Interdistances AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.1, PME-PME 0.07, PME-PLE 0.25, ALE-PLE 0.06. Spinulation: I: Fe d1-0-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0-0-1, r0, v1-1-2; Me d0, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v2-1-2. II: Fe d1-1-1, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0-0-1, r0, v1-1-2; Me d0-1-0, p0-1-1, r0, v2-1-2. III: Fe d1-2-1, p1-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-0-1, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d0-1-0, p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v3-1-2. IV: Fe d2-2-1, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-0-1, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d0-1-0, p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-3-2. Formula: 4123.

Measurements of legs:

Palp. Femur with two dorsal spines (0-1-1); patella with a discrete apical apophysis distal dorsal apical and a ventral; tibia with a row of median bristles in the middle portion of the retrolateral margin; RTA with the pointed and curved tip facing the center of the cymbium and with a dorsal projection at the base of the RTA directed forward, differentiating it from E. petropolitanus that does not have; cymbium with concavity accommodating the end of the RTA, two spines on the prolateral distal margin and three distal; subtegulum with curved ridge; tegulum with visible MH and an angular TAEB; large membranous conductor; tegular ventral apophysis mid and linear; spermatic duct visible; laminar embolus well conspicuous.

Female (IBSP 62518). Color: carapace dark brown uniform and smooth, sternum burnt orange, reddish brown chelicerae, pale yellow coxae, yellow to the middle of the femurs and the rest of the legs burnt yellow; dorsal abdomen predominantly dark brown with five spots (2-2-1) and numerous small pale yellow dots, short bristles throughout the abdomen; ventral abdomen dark brown with thick beige band, one on each side, little sclerotinized, dark orange above the epigastric furrow. Total length 5.9; carapace length 2.9; width 1.9; abdomen length 2.8; maximum length of spinnerets 0.4; chelicerae length 1.1; clypeus height 0.84. Eyes: diameters AME 0.1, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.17. Interdistances AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.1, PME-PLE 0.4, ALE-PLE 0.08. Spinulation: I: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p0, r0, v2-1-1; Me d0, p0, r0, v2-1-3. II: Fe d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0, v0; Pa d0, p0, r0, v0; Ti d0, p1-0-0, r0, v1-1-2; Me d0, p0-0-1, r0, v2-1-2. III: Fe d1-1-1, p1-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-0-1, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-2-2; Me d0-1-0, p0-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-2-2. IV: Fe d1-2-1, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v0; Pa d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v0; Ti d1-0-1, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-1-2; Me d0, p0-2-2, r1-1- 2, v2-3-2. Formula: 4132.

Measurements of legs:

Epigynum. Epigynal plate circular. Ventrally presents atrium rounded light bulb-shaped with hood at the distal border and small reniform spermathecae. Vulva presents small reniform spermathecae with corner at the external upper, edges of the atrium like inverted jar shaped. Visible in transparency.

Variation. Males (n = 10): total length 4.2‾4.4, carapace 2.27‾2.31, femur I 1.58‾1.61. Females (n = 2): total 5.75‾5.9, carapace 2.8‾3, femur I 1.68‾1.7.

Distribution. Brazil (center/southeast of Bahia) ( Fig. 42 ).

Figures

FIGURE 34. A. Epicratinus dookan sp. nov. (IBSP 62518) Habitus male, dorsal view. B. Male, ventral view. C. (IBSP 62512) Female, dorsal view. D. Female, ventral view. (Scale = 1 mm).

FIGURE 35. A. Epicratinus dookan sp. nov. (IBSP 62518) Male palp, dorsal view. B. (IBSP 62518) Pro lateral view. C. (IBSP 62518) and D. (IBSP 62386) Ventral view. E. (IBSP 62512) Epigynum, ventral view. F. (IBSP 18123) Vulva. G. Vulva. Seta: dorsal tibial apophysis. (Scale in A, B, C = 0.5; D = 0.4; E, F, G = 0.2 mm).

FIGURE 42. Area of occurrence of Epicratinus amazonicus, E. dookan sp. nov., E. petropolitanus, E. pugionifer, E. takutu and E. zangief sp. nov. (clade D).