Strotarchus tlaloc, Bonaldo, Alexandre B., Saturnino, Regiane, Ramírez, Martín J. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2012

Bonaldo, Alexandre B., Saturnino, Regiane, Ramírez, Martín J. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2012, A revision of the American spider genus Strotarchus Simon, 1888 (Araneae: Dionycha, Systariinae), Zootaxa 3363, pp. 1-37 : 32

Strotarchus tlaloc new species

Figs. 114−115

Type material. Female holotype from Cerro Pelon [96º6.6'W, 17º00'N], Oaxaca, Mexico, Apr. 1962, W.S. Miller coll. and female paratype from 15 mi. NE of Jacala at km 23 (small cave, 99º02'W, 21º05'N), Hidalgo, Mexico, Jul. 27, 1966, J. & W. Ivie coll., both deposited in AMNH.

Etymology. The specific name refers to Tlaloc , an important deity in the Azteca religion, related to rain, fertility and water. He was known to give life and sustenance, but he was also feared for sending hail, thunder and lightning. He was associated with caves, springs and mountains. Tlaloc can be translated as “that which lies upon the surface of the earth”, a reference to the clouds that form around the tops of mountains during the rainy season.

Diagnosis. Females of Strotarchus tlaloc can be recognised by the large atrium, with recurved posterior margin and by the medially inserted glandular knob ( Figs. 114, 115 ).

Description. Male. Unknown.

Female (Holotype). Carapace orange, cephalic area darker, thoracic groove brown. Chelicerae, endites and labium red brown. Sternum yellow, margins brown. Legs orange, metatarsi and tarsi I and II red brown. Abdomen light gray, spinnerets orange. Total length 13.70. Carapace 6.20 long, 4.50 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.30, ALE 0.30, PME 0.28, PLE 0.28. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal teeth, the median largest, and 2 retromarginal teeth, separated by three times their width. Leg measurements: femur I 5.40/ II 5.00/ III 4.00/ IV 5.00. Leg spination: Ifemur d1-1-0, p0-1-1, r0; tibia d0, p0-1-1, r0-0-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus d0, p0-1-1, r0-1-1, v2-1 r-0. II—femur d1-1-0, p0-1-1, r0; tibia d0, p1-1-0, r0-1-0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus d0, p1-1-2, r0-1-1, v2-2 - 1m. III—femur d1-1-0, p0-1-1-1, r0-0-1; tibia d0-1-0, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus d0, p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-2 - 1m. IV—femur d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0; tibia d0, p0-1-0, r1-1-0, v2-2 -2; metatarsus d0-1-1, p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-2 - 1m. Epigynum: atrium sub-oval; AP large, flattened posteriorly, median slit deep, without lateral notches, rectangular, bordering SS; CD short, convergent, folds present but unsclerotised; GK short, globose, base slightly constricted, laterally oriented; SS slightly curved posteriorly, crenulated; spermathecae large, globose ( Figs. 114, 115 ).

Variation. Two females: total length 6.80−13.70; carapace 3.20−6.20.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Other material examined. None.

Figures

FIGURES 114 – 117. Strotarchus tlaloc new species, female: 114) epigynum, ventral; 115) epigynum, dorsal. Strotarchus michoacan new species, female: 116) epigynum, ventral; 117) epigynum. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.