Architis robusta Carico, 1981

Santos, Adalberto J., 2007, A revision of the Neotropical nursery-web spider genus Architis (Araneae: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 1578 (1), pp. 1-40 : 31-32

Architis robusta Carico, 1981

Figures 16A–D , 17

Architis robusta Carico 1981: 147 , figs 5, 9, 24–25, map 2, tables 1–2. Brignoli 1983: 700; Platnick 1989: 394.

Type material. Holotype of Architis robusta Carico, 1981 : male, forest preserve, province of Colón, Canal Zone , Panama, 9 o 16’N, 79 o 19’W, 25 July 1954, A.M. Chickering ( MCZ) (not examined).

Material examined. BRAZIL: Rondônia: Porto Velho , 8 o 52’S, 63 o 52’W, 15 April 1996, equipe IBSP/ SMNK, 1♂ ( IBSP 15158 ) . Pará: Canindé ( Rio Gurupi ), 0 o 31’S, 51 o 13’W, 7–15 April 1963, B. Malkin, 1♂ ( AMNH) . Bahia: Una ( Reserva Biológica do Una ), 15 o 18’S, 39 o 4’W, 15–28 November 2000, A.D. Brescovit et al., 3♂, 2♀ ( IBSP 45230 , 45231 , 45529 , 48280 ) .

Diagnosis. Architis robusta is close to A. brasiliensis comb. nov. and A. capricorna , with which it shares an elongated embolus coiled under the DTP (partially seen through the transparent cuticle; Figs 16A , 18C , 19A ) and the CD of the female epigynum which is coiled medially of the spermatheca ( Figs 16D , 18F , 19E ). These species can be distinguished by the longer vRTA and the smaller and un-notched VTA in the male pedipalpus ( Figs 16A, B ) of A. robusta . Females present loosely coiled CD and large oval spermathecae ( Fig. 16D ).

Description

Male (based on IBSP 15158 from Porto Velho, Brazil)

Carapace orange with a pair of lateral longitudinal bands of white scales. Anterior eye row procurved, eyes of similar size. Posterior eyes of similar size, slightly larger than anterior eyes ( Carico 1981: figs 5, 8). Sides and posterior margin of carapace covered with dark setae. Chelicerae, labium, and endites orange, sternum pale orange. Pedipalpi cream-coloured, legs pale orange, with darker tibia, metatarsus and tarsus. Opisthosoma dorsally yellow, covered with dark setae and with a median dark gray band and four posterior dark chevrons; laterally dark gray, venter gray with a pair of large yellow spots. Spinnerets orange. Total length 4.5; carapace 2.1 long, 1.9 wide. Tibia I length 2.8, II 2.7, III 1.8, IV 1.9. Opisthosoma 2.4 long, 1.5 wide. dRTA large, conductor robust, gently curved prolaterally ( Figs 16A, B ).

Female (based on IBSP 45230 from Reserva Biológica do Una, Brazil)

Colouration and eye configuration as in male. Total length 5.4; carapace 2.4 long, 2.0 wide. Tibia I length 2.9, II 2.8, III 2.0, IV 1.9. Opisthosoma 3.0 long, 1.6 wide. Lateral lobes of epigynum concave, ventrally and posteriorly projected ( Fig. 16C ).

Variation. Males, total length 4.5–5.3, carapace width 1.9–2.1.

Natural history. Specimens from Una (IBSP 45230, 45231, 45529) were collected by beating understorey vegetation during the day.

Distribution. Panama, northern and northeastern Brazil ( Fig. 17 ).

Figures

FIGURES 16A–D. Architis robusta Carico. A, male pedipalpus, ventral view; B, male pedipalpus, lateral view; C, female epigynum, ventral view; D, female internal genitalia, dorsal view. The arrow points to the retrolateral projection of the VTA. The embolus can be seen arising close to conductor and through the transparent DTP. Scale bars: A–B, 0.2 mm; C–D, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Geographic distribution records of Architis helveola (Simon) (empty circle), A. erwini sp. nov. (cross), A. colombo sp. nov. (full triangle), A. fritzmuelleri sp. nov. (full circle) and Architis robusta Carico (empty square).

FIGURES 18A–F. Architis brasiliensis (Mello-Leitão). A, female habitus, dorsal view; B, female prosoma, frontal view; C, male pedipalpus, ventral view, D, male pedipalpus, lateral view, E. female epigynum, ventral view; F, Female internal genitalia, dorsal view. The arrow points to the retrolateral projection of the VTA. The embolus can be seen arising close to the conductor and through the transparent DTP. Scale bars: A–B, 0.5 mm; C–D, 0.2 mm; E–F = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 19A–E. Architis capricorna Carico. A, male pedipalpus, ventral view; B, male pedipalpus, lateral view; C, female tarsus IV, apex, prolatero-ventral view; D, female epigynum, ventral view; E, female internal genitalia, dorsal view. The arrow points to the retrolateral projection of the VTA. The embolus can be seen arising close to conductor and through the transparent DTP. Scale bars: A–B, 0.2 mm; C–E, 0.1 mm.