Architis erwini, Santos, 2007

Santos, Adalberto J., 2007, A revision of the Neotropical nursery-web spider genus Architis (Araneae: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 1578 (1), pp. 1-40 : 26-27

Architis erwini sp. nov.

Figures 13A–E , 17

Type material. Holotype: male, Reserva Étnica Waorani , 1km S Onkone Gare Camp, province of Francisco de Orellana, Ecuador, 00 o 39’25.7”S, 76 o 27’10.8”W, 20 January 1994, T.L. Erwin et al. ( USNM) . Paratype: female, data as holotype ( USNM) .

Etymology. This species is named after the entomologist Terry Erwin, one of the collectors of the type series, in recognition of his efforts in sampling the Neotropical canopy arthropod biodiversity.

Diagnosis. Architis erwini sp. nov. is similar in general body shape and colouration to A. helveola ( Figs. 12A , 13A ). Males can be distinguished by the anterior margin of the pedipalpal tibia which cover the VTA in ventral view ( Fig. 13B ). Females differ by the characteristic configuration of the internal genitalia, with long and sinuous CD, long and thin FD which are coiled around CD and large, lemon-shaped spermathecae ( Fig. 13E ).

Description

Male ( based on holotype from Reserva Étnica Waorani , Ecuador)

Carapace, clypeus and chelicerae orange. Anterior eye row procurved, eyes of similar size, laterals projecting ventrally. Posterior eyes of similar size, slightly larger than anterior eyes ( Fig. 13A ). Labium, endites, sternum and pedipalpi cream-coloured. Legs orange, reddish-brown at apex of patella, metatarsus and tarsus and at the base of tibia and metatarsus. Femur I with nine pairs of ventral thin spines. Tibia I with five pairs of ventral spines. Tibia I with long and curved dorsal and lateral trichobothria. Opisthosoma dorsally creamcoloured, with four marginal white spots ( Fig. 13A ). Sides and venter cream-coloured. Spinnerets creamcoloured. Total length 6.1; carapace 2.5 long, 2.2 wide. Tibia I length 4.3, II 4.1, III 3.1, IV 3.1. Opisthosoma 3.6 long, 1.3 wide. VTA large, pointed and curved retrolaterally, almost touching the small vRTA; dRTA slightly larger than vRTA; embolus long, with at least one coiled turn seen under the transparent DTP ( Figs. 13B, C ).

Female ( based on paratype from Reserva Étnica Waorani , Ecuador)

Carapace cream-coloured, with a median row of dark setae from posterior margin to the ocular area. Eye configuration as male. Clypeus, chelicerae, labium, endites, sternum and pedipalpi cream-coloured. Legs cream-coloured, with dark rings at the apex of metatarsus and tibia. Leg spination as male. Opisthosoma dorsally gray, with a white folium and marginal white spots. Opisthosoma sides gray with white spots, venter gray. Spinnerets gray. Total length 3.9; carapace 1.5 long, 1.4 wide. Tibia II length 2.5, III 1.9, IV 2.0. Leg I missing. Opisthosoma 2.4 long, 1.2 wide. Epigynum simple, wide and sub-triangular median field not sclerotised. Internal ducts and spermathecae partially visible externally through transparent cuticle ( Fig. 13D ).

Natural history. The type specimens were collected by fogging tree canopies in a humid forest. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Ecuador ( Fig. 17 ).

Figures

FIGURES 12A–E. Architis helveola (Simon). A, female habitus, dorsal view; B, male pedipalpus, ventral view; C, male pedipalpus, lateral view; D, female epigynum, ventral view; E, female internal genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, 0.5 mm; B–C, 0.2 mm; D–E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 13A–E. Architis erwini sp. nov. A, male habitus, dorsal view; B, male pedipalpus, ventral view; C, male pedipalpus, lateral view; D, female epigynum, ventral view; E, female internal genitalia, dorsal view. The arrow points to the distally extended margin of tibia. Scale bars: A, 0.5 mm; B–C, 0.2 mm; D–E, 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).