Myrmecotypus tahyinandu Perger & Rubio, 2020

Silva-Junior, Cláudio J. & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2024, A revision of the South American species of the ant-mimicking spider genus Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae), Zootaxa 5555 (4), pp. 451-496 : 462

Myrmecotypus tahyinandu Perger & Rubio, 2020

Figs 6A–J , 7A–G

Myrmecotypus tahyinandu Perger & Rubio, 2020: 155 , Figs 1C, D , 4–6 , 7B (holotype, ♂, BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz department: Andrés Ibáñez province, La Guardia; in Instituto de Biología Subtropical , Misiones, Argentina; IBSI-Ara1469, not examined)

Note. The Brazilian specimens bear no significant differences in the genitalia in relation to the Bolivian specimens reported in the original description. However, they have coxae I and II white, while, according to Perger & Rúbio (2020), the Bolivian species have only the coxae II white. Similar variations occur in M. dacetonoides comb. nov. and M. atratoides spec. nov. Therefore, our decision regarding this identification was based on the taxonomic principle of parsimony, since the alternative would be producing a possibly unnecessary specific name for the Brazilian specimens, based on a single character that was demonstrated to be variable in other species of the genus. This decision must be tested by molecular studies.

Diagnosis. Myrmecotypus tahyinandu resembles M. rapaxoides spec. nov. by an elongated and narrow thoracic region and by the sperm duct with almost the same width as the embolus but differs by the completely dark abdomen ( Fig. 6A–C ). Males differ by the presence of the prolateral pre-embolic ridge and keels in the embolus ( Fig. 6G ), which are absent in M. rapaxoides spec. nov. ( Fig. 24G, H ). Females resemble those of M. rapaxoides spec. nov. by the recurved epigynal transverse ridge, with a large marginal sclerotized area, but differ by the presence of a groove below the epigynal ridge ( Fig. 6I ), which is absent in M. rapaxoides spec. nov. ( Fig. 24I ).

Description. See Perger & Rubio (2020).

Variation. Perger & Rubio (2020) noticed that, in the Bolivian specimens, only the coxa II is translucent-white (their fig. 5); the specimens from Brazil here examined have coxae I and II white ( Fig. 6C, F ). This difference is here interpreted as intraspecific variation, as observed in M. dacetonoides comb. nov. and M. atratoides spec. nov. too.

New records. BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: Rios Araguaias e Tapinapés , [11°42’12.3”S, 50°42’12.0”W], 1♂, 30.XI.1960, B. Malkin leg. ( MCN) ; São Paulo: Presidente Epitácio, Usina Hidrelétrica Engenheiro Sergio Motta [22°28’45.2”S, 52°57’27.2”W], 1♀, 16.I–13.II.1999, Eq. IBSP leg. ( IBSP, IB-23081 ) ; Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Esperidião [15°53′10’’S, 58°58′15’’W], 4♀ 2♂, XI.1984, Magno & Alvarenga leg. ( MNRJ 18390 ) .

Distribution. Bolivia and Brazil ( Fig. 25 )

Figures

FIGURE 1. Myrmecotypus spp, living species: A Myrmecotypus olympus Reiskind, 1969; B Myrmecotypus niger Chickering, 1937; Photo: César Favacho; C Myrmecotypus rubrofemoratus Perger & Rubio, 2021. Photo: Artur Anker/Pedro Martins.

FIGURE 4. Myrmecotypus haddadi Perger & Rubio, 2021 A–C, G–I male (IBSP, IB- 8710), D–F, J–K. female (IBSP, IB- 8708): A male, dorsal view; B same, lateral view; C same, ventral view; D female, dorsal view; E, same, lateral view; F same, ventral view; G male palp, ventral view; H same, retrolateral view; I same, retrodorsal view, RTP; J female epigyne, ventral view; K same, dorsal view.Abbreviations: E, embolus; RTP, retroapical tegular projection; CO, copulatory opening, CD, copulatory duct; ST II, secondary spermathecae; ST I, primary spermathecae; FD, fertilization duct. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Myrmecotypus haddadi Perger & Rubio, 2021 (MPEG): A male carapace, retrolateral view; B female carapace, dorsal view; C chelicerae; D promarginal and retromarginal teeth; E endites; F female spinnerets, G internal female genitalia; I RTP and embolus. Abbreviations: E, embolus; RTP, retroapical tegular projection; CO, copulatory opening, CD, copulatory duct; ST II, secondary spermathecae; ST I, primary spermathecae; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS, posterior medial spinnerets; ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets.

FIGURE 6. Myrmecotypus tahyinandu Perger & Rubio, 2020. A–C, G–I male (MNRJ-18390), D–F, J–K. female (IBSP, IB- 23081) A male, dorsal view; B same, lateral view; C same, ventral view; D female, dorsal view; E, same, lateral view; F same, ventral view; G male palp, ventral view; H same, retrolateral view; I female epigyne, ventral view; J same, dorsal view. White arrow indicating medial loop, black arrow indicating lateral loop. Abbreviations: E, embolus; pEr, pre-embolic ridge; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; CD, copulatory duct; ST II, secondary spermathecae, ST I, primary spermathecae. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Myrmecotypus tahyinandu Perger & Rubio, 2020 (MPEG). A. male carapace, dorsal view; B. female carapace, lateral view; C. male palp, pre-embolic ridge and embolus; D. internal epigyne; E. female abdomen, dorsal view; F. female spinnerets; G. Endites and labium. Abbreviations: E, embolus; pEr, pre-embolic ridge; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; CD, copulatory duct; ST II, secondary spermathecae, ST I, primary spermathecae; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS, posterior medial spinnerets; ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets.

FIGURE 24. Myrmecotypus rapaxoides spec. nov. A–C, G ̶I holotype male ((MPEG(ARA)38947), D–F, J–K. paratype female paratype (MPEG(ARA)38948). A male, dorsal view; B same, lateral view; C same, ventral view; D female, dorsal view; E, same, lateral view; F same, ventral view; G male palp, ventral view; H same, retrolateral view; I female epigyne, ventral view; J same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: E, embolus; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; CD, copulatory duct; ST II, secondary spermathecae, ST I, primary spermathecae; FD, fertilization duct. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of species of Myrmecotypus.