Urupelma megantonianum, Kaderka, Lüddecke, Rezac, Rezacova and Hüsser, 2023

Radan Kaderka, Tim Lüddecke, Milan Řezáč, Veronika Řezáčová & Martin Hüsser, 2023, Revision of the Peruvian tarantula Homoeomma peruvianum (Chamberlin, 1916): description of a new genus with eleven new species and insights to the evolution of montane tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae), Journal of Natural History 57 (41 - 44), pp. 1710-1824 : 1779-1781

Urupelma megantonianum sp. n.

( Figures 42–44 , 79 A-C; Tables 16 , 24 )

Types

Male holotype ( MUSM-ENT 0510523 ) from Peru, Cusco, La Convención, Megantoni district , 410 m a .s .l., November 28–30, 2011, P . Sánchez col .

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from a name of the Peruvian district in the Cusco Department, in which the species was found.

Diagnosis

The males of U. megantonianum sp. n. differ from all congeners, except for U. ashaninka sp. n., U. atarraz sp. n. and U. johannae sp. n., in the presence of urticating setae of type IV (only type III setae are present in the other congeners).

The males of U. megantonianum sp. n. differs from all congeners in the presence of short and stout embolus with well-developed PI, developed R keel and weakly developed SA keel, PS keel is absent ( Figure 44 ). Two unequal subapical apophyses are present on male tibia I, not basally fused, both with short spine. Palpal tibia retrolaterally with a cluster of short spiniform setae, the retrolateral process indistinct. Males of U. megantonianum sp. n. differ from U. veronicae sp. n. and U. dianae sp. n. in having R keel developed and TP in palpal bulb (weakly developed R keel and the presence of well-developed TP in palpal bulbs of U. veronicae sp. n. and U. dianae sp. n.).

Distribution and natural history

Known from the type locality in Peru, Cusco, Megantoni ( Figure 76 ) . The habitat was an amazonic forest dominated by bamboo of the genus Guadua Kunth. The specimen was collected in a pitfall trap.

MALE (MUSM-ENT 0510523): ( Figures 42–44 ) Total length: 15.74, carapace length 8.45, width 6.55, chelicerae with 11 teeth on promargin. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: ( Figure 42D ) AME 0.32 (circular), ALE 0.42 (oval), PME 0.26 (oval), PLE 0.29 (oval), AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.09, PME-PME 0.49, PME-PLE 0.05, ALE-PLE 0.09,AME-PME 0.10,OQ length 0.66, width 1.31. Ocular tubercle length 0.99, width 1.31, clypeus absent. Fovea transverse, deep, procurved, width 1.23, 5.45 from anterior edge of carapace. Labium length 0.96, width 1.56, anterior third with 32 cuspules, maxillae with 142–152 cuspules in basal half, apical half without short spiniform setae. Sternum domed, length 3.91, width 3.07, three pairs of sternal sigilla located near coxae III (length 0.34, 0.31 from edge of sternum), coxae II and coxae I. Leg formula: IV> I> II> III. Incrassate leg segments: femur III. Maxillary and trochanteral stridulatory bristles absent.

Scopulae: All tarsi 100% densely scopulate, metatarsi I 40%, metatarsi II 40%, metatarsi III 20%, metatarsi IV 5% scopulate. Tarsal scopulae I, II undivided, tarsal scopulae III divided by a narrow longitudinal band of setae, tarsal scopulae IV divided by a wide longitudinal band of setae. Dorsal face of all tarsi and cymbium with two irregular longitudinal rows of very short claviform trichobothria. Denticulation of paired tarsal claws on right leg (prolateral/retrolateral row): I 3/3, II 2/2, III 2/2, IV 3/3. Plumose setae on retrolateral face of femur IV absent.

Spination: femora I p 0-0-1, II p 0-0-1, III d 0-0-1, IV d 0-0-1 and femora of palps d 0-0-1; patellae I–IV and patellae of palps 0; tibiae I v 1-1-1 (apical), II v 2-1-3 (apical), p 0-0-1, III v 2-2-3 (apical), p 1-2-1, r 1-0-1, IV v 3-3-3 (apical), p 1-1-1-1, r 1-1-0 and tibiae of palps p 0-0- 1; metatarsi I v 0-0-2 (apical), p 0-1-0, II v 1-1-2 (apical), p 0-1-0, III p 2-3-3 (apical), p 1-2-1, r 0-1-1, IV v 2-3-3 (apical), p 2-1-2-2 (apical), r 1-1-1-1-1, tarsi I–IV and tarsi of palps 0.

Palpal organ as in Figure 44 , embolus short and stout with four keels, PI, A, SA and R keel, PI keel is subtriangular, A keel transparent, SA keel weakly developed and ending at tegulum. Sperm pore is between PI and A keel. Retrolateral lobe of cymbium covered with short spiniform setae. Retrolateral cymbial lobe is distinctly larger than prolateral one. Retrolateral face of palpal tibia with indistinct subapical protuberance thinly covered with spiniform setae ( Figure 43A ). Two unequal subapical apophyses are present on tibia I ( Figure 43B ): a longer retrolateral tibial apophysis with apical spine, a shorter prolateral tibial apophysis with single, retrolateral spine overreaching the apex. Metatarsus I not sigmoidly curved and without basal or median protuberance on retrolateral face. When flexed, metatarsus I contacts the retrolateral side of retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Abdomen: urticating setae of type III, IV and setae of intermediate morphology are located in a central patch (abdomen damaged). PLS: length 2.60, basal segment 1.04, middle segment 0.65, apical segment 0.91, all digitiform. PMS: 0.70.

Colouration and covering setae: dorsal view: carapace and chelicerae brown, coxae, trochantera brown, femora dark brown, patellae, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi brown. Patellae I, II, palpal patella, femora III and IV with two equal longitudinal stripes without covering setae, patellae III, IV with two unequal diagonal stripes without covering setae. Abdomen brown. Ventral view: labium reddish brown, sternum, maxillae, coxae, trochantera yellowish brown, femora dark brown, the rest of legs brown, abdomen yellowish brown. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

FEMALE: unknown.

Figures

Figure 42. Urupelma megantonianum sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0510523) from Peru, Cusco, Echarate, 410 m a.s.l. A. Carapace,dorsal view. B. Sternum, labium, maxillae and coxae, ventral view.C. Labium and left maxilla, ventral view. D. Ocular tubercle, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 mm. Photo by R. Kaderka.

Figure 43. Urupelma megantonianum sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0510523) from Peru, Cusco, Echarate,410 m a.s.l. A. Left palpal tibia, retrolateral view. B. Left tibia I, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm. Photo by R. Kaderka.

Figure 44. Urupelma megantonianum sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0510523) from Peru, Cusco, Echarate, 410 m a.s.l., morphology of right palpal bulb. A. Prolateral view. B. Retrolateral view. Scale bar = 1 mm. Photo by R. Kaderka.

Figure 76. Distribution map of Urupelma gen. n. from Peru. Prepared by M. Hüsser.

Figure 79. Urticating setae types found in single species of Urupelma gen. n. A–C. Urupelma megantonianum sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0510523). D. Urupelma ashaninka sp. n., female paratype (MUSM-ENT 0511139).E–F. Urupelma ashaninka sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0511139). G. Urupelma atarraz sp. n., male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0508428). H. Urupelma awanqay sp. n., female paratype (MUSM-ENT 0511169). Prepared by R. Kaderka.