Hemirrhagus valdezi, Mendoza Marroquín, 2014

Mendoza Marroquín, Jorge I., 2014, Taxonomic revision of Hemirrhagus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with description of five new species from Mexico, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 170 (4), pp. 634-689 : 681-685

HEMIRRHAGUS VALDEZI SP. NOV.

( FIGS 2C , 45A–J , 46A–D , 47A–G , 49 )

Type material: Holotype ♂ CNAN-T0779 , 1 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0780 , 5 paratype ♂ CNAN-T0781 , 3 paratype ♀ CNAN-T0782 and 1 paratype ♂ AMNH, MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 22.x.2010, col. A. Valdez, J. Cruz, G. Contreras and D. Barrales.

Additional material examined: 1 ♀ CNAN 3468 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 9.xi.2004, col. A. Valdez and H. Montaño ; 1 ♀ and 2 immatures CNAN 3483 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 30.vii.2009, col. O. Francke, C. Quijano, A. Valdez, C. Santibañez and T. Palafox ; 1 ♂ and 1 immature CNAN 3482 , MEXICO: Guerrero, Mpio. Teloloapan, La Yerbabuena, Cueva Redonda , 22.x.2010, col. A. Valdez, J. Cruz, G. Contreras and D. Barrales.

Diagnosis: The following character combination is diagnostic for H. valdezi sp. nov. Male palpal bulb with slender embolus, similar in length to tegulum, SA retrolaterally extended, ends at embolus retrolateral face; the posterior curvature of SA occurs at the base of the embolus and forms an angle of 90° ( Fig. 46A ), VG deep ( Fig. 46B ); embolus curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 46C, D ). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 45H ). Ocular tubercle and eyes normally developed, periocular pigmentation complete ( Figs 45C , 47D ). Urticating setae arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour; with poorly defined margins ( Figs 45E, I , 47C ). Spermathecae paired, slightly fused at the base; receptacles curved outwards from the middle, without a clearly defined neck by either exterior or interior margins ( Fig. 47F ). Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov. differs from most Hemirrhagus species by the urticating setae being arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour. It differs from H. chilango by metatarsus I being curved and urticating setae patches having poorly defined margins.

Etymology: The specific name is a patronym in honour of Alejandro Valdez Mondragon for his contribution to the knowledge of Mexican arachnology. He also collected the first specimen of the species.

Description: Holotype male CNAN-T0779 ( Figs 45A–J , 46A–D ): body length (not including chelicerae and spinnerets) 23.37, chelicera length 3.69; carapace: 9.40 long, 8.94 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 1.55 wide ( Fig. 45A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation complete, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.30; ALE 0.35; PME 0.275; PLE 0.35; AME–AME 0.225; AME–ALE 0.075; PME–PME 0.625; PME–PLE 0.05; ALE–PLE 0.15. Ocular tubercle normally developed, width 1.5, length 1.125; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 45C ). Labium length 0.95, width 1.50; with 21 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 68 cuspules ( Fig. 45D ). Cheliceral promargin with ten teeth (proximal to distal: firstsecond small, third large, fourth-sixth medium, seventh-tenth large). Sternum length 4.5. Sigillae oval, third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair twice its length from the margin ( Fig. 45B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 9.47, 5.05, 7.44, 7.68, 6.21, 35.85. II: 9.02, 4.85, 6.97, 7.71, 5.79, 34.34. III: 8.64, 4.43, 6.91, 8.60, 5.73, 34.31. IV: 11.06, 4.90, 9.30, 13.66, 7.14, 46.06. Palp: 6.83, 4.23, 5.89, -, 2.90, 19.85. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.8 long, 0.3 apart; PLS, 1.9 basal, 1.2 middle, 2.0 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I–IV densely scopulate, III and IV divided by strong band of setae. Metatarsi I and II densely scopulate; III scopulate on distal half, divided by narrow band of setae; IV scopulate on distal third, divided by strong band of setae.

Tibia I with two apophyses, which do not originate from a common base, Pap normally developed, with one large spinose seta on ventral face, spinose seta bent in the middle and exceeds the apex of Pap; Rap normally developed, broad at its base with one short and wide spinose seta on dorsal face, spinose seta exceeds the apex of Rap ( Fig. 45F, G ). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 45H ).

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face ( Fig. 45J ), femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa prolateral and retrolateral faces, trochanter prolateral face ( Fig. 45J ), femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 3p; II 3p; III 3p, 6r; IV 2p, 4r; palp 2p; patellae III 1r; tibiae I 3p, 6v, 1r; II 4p, 7v, 3r; III 4p, 17v, 10r; IV 7p, 29v, 16r; palp 2p, 10v; metatarsi I 1v; II 1p, 8v; III 6p, 11v, 4r; IV 8p, 20v, 13r.

Palp: embolus slender, similar in length to tegulum, SA retrolaterally extended, ends at embolus retrolateral face, VG deep. Embolus curved retrolaterally on distal half ( Fig. 46A–D ).

Urticating setae: type VI arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour, with poorly defined margins ( Fig. 45E, I ).

Colour pattern: in life carapace dark brown; ventrally coxae, labium, maxillae, and sternum brown; abdomen dorsally shiny brown, ventrally brown. Legs and palps: femur dark brown, patella, tibia, and metatarsus with brown.

Paratype female CNAN-T0780 ( Figs 2C , 47A–G ): body length 26.39 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 9.21 long, 8.24 wide. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea procurved, 4.53 wide ( Fig. 47A ).

Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Periocular pigmentation complete, all eyes normally developed. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.73; ALE 1.30; PME 0.60; PLE1.20; AME–AME 0.53; AME–ALE 0.20; PME–PME1.53; PME–PLE 0.13; ALE–PLP 0.23. Eye tubercle normally developed, width 4.33, length 2.73; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 47D ). Labium length 2.6, width 3.86; with 24 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 100 cuspules ( Fig. 47E ). Cheliceral promargin with ten teeth (proximal to distal: first-fourth large, fifth-sixth medium, seventh-tenth large). Sternum length 4.35. Sigillae oval, third and fourth pairs hardly visible; fourth pair one and a half its length from the margin ( Fig. 47B ).

Leg formula: IV, I, III, II. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 8.61, 4.85, 6.88, 6.32, 5.18, 31.84. II: 7.72, 4.90, 6.01, 5.27, 5.08, 28.98. III: 7.43, 4.38, 6.09, 6.75, 5.08, 29.73. IV: 9.70, 4.53, 8.29, 10.86, 6.22, 39.60. Palp: 6.03, 3.98, 4.79, -, 4.58, 19.38. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.8 long, 0.4 apart; PLS, 2.0 basal, 1.3 middle, 1.9 distal.

Scopulae: tarsi I–IV densely scopulate, III and IV divided by strong setae. Metatarsi I and II densely scopulate; III scopulate on distal half and IV scopulate on distal third, divided by strong band of setae.

Stridulatory setae: lacking.

Legs and palpi LSC in: palp trochanter retrolateral face ( Fig. 47G ), femur prolateral and retrolateral faces; leg I coxa retrolateral face, trochanter prolateral face ( Fig. 47G ), femur prolateral face; leg II coxa prolateral face, trochanter prolateral face, femur prolateral face.

Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1d; II 2d; III 4d; IV 4d; palp 2d; patellae III 1v; tibiae I 2p, 4v; II 2p, 4v; III 3p, 12v, 6r; IV 6d, 4p, 17v, 5r; palp 1p, 12v; metatarsi I 3v; II 1p, 4v; III 2d, 4p, 12v, 4r; IV 6d, 5p, 13v, 5r.

Genitalia: spermathecae paired, slightly fused at their base, curved outwards from the middle, without a clearly defined neck by either exterior or interior margins ( Fig. 47F ).

Urticating setae: type VI arranged in two lateral patches, black in colour, with poorly defined margins ( Fig. 47C ).

Colour pattern: in life carapace dark brown; ventral coxae, labium, maxillae, and sternum brown; abdomen dorsally shiny brown, ventrally brown. Legs and palps: femur dark brown, patella, tibia, and metatarsus brown ( Fig. 2C ).

Distribution and natural history: Known only from Cueva Redonda in Guerrero, Mexico ( Fig. 49 ). This is a troglophile species that does not live deep into the cave system (less than 50 m from the entrance); specimens were collected on walls.

Note: On 9 November 2010 a couple of H. valdezi sp. nov. were placed together and they mated. Towards the beginning of spring (18 March 2011), the female laid a fixed hammock egg-sac between two rocks placed perpendicularly in the terrarium. The female kept her palpi and legs in contact with the egg-sac. Spiderlings emerged 31 days following oviposition (17 April 2011). The count was 40 spiderlings of less than 1 cm of leg-span, light brown in colour.

Figures

Figure 2. A–C, Hemirrhagus spp. habitus; D–K, habitat. A, B, Hemirrhagus embolulatus sp. nov., A, holotype male CNAN-T0774, in life, B, paratype female CNAN-T0775, in life; C, Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., paratype female CNAN-T0780, in life; D, Cueva de la Peña Blanca entrance, type locality of Hemirrhagus ocellatus; E, 4 km west of Puerto de la Soledad, pine forest, type locality of Hemirrhagus franckei sp. nov.; F, Bosque del ajusco, pine forest, locality of Hemirrhagus chilango; G, Valle de los fantasmas, oak forest on the road to Cueva de la Laguna, type locality of Hemirrhagus elliotti; H, Cueva de los Potrerillos entrance, type locality of Hemirrhagus stygius; I, Paradero Puerta del Sol, pine forest, locality of Hemirrhagus benzaa sp. nov.; J, Omiltemi, tropical forest-pine forest ecotone, type locality of H. embolulatus sp. nov.; K, El punto, type locality of Hemirrhagus eros. Photos: A: M. Gamache; B, E, I, K: E. Goyer; C: L. Vazquez; D, F, J: J. Mendoza; G, H: J. Cruz.

Figure 45. Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., male holotype CNAN-T0779. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma, ventral view showing the retrolateral projection of the coxa (RP) on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). C, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. D, labial and maxillary cuspules. E, opisthosoma, dorsal view. F, tibial apophyses, prolateral view. G, tibial apophyses, ventral view. H, metatarsus I, prolateral view. I, opisthosoma, lateral view. J, palp trochanter and trochanter I lateral scopular setae (LSC), ventral view. Scale bars = 4 mm (B, E, I), 2 mm (A, H, J), 1 mm (C, D, F, G).

Figure 46. Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., male holotype CNAN-T0779, left palpal bulb: A, retrolateral view. B, prolateral view. C, dorsal view. D, ventral view. Abbreviations: SA, subapical keel; VG, ventral groove. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 47. Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., female paratype CNAN-T0780. A, carapace, dorsal view. B, prosoma ventral view showing the retrolateral projection of the coxa (RP) on coxae of all legs (arrows show this feature only on coxa of third and fourth legs). C, opisthosoma, dorsal view. D, ocular tubercle, dorsal view. E, labial and maxillary cuspules. F, spermathecae, ventral view. G, palp trochanter and trochanter I lateral scopular setae (LSC), ventral view. Scale bars = 4 mm (C), 2 mm (A, B), 1 mm (D, E, G), 0.5 mm (F).

Figure 49. Known distribution of Hemirrhagus mitchelli (Gertsch, 1982), Hemirrhagus puebla (Gertsch, 1982), Hemirrhagus ocellatus Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, Hemirrhagus gertschi Pérez-Miles & Locht, 2003, Hemirrhagus valdezi sp. nov., Hemirrhagus pernix (Ausserer, 1875), Hemirrhagus franckei sp. nov., Hemirrhagus reddelli (Gertsch, 1973), Hemirrhagus benzaa sp. nov., and Hemirrhagus guichi sp. nov.