Titanattus cretatus Chickering 1946

Bedoya-Roqueme, Edwin & Lopez-Villada, Samia, 2020, Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Department of Córdoba in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, Peckhamia 224 (1), pp. 1-23 : 5-6

3. Titanattus cretatus Chickering 1946 ; Figures 8-11

Titanattus cretatus Chickering 1946 .

Material examined. 2♀ [ Figures 8-11 ], Colombia, Córdoba, San Antero: Caño Mocho [N9.4107°, W75.7920], [2m] 23 Aug 2018, mangrove forest, Rhizophora mangle L . tree, shaking foliage, E . BedoyaRoqueme coll . ( LEUC; OARA –167). Type material deposited in the MCZ not examined .

Diagnosis. According to Chickering (1946) Titanattus cretatus can be easily distinguished from other species by the vertical, parallel chelicerae without special features, the moderately robust, evenly curved fang, the distinctive fang-groove with four promarginal with teeth fairly well spaced, occupying the greater part of the margin, and with four retromarginal teeth so closely crowded that their bases appear to be joined (see Chickering 1946, fig. 338). Posterior margin with a distinct lip but no definite notch. Two large loops are apparent on either side of the epigynal plate ( Figures 10-11 ).

Comparative description of specimens. Prosoma is wide just behind PLE which project slightly beyond the dorsal margin of the carapace which is as tall as wide. The ascent from AME to the PLE is quite steep. A steep posterior declivity descends almost immediately behind the PLE to the posterior margin ( Figure 8 ). The carapace is considerably depressed between the PLE which stand on low tubercles, bearing considerable hair and numerous bristles. The carapace is long and slender in the ocular region, with the ventral margin considerably wider than the dorsal margin, widest a short distance behind the PLE ( Figure 8 ), with much sub-chitinous guanin, especially in the interocular area, and with a short median longitudinal thoracic groove a short distance behind the PLE ( Figure 8 ). The chelicerae are vertical, parallel, without special features, the fang moderately robust, evenly curved, the fang-groove distinct with four promarginal teeth fairly well spaced and occupying the greater part of the margin, and four retromarginal teeth so closely crowded that their bases appear to be joined (see Chickering 1946; fig 338). Posterior margin of the epigyne with a distinct lip but no definite notch, two J-shaped loops show clearly near the middle at sides of the plate ( Figures 10-11 ).

Measurements (mm; specimens from Colombia). Two females: TL= 3.78-3.83; CL= 1.65-1.67; CW= 1.22- 1.25; AL= 1.75-179; AERW = 1.16-18; PERW = 1.03-1.1; LOQ= 1.03-1.05; PMEP =0.35-0.37; eyes of the second row separated from the ALE by 0.17-0.19 mm and from the PLE by 0.26-0.28 mm.

Distribution. Titanattus cretatus is known from Colombia (Department of Córdoba), Panama (female holotype from Canal Zone Biological Area).

Figures

Figures 8-11. Female Titanattus cretatus. 8, Habitus, dorsal view. 9, Habitus, ventral view. 10, Epigyne, ventral view. 11, Epigyne, dorsal view.