Ctenus satanas Strand, 1909

Dupérré, Nadine, 2014, Demystifying three species of Ctenidae (Arachnida: Araneae) described by Embrik Strand. Part I, Ecuador, Zootaxa 3784 (1), pp. 67-73 : 71-72

Ctenus satanas Strand, 1909

Figs 9–10 .

Ctenus satanas Strand, 1909: 320 .

Type material. Label 1: Species: Ctenus satanas Strand. Fundort : 1♀ Holotypus, Ecuador, Santa Inaz. Leg. R. Haensch, Marz 1899. Det. Strand 1909. Zool. Mus. Berlin: Kat Nr. 30654. Label 2: Santa Inaz. Ecuador, Marz 1899. M.71, R. Haensch. Label 3: Ctenus satanas Strand [Type!]. (Deposited ZMB) EXAMINED.

Diagnosis. Females can be diagnosed from all Ctenidae by the short and squared median lobe of the epigynum ( Fig. 9 ).

Description. Female: Total length: 17; carapace length: 8; carapace width: 7. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace orange-brown suffused with gray along radiating lines and on pars cephalica; fovea long. Clypeus low (1 x AME). Sternum light brown, as long as wide. Endites longer than wide; labium not notch. Chelicerae dark reddish-brown, geniculate; promargin and retromargin with four teeth. EYES: Eight in three rows; AME rounded, separated by half their width; PME rounded, separated by half their width; AME-PME separated by half the width of AME; ALE oval, small close to PLE; PLE rounded. ABDOMEN: Light brown, elongated oval; with white median stripe. LEGS: Orange-brown with stripes of dark gray; legs spination damaged, not examined (see Strand 1909: 320); metatarsus IV unmodified; tarsal claw with three teeth; claw tufts presents. GENITALIA: Epigynum with median sector excavated, with squared median lobe; lateral spurs positioned medially; large, basal lateral lobes ( Fig. 9 ). Internal genitalia: copulatory ducts long; head of spermathecae oval; base of spermathecae c-shaped; fertilization ducts short and wide, situated at end of the c-shaped spermathecae base ( Fig. 10 ).

Male. Unknown.

Notes. This species does not belong in Ctenus , but I am unable to place it with certainty in any other genus. I feel it is better to leave it in Ctenus for now. The morphological cladistic analysis of Polotow and Brescovit 2014 (figs 1, 3) also confirmed that C. satanas does not belong in the genus Ctenus . Furthermore, it probably needs to be placed in a new genus along with a new species from Brazil (D. Polotow pers. comm).

Other material examined. None.

Distribution. Ecuador, Tungurahua province.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 10. Ctenus satanas Strand, 1909. Female 9 – 10. 9. Holotype, epigynum ventral view. 10. Holotype, internal genitalia dorsal view. Abbreviations: bs, base of spermathecae; cd, copulatory ducts; fd, fertilization ducts; hs, head of spermathecae; ls, lateral spurs; ll, lateral lobes; ml, median lobe; ms, median sector. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.