Kukulcania bajacali, Magalhaes & Ramírez, 2019

Magalhaes, Ivan L. F. & Ramírez, Martín J., 2019, The Crevice Weaver Spider Genus Kukulcania (Araneae: Filistatidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 426, pp. 1-153 : 141-146

Kukulcania bajacali , sp. nov.

Figures 4B , 9G , 27H , 28H , 29H , 86–89

TYPE MATERIAL: HOLOTYPE: MEXICO. Baja California Sur: Sierra de la Laguna, Los Naranjos, under rocks [N23.56667°, W110°, 600m], A. Cota, 30.ix.1988, 1♀ (CAECIB 336). PARATYPES: Baja California: Cabo Pulmo, Cerro Cuevoso [N23.43636°, W109.42963°], I. La Rivers, 26. iii.1947, 1♀ (UCB); San José del Cabo [N23.06366°, W109.70244°], Eisen and Vaslet, 6♀ 3 imm. (MCZ 145412); N. Banks, 1896, 1♀ (MCZ 145411). Baja California Sur: no further data, V. Roth, 5–8.ii.1966, 2♀ several imm. (AMNH); 12 miles NE Cabo San Lucas, in a palm oasis [N22.98916°, W109.75131°], 7.ii.1966, 2♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); 44 km W La Paz, at 0.2 km S km 44 on Highway 1 [N24.08966°, W110.69957°],

D. Weissman, R. Love, V. Lee and C. Mullinex, 31.xii.1978, 1♀ (CAS 9060634); 8 miles SE La Paz [N24.06244°, W110.18285°, 305m], E.L. Sleeper and F.J. Moore, 13.x.1968, 1♀ (CAS 9060627); Cabo San Lucas [N22.89053°, W109.91674°], T. Craig, 5.iii.1928, 1♀ (CAS 9060631); Comitán [N24.13151°, W110.42446°], M. Jiménez, 30.ix.1986, 1♀ (AMNH); El Cien, 1♀ (CAS 9060645), 1♀ (CAS 9060648); La Paz [N24.14264°, W110.31275°], V. Roth, 1–3.ii.1965, 2♂ 3♀ 2 imm. (AMNH), with egg sac, 1♂ 1♀ (AMNH IFM-1622), missing spermathecae, 2♂ 1♀ (AMNH); ii.1965, 2♂ 5♀ 1 imm. (AMNH); S of El Cayuco “Fish Camp” (N24.57787°, W111.67742°), R. Mercurio and M. Nashiguchi, 24.v.2004, 1♀ (AMNH IFM-0053); Sierra de la Laguna, Agua de La Palma, low woodland, hand collecting [N23.56667°, W110°, 150m], A. Cota, 11.xii.1986, 1♀ (CAECIB 342); Sierra de las Cacachilas, near Rancho Al Chivato [N24.10449°, W110.12541°, 487m], M.L. Jiménez and J. Maya, 5.xi.2013, 1♀ (CAECIB IFM-1540).

ETYMOLOGY: The name has been taken from the first syllables of the name of the region where it occurs, the Baja California peninsula. To be treated as a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble K. geophila and K. tractans in having a simple bulb with an S-shaped embolus and inconspicuous keel. They can be distinguished by the shorter bulb, the lack of strong setae on the prolateral face of the bulb and the very conspicuous membranous area in the dorsum of the bulb (fig. 87). They can be further distinguished from all other Kukulcania by the unique texture of the bulb, resembling the cells of a beehive (fig. 27H), although this is very difficult to observe under light microscopy. Females are similar to K. geophila and K. benita in lacking sclerotized bars and having at the apex of the spermatheca a small, semicircular glandular portion beside the membranous portion. They can be distinguished from K. geophila by the shorter and stubbier (i.e., not finger-shaped) membranous portion of the spermathecae, and from K. benita by the longer membranous base of the spermathecae (fig. 89) and by the darker coloration (fig. 88).

DESCRIPTION: Male paratype from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico (AMNH IFM-1622). Coloration yellowish cream. Carapace stippled with dark brown. Abdomen dorsum grayish cream, with brown cardiac area. Sternum oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Total length 6.68. Carapace length 2.94, width 2.47, clypeus length 0.31. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.128; PME 0.195; ALE 0.254; PLE 0.234; AME–AME 0.09; PME–PME 0.224. Sternum length 1.45, width 1.42. Palp: femur length 4.36, height 0.34; tibia length 3.89, height 0.41. Leg I: femur (fe) 6.36; patella (pa) 1.36; tibia (ti) 6.33; metatarsus (mt) 6.54; tarsus (ta) 3.06. II: fe 4.94; pa 1.13; ti 4.5; mt 5.22; ta 2.22. III: fe 4.32; pa 1; ti 3.8; mt 4.99; ta 2.36. IV: fe 6; pa 1.32; ti 5.72; mt 7.1; ta 3.6. Abdomen: length 4.04, width 2.01. Palp macrosetae long, in several rows along femur ventral and dorsal faces. Leg macrosetae: fe I 2d, 10p, 20v, 3r; ti I 2p, 8v; mt I 1p, 15v, 1r; ta I 6v; fe II 7d, 4p, 14v; ti II 2p, 6v; mt II 3p, 10v, 2r; ta II 6v; fe III 6d, 12v, 1r; ti III 1d, 2p, 4v, 2r; mt III 3p, 9v, 4r; ta III 12v; fe IV 10d, 10v; ti IV 5v, 2r; mt IV 1p, 12v, 2r; ta IV 11v. Palp: cymbium about as long as bulb, with thick setae in the retrolateral face; bulb short, suboval; sperm duct with three tightly packed coils; embolus S-shaped, gently curved retrolaterally. State of the specimen: good, both palps dissected, right palp mounted for SEM, both legs IV disarticulated from tibia.

Female paratype from Sierra de La Laguna, Baja California Sur, Mexico (CARCIB 0342). Coloration brown. Carapace stippled on median area and lateral borders with dark brown. Sternum and first femora and tibiae hirsute, with short setae. Legs brown, with light brown longitudinal stripes on coxae, femora, and tibiae. Abdomen dorsum violaceous brown, with brown setae. Anterior margin of the carapace unmodified. Sternum oval, with two pairs of sigillae. Total length 12.17. Carapace length 4.94, width 4.11, clypeus length 0.564. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.209; PME 0.244; ALE 0.34; PLE 0.294; AME–AME 0.077; PME–PME 0.301. Sternum length 2.19, width 2.3. Palp: femur length 2.58, height 0.98; tibia length 1.59, height 0.91. Leg I: femur (fe) 5.81; patella (pa) 1.95; tibia (ti) 5.51; metatarsus (mt) 4.71; tarsus (ta) 2.39. II: fe 4.47; pa 1.76; ti 3.56; mt 3.5; ta 1.87. III: fe 3.65; pa 1.57; ti 2.73; mt 3.02; ta 1.48. IV: fe 4.99; pa 1.61; ti 4.23; mt 4.01; ta 1.93. Abdomen: length 7.31, width 4.9. Palp macrosetae on ventral surface of tibia and tarsus. Leg macrosetae present on ventral surfaces of tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi; femora with 2–4 dorsal macrosetae. Calamistrum with three rows with 9–11 setae each. Interpulmonary fold large, rounded, covering the spermathecae dorsally. Sclerotized lateral bars absent; membranous portion of the spermathecae apex digitiform, short; glandular portion oval, positioned laterally to membranous portion. State of the specimen: good, genitalia dissected, left leg I missing from tibia, abdomen lost most of the posterior setae.

INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION: Males (N = 2): total length 4.3–6.68 (5.49), carapace length 2.07–2.94 (2.51), femur I length 5.48–6.36 (5.92), femur/carapace ratio 2.16–2.65 (2.41). Females (N = 5): total length 10.88–16.58 (12.55), carapace length 3.49–6.02 (4.87), femur I length 4.11–6.87 (5.65), tibia I length 3.64–5.92 (5.01), femur/carapace ratio 1.12–1.21 (1.17). The shape of the spermathecae is variable, especially in the size of the glandular portion and the shape of the membranous base (fig. 89).

NATURAL HISTORY: Labels indicate specimens have been collected under rocks, under litter in sand dunes, in a palm oasis, and in low woodlands. A female has been collected in a house.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico, in Baja California Sur, with a few records in adjacent areas of southern Baja California (fig. 4B).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: MEXICO. Baja California Sur: 1.5 mile NE Punta Palmilla [N23.01058°, W109.71676°], S.C. Williams et al., 16.vii.1968, 1♀ (AMNH); 24 miles N Miraflores [N23.69759°, W109.74241°], V. Roth, 10.ii.1966, 1♀ (CAS 9060683); 25 km E Cabo San Lucas [N23.01487°, W109.72488°], C.E. Griswold and L.S. Vincent, 16. xii.1977, 1♀ (UCB); 5 miles W Mission San Luis Gonzaga [N24.90802°, W111.29087°], V. Roth, 14.ii.1966, 2♀ (CAS 9060676); 6 miles E Cabo San Lucas, night collecting [N22.89053°, W109.91674°, 107m], J.V. Olmstead, 14.i.1974, collected from burrow with young, 1♀ 2 imm. (AMNH); 8 km S Miraflores, road to Las Casitas [N23.30636°, W109.76754°], C.E. Griswold and L.S, Vincent, 15.xii.1977, 2♀ (UCB); 8 miles S El Crucero [N25.03953°, W111.65788°], V. Roth, 12.ii.1966, 1♀ (AMNH); 8 miles SE La Paz [N24.06244°, W110.18285°, 305m], E.L. Sleeper and F.J. Moore, 13.x.1968, 1♀ (CAS 9060677); Bahía de La Paz, Isla Gaviota [N24.14264°, W110.31275°], B. Osorio y Tafall, 17.v.1944, 1♀ (AMNH); Boca de la Sierra [N23.38607°, W109.81647°], HWC, 12.viii.1964, 1♀ (CAS 9057581); Cabo San Lucas, under litter on sand dunes [N22.89053°, W109.91674°], P. Rude, 31. xii.1978, 2♀ (UCB); Comitán [N24.13151°, W110.42446°], M. Jiménez, 2.x.1986, 1♂ (AMNH); La Paz [N24.14264°, W110.31275°, 50m], E.L. Sleeper and F.J. Moore, 12.x.1968, 1♀ (AMNH); [N24.14264°, W110.31275°], V. Roth, 2–3.ii.1966, 1♀ (AMNH); La Ribera (N23.3°, W109.3°), 10.ii.1966, 1♀ (AMNH); Rancho Centenario, W of La Paz on road to Los Aripes [N24.14264°, W110.31275°], P.R. Craig and D.L. Craig, 10.ix.1963, 1♀ (CAS 9057634); Santiago, in house, H.W. Campbell, 15–18.viii.1964, 1♀ (CAS 9057585); west side of Santiago [N23.48194°, W109.71833°], 14.viii.1964, caught in the middle of an imaginal molt, 3♀ (CAS 9057600). NO DATA. Marx Collection, label reads: “Arizona, Williams. Marx collection, careful of loc. data” –specimen certainly mislabeled, 1♀ (USNM).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of A, Kukulcania tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) and K . santosi. (white dots represent literature records from Brescovit and Santos, 2013), B, K . benita, sp. nov., K . brignolii (Alayón, 1981), comb. nov., K . cochimi, sp. nov., K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), K . gertschi, sp. nov., and K . tequila, and C, K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), K . bajacali, sp. nov., K . chingona, sp. nov., and K . mexicana, sp. nov.

FIGURE 9. Kukulcania spp., female spermathecae, ventral. A. K. tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (AMNH IFM-1508). B. K. tequila, paratype (AMNH IFM-1513). C. K. chingona, holotype (CAS 9057614). D. K. geophila wawona (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942), holotype (AMNH IFM-1225). E. K. geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935), paratype (AMNH IFM-1536). F. K. benita, paratype (USNM IFM-1277). G. K. bajacali, holotype (CAECIB 0336). Abbreviations: GPS, glandular portion of spermathecae apex; MPS, membranous portion of spermathecae apex. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 27. Kukulcania spp., male left bulbs except where noted, prolateral view. A. K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1392). B. K . utahana (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1395). C. K . hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942) (AMNH IFM-1394). D. K . santosi, (AMNH IFM-1404), right palp, mirrored, arrow to spatulate setae. E. K . tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (AMNH IFM-1408). F. K . tequila, paratype (AMNH IFM-1549), right palp, mirrored. G. K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (CAS 9057643). H. K . bajacali (AMNH IFM-1622), right palp, mirrored. Inset showing texture of the tegulum. Abbreviation: EK, embolus keel.

FIGURE 28. Kukulcania spp., male left bulbs except where noted, dorsal view. A. K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1392). B. K . utahana (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1395). C. K . hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942) (AMNH IFM-1394). D. K . santosi (AMNH IFM-1404), right palp, mirrored. Inset showing embolus. E. K . tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (AMNH IFM-1408). Bulb rotated in relation to cymbium. F. K . tequila, paratype (AMNH IFM-1549), right palp, mirrored. G. K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (CAS 9057643). Bulb rotated in relation to cymbium. Inset showing embolus opening in apical view. H. K . bajacali (AMNH IFM-1622), right palp, mirrored. Inset showing embolus slit. Abbreviation: EK, embolus keel.

FIGURE 29. Kukulcania spp., male left bulbs except where noted, retrolateral view. A. K . arizonica (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1392). B. K . utahana (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (AMNH IFM-1395). C. K . hurca (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942) (AMNH IFM-1394). D. K . santosi (AMNH IFM-1404), right palp, mirrored. E. K . tractans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (AMNH IFM-1408). Inset showing embolus opening in apical view F. K . tequila, paratype (AMNH IFM-1549), right palp, mirrored. G. K . geophila (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) (CAS 9057643). Inset showing texture of the tegulum. H. K . bajacali. (AMNH IFM-1622), right palp, mirrored. Abbreviation: EK, embolus keel.

FIGURE 86. Kukulcania bajacali, male paratype from Mexico, Baja California Sur, La Paz (AMNH IFM-1622), habitus. A. Lateral. B–C. Dorsal. D. Ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 87. Kukulcania bajacali, male paratype from Mexico, Baja California Sur, La Paz (AMNH IFM-1622), left palp. A–B. Prolateral. C. Dorsal. D. Retrolateral. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 88. Kukulcania bajacali, females, habitus. A–D. Female paratype from Mexico, Baja California Sur, Sierra de la Laguna (CAECIB‰342). A. Dorsal. B. Subanterior. C. Ventral. D. Lateral. E. Female holotype from Baja California Sur, Sierra de la Laguna (CAECIB 0336), lateral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 89. Kukulcania bajacali, female spermathecae, ventral. A–B. Holotype from Mexico, Baja California Sur, Sierra de la Laguna (CAECIB 0336). C. Paratype from Baja California Sur, Sierra de la Laguna (CAECIB 0342). D. Baja California Sur, Sierra de las Cacachillas (CAECIB). E. Baja California Sur, Boca de la Sierra (CAS 9057581). Abbreviation: IF, interpulmonary fold.