Chococtenus suffuscus, Dupérré, Nadine, 2015

Dupérré, Nadine, 2015, Description of a new genus and thirteen new species of Ctenidae (Araneae, Ctenidae) from the Chocó region of Ecuador, Zootaxa 4028 (4), pp. 451-484 : 466-468

Chococtenus suffuscus new species

Figs 29–32 , 57 .

Type material. Male holotype from Ecuador, Pichincha Province, La Unión del Toachi, Centro de Educación Ambiental Otongachi , 03.iv.2015, night collecting, E. Tapia ( QCAZ). Two female paratypes, same data ( QCAZ).

Additional material examined. Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province: San Francisco de Las Pampas (- 00º25’16’’S - 78º57’04’’W), 27. iii.1997, 1 ♂, 1500m, I. Tapia, P. Ponce ( QCAZ); San Francisco de las Pampas, Casa César Tapia (- 00.42413°S - 78.95719°W), vi–viii.2013, 3 ♂2♀, 1426m, C. Tapia, C. Tapia ( QCAZ); 10. v.2003, 2 ♂, malaise trap, Toronche ( QCAZ); 01. xii.1995, 1 ♀, 1500m, M. Carrera ( QCAZ). Pichincha Province: La Unión del Toachi, Centro de Educación Ambiental Otongachi , vii.2014, 3 ♀, hand collecting, N. Dupérré (DTC): 25. ii.2015, 2 ♀, night collecting, E. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); Maquipucuna (0º2’30.5’’N 78º39’53.2’’W), 03.xi. 2013, 1487m, L. Jaramillo ( QCAZ). Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province: Otonga Biological Station, Las Damas (- 00.39506°S 78.98100°W), 28.vi.–12. vii.2014, 3 ♀, pitfall, 1209m, E. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 28.vi.–12. vii.2014, 4 ♂ (DTC); 28.vi.–12. vii.2014, 4 ♂ (DTC); 12–23. vii.2014, 3 ♂2♀ (DTC); 23.vii.–05. viii.2014, 3 ♀ (DTC); 23.vii.– 05. viii.2014, 8 ♂ (DTC); 23.vii.–05. viii.2014, 3 ♀ (DTC); 05–16. viii. 2014, 3 ♂ (DTC); 05–16. viii. 2014, 2 ♀ (DTC);16.viii.–08. ix.2014, 8 ♂3♀ ( AMNH).

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective in apposition, meaning brown.

Diagnosis. Males are distinguished by their straight, spatula-like median apophysis ( Fig. 29 ), from C. fantasma by the embolus originating medially and from C. otongachi by presence of a retrolateral tegular swelling ( Fig. 29 ). Females are diagnosed by the narrow apex of the median sector of the epigynum and small, inconspicuous lateral processes ( Fig. 31 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 8.9; carapace length: 4.6; carapace width: 3.9; abdomen length: 4.3. COLORATION: As in C. otonga . LEGS: Total length: I: 26.0; II: 25.1; III: 20.1; IV: 26.4. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia I p1-1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1; metatarsus I p1-1-1, r1-1-1. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia II p1-1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1; metatarsus II p1-1-1, r1-1-1. Femur III pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia III p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia IV p1-1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1, r1-1-1-1, v1-1 -1-1. GENITALIA: Palpal cymbial keel strong ( Fig. 29 ). Ventral tibial apophysis rectangular, apically transparent, retrolateral tibial apophysis short, spine-like ( Figs 29, 30 ). Tegulum with large retrolateral swelling; median apophysis elongated, spatula-like; conductor lamelliform, hyaline, folded apically; membranous tegular process hyaline, elongated, wide, with apical dark spot; embolus base not twisted; embolus thin, originating medially, tip straight ( Fig. 29 ).

Female (paratype). Total length: 11.0; carapace length: 6.0; carapace width: 3.9; abdomen lenght: 5.0. COLORATION: As in male, slightly darker. LEGS: Total length: I: 18.9; II: 18.1; III: 16.3; IV: 19.7. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia I p0, r1, d0; metatarsus I p0, r0. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia II p0, r1, d0; metatarsus II p0, r0. Femur III pl-1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia III p1-1-1, r1-1, d1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1, r1-1; tibia IV p1-1, r1-1, d1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1-1, r1-1- 1-1, v1-1 -1-1. GENITALIA: Epigynum with elliptical median sector, apically with narrow unsclerotized sector, flat; lateral processes small, positioned medially ( Fig. 31 ). Internal genitalia with elongated and curved copulatory ducts; spermathecae oval; fertilization ducts short ( Fig. 32 ).

Natural history. Specimens were hand collected at three different localities, in the premontane evergreen forest and in the low evergreen montane forest, between 800–1500 m.

Distribution. Ecuador: Cotopaxi, Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Provinces ( Fig. 57 ).

Figures

FIGURE 57. Map of Ecuador showing distribution records of the thirteen new species of the genus Chococtenus. The main collecting site, Otonga Biological Reserve (white box with x inside), holds 10 species (not found: C. suffuscus, C. otongachi and C. piemontana). Other known localities for: C. otonga (white lozenge), C. cappuccino (white x), C. lasdamas (white circle), C. suffuscus (white plus sign), C. otongachi (white rectangle) and C. piemontana (upside down white triangle).

FIGURES 29 – 32. Chococtenus suffuscus new species. Male. 29, 30. Female. 31, 32. 29. Palp, ventral view. 30. Palp, retrolateral view. 31. Epigynum, ventral view. 32. Internal genitalia, dorsal view.