Alpaida octolobata Levi, 1988

Rodrigues, Everton Nei Lopes & Mendonça, Milton De S., 2011, Araneid orb-weavers (Araneae, Araneidae) associated with riparian forests in southern Brazil: a new species, complementary descriptions and new records, Zootaxa 2759, pp. 60-68 : 61-64

Alpaida octolobata Levi, 1988

( Figs. 5–8 )

Alpaida octolobata Levi, 1988: 460 , figs. 483–485 (Holotype female from Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 15. Dec. 1977, A. A. Lise col., deposited at MCN, examined); Platnick, 2010.

Diagnosis. The male palp of Alpaida octolobata Levi, 1988 resembles that of A. tabula ( Simon, 1895) (see Levi 1988: fig. 115) by having a terminal apophysis with a distally rounded projection differing from the other species of the genus. Alpaida octolobata can be distinguished from A. tabula by the direction of this projection, not toward cymbium apex, and by the median apophysis having the proximal portion bifurcated ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Note. For the diagnosis and description of female see Levi (1988: 460).

Description. Male (MCN 47005, Cristal, RS). Total length 3.55. Carapace length 1.55, width 1.25, height 0.85. Clypeus height 0.14. Sternum length 0.80, width 0.75. Abdomen length 2.20, width 1.65, height 1.25. Leg formula I/II/IV/III. Leg lengths (I/II/III/IV): femur 2.25/1.79/1.25/1.70; patella 0.55/0.55/0.44/0.50; tibia 1.75/1.35/0.75/ 1.25; metatarsus 1.65/1.45/0.75/1.20; tarsus 0.75/0.60/0.44/0.55. Total leg (I/II/III/IV): 6.95/5.74/3.63/5.20. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.0 7, PME 0.10, PLE 0.07; AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PLE 0.17, AME- AME 0.12, PME-PME 0.15. Eyes with black borders ( Fig. 8 ). Carapace yellowish, ocular area darker. Sternum, endites and chelicerae yellowish, with few hairs. Legs yellowish, tarsi darker. Abdomen with three pairs of larger lateral lobes, plus two smaller lobes, one anterior and another posterior ( Fig. 8 ). Apex of each lobe with a small black spot. Dorsum yellowish, with small dots of a yellowish-white pigmentation, middle-anterior portion darker. Ventral side with dispersed white pigmentation. Spinnerets yellow. Palp with median apophysis very sclerotized ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Tegulum without projection on the margin. Embolus with bifurcate apex. Paracymbium hooked ( Fig. 7 ).

Variation. Total length (five males) range: 3.10 to 3.75. Some males with abdomen less pigmented, yellowishwhite.

Material examined. BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul: Cristal, riparian forest of Camaquã river, six males and six females, 14.XI.2007 – 12.VI.2009, all collected by E. N. L. Rodrigues leg. (MCN 47005-47012); Arroio Grande, riparian forest of Piratini river, four females, 16.IX.2007, all collected by E. N. L. Rodrigues leg. (MCN 46998- 47000).

Distribution. Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and Argentina (Buenos Aires).

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Alpaia octolobata Levi, 1988: (5 – 7) male palp: (5) mesal view, (6) ventral view, (7) ectal view, (8) male body, dorsal view (E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; P = paracymbium; T = tegulum; TA = terminal apophysis). Scale lines: (5 – 7) 0,25 mm, (8) 0,5 mm.