Cybaeus coylei Bennett, 2021

Bennett, Robb, Copley, Claudia & Copley, Darren, 2021, Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae): the aspenicolens species group of the Californian clade, Zootaxa 4926 (2), pp. 224-244 : 233

Cybaeus coylei Bennett spec. nov.

Figs 8–10 , 13–15 , 41

Type material. Holotype male. U.S.A.: California: Tuolumne County ¸ Pinecrest , 10.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V. D. Roth ( AMNH).

Paratype. U.S.A.: California: Tuolumne. 1♀, Pinecrest , 10.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( AMNH) .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym honouring arachnid ethologist and systematist Frederick A. Coyle, a valued friend and early mentor who guided Robb Bennett through his initial graduate work and with whom he experienced memorable road and field trips; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Cybaeus coylei spec. nov. is grouped with C. aspenicolens and C. blasbes in the informal aspenicolens subgroup. Distinguishing the aspenicolens and fraxineus subgroups is discussed in the aspenicolens species group diagnosis. The male of C. coylei spec. nov. is diagnosed by the relatively smoothly curved retrolateral margin of the massive, blunt patellar apophysis with about 2 dozen very small peg setae dorsally ( Figs 8 , 13 ) as well as the strong dorsal deflection of the tip of the proximal arm of the tegular apophysis ( Fig. 10 ) such that much of the proximal arm is hidden in ventral view ( Fig. 9 ). The female of C. coylei spec. nov. is diagnosed primarily by the form of the epigynum ( Fig. 14 ) which lacks any significant sclerotization and the relatively inconspicuous epigynal depression with a weakly defined anterior margin. Diagnostic differences distinguishing other species of the aspenicolens subgroup from specimens of C. coylei spec. nov. are discussed under C. aspenicolens .

Description. Ventral tibia I macrosetae: 2–1p–2–1p– 1p.

Male: (n=1). About 40 or 50 stout peg setae retrolaterally on massive, blunt patellar apophysis; about two dozen very small peg setae dorsally ( Figs 8 , 13 ). Proximal arm of tegular apophysis ( Figs 9–10 ) strongly deflected dorsally; large, broad, retrolaterally uncinate with tip weakly corkscrewed. Measurements. Holotype CL 3.3, CW 2.43, SL 1.55, SW 1.50.

Female: (n=1). Atrium ( Fig. 14 ) with paired unobscured openings; epigynal depression poorly developed, not strongly bordered anteriorly. Vulval ducts ( Fig. 15 ) contiguous from posterior end of copulatory ducts nearly to location of Bennett’s glands, apparently not joined anteriorly. Measurements. CL 3.4, CW 2.35, SL 1.55, SW 1.48.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality on the western flank of the southern Sierra Nevada in Tuolumne County ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 41. Distributions of Cybaeus aspenicolens (yellow diamonds), C. blasbes (blue circles), C. coylei spec. nov. (green triangle). AZ—Arizona, CA—California, ID—Idaho, OR—Oregon, NV—Nevada, UT—Utah.

FIGURES 8–10. Cybaeus coylei spec. nov., male holotype, left palpus. 8 patella and tibia, dorsal; 9 genital bulb, ventral; 10 proximal arm of tegular apophysis, posterior. Embolus dislodged from usual resting position in folds of tegular apophysis in Fig. 9. PA—proximal arm of tegular apophysis.

FIGURES 11–13. Cybaeus spp., males, left palpus, patellar apophysis, dorsal. 11 C. aspenicolens from Aspen Valley, Yosemite National Park, California; 12 C. blasbes from near Fish Camp, California; 13 C. coylei spec. nov., holotype.

FIGURES 14–19. Cybaeus spp., females, copulatory organ (14–15 C. coylei spec. nov. from Pinecrest, California. 16–17 C. aspenicolens from Aspen Valley, California. 18–19 C. blasbes from North Fork, California). 14, 16, 18 epigynum, ventral; 15, 17, 19 vulva, dorsal. AO—atrial opening, BG—Bennett’s gland, BS—base of spermatheca, CD—copulatory duct, HS—head of spermatheca, SS—stalk of spermatheca.