Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850

Bertani, Rogerio, 2012, Revision, cladistic analysis and biogeography of Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850, Pachistopelma Pocock, 1901 and Iridopelma Pocock, 1901 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae), ZooKeys 230, pp. 1-94 : 7-9

Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850 revalidated Figs 1-28

Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850:75.

Avicularia : Simon 1892:171 (in part: Avicularia seladonia ).

Iridopelma : Smith 1993:15 (in part: Iridopelma seladonium ).

Type species.

Mygale seladonia C. L. Koch, 1841 by subsequent designation ( Mello-Leitão 1923:332). Almeida-Santos et al. (2008) stated that Mello-Leitão (1923) "erroneously reestablished Typhochlaena without removing the type species, Typhochlaena caesia C. L. Koch, 1842, from Avicularia ", but they did not indicate where their information on the type species of the genus came from. The genus Typhochlaena was erected by Koch (1850) and originally included two species: Typhochlaena seladonia and Typhochlaena caesia . Neither Koch (1850) nor subsequent authors indicated the type species of Typhochlaena , until Mello-Leitão (1923), who designated Typhochlaena seladonia C. L. Koch, 1841.

Diagnosis.

Differs from all other aviculariine genera by the domed, short distal segment of PLS (Fig. 21) and adults with sternum as long as wide, truncated behind (Fig. 20). Additionally, they are very small aviculariines having urticating hair type II on the dorsum of the abdomen and males lack both tibial spurs and spiniform process on the cymbium.

Description.

Carapace as long as wide, or slightly longer than wide, cephalic region moderately raised (Fig. 16). Cephalic and thoracic striae shallow. Fovea shallow, straight. Chelicerae without rastellum. Eye tubercle low ( Typhochlaena seladonia ) (Fig. 18) or raised (other species), wider than long. Clypeus narrow (Figs 18-19). Anterior eye row procurved (Fig. 19). Labium wider than long, with ca. 58-122 cuspules concentrated on anterior half. Maxillary lyra absent. Maxilla subrectangular, anterior lobe distinctly produced into conical process, inner angle bearing (40-69) cuspules. Sternum wider than long or as long as wide, truncated behind (Fig. 20). Posterior angle not separating coxae IV. Three pairs of sigillae, all rounded, less than a quarter diameter from margin, sometimes not evident. Leg formula: IV I II III (except male Typhochlaena amma sp. n.: I IV II III). Clavate trichobothria on the distal 1/2 of tarsi I-IV. STC of males and femalewithout teeth. Tarsi I–III fully scopulated, IV divided by a band of setae. Scopulae of tarsi and metatarsi I–II extended very laterally giving them a spatulate appearance. Femur IV without retrolateral scopula. Legs lacking spines in males, female legs aspinose or with two ventro-apical spines on metatarsi III and/ or IV ( Typhochlaena seladonia , Typhochlaena paschoali sp. n.). Posterior lateral spinnerets with distal article short, domed (Fig. 21). Stridulatory setae absent. Cymbium with two subequal lobes, the prolateral one triangular in shape (fig. 25 in West et al. 2008). Male spur on tibia I lacking. Male metatarsus I straight. Male palpal bulb globose narrowing abruptly forming a long slender embolus, 4 times ( Typhochlaena seladonia ) (Figs 1-3), 1.5 times ( Typhochlaena costae sp. n.) (Figs 12-14), or 2.5 times ( Typhochlaena amma sp. n.) (Figs 8-10) longer than tegulum length, with a curvature of roughly 60° ( Typhochlaena seladonia , Typhochlaena amma sp. n.) (Figs 1-3, 8-10) or 45° ( Typhochlaena costae sp. n.) (Figs 12-14) to retrolateral side, keels absent, tegulum with a slight prolateral depression ( Typhochlaena seladonia ) (Fig. 3), or absent ( Typhochlaena costae sp. n., Typhochlaena amma sp. n.) (Figs 10, 14). Two spermathecae extremely variable in shape (Figs 4-7, 11, 15). Cymbium lacking spiniform process. Type II of urticating hair on abdomen dorsum of males and females. Ontogenetic change in color pattern lacking.

Males of Typhochlaena curumim sp. n. and Typhochlaena paschoali sp. n. are unknown.

Species included: Typhochlaena seladonia (Figs 1-5, 16-23), Typhochlaena curumim sp. n. (Figs 6, 26), Typhochlaena paschoali sp. n. (Figs 7, 27), Typhochlaena amma sp. n. (Figs 8-11, 24) and Typhochlaena costae sp. n. (Figs 12-15, 25).

Distribution and habitat.

Brazil: Northeastern, part of Central-West (state of Tocantins) and part of Southeastern (state of Espirito Santo) (Fig. 28). Specimens of Typhochlaena spp. are mostly found in Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, but one species seems to occur in drier, open environments ( Typhochlaena costae sp. n.). Available data for two species ( Typhochlaena seladonia and Typhochlaena curumim sp. n.) indicates they build a silky retreat under loose tree bark (Fig. 23).

Color pattern ontogeny.

Contrary to most aviculariines, ontogenetic changes are not known in species of Typhochlaena .

Key to species of Typhochlaena

(Males of Typhochlaena curumim sp. n. and Typhochlaena paschoali sp. n. are unknown)