Ibotyporanga sertao Huber sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: EF744A64-9D71-441D-A1E0-F212ED5D0A03

Figs 22F, 23F, 73A, 74, 84–87; SEM Figs 5A, E, 6E–F, 9E, 10F, 12E, 13F, 14F, 19B, E, 20A

Diagnosis

Males are easily distinguished from known congeners by strongly curved main branch of procursus (Fig. 85A–C; almost two turns; similar only in I. ramosae); also by distinctive ventral hump on genital bulb (arrow in Fig. 84A). Females are externally possibly indistinguishable from putatively close relatives (species with a split procursus but without median sclerite in female internal genitalia: I. imale sp. nov., I. ramosae, I. guanambi sp. nov., I. capivara sp. nov.); internally, females of I. sertao sp. nov. are easily distinguished by genitalia with distinct pair of convoluted tubes (Fig. 86C–E; similar only in I. naideae); from putatively close relatives also by absence of large median expandable sac.

Etymology

The species name is derived from ‘sertão’, the ‘hinterland’ or ‘backcountry’ of Brazil. Regular droughts make this an economically poor region, but rich in history and folklore, and home to most known species of Ibotyporanga; noun in apposition.

Type material

Holotype

BRAZIL – Pernambuco • ♂; NE of Lagoa Grande; 8.9117° S, 40.0547° W; 450 m a.s.l.; degraded thorny shrubland; 30 Nov. 2022; B.A. Huber and A.S. Michelotto leg.; CHNUFPI 5923.

Paratypes

BRAZIL – Pernambuco • 4 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 5924–5925 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; UFMG 31656 • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 9038 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24367] .

Other material examined

BRAZIL – Pernambuco • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, in pure ethanol; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 5926 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-246; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ used for SEM] • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; W of Orocó; 8.6157° S, 39.6316° W; 370 m a.s.l.; thorny shrubland; 30 Nov. 2022; B.A. Huber and A.S. Michelotto leg.; CHNUFPI 5927 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9039 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24368] • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5928 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-248] • 1 ♂, 6 ♀♀; NE of Cabrobó; 8.420° S, 39.176° W; 450 m a.s.l.; bare rock fields with scattered shrubs; 2 Dec. 2022; B.A. Huber and A.S. Michelotto leg.; CHNUFPI 5929 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9040 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24369] • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juvs, in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5930 [deposited in ZFMK Br22- 253] • 1 juv., in pure ethanol, assigned tentatively (no adults available from this locality); NW of Cedro; 7.7056° S, 39.2442° W; 600 m a.s.l.; degraded hillside with shrubs and scattered trees; 1 Dec. 2022; B.A. Huber and A.S. Michelotto leg.; CHNUFPI 5931 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-252] . – Ceará • 1 ♂; Crato, Sitio Fundão; 7.2345° S, 39.43845° W; 500 m a.s.l.; 4 Sep. 2016; L.S. Carvalho and R. Azevedo leg.; CHNUFPI 3966 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 3732 . – Piauí • 2 ♂♂; Coronel José Dias, Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara, near Boqueirão do Ferreira; 8.7476° S, 42.4870° W; 585 m a.s.l.; 9 Dec. 2019; L.S. Carvalho leg.; “Carv74”; CHNUFPI 4046 • 1 ♀; Coronel José Dias, Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara; 8.7672° S, 42.5600° W; 520 m a.s.l.; Jun. 2012; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 372 • 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, 2 juvs; São Raimundo Nonato, Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara, Baixão das Andorinhas; 8.8614° S, 42.6867° W; 470 m a.s.l.; 9 Dec. 2019; L.S. Carvalho leg.; “Carv72”; CHNUFPI 4045 • 1 ♀; Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara, Baixão das Andorinhas; 8.8625° S, 42.6873° W; 485 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 5015 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (female very large, possibly not conspecific); Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara, near Baixão das Andorinhas; 8.8605° S, 42.6863° W; 475 m a.s.l.; 8 Dec. 2019; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 4044 • 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, 9 juvs; Canto do Buriti, Anel Viário de Canto do Buriti, ‘ponto 2’; 8.0842° S, 42.9709° W; 295 m a.s.l.; 16 Jul. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 5016 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5019 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5020 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5024 • 1 ♀, 3 juvs; Canto do Buriti, Anel Viário de Canto do Buriti, ‘ponto 1’; 8.0807° S, 42.9576° W; 305 m a.s.l.; 16 Jul. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 5018 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Nazaré do Piauí, Fazenda Bela Vista; 7.0100° S, 42.6597° W; 140 m a.s.l.; 16 Oct. 2019; F.K. Ferreira leg.; CHNUFPI 4186 • 2 ♀♀, 1 juv.; Floriano, near Aeroporto de Floriano; 6.8506° S, 43.0823° W; 200 m a.s.l.; 21 Jul. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and A. Galleti-Lima leg.; CHNUFPI 5026 • 1 ♀, 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5050 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Floriano, Bairro Curtume, Residencial Angelim, in house; 6.7922° S, 43.0117° W; 190 m a.s.l.; 18 Dec. 2020; L.S. Carvalho leg.; “Carv60”; CHNUFPI 3508 • 1 ♂; Floriano, Bairro Via Azul, in house; 6.7827° S, 43.0179° W; 170 m a.s.l.; 26 Jun. 2019; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 2893 • 2 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; 6 Jun. 2019; E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 2944 • 1 ♂; Floriano, Bairro Meladão, in house; 6.7836° S, 43.0399° W; 120 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 2013; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 3959 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Floriano, Fazenda do Colégio Técnico de Floriano, margins of Rio Parnaíba; 6.7596° S, 43.0557° W; 105 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2023; L.S. Carvalho et al. leg.; CHNUFPI 5052 • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, 7 juvs; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5054 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Castelo do Piauí, Fazenda Bonito, ECB Rochas Ornamentais do Brasil Ltda; 5.2266° S, 41.6970° W; 230 m a.s.l.; 23 Mar. 2018; L.S. Carvalho and R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg.; CHNUFPI 4041 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 5.2317° S, 41.7005° W; 220 m a.s.l.; 13 Sep. 2006; F.M. Oliveira-Neto leg.; MPEG 7965 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 20 Oct. 2005; F.M. Oliveira-Neto leg.; MPEG 11544 • 1 ♂; Teresina, Bairro Morada do Sol, in house; 5.0656° S, 42.7669° W; 115 m a.s.l.; 9 Jan. 2015; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 1280 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 25 Oct. 2020; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 3507 • 2 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 24 Nov. 2006; L.S. Carvalho leg.; MPEG 11545 • 1 ♀; Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades; 4.0944° S, 41.7315° W; 160 m a.s.l.; 21 Jun. 2007; M.P. Albuquerque leg.; MPEG 11546 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 20 Jun. 2007; F.M. Oliveira-Neto leg.; MPEG 11547 • 1 ♀; São João da Fronteira, near Igreja do Padre; 3.9198° S, 41.2502° W; 385 m a.s.l.; 14 Feb. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 5058 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 4 juvs; Piracuruca, roadside of BR 343; 3.7359° S, 41.6824° W; 60 m a.s.l.; 20 Feb. 2023; L.S. Carvalho and E.G. Noetzold leg.; CHNUFPI 5056 • 2 ♂♂; Cocal, near Ipuera, roadside of PI-301; 3.3081° S, 41.4944° W; 90 m a.s.l.; 24 Apr. 2022; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 4181 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 4185 • 1 subadult ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 4184 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv.; same locality as for preceding; 26 Oct. 2021; L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 4198 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 4190 .

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 2.3, carapace width 0.80. Distance PME–PME 80 µm; diameter PME 80 µm; distance PME–ALE 30 µm; distance AME–AME 20 µm; diameter AME 60 µm. Leg 1: 4.66 (1.27 +0.32 +1.13 +1.47 + 0.47), tibia 2: 0.97, tibia 3: 0.85, tibia 4: 1.25; tibia 1 L/d: 11; diameters of leg femora 0.18–0.19, of leg tibiae 0.10–0.11.

COLOUR (in ethanol). Prosoma ochre-yellow, carapace medially, ocular area and clypeus darker ochre, legs ochre, without darker rings; abdomen gray with dark internal marks dorsally and laterally; ventrally with light ochre plates in front of gonopore and in front of spinnerets.

BODY. Habitus as in Fig. 73A. Ocular area slightly raised. Carapace with distinct but shallow thoracic groove. Clypeus with sclerotized rim with median notch. Sternum wider than long (0.60/0.50), with distinct anterior processes near coxae 1, ~40 µm high, ~80 µm diameter at basis. Abdomen globular; gonopore with four epiandrous spigots in two groups (Fig. 5A); spinnerets as in congeners (Fig. 6E–F).

CHELICERAE. As in Fig. 86A–B; width 0.32; with short median frontal apophysis; stridulatory files (Fig. 10F) distinct.

PALPS. As in Fig. 84; coxa unmodified; trochanter with rounded ventral protrusion; femur proximally with distinct retrolateral process not directed toward distal, with prolateral stridulatory pick, distally widened but unmodified; femur-patella joints not shifted toward one side; patella dorsally slightly longer than medially wide; tibia-tarsus joints barely shifted toward retrolateral side; tarsus without dorsal process, with small capsulate tarsal organ (Fig. 13F); procursus (Fig. 85A–C) with semitransparent pointed dorsal branch much shorter than main branch; main branch with light prolateral band, distally coiled; genital bulb with ventral hump (arrow in Fig. 84A), distinct prolateral sclerite on bulbous part, embolus with slender prolateral ridge (Fig. 85D–F).

LEGS. Without spines but with longer and slightly stronger hairs ventrally on femora; without curved hairs; with several rows of short vertical hairs on tibia 1; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 53%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1; tarsus 1 with ~3–4 pseudosegments, distally distinct.

Variation (male)

Dark marks on prosoma variably distinct, legs ochre-yellow to ochre. Width of distal coil of procursus slightly variable, possibly artificially (compare Figs 84C and 85C, which are from same pedipalp). Ventral hump of bulb with variably distinct tiny tubercles. Tibia 1 in 38 other males: 1.03–1.43 (mean 1.17). One male from Floriano (CHNUFPI 5052) is unusually large (tibia 1 length 1.43, other males 1.03–1.30) but other than that, there is no indication that it might be misplaced in this species. The species delimitation analysis supported the conspecificity of the five sequenced specimens from five localities (Fig. S7). The K2P distances among them ranged from 0.3% to 4.2% (Table S1).

Female

In general, similar to male but slightly darker and dark marks more distinct; clypeus and sternum unmodified; tibia 1 with few vertical hairs; tibia 1 length in 58 females: 1.17–1.53 (mean 1.37); a few females from Serra da Capivara (CHNUFPI 372, 4044, 4045) and from Floriano (CHNUFPI 5054) are unusually large (tibia 1 length 1.54–1.83) but other than that, there is no indication that they might be misplaced in this species. Epigynum (Fig. 87A–B) anterior plate semicircular to trapezoidal, posterior margin almost straight, with distinct anterior pocket (Fig. 5E); posterior plate short and simple. Internal genitalia (Figs 86C–E, 87C–F) with pair of elongated pore plates posteriorly, with pair of convoluted membranous ducts originating from median membranous structure and leading into globular terminal sacs.

Distribution

Widely distributed in Brazil, in the states of Pernambuco, Ceará, and Piauí (Fig. 74). The species does not seem to cross the São Francisco River into Bahia; we found it at several localities just north of the river in Pernambuco, but at none of four localities sampled just south of the river in Bahia.

Natural history

At the type locality, the spiders were found in a highly degraded thorny shrubland along a dirt road (Fig. 23F), where they were abundant under stones, together with another Ninetinae spider, an undescribed species of Kambiwa . The second locality listed above, W of Orocó, was a well-preserved caatinga; the same two species of Ninetinae were extremely abundant at this site. The third locality, NE of Cabrobó, was a large granite outcrop with scattered shrubs and stones on bare rock (Fig. 22F); again, both species of Ninetinae shared the same microhabitat. In Floriano and Teresina, this species has also been found in and around houses, usually males wandering at night. Several specimens were found under arenite rocks in shrubby caatinga (São João da Fronteira and Canto do Buriti), arboreal caatinga (Crato) or cerrado sensu stricto vegetation (Castelo do Piauí, Cocal, and Piracuruca), with different levels of preservation. At Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara, the specimens were found among or under small pebbles in an arenite rock outcrop, at a preserved shrubby caatinga vegetation site. Eight egg sacs were round but slightly flattened, had diameters of 1.7–2.2, and egg diameters of 0.58–0.62; the total number of eggs per egg sac was estimated to be ~15–30.