Hypaeus taczanowskii (Mello-Leitão, 1948)

Figs 1–11, 65

Acragas taczanowskii Mello-Leitão, 1948: 187, fig. 27 (male holotype from Moraballi River [6°N, 58.6°W], Guyana, R.W.G. Hingston, 14.II.1929, deposited in BMNH, not examined).

Hypaeus porcatus: Simon 1900: 45 (misidentified male from Cayenne, French Guiana); Caporiacco 1948: 698, fig. 120 (misidentified male from Waratilla Creek, French Guiana); Crane 1943: 132, figs 2N–Q (misidentified male from Kartabo, Guyana).

Mago budoninus Caporiacco 1954: 158, figs 53, 53a–d (male and female syntypes from several localities in French Guiana, not examined; synonymized by Galiano 1968: 330).

Hypaeus taczanowskii: Galiano 1968: 330, figs 64–69; World Spider Catalog 2015.

Note. Although the holotype of H. taczanowskii has not been examined, this was well illustrated by Galiano (1968, figs 64–69), allowing the immediate recognition of this species.

Material examined. BRAZIL. Pará: Belém: Parque Estadual do Utinga [1.423116°S, 48.426798°W]: 1♂, 2013, G.R.S. Ruiz et al. (MPEG 21123); São Félix do Xingu: Parque Nacional da Serra do Pardo (5.806472°S, 52.717917°W): 1♂ 1♀, 19.IV.2012, G.R.S. Ruiz et al. (MPEG 21124, 21125). Maranhão: Mirinzal (2.115108°S, 44.846314°W): 1♂, 10.VIII.2011, M.B. Aguiar-Neto (MPEG 21131); Centro Novo do Maranhão: Reserva Ecológica do Gurupi (3.685533°S, 46.7628°W): 1♀, 09.XII.2011, M.B. Aguiar-Neto (MPEG 21132).

Diagnosis. Males of H. taczanowskii are similar to those of H. annulifer Simon, H. tridactylus sp. nov. and H. poseidon sp. nov. in having a hooked RTA pointing ventrally and a developed RvTA (Figs 8, 17, 29). However, they can be distinguished from those for lacking a developed PvTA (see Figs 6–7, 16, 27). Also, this is the only Hypaeus species known to have a square mastidion on the male chelicera (Fig. 4). Females differ from those of the species mentioned above (female of H. annulifer is still unknown) and from H. pauciaculeis (Caporiacco) in having a single, median pocket in the epigyne, with the initial portion of the copulation duct flowing anteriorly (Figs 10–11).

Redescription. Male (MPEG 21131). Total length: 7.20. Carapace dark brown with a yellow round mark behind fovea (Fig. 1), 3.30 long, 2.55 wide, 2.50 high. Ocular quadrangle 2.00 long. Anterior eye row 2.30 wide, posterior 2.10 wide. Fringe of long black setae over AME and ALE (treated as eyebrow throughout the descriptions). White setae joining ALE and PLE, and behind fovea (Fig. 1). AME 0.80 in diameter. Clypeus 0.50 high, darker, with scarce white setae (Fig. 3). Chelicera dark brown, lighter at the tip, with a square mastidion (Figs 3–4), three teeth on promargin, four on retromargin. Labium and endite dark brown. Sternum light brown, margins darker. Palp: femur slightly dilated distally; tibia bearing a developed conical RvTA and hooked RTA pointing ventrally; tegulum with a prolateral depression where embolus rests; embolus thin and long, arising from the retrolateral side of the tegulum and curling along the proximal border of tegulum (Figs 6–8); there is a dorsal, small projection on the prolateral portion of the embolus (Fig. 5). Legs 1342 (10.65/8.90/8.20/7.80). Coxae and trochanters yellow. Femora yellow, darker distally. Patellae and tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi yellow, darker at joints, lighter on posterior legs. Length of femur I 3.20, II 2.50, III 3.10, IV 2.70. Patella + tibia I 4.35, II 3.10, III 3.10, IV 2.80. Metatarsus + tarsus I 3.10, II 2.20, III 2.70, IV 2.70. Abdomen dorsally pale with dark brown markings (Fig. 1); ventrally pale with a wide, longitudinal dark brown stripe poorly conspicuous. Spinnerets dark brown.

Female (MPEG 21132). Total length: 6.65. Carapace yellow with orange cephalic region (Fig. 2), 3.00 long, 2.15 wide, 1.65 high. Ocular quadrangle 1.75 long. Anterior eye row 2.15 wide, posterior 1.85 wide. No modified setae, no eyebrow. AME 0.75 in diameter. Clypeus 0.20 high. Chelicera yellow, with no mastidion, three teeth on promargin and four on retromargin. Labium, endite and sternum yellow. Legs 3142 (7.05/6.55/6.70/5.70), yellow. Length of femur I 2.00, II 1.90, III 2.60, IV 2.30. Patella + tibia I 2.70, II 2.20, III 2.35, IV 2.30. Metatarsus + tarsus I 1.85, II 1.60, III 2.10, IV 2.10. Abdomen as in male, with more conspicuous color pattern (Fig. 2), except for ventral median stripe, restricted to posterior region. Epigynal posterior border notched forming a strong median pocket; two separate bean-shaped openings (Fig. 9). Internally with digitiform glands and sinuous copulation ducts leading to the anterior spermathecae (Figs 10–11). Spinnerets yellow.

Variation. Males from different localities have slightly different RvTA and mastidia. Here they are all considered a single taxon.

Distribution. Known from Guyana, French Guiana and Brazil (states of Pará and Maranhão) (Fig. 65).