Agyneta flax new species

Figs 265–273, map 18

Type material: Male holotype, male paratype and female allotype from Arizona, Cochise county, Chiricahua Mountains, Barfoot Meadows, 05.vii.1975, D. Ubick (CAS). EXAMINED.

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the sickle-shaped lamella characteristica.

Diagnosis: Males and females are distinguished by their abdominal pattern (Figs 269, 270). Moreover, males are distinguished from all species by their large sickle-shaped lamella characteristica (Fig. 265). Females are diagnosed from all other Agyneta by the extremely narrow anterior part of proximal part of scape and their large epigynal slits almost touching (Fig. 271).

Description: Male: Total length 1.83; carapace length 0.85, width 0.59.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace dark orange, shiny, finely reticulate; margin, radiating lines strongly suffused with dark gray; trident mark often present. Sternum strongly suffused with dark gray. Clypeus height 2. Chelicerae orange, excavated; ~ 6 seta-tipped tubercles; promargin three teeth, retromargin three tiny denticles; both margins with rounded projection at base of fang. Cheliceral stridulatory organ ~ 41 striae, well spaced gradually getting closer basally. ABDOMEN: Elongated, coloration variable, sometimes uniformly dark gray or with median pale gray band flanked by dark blackish bands (Fig. 269). LEGS: Yellow, femora with retrolateral and prolateral suffused with gray, femora I-II distal half dark suffused with gray; total leg I length: 2.67; leg III total length: 2.25; Tm I: 0.25, Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Palpal retrolateral tibial apophysis large and rugose; dorsal tibial apophysis absent; two retrolateral, one dorsal trichobothria (Fig. 265). Cymbium triangular; glabrous depression present (Fig. 265); dorsal cymbial turbercle small, pointed and smooth; ventral cymbial tubercle elongated, rounded and smooth; prolateral notch seemingly absent (Fig. 266). Paracymbium apical pocket short, anterior pocket short and curved, posterior pocket spine-like (Fig. 265). Embolus tip rounded; Fickert’s gland basal, globulous; ventral lamella thin, transparent; thumb short, reaching below the embolus proper (Fig. 267). Embolus proper set apically, of equal part (Fig. 267). Anterior terminal apophysis long with short protrusions, with a small process basally and a large well sclerotized, rounded process retrolaterally; posterior terminal apophysis with rounded, rugose tip; lamella characteristica long and wide, ending in one large point and a large, folded transparent extension (Fig. 268).

Female: Total length 1.58; carapace length 0.67, width 0.51.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Coloration as in male. Chelicerae promargin four teeth, retromargin four denticles. Cheliceral stridulatory organ ~38 striae, narrowly spaced. ABDOMEN: Oval, coloration variable, patterned as in female of A. picta (Fig. 260) or light to dark gray with chevrons pattern (Fig. 270). LEGS: Coloration as male; palpal tarsal claw absent, palpal tibia and metatarsus suffused with dark gray; leg I total length: 2.35; leg III total length: 1.70; Tm I: 0.27, Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Epigynum with proximal part of scape anteriorly narrow, enlarging (more than 5x); epigynal slits elongated, almost touching; pit hook depression absent (Fig. 271); lateral lobes very large; stretcher small; pit average (Fig. 272). Median part of scape long, narrow; genital pores situated at base of lateral lobes pockets (Fig. 273). Internal genitalia with an oval, ventral receptacula and a dorsal, elongated receptacula obliquely positioned (Figs 272, 273).

Other material examined: USA: Arizona: Chiricahua Mountains, Souht Fork Cave, 28.viii.1963, 2Ƥ, V. Roth (AMNH). Texas: no specific locality, i–iii.1936, 433Ƥ, ix.1936, 13, L. Davis (AMNH); 3.2km SE Saint Jo, 09.xi.1964, 13, S. Mulaik (AMNH); 12.8km NE Sinton, ix.1959, 1 Ƥ, 20.xi.1959, 131Ƥ, 22.iii.1960, 333Ƥ, 05.iv.1960, 432Ƥ, 28.iv.1960, 235Ƥ, 12.vi.1960, 13, vii.1960, 33, viii.1960, 131Ƥ, 26.v.1963, 431Ƥ, H.

Laughlin (AMNH); 17km N La Grange, 18.vii.1966, 1Ƥ, J., I. Ivie, (AMNH); 24km SW Harlingen, 18.xi.1934, 13, S. Mulaik (AMNH); Bastrop State Park, 24–27.v.1983, Berlese, oak-pine litter, 1Ƥ, S., J. Peck (AMNH); Brownsville, Palms Grove, 30.v.1939, 2Ƥ, S. Mulaik (AMNH); Brownsville, Southmost Palms, 16.ii.1941, 1Ƥ, L. Davis, 16.ix.1941, 1Ƥ, E. Bossom (AMNH); E of Harlingen, 1936, 1Ƥ, S. Mulaik (AMNH); Rio Grande City, 01.v.1937, 131Ƥ, S. Mulaik (AMNH); SW of Progresso, iii.1936, 1 Ƥ, L. Davis (AMNH); Three-Holer Cave, 27.iii.1991, Berlese, litter, 1Ƥ (TMM).

Distribution: Southern USA (Texas).