Spelocteniza pampenita, Dupérré & Tapia, 2025

Dupérré, Nadine & Tapia, Elicio, 2025, Revision of the Ecuadorian Microstigmatidae (Araneae: Mygalomorphae), with the description of six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 1007, pp. 87-132 : 95-104

Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A44F6FA1-E4EF-4C6A-961D-41A144249DA5

Figs 6–10 , 26–28 , 29A , 30

Diagnosis

Males are distinguished from those of S. zuninoi sp. nov. by the oval palpal bulb, sinuous embolus and long and curved paraembolic apophysis ( Fig. 8C–E ), while the palpal bulb is elongated oval, curved embolus and short paraembolic apophysis in the latter ( Fig. 12C–E ). Females are distinguished from those of S. ashmolei by their internal genitalia with elongated, sinuous spermathecal stalks and one spermathecal head ( Fig. 10C ), having short spermathecal stalks and two spermathecal heads in the latter ( Fig. 5C ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, invariable, derived from the language of the inhabitants of San Francisco de las Pampas.

Type material

Holotype ECUADOR • ♂; Cotopaxi Province, San Franciso de las Pampas, Pristirana Biological Reserve ; 0°25′28″ S, 78°57′34″ W; 1521 m a.s.l., 26 Feb.–5 Mar. 2019; E. Tapia and Faml. Tapia Caisaguano leg.; pitfall trap; ECFN 11665; QCAZ.

Paratypes

ECUADOR • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; ECFN 1535; ZMH-A0030710; ZMH • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; ECFN 11666; QCAZ • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; ECFN 11667; ZMH-A0030709; ZMH • 1 ♂, same data as for holotype; ECFN 11235; DTC • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; ECFN 11234; QCAZ • 1 ♂, 3 juvs; same data as for holotype; 12 Jan. 2023; pitfall trap; ECFN 10234; QCAZ • 1 ♀; same data as for preeceding; 15 Jan 2023; ECFN 10158; QCAZ .

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 5.17; carapace length: 2.79; carapace width: 2.42; abdomen length: 2.38.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace oval, light yellow-orange; pars cephalica flat, with black marking, pars thoracica sloping with black markings along radiating line and margin; fovea straight; with pair of large setae on pars cephalica and along posterior margin ( Figs 7A , 26A ). Labium light yellow, margin V-shaped, with four elongated cuspules ( Fig. 7B ). Maxillae light beige, with three elongated cuspules; anterior lobe small ( Figs 7B , 26E–F ); serrula present. Sternum light beige with basal median dark mark; oval, wider than long (1.15 length, 1.26 width); with three small rounded sigilla along margin ( Fig. 7B ). Eight eyes in two rows: AME 0.12, ALE 0.15, PLE 0.12, PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.20; ocular quadrangle rectangular (0.48, anterior, 0.48 posterior, 0.24 high) ( Fig. 7A ).

CHELICERAE. Orange, rastellum absent ( Fig. 26B ); with nine promarginal teeth, 16 intermarginal denticles; intercheliceral tumescence inconspicuous with few setae ( Figs 7C , 26C ).

LEGS. Light yellow-beige with dark bands apically on femora, laterally on patellae and apically and basally on metatarsi ( Fig. 6A–B ); pustulose ( Fig. 28C, F ). Leg measurements: I 8.08 (2.32/1.22/1.87/1.46/1.21); II 7.27 (2.00/1.03/1.65/1.42/1.17); III 6.69 (1.74/0.89/1.37/1.71/0.98); IV 10.13 (2.5/1.23/2.27/2.79/1.34); leg formula 4123. Leg spination (spines on all segment except tarsi): I fe d1-1-1-1-1-1, pa d1, v2, ti p1- 1, v2-1-2-2(apical), mt p1, v1-1-2(apical); II fe d1-1-1-1-1-1, pat d1, ti p1-1, v2-2-3 (apical), mt p1, v2-2-2(apical); III fe d1-2-3-3-1, pa d1, p2, r1, ti d1-1, p1-1, r1, v2-2-3 (apical), mt d2-2-1, p1-1-1-1, r1, v2-2-3(apical); IV fe 1-1-1-1-2d, pa 1r, 1p, ti d1-1-1-2, p1-1, r1-1, v2-2-3(apical), mt d1-1-1-2, p1, r1, v2-1-3-3(apical). Tarsi with filiform trichobothria with smooth trichobothrial base ( Fig. 28C ); tarsal organ highly elevated and smooth ( Fig. 28E–F ); tarsal claw biserrated with 6–8 teeth, ITC present on all legs. Male tibial clasping spur is a large spine; sparse scopula on tarsi I–II, sparse apical (25%) scopula on metatarsi I–II, absent on tarsi and metatarsi III–IV.

ABDOMEN. Oval, light beige with dark gray meshy pattern medially; ventrally light beige with dark gray meshy pattern on lower half. Four spinnerets, PMS short with one apical spigot, PLS short with numerous spigots ( Figs 6A–B , 27B–E ) on median and apical segments.

GENITALIA. Palpal tibia (1.15 length, 0.43 width) ( Fig. 7F ); cymbium without spines ( Fig. 8A–B ); bulb oval, with large, rounded tegular heel ( Fig. 8C , arrow); embolus sinuous, with long, wide and curved paraembolic apophysis ( Figs 8C–E , 28A–B ).

Female (paratype ECFN 10158)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 4.35; carapace length: 2.20; carapace width: 1.81; abdomen length: 2.15. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace yellow; pars cephalica arched, with black markings; pars thoracica sloping with black markings along radiating line and margin; fovea straight ( Fig. 10A ). Labium orange with three elongated cuspules ( Fig. 10B ). Maxillae orange with six elongated cuspules; anterior lobe small ( Fig. 10B ); serrula present. Sternum as in male (1.03 length, 1.10 width) ( Fig. 10B ). Eight eyes in two rows: AME 0.09, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.07, PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.19; ocular quadrangle rectangular (0.44, anterior, 0.45 posterior, 0.21 high).

CHELICERAE. Orange; rastellum present with two spines ( Fig. 10B ); with eight promarginal teeth and 15 intermarginal denticles.

LEGS. Coloration as in male; scopula absent; filiform trichobothria present on all tarsi; tarsi with STC with 5–7 teeth on each edge, ITC present on all legs; palpal tibia claw with five teeth; tarsal organ highly elevated (observed under light microscope). Leg measurements: I 5.31 (1.61/0.82/1.30/0.85/0.73); II 4.78 (1.41/0.80/1,01/0.84/0.72); III 3.99 (1.05/0.63/0.81/0.82/0.68); IV 6.27 (1.53/0.82/1.37/1.59/0.96); leg formula 4123. Leg spination (spines present on all segments except tarsi): I fe d1-1-1-1-1, pa0, ti v1-1, mt v1-2-2(apical); II fe d1-1-1-1-1-1, pa0, ti v1, mt v2-2-2(apical); III fe d1-1-1-1, pa p1-1, ti d1, p1-1, v2-3 (apical), mt d1-1-2, p1-1, r1, v1-2-3(apical); IV fe d1-1-1-1, pa0, ti d1-1, p1-1, r1, v-1-1-3(apical), mt d1-1-1, p1-1, r1, v1-2-2-3(apical).

ABDOMEN. Oval, dorsally light beige with dark gray meshy pattern; ventrally light beige with dark gray meshy pattern in lower half ( Fig. 9A–B ); four spinnerets, PMS and PLS short.

GENITALIA. Internal genitalia visible through integument ( Fig. 9B ); spermathecal bases narrow, with elongated sinuous stalks, and small oval spermathecal heads ( Fig. 10C ).

Natural history

Specimens were collected in a pitfall trap at 1521 m a.s.l. in a low evergreen montane forest of the Western Cordillera (BsBn04) ( Iglesias et al. 2013b).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Cotopaxi Province.

Figures

Fig. 6. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, holotype (ECFN 11665; QCAZ). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Fig. 7. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, holotype (ECFN 11665; QCAZ). A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Chelicerae (arrow points to intercheliceral tumescence). D. Leg I, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, holotype (ECFN 11665; QCAZ). A. Palp, prolateral view. B. Palp, retrolateral view. C. Bulb, prolateral view (arrow points to tegular heel). D. Bulb, ventral view. E. Bulb, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–E = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 9. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♀, paratype (ECFN 10158; QCAZ). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Fig. 10. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♀, paratype (ECFN 10158; QCAZ). A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 26. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, paratype (ZMH-A0030710; ZMH), SEM. A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Chelicerae, frontal view. C. Chelicerae, lateral view (circle shows intercheliceral tumescence). D. Intercheliceral tumescence (enlarged from C). E. Maxillae and labium, ventral view. F. Serrula, ventral view.

Fig. 27. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, paratype (ZMH-A0030710; ZMH), SEM. A. Epigastric region, ventral view. B. Abdomen, ventral view. C. Spinnerets, posterior view. D. PMS, Ventral view. E. PLS, ventral view. F. Palpal cymbium, retrodorsal view (arrow points to the tarsal organ).

Fig. 28. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, paratype (ZMH-A0030710; ZMH). SEM. A. Palpal bulb, ventral view. B. Palp, retrolateral view. C. Trichobothria, tarsus I. D. Tarsus III, dorsal view (arrow points to tarsal organ). E. Tarsus I, dorsal view. F. Tarsus I, tarsal organ.

Fig. 29. SEM. A. Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov., ♂, paratype (ZMH-A0030710; ZMH), tarsus II, dorsal view (arrow points to tarsal organ). B–D. Pastaza aureliae gen. et sp. nov., ECFN 7948 (QCAZ) B. Tarsus III, dorsal view. C. Tarsus III, dorsal view (arrow points to tarsal organ). D. Tarsal organ II, dorsal view. E. Pastaza roberti gen. et sp. nov. (ZMH-A0030714), tarsus I, dorsal view. F. Pastaza vegai gen. et sp. nov., (QCAZ), tarsus I, dorsal view (arrow points to tarsal organ).

Fig. 30. Distribution map of members of the family Microstigmatidae Roewer, 1942 in Ecuador. Spelocteniza ashmolei Gertsch, 1982 (yellow star), Spelocteniza pampenita sp. nov. (orange triangle), Spelocteniza zuninoi sp. nov. (turquoise circle), Pseudonemesia scutata gen. et sp. nov. (red triangle), Pastaza aureliae gen. et sp. nov. (yellow circle), Pastaza roberti gen. et sp. nov. (pink circles), Pastaza vegai gen. et sp. nov. (green circle).

Fig. 12. Spelocteniza zuninoi sp. nov., ♂, holotype (ECFN 11673; QCAZ). A. Palp, prolateral view. B. Palp, retrolateral view. C. Bulb, prolateral view (arrow points to tegular heel). D. Bulb, ventral view. E. Bulb, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–E = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Spelocteniza ashmolei Gertsch, 1982, ♀, holotype (AMNH_IZC 00357161; AMNH). A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Internal genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.