Guatemoonops huitepec Chamé-Vázquez and Jiménez, 2025

Chamé-Vázquez, David & Jiménez, María-Luisa, 2025, A new goblin spider of genus Guatemoonops Bolzern, Platnick and Berniker (Araneae: Oonopidae) from southern Mexico, Journal of Natural History 59 (21 - 24), pp. 1689-1697 : 1690-1697

Guatemoonops huitepec Chamé-Vázquez and Jiménez sp. n.

(Figures 1–29)

Type material

Holotype 1♂: MEXICO: Chiapas: San Cristóbal de las Casas, Reserva Ecológica Huitepec [16.751154°N, 92.682937°W, 2477 m a.s.l.], cloud forest, leaf litter sifting, leg. D. Chamé and E. R. Chamé, 14 October 2020 (CARCIB-Ar-053).

Figure 1–10. Guatemoonops huitepec sp. n., male (1–3, 7, 9, 10) and female (4–6, 8). 1, 4. Habitus, dorsal view; 2, 5. Same, lateral view; 3, 6. Same, ventral view; 7, 8. Prosoma, anterior view. 9. Detail of mouthparts, ventral view; 10. Detail of prosoma, lateral view. Scale bars: 1–8 = 0.50 mm.

Paratypes: Same data as for holotype, 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar-342); same data as for holotype, except 12 October 2020, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-343) .

Etymology

The specific name is a toponym in apposition.

Diagnosis

Males of Guatemoonops huitepec sp. n. are similar to those of G. zacapa in having one toothlike and one spinelike projection on endites (Figures 9, 28, 29; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 263, 265, 266) but can be distinguished by having the embolus and second distal sclerite protruding orthogonally in prolateral direction, each on a separate base distant from each other ( Figures 11–13 , 18–27 ). Females are similar to those of G. purulha in having the anterior genitalic process with T-shaped apex bold ( Figures 15, 16 ; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 203, 230) but can be distinguished by the chalice-shaped base of the anterior genitalic process ( Figures 14–16 ) and pedicel without ventral sclerite (Figure 6).

Description

Male (Holotype, CARCIB-Ar-053, Figures 1–3, 7, 9, 10). Total length 1.90. Carapace 0.90 long, 0.65 wide. Carapace, sternum, mouthparts, and legs yellow, without any pattern, abdomen whitish, without any pattern. Carapace oval, anteriorly narrowed in dorsal view; pars cephalica elevated highest at coxae II and III; fovea inconspicuous. Six eyes, anterior lateral eyes slightly larger than posterior lateral eyes or posterior median eyes; posterior eye row recurved from above, straight from front. Endites with toothlike median projection (shaded in pink in Figures 28, 29 ), a spinelike posteromedian projection (shaded in yellow), and apparently a tiny projection in between (shaded in green). Endites with anterolateral rim distinctly stepped (in lateral view, shaded in blue). Opisthosoma ovoid. Colulus represented by two setae. Leg spination: femora: I, II d1-1-0; III, IV d1-0-2; tibiae: I, II v1-2-2; III, IV r1, p1-1-1; metatarsi: I, II v-2-2; III, IV v2-2-2.

Palp ( Figures 11–13 , 18–27 ). Right and left palps mirror images; cymbium not fused to bulb; copulatory bulb pear-shaped, tapering apically; embolus orthogonally protruding prolaterad; embolus with dorsal, longitudinal folding ending in a sharp tip, embolus ventrally with a lamella; second distal sclerite orthogonally protruding, distally pointed, originating prolateral on separate bulb protuberance, distant from embolus.

Female (Paratype, CARCIB-Ar-342). Total length 2.00. Carapace 0.85 long, 0.65 wide. Colouration as in male (Figures 4–6, 8). Pedicel without posteroventral sclerite. Colulus represented by two setae. Leg spination: femora: I d1-1-1; II d0-0-1; III d1-0-2, IV d0-1-1, p1; tibiae I v2-2-2-2-2-2, II v2-2-1-2-2; metatarsi: I v2-2, p1, II v2-2-2; IV d1-1, v1-0-2, p1-1, r1-1.

Genitalia ( Figures 14–17 ). Subrectangular epigastric scutum large and sclerotised; postepigastric scutum is a sclerotised, transversal strip. Vulva: anterior genitalic process chalice shaped basally, with longitudinal indentation; same process protruding anteriorly with a bold T-shaped apex and large spherical sclerite covered with protruding glands; this spherical sclerite projecting slightly farther than the T-shaped apex; median genitalic process large with pointed lateral extensions; posterior genitalic process trapezoidal with porous inner margin.

Variation

Paratype male: total length 1.85; carapace 0.85 long, 0.65 wide. Paratype female: total length 2.45; carapace 0.90 long, 0.75 wide. The colouration of both paratypes is consistent with the male holotype.

Natural history

Specimens of G. huitepec sp. n. were collected in the leaf litter of a cloud and oak forest in the Reserva Ecológica Huitepec at 2477 m a.s.l. This new species shares the microhabitat with other oonopids such as Costarina plena (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894) and an undescribed Phonotimpus sp. ( Phrurolithidae , unpublished data).

Distribution

This species is known only from the type locality, at Huitepec Volcano , Chiapas, Mexico . For the known distribution of all Guatemoonops species see Figure 30 .

Key to species of Guatemoonops , modified version of the one provided by Bolzern, Platnick and Berniker

1 Male (unknown in G. augustin , G. chilasco , and G. jaba ) ..................................................... 2

- Female (unknown in G. rhino ).......................................................................................................... 5

2(1) Endites with two distinct, one toothlike and one spinelike, projections (Figures 9, 28, 29; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 263, 265, 266).................................................................................. 3

- Endites with a single, toothlike, projection ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 165, 167, 222, 234, 238)............................................................................................................................................................. 4

3(2) Embolus on same base as second distal sclerite, basally fused ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 267, 269), endites anteromedially with toothlike projection ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 263, 266).......................................................................................................................... G. zacapa

- Embolus distant from second distal sclerite ( Figures 12 , 22, 23 ), endites medially with toothlike projection (Figures 9, 28, 29).................................. .................................. G. huitepec

4(2) Endites with anterolateral projection ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 165, 222), embolus orthogonally protruding, second distal sclerite originating on bulb ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 170, 172, 224)................................................. ................................................. G. purulha

- Endites with median projection ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 234, 238), embolus diagonally protruding, second distal sclerite originating on separate bulb protuberance ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 236, 239)................................................... ................................................... G. rhino

5(1) Anterior genitalic process with large subapical or apical sclerite ( Figures 15, 16 ; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 203, 230, 245), T-shaped apex bold ( Figures 15, 16 ; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 203, 230) or slender and relatively narrow ( Bolzern et al. 2015, fig. 245) .................................................................................................................... 6

- Anterior genitalic process with small subapical sclerite, T-shaped apex slender but relatively wide ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 253, 260, 275) ........................................................ 8

6(5) Anterior genitalic process with T-shaped apex slender and relatively narrow ( Bolzern et al. 2015, fig. 245) ................................................................................................................... G. jaba

- Anterior genitalic process with T-shaped apex bold ( Figures 15, 16 ; Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 203, 230)........................................................................................................................................... 7

7(6) Subrectangular sclerite present ventrally at pedicel ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 205, 227–229), anterior genitalic process with subapical spheric sclerite ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 202, 203, 229–231)............................................ ............................................ G. purulha

- Ventral sclerite at pedicel absent (Figure 6), anterior genitalic process with large apical spheric sclerite ( Figures 15, 16 ).................................................................................... G. huitepec

8(5) Distinct symmetrical pockets on posterior genitalic process absent, median genitalic process spindle shaped ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 260, 261).............. .............. G. augustin

- Distinct symmetrical pockets on posterior genitalic process present ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 253, 254, 275, 276), median genitalic process subtriangular ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 275, 276) or more complex ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 253, 254) .................... 9

9(8) Lateral extensions distally pointed anterolaterally, median genitalic process complex ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 253, 254)................................................................................ G. chilasco

- Lateral extensions distally enlarged, truncated, median genitalic process subtriangular ( Bolzern et al. 2015, figs 275, 276)..................................... ..................................... G. zacapa

Figures

Figure 30. Known distribution of all Guatemoonops species.

Figure 11–17. Guatemoonops huitepec sp. n., male (11–13) and female (14–17). 11. Palp, prolateral view; 12. Same, dorsal view; 13. Same, retrolateral view; 14. Epigastric area, ventral view; 15. Same, cleared, dorsal view; 16. Genitalia, ventral-most parts in focus; 17. Same, dorsal-most parts in focus Scale bars: 11–17 = 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: agp – anterior genitalic process; E – embolus; ES – epigastric scutum; mgp – median genitalic process; PES – post-epigastric scutum; pgp – posterior genitalic process; sds – secondary distal sclerite.

Figure 18–23. Male of Guatemoonops huitepec sp. n. 18. Palp, prolateral view; 19. Embolus and second distal sclerite, prolateral view; 20. Palp, retrolateral view; 21. Embolus and second distal sclerite, retrolateral view; 22. Palp, dorsal view; 23. Embolus and second distal sclerite, dorsal view. Scale bars: 18, 20, 22 = 0.10 mm; 19, 21, 23 = 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: E – embolus; sds – secondary distal sclerite.

Figure 24–29. Male of Guatemoonops huitepec sp. n. 24. Palp, anterior view; 25. Embolus and second distal sclerite, anterior view; 26. Palp, anterolateral view; 27. Embolus and second distal sclerite, anterolateral view; 28. Left endite, ventral view (toothlike median projection shaded in pink, spinelike posteromedian projection shaded in yellow, tiny projection in between shaded in green, and endite rim shaded in blue); 29. same, anterior view. Scale bars: 24, 26, 28, 29 = 0.10 mm; 25, 27 = 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: E – embolus; sds – secondary distal sclerite.