Trichopelma soroense, Ríos-Tamayo, 2024

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky, 2024, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Trichopelma Simon, 1888 (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Trichopelmatinae) in Cuba, with the descriptions of seven new species and a new species of Thalerommata Ausserer, 1875, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (2), pp. 347-399 : 379-384

Trichopelma soroense sp. nov. ( Figs 19A–G, 20A–I, 21A–F, 26)

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DBECED30-AA73-441A-9010-572C62D75E4E

Type Material. Holotype ♂, Cuba, Artemisa Province, Sierra de Candelaria, Soroa, El Mirador [22°47'N 83°0'W], 28.IV.1997, coll. J. Rudloff ( ZMB 50611 ) ; Paratype 1♀, Cuba, Artemisa province, same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the locality of Soroa in the province of Artemisa where the species is distributed. It is a natural landscape of great beauty and abundant biodiversity.

Diagnosis. Males of T. soroense sp. nov. can be differentiated from all known congeners by the tibia I apophysis with a proventral branch with an apical long and acuminate megaspine and the contiguous spine of the prolateral branch 1/2 longer than the branch ( Fig. 20A–D), and further by their robust bulb ( Fig. 20F–H) with an apical keel ( Fig. 20G). They resemble those of T. granmense sp. nov. and T. cubanum by their bulb with a thick and rounded tegulum ( Fig. 20F–H) but differs from T. granmense sp. nov., by the short and retrolateral curved embolus in ventral view ( Fig. 20G) and from T. cubanum by the long apical megaspine on the proventral branch of the tibia I apophysis ( Fig. 20D) and by the procurved posterior ocular row ( Fig. 20C). Females can be distinguished from all other species by the shape of their spermathecae ( Fig. 21F), similar to T. cubanum and T. goloboffi . They differ from females of T. cubanum by the spermathecae lacking an apical receptacle and from T. goloboffi by their wide base, and STC with a row of teeth in all legs.

Description. Male (holotype, ZMB 50611, Figs 19, 20): Total length: 17.33. Carapace ( Fig. 19A): 7.64 long, 6.45 wide. Cephalic region 4.69 long, thoracic striae shallow; caput raised. Fovea straight and deep, 0.87 wide. Ocular region ( Fig. 19C) slightly raised, 0.69 long, 1.29 wide. Anterior ocular row procurved; posterior slightly recurved, almost straight.

Ocular measurements: AME 0.22, ALE 0.20, PME 0.26, PLE 0.30; AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PLE 0.05, AME– PME 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.19, PME–PME 0.62. Chelicerae ( Fig. 19E): elongate and slender, hirsute, 3.92 long; 2.05 wide. Furrow promargin with 11 teeth, retromargin with 6 tiny teeth on outer edge and seven denticles near the apex. Intercheliceral tumescence basal, pallid with small bristles. Rastellum composed of thick long setae. Labium ( Fig. 19D): 0.82 long; 1.07 wide; with five rounded cuspules and abundant apical bristles. Labio-sternal suture a narrow groove with two lateral sigilla well defined, almost joined. Maxillae ( Fig. 19D): promargin 2.00 long, retromargin 2.60 long, 1.21 wide, with ~101/97 cuspules in inner angle, developed angular heel. Sternum ( Fig. 19B): 3.60 long, 3.12 wide; sigilla small and marginal, oval. Abdomen, dorsal ( Fig. 19F): 7.23 long, anterior edge of the booklung opening with combs present. Spinnerets ( Fig. 19G): posterior median: 0.63 long; posterior lateral with basal: medial: apical lengths 1.39:0.73:0.42.

Lengths of legs and pedipalp (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 6.51, 3.91, 4.38, 4.71, 2.82, 22.33. II: 6.26, 3.39, 4.51, 4.78, 2.66, 21.60. III: 5.40, 2.73, 3.63, 5.34, 2.68, 19.77. IV: 7.16, 3.06, 5.97, 7.71, 3.12, 27.00. pedipalp: 4.01, 2.12, 3.39, —, 1.66, 11.20. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: fe d0-0-2ap, pa p0-1-0, ti p0-1-1 v2-1-2-1, me 0, when folded it touches the outer side of the megaspine of the ventral branch, tar 0. Leg II: fe d0-0-2, pa p0-0-1, ti p1-1-0 v2-3-3ap, me v1-0-0, ta 0. Leg III: fe d0-2-2, pa p0-1-2, ti p0-1-1 v3-2-3ap r 0-1-1, me d1- 2-2ap v2-2-3ap, ta 0. Leg IV: fe d0-0-5, pa 0, ti p1-1-1-1 v3-2-1-3ap r1-0-1, me d2-1-2-2ap v2-2-2-1-3ap, ta 0. Pedipalp: fe d0-0-1, pa 0, ti p0-1-1 v0-1-1ap (with rigid setae, more abundant in the prolateral apical side), ta 0. Metatarsi and tarsi I and II ventrally discoloured; tarsi IV cracked. Tibia I with twin apophysis ( Fig. 20A–D): positioned proventrally, ventral branch curved, long, with a long apical megaspine with the same length of the ventral branch; prolateral branch small with a contiguous spine (1:2 longer than the branch), prolateral and ventral branches well separated. Pedipalp ( Fig. 20E, I); cymbium triangular, elongate, with deep incision. Bulb ( Fig. 20F–H), 1.80 length, bulb rounded and thick with duct tapering. Embolus short 1.05 long, curved; apical portion with an apical keel ( Fig. 20G).

Scopulae : apical on cymbium. Legs: I: Me 3:4 A, Ta complete throughout the segment. II: Me 1:2 A, Ta complete throughout the segment. III: Me 1:2 A, Ta complete throughout the segment, divided by a clear very visible band of setae, delimited by a line of bristles on each side. IV: Me 3:4 A, divided by strong setae, Ta complete throughout the segment, divided by two central rows of setae and a line of bristles on each side. Trichobothria: (Filiform): Pedipalp: 7/8 on tarsus (separated by a wide band of small rigid setae). Legs: I Ti 4/4, Me 10, Ta 7/8; II, Ti 5/5, Me 8, Ta 6/5; III Ti 4/4, Me 8, Ta 9/8; IV Ti 4/5, Me 9, Ta 10/12. Clavate trichobothria in two rows on distal half (separated by a wide band of small rigid setae): 9/9 on tarsus I; 6/5 on tarsus II; 8/9 on tarsus III; 8/8 on tarsus IV; 9/8 on pedipalp tarsus. STC one row: I–II: 2/0; III–IV bare. Colour in alcohol: chelicerae and dorsal legs covered by whitish setae. Chelicerae brown, carapace and legs brown. Abdomen dorsal pattern faint, symmetrical, with 5 spots in the middle, and on the side of each spot a lateral line.

Female (paratype, ZMB 50611, Fig. 21): Total length: 17.05. Carapace ( Fig. 21A): 6.69 long, 5.36 wide. Cephalic region 4.27 long, thoracic striae shallow; caput raised. Fovea a slightly recurved and deep, 0.64 wide. Ocular region ( Fig. 21E) slightly raised, 0.69 long, 1.13 wide. Anterior ocular row procurved; posterior slightly recurved.

Ocular measurements: AME 0.20, ALE 0.34, PME 0.19, PLE 0.25; AME–ALE 0.14, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.10, ALE–PLE 0.21, AME–AME 0.17, PME–PME 0.51. Chelicerae: elongate and slender, 4.46 long; 2.49 wide. Furrow promargin with 10 teeth, retromargin with six tiny teeth on outer edge and seven denticles near the apex. Rastellum composed of thick long setae. Labium ( Fig. 21B): 0.95 long; 1.07 wide; with 11 rounded cuspules and abundant apical bristles. Labio-sternal suture a narrow groove with two lateral sigilla well defined, almost joined. Maxillae ( Fig. 21B): promargin 2.00 long, retromargin 2.23 long, 1.23 wide, with 62/66 cuspules in inner angle, developed angular heel. Sternum ( Fig. 21B): 3.31 long, 2.89 wide; all sigilla small and marginal, oval. Abdomen, dorsal ( Fig. 21C): 7.29 long, anterior edge of the booklung opening with combs present. Spinnerets ( Fig. 21D): Posterior median: 0.64 long; posterior lateral with basal: medial: apical lengths 1.43:0.60:0.40, apical segment domed. Spermathecae ( Fig. 21F): two, small and rounded. Lengths of legs and pedipalp (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 5.08, 3.34, 3.46, 3.02, 1.87, 16.76. II: 4.62, 3.00, 3.06, 2.85, 1.87, 15.40. III: 4.19, 2.40, 2.38, 3.54, 1.90, 14.41. IV: 5.76, 2.81, 4.65, 5.66, 2.35, 21.22. pedipalp: 3.71, 2.17, 2.31,—, 2.33, 10.50. Chaetotaxy: Legs: I–II: fe d0-0-1, pa 0, ti v0-1 spiniform setae- 0, me v1-0-1ap, ta 0; III: fe d0-0-1ap, pa p0-1-0, ti p0-3-0 v2-1-3ap r0-0-1, me d2-2-2 v1-2-3ap, ta 0; IV: fe d0- 0-1ap, pa 0, ti v1-2-3ap r1-0-1, me d1-2-2ap v2-1-2-3, ta 0; Pedipalp: fe d0-0-1, pa 0, ti v0-0-3ap p0-2-0, ta 0.

Scopulae : Pedipalp: complete and divided by a band of setae. Legs: I–II: Me-Ta complete throughout the segment. III: Me 3:4 A, divided by a band of long setae, Ta complete throughout the segment, divided by two bands of setae. IV: Me 1:2 A (more abundant apically), divided by a band of strong setae, Ta complete throughout the segment, divided by a wide central band of setae and a line of bristles on each side. Trichobothria: (Filiform): Pedipalp: Ti 5/5, 8/8 on tarsus (separated by a wide band of small rigid setae). Legs: I Ti 5/6, Me 6, Ta 6/8; II, Ti 6/5, Me 8, Ta 6/6; III Ti 5/5, Me 10, Ta 7/7; IV Ti 6/5, Me 10, Ta 10/9. Clavate trichobothria in two rows on distal half (separated by a wide band of small rigid setae): 7/8 on tarsus I; 8/8 on tarsus II; 8/9 on tarsus III; 10/10 on tarsus IV; 9/8 on pedipalp tarsus. STC one row: pedipalp claw bare; Legs: I, 5/1; II, 5/2; III 3/0; IV bare. Tarsus IV cracked. Colour in alcohol: Chelicerae, carapace and legs light brown. Abdomen dorsally brown, dorsal pattern symmetrical, with 5 spots in the middle, and on the side of the first four spots a lateral line.

Distribution. Cuba, Artemisa Province, Soroa, Sierra de Candelaria ( Fig. 26).