Nungara, Pinto & Rheims, 2016

Pinto, Elaine Cristina & Rheims, Cristina Anne, 2016, A new genus of Neotropical spiders of the family Sparassidae (Arachnida: Araneae), Zoologia (e 20160160) 33 (6), pp. 1-15 : 2-6

Nungara gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C48AFC66-7C23-4D7D-B3FC-9E25FC9AF322

Type species. Olios niveomaculatus Mello-Leitão, 1941 .

Diagnosis. Species of the genus Nungara gen. nov. resemble those of the Neotropical genera Anaptomecus Simon, 1903 , Sparianthina Banks, 1929 , Guadana Rheims, 2010 and Caayguara Rheims, 2010 in having three promarginal teeth and intermarginal denticles on the chelicerae ( Fig. 7 ; JäGER et al. 2009: figs. 10, 89, 109; RHEIMS 2010a: fig. 7; 2010b: fig. 2; GUALA et al. 2012: fig. 22). They are distinguished from Anaptomecus , Sparianthina and Guadana in having a short-toothed female pedipalp claw ( Fig. 16 ) (long-toothed in the latter genera, see JäGER et al. 2009: figs.13, 64; RHEIMS 2010a: fig. 9) and from all four genera in having three pairs of ventral spines on tibiae I-II (four in Anaptomecus , Sparianthina and Guadana and two in Caayguara ) and 4-6 strong setae at the base of fang ( Fig. 7 ) (only one in the latter genera, see RHEIMS 2010a: fig. 7; 2010b: fig. 2; GUALA et al. 2012: figs.19-20). Additionally, species of Nungara gen. nov. can be distinguished from those of all known Neotropical genera by the presence of a deep tegular groove on the male palp ( Figs. 28 , 39 , 50 ) and a hood-like projection on the median septum of the female epigyne ( Figs. 30 , 41 , 52 ).

Description. Total length: males 6.0-15.4, females 6.1-14.0. Prosoma slightly longer than wide; cephalic region slightly higher than thoracic region, sloping posteriorly; fovea conspicuous on posterior third of prosoma; eyes arranged in two rows, both straight or very slightly procurved; AME larger than or as large as ALE and more distant from each other than from ALE; PME smaller than PLE and more distant or closer to each other than to PLE ( Figs.1-6 ); clypeus low, less than AME diameter. Chelicerae longer than wide with three promarginal teeth, the median one largest, and four retromarginal teeth, the basal one smallest; intermarginal denticles present at base of furrow; six strong setae at base of fang ( Fig. 7 ). Labium slightly longer than wide. Endites parallel, longer than wide, with dense scopulae on internal margin; serrula with a single row of denticles ( Fig. 8 ). Sternum slightly longer than wide, very slightly projected between coxae IV. Legs laterigrade (2143); trochanter I-IV strongly notched ( Fig. 9 ); metatarsi I-IV with distal dorsal trilobate membrane with median lobe as large or slightly larger than lateral projections ( Fig. 10 ); trichobothria present on dorsum of tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, arranged in several rows on tarsi and converging to a single row on metatarsi; bothrium with elliptical dorsal plate, with one or two distal grooves, projecting over smooth basal plate ( Fig. 11 ); tarsal organ capsulate with keyhole-shaped opening, located dorsally at the distal end of tarsi ( Fig. 12 ); tarsi with pair of pectinate claws with one strongly curved main tooth followed by 12-18 secondary, slightly curved, smaller teeth ( Figs. 13-14 ); claw tufts with distally bifid hairs (Fig. 15); spination in males: femur I-IV:p1-1-1; d0-1-1; r1-1-1; patellae: I-IV p1; r1; tibiae: I−II: p1-0-1; d1-1-1; r1-0-1; v2-2-2; tibiae III−IV: p1-0-1; d0-0-0(1); r1-0-1; v2-2-2; metatarsi I−III: p1-1-0; r1-1-0; v2-2-0; metatarsus IV: p1-1-2; r1-1-2; v2-2-0; palp: femur: p0-0-1; d0-1-2; r0-0-1; patella: p1; r1; tibia:p2-1-0; d1-0-0; r1-1-0; spination in females: as in males except tibia I-IV: d0 and palp tarsus: p2-1-0; r2-1-0. Female palps with a single pectinate claw, with one strong distal tooth followed by 6-10 shorter and slightly curved secondary teeth ( Fig. 16 ); sensory setae long, distally curved, with barbules along the entire setae and with distal region bearing a large pore and a single filiform extension ( Fig. 20 ), distributed sparsely along dorsal surface of tarsus ( Fig. 19 ). Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide; male epiandrous region with scattered epiandrous spigots; tracheal spiracle single, contiguous to spinnerets; anal tubercle small, triangular with few terminal hairs. Six spinnerets: ALS contiguous, conical, bisegmented, distal segment bearing 20-25 piriform gland spigots in males and females, one major ampullate gland spigot and one nubbin in males ( Fig. 21 ) and two major ampullate gland spigots in females ( Fig. 24 ); PMS short and truncate with 3-5 cylindrical gland spigots and 10-15 aciniform gland spigots in males and females, one minor ampullate gland spigot and one tartipore in males ( Fig. 22 ) and two minor ampullate gland spigots in females ( Fig. 25 ); PLS conical, bisegmented, distal segment bearing 20-25 aciniform gland spigots ( Figs. 23, 26 ). Male palp: tibia as long as cymbium with three prolateral, one dorsal and two retrolateral spines ( Figs. 27-29 ); RTA simple, arising distally from retrolateral tibia ( Figs. 28 , 39 , 50 ); cymbium slightly elongate with oval, ventral alveolus and dorsal scopulae of long, distally curved sensory setae, with barbules along the entire setae and with distal region bearing a large pore and an single filiform extension ( Figs. 17-18 ); tegulum rounded with strong tegular groove, longitudinal ( Fig. 39 ) or C-shaped ( Figs. 28 , 50 ); embolus filiform, with no projections, arising from tegulum between 2-6 o’clock positions; conductor membranous, gutter-shaped ( Figs. 28 , 39, 50). Female epigyne: epigynal plate of variable shape, usually as wide as long; lateral lobes simple, without projections, partially covering the median septum; median septum of variable shapes bearing a pair of anterior copulatory openings and a median hoodlike projection ( Figs.30 , 41 , 52 ). Female vulva: internal duct system with copulatory ducts short; glandular projection large, slightly cylindrical, arising close to the copulatory openings; spermathecae long, convoluted; fertilization ducts short, hook-shaped and anterio-laterad ( Figs. 31-32 , 42-43 , 53-54 ).

Distribution. Known from western Ecuador (state of Esmeraldas) and northern to southern Brazil, (states of Pará, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Mato Grosso, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul) ( Fig. 60 ).

Composition. Three species: Nungara niveomaculata (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov.; Nungara gaturama sp. nov.; Nungara anama sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun from the Tupi Indian Language meaning “equal, similar” and refers to the strong similarity between the species genitalia. Gender is feminine.

Remarks. Based on previous subfamilial classifications ( SIMON 1897, 1903, HOGG 1903, JäRVI 1912, 1914, PETRUNKEVITCH 1928, ROEWER 1954, JäGER 1998) and unpublished morphological evidences, MORADMAND et al. (2014: fig. 1) reported the current classification concept for all known genera of Sparassidae . Heteropodinae appears divided into two groups. The core group, Heteropodinae sensu stricto, includes the Australasian and African genera while the Neotropical genera, Anaptomecus , Sparianthina, Guadana and Caayguara group under Heteropodinae sensu latu. In this paper, the authors investigated the phylogeny of Sparassidae using four molecular markers. However, the sampling included only two Neotropical representatives, Polybetes pythagoricus (Holmberg, 1875) and Olios cf. sanctivicenti ( Simon, 1897). The latter species belongs to an unknown genus, currently misplaced in Olios , and shares with Nungara gen. nov. the presence of three promarginal teeth and intermarginal denticles on the chelicerae, a short-toothed female pedipalp claw and three pairs of ventral spines on tibiae I-II. Their results show O. cf. santivicenti sister to P. pythagoricus , at the base of a large clade, sister to Heteropodinae sensu strictu (see MORADMAND et al. 2014: fig. 3). Based on these evidences the authors classify O. cf. sanctivicenti as Heteropodinae sensu latu. However, no representatives of Anaptomecus , Sparianthina , Guadana or Caayguara were included in this analysis and the relationship between these genera, Nungara gen. nov. and O. cf. sanctivicenti remains unresolved. Thus, taking into account the morphological aspects of these genera and species, Heteropodinae sensu latu should include only Anaptomecus , Sparianthina and Guadana . These genera share with Heteropodinae sensu strictu the long-toothed female pedipalp claw, the presence of four pairs of ventral spines on tibiae I-II and a single strong setae at the base of fang (see JäGER et al. 2009: figs. 10, 89, 109; RHEIMS 2010a: fig. 7; GUALA et al. 2012: fig. 22). Nungara gen. nov., Caayguara and O. cf. sanctivicenti , all with a short-toothed female pedipalp claw, two or three pairs of ventral spines on tibiae I-II and more than five strong setae at the base of fang (see Figs. 7 , 16 ; RHEIMS 2010b: figs. 2, 7), should be excluded from Heteropodinae sensu latu. Nevertheless, their relationship to one another as well as their placement within Sparassidae remains unresolved until a more comprehensive analysis, including more Neotropical representatives, is conducted.

Figures

Figure 60. Distribution map for the known species of Nungara gen. nov.

Figures 7-12. Nungara gaturama sp. nov. (7) female, MNRJ 1681, right chelicerae, ventral view (arrow indicating intermarginal denticles); (8) female, MNRJ 1695, left endite, serrula, ventral view; (9) male, MNRJ 1690, leg I, trochanter, dorsal view; (10) male, MNRJ 1690, leg I, metatarsus, trilobate membrane, dorsal view; (11) female, MNRJ 1685, leg I, tarsus, trichobothria, dorsal view; (12) male, MNRJ 1690, leg I, tarsus, tarsal organ, dorsal view. Scale bars: 7, 9 = 500 µm; 8 = 200 µm; 10 = 100 µm; 11 = 5 µm; 12 = 10 µm.

Figures 13-16. Nungara gaturama sp. nov.; (13) male, MNRJ 1687, leg I, claws, retrolateral view (14) male, MNRJ 1718, leg IV, claws, prolateral view (15) male, MNRJ 1690, leg I, tarsos, claw tufts (16) female, MNRJ 1685, pedipalp, claw, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 13- 14 = 200 µm, 15 = 30 µm, 16 = 100 µm.

Figures 27-32. Nungara anama sp. nov. 27-29 male, IBSP 134951, left palp (27) prolateral view; (28) ventral view; (29) retrolateral view. 30-32 female, IBSP 7599, (30) epigyne, ventral view; (31) vulva, dorsal view; (32) schematic course of internal duct system (C = conductor; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; GP = glandular projection; HP = hood-like projection; LL = lateral lobe; MS = median septum; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; SP = spermathecae; ST = subtegulum; TG = tegular groove). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 38-43. Nungara gaturama sp. nov. 38-40 male, IBSP 48264, left palp (38) prolateral view, (39) ventral view, (40) retrolateral view. 41-43 female, IBSP 17920, (41) epigyne, ventral view; (42) vulva, dorsal view; (43) schematic course of internal duct system (TG = tegular groove). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 49-54. Nungara niveomaculata (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov. 49-51 male, IBSP 17956, left palp (49) prolateral view; (50) ventral view; (51) retrolateral view. 52-54 female, IBSP 39305 (52) epigyne, ventral view; (53) vulva, dorsal view; (54) schematic course of internal duct system (TG = tegular groove). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 1-4. Dorsal habitus. 1-2; Nungara anama sp. nov.; (1) male, IBSP 12926, (2) female, IBSP 7599. 3-4 Nungara gaturama sp. nov. (3) male, IBSP 63333, (4) female, IBSP 135140. Scale bars: 1 mm

Figures 5-6. Dorsal habitus. Nungara niveomaculata (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov. (1) male, MNRJ 43275, (2) female, MNRJ 13331. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 17-20. Nungara gaturama sp. nov.; 17-18 male, MNRJ 1718, (17) left palp, cymbium, sensory scopula, dorsal view; (18) ditto, sensory setae, detail; 19-20 female, MNRJ 1681 (19) left pedipalp, prolateral view (arrows indicating sensory setae); (20) ditto, sensory setae, detail. Scale bars: 17 = 50 µm, 18, 20 = 5 µm, 19 = 500 µm.

Figures 21-26. Nungara gaturama sp. nov.; 21-23 male, MNRJ 1687, spinnerets (21) anterior lateral spinneret; (22) posterior median spinneret; (23) posterior lateral spinneret. 24-26 female, MNRJ 1681, spinnerets (24) anterior lateral spinneret; (25) posterior median spinneret; (26) posterior lateral spinneret.(AC = aciniform gland spigot; CY = cylindrical gland spigot; MAP = major ampullate gland spigot; mAP = minor ampullate gland spigot; N = nubbin; PI = piriform gland spigot; T = tartipore). Scale bars: 21 = 100 µm, 22-26 = 50 µm.