Monoblemma cambridgei ( Bryant, 1940 ), 2025

Martínez, Leonel, 2025, A revision of the genus Monoblemma Gertsch, 1941 (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) in Central America and the Caribbean, Zootaxa 5636 (2), pp. 287-315 : 289-290

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5636.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CD720DF6-692B-4F3C-BAAA-B40676239595
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15446245
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/97261757-713C-137D-FF3F-FB7FFB54F3BC
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Monoblemma cambridgei ( Bryant, 1940 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Monoblemma cambridgei ( Bryant, 1940) new combination

Figures 2–10 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 , 14 View FIGURE 14 E−H, 16A, C, 20A, E.

Tetrablemma cambridgei Bryant, 1940: 269 , figs. 8–10, 13 ( male holotype, female allotype, and males paratypes from Cuba, Soledad, 8.VIII.1932, Bates & Fairchild, deposited in MCZ, examined ).

Matta cambridgei : Shear, 1978: 16, figs. 24–32 (transferred from Tetrablemma View in CoL , misidentification based on specimens from Jamaica, examined).

Caraimatta cambridgei : Lehtinen, 1981: 71 (transferred from Matta , misidentification based on Shear (1978) ’ drawings.

Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978: 23 , figs. 51–56 (male holotype and female paratype from St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands, 6.V.1974, W. Muchmore leg., deposited in AMNH, examined). New synonymy.

Other material examined. PUERTO RICO. Luquillo, El Junque Trail : litter bamboo mixed forest, 150m, [18°17'43.35"N, 65° 47' 59.81"W], R. Edwards leg., 4.II.2002, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH, vchLAM-561-562 ), GoogleMaps 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH), GoogleMaps 12 ♂ 3 ♀ ( AMNH) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Monoblemma cambridgei ( Bryant, 1940) , comb. nov., is similar to Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov. by the presence of four eyes and a medially expanded spermatic duct ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 ; 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ; 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ; 8A–C View FIGURE 8 ; 10A–C View FIGURE 10 ; 13A–C View FIGURE 13 ; 15A–C View FIGURE 15 ; 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ; 5A–B View FIGURE 5 ; 7A–B View FIGURE 7 ; 12A–B View FIGURE 12 ; 20A–B View FIGURE 20 ). Males of M. cambridgei can be distinguished from M. cubaensis by a thinner and shorter embolus, and the poorly projected bulb ( Figs. 3A–D View FIGURE 3 ; 5A–D View FIGURE 5 ; 7A–D View FIGURE 7 ; 16A, C View FIGURE 16 ; 20A View FIGURE 20 ). They are further separated by the shape of the cheliceral apophyses, which are pointed, anteriorly projected, with many denticles on the frontal surface ( Figs. 5E View FIGURE 5 ; 8B–F View FIGURE 8 ). Females of M. cambridgei are characterized by a knob-like, thinner central process and smaller seminal receptacles ( Figs. 3E–F View FIGURE 3 ; 7E–F View FIGURE 7 ; 20E View FIGURE 20 ).

Redescription. Male (based on holotype and paratype, MCZ-IZ 20680). Total body length 1.01, carapace length 0.42, width 0.33, height 0.24. Clypeus height 0.13. Eye diameters and interdistances: four eyes, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.04; PLE separated by more than one ALE diameter. Sternum sub-rhomboidal with recurved posterior edge, length 0.23, width 0.26. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.09. Legs: Leg I—femur 0.32/ patella 0.09/ tibia 0.26/ metatarsus 0.16/ tarsus 0.18/ total 1.02; II—0.28/ 0.11/ 0.24/ 0.13/ 0.15/ 0.93; III—0.21/ 0.13/ 0.14/ 0.12/ 0.13/ 0.74; IV—0.27/ 0.08/ 0.26/ 0.18/ 0.19/ 0.99. Abdomen length 0.60, width 0.47. Body coloration reddish-brown, carapace marginally darker ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A−C). Legs pale brown, metatarsi and tarsi whitish. Spinnerets pale whitish. Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, anteriorly reticulated few raised, suboval-shaped, anterior edge procurved, slightly projected ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ); four eyes arranged in two rows widely separated each other, ALE>PLE, ALE and PLE adjacent; clypeus high and anteriorly projected with rounded anterior edge ( Figs. 2A View FIGURE 2 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ); thoracic region smooth, thoracic furrow represented by a transversal very short line ( Figs. 2A View FIGURE 2 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ); Chelicerae with developed frontal apophysis, projected and pointed at medial region and anteriorly represented by many denticles ( Figs. 5E View FIGURE 5 , 8B–F View FIGURE 8 ); endites sub-quadrangular, anteriorly narrow; labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long; sternum rugose almost as long as wide ( Figs. 2C View FIGURE 2 , 4C View FIGURE 4 , 6C View FIGURE 6 ). Legs with many fine setae, femora with granulated cuticle, tibiae-tarsi cuticle striated, tarsi longer than metatarsi, metatarsi with a distal lyriform organ with six furrows; patellae with developed lyriform organ with two plates, with nine and five furrows, respectively ( Figs. 9 View FIGURE 9 E−H, 14E−H); tarsal claw very small, pectinated, anterior legs with 7−8 teeth and posterior legs with 5-6 ( Fig. 14G View FIGURE 14 ). Opisthosoma: covered with black and fine setae on posterior edge ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ); dorsal scutum oval-shaped and smooth; ventral scutum (pulmonar scutum) finely reticulated and with some fine setae and four spigots at the epyadrium ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ); with three lateral scuta, extending to the posterior side of the anal plate, lateral regions with some free sclerites ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ); postgenital scutum rectangular, long, very narrow; preanal scutum rectangular-shaped and approximately twice as wide as postgenital scutum with all edges rounded. Six spinnerets surrounded by the anal plate ( Fig. 9B, C View FIGURE 9 ), ALS large with two articles, basal article very wide, distal article short and narrow, covered by piriform gland spigots and two major ampullate gland spigots; PMS very short with two articles, one relatively large spigot, presumably from a minor ampullate gland, and several aciniform gland spigots; PLS also with two articles, apical article flat, covered by long modified setae and aciniform gland spigots ( Fig. 9B, C View FIGURE 9 ),. Palp: femur cylindric with some simple setae on the cuticle; patella short with long setae; tibia swollen with simple and long setae; cymbium short with black, long setae; bulb large and pear-shaped; spermatic ducts very wide at base, narrower toward the embolus, and with a medial expansion; embolus long, filiform, straight, apically needle-shaped ( Figs. 3A–D View FIGURE 3 , 5A–D View FIGURE 5 , 7A–D View FIGURE 7 , 16A, C View FIGURE 16 , 20A View FIGURE 20 ).

Female (based on allotype MCZ-IZ 68481 and complementary with a female AMNH; vchLAM-00560 from Puerto Rico). Total body length 1.04, carapace length 0.42, width 0.34, height 0.27. Clypeus height 0.13. Eye diameters and interdistances:ALE 0.04, PLE 0.03; PLE separated by one ALE diameter. Sternum length 0.27, width 0.26. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.10. Leg measurements: Leg I—femur 0.27/ patella 0.08/ tibia 0.16/ metatarsus 0.10/ tarsus 0.14/ total 0.79; II—0.12/ 0.07/ 0.11/ 0.13/ 0.12/ 0.57; III—0.21/ 0.06/ 0.16/ 0.13/ 0.15/ 0.72; IV—0.31/ 0.09/ 0.25/ 0.21/ 0.15/ 1.04. Abdomen length 0.61, width 0.42. Coloration as male but paler, legs uniformly whitish ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D−F, 4D−F, 6D−F). Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, with striated at posterior edge and under eyes; eyes white in two rows ALE>PLE; clypeus high and anteriorly projected ( Fig.10 View FIGURE 10 A−C); thoracic region smooth ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); Chelicerae with a wide, poorly developed lateral apophysis at distal edges ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ); endites sub-quadrangular-shaped with the wide basal edge, narrowing towards the distal edge ( Figs. 2F View FIGURE 2 , 4F View FIGURE 4 , 6F View FIGURE 6 ); labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long ( Figs. 2F View FIGURE 2 , 4F View FIGURE 4 , 6F View FIGURE 6 ); sternum rugose with few setae ( Figs. 2F View FIGURE 2 , 4F View FIGURE 4 , 6F View FIGURE 6 ). Legs cuticle as in the male ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D−F, 4D−F, 6D−F). Opisthosoma: covered with white and black fine setae; scuta as in the male; postgenital scutum narrow. Six spinnerets surrounded by the anal plate as in the male ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ). Genital orifice small, placed at posterior edge of epigynal fold; central process elongated, distally knob-shaped; seminal receptacles very large, oval, membranous; internal glands rounded; vulval ducts short, very wide ( Figs. 7 View FIGURE 7 E−F, 20E).

Variation. Males (n=5): total length: 0.98-1.06; carapace length: 0.42-0.50. Females (n=5): total length: 1.02- 1.09; carapace length: 0.41-0.42. Male and females from Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are more pigmented ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 A−F), males present developer chelicera apophysis ( Fig. 8D, F View FIGURE 8 ). Furthermore, males show slight variation in the embolus length and in the tip, males from Virgin Island ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 A−D) present slightly shorter and curved embolus while population from Puerto Rico present straight and needle-shaped embolus ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 A−D), very similar in shape to those of the male types.

Remark. Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978 was originally described from the Virgin Islands, with an additional population reported from Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia. Shear (1978) noted some intraspecific variation, particularly in body size and the morphology of the cheliceral apophyses. Although the type specimens of Monoblemma cambridgei exhibit smaller cheliceral apophyses, no significant differences were observed in the male palp when compared with specimens of M. muchmorei from both the Virgin Islands and Colombia.

Distribution. Known from Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 ).