Bonnetina unam, Ortiz & Francke, 2017

Ortiz, David & Francke, Oscar F., 2017, Reconciling morphological and molecular systematics in tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae): revision of the Mexican endemic genus Bonnetina, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180, pp. 819-886 : 866-869

BONNETINA UNAM SP. NOV.

( FIGS 1, 2, 5B, 10C, D, 20, 27K; TABLES 1, 4)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:71D4A702-3870-4A76-B6B7-B74D3A2E0742

Bonnetina ‘Cumbre’ – Ortiz & Francke, 2016: figs 1–5, 7.

Types (n = 3): Holotype. ♂ a ( CNAN-T1065 ex-3725A). MEXICO: Guerrero State: Iguala municipality: close to La Cumbre hostel (on Federal Road 95D): 18.4005°, –99.4853°: 1210 masl. 23/IX/2012. David Ortiz, Jorge Mendoza, Jesús Cruz and Gerardo Contreras, cols. Under a stone in oak forest . Allotype. ♀ ( CNAN-T1066 ex-3725B): same collecting data as holotype . Paratype. ♀ ( SMF ex-CNAN-4090): same locality and microhabitat as holotype. 4/II/2013. D. Ortiz, J. Mendoza, Diego Barrales and G. Contreras .

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition after the acronym of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a world’s leading institution that graduates every year thousands of skilled professionals in many branches of knowledge, at different academic levels. UNAM is one of the pillars of Mexico’s economic and social development and it is an equal opportunity university, welcoming students from around the world under the same conditions as nationals. Both authors work at UNAM: D.O. as a PhD student and O.F.F. as an Associate Researcher.

Diagnosis: Morphology and natural history. Bonnetina unam belongs to a group of species with similar morphologies, which are separated from most congeners by the males having the pedipalpal bulbs geniculate, with the embolus short and strongly curved dorsally, and the females having domiform-low spermatheca. The males differ from those of B. flammigera and B. megagyna by having only simple or conical spines on top of the tibia I accessory apophysis (no stout spines). They additionally differ from males of B. flammigera in that the tip of the retrolateral apophysis is flattish, not obtuse, and in that the patellae are greyish, not covered by striking copper penny pubescence. Males differ from those of B. tindoo in that the sternum is sub-circular (approximately as wide as long), not sub-oval (clearly longer than wider). Males of B. unam and B. aviae are morphologically similar. Females of B. unam differ from those of B. tindoo in the shape of the sternum (same as in the males), from B. alagoni and B. aviae in that the urticating hair patch is reduced in size, from B. hobbit in that the scopula on metatarsus I covers at least the distal 3/4 of the segment (in contrast to 1/2), and from B. juxtantricola , in that adults are small sized (in contrast to medium sized) and the carapace is sub-elliptical (in contrast to sub-oval). Bonnetina unam and B. aviae are also separated by their geographical distributions, in one locality close to Iguala, in Guerrero ( B. unam ) and in the surroundings of the Valley of Mexico and one locality in Veracruz ( B. aviae ). DNA. Diagnostic COI nucleotides (5): 138 (C), 306 (A), 899 (T), 904 (T), 914 (G). COI p -distances to other species above 6.5%; intra-specific distances less than 2% (Appendices S1, S5).

Species delimitation methods: Integrative ( Ortiz & Francke, 2016); this study: HG barcoding and PTP.

Description

Male holotype: Some quantitative characters are given in Table 4. Colour and pubescence. Carapace covered by dense light copper pubescence, which masks partially the dark brown integument ( Fig. 10C). Femora dark brown, with scarce light copper hairs. Rest of leg and pedipalpal segments with light copper pubescence on medium grey background. Patellae longitudinal stripes inconspicuous. Prosoma. Caput moderately elevated and fovea deep and procurved. Posterior area of carapace bears numerous very thick erect setae. Eight eyes disposed in two rows on markedly elevated tubercle; anterior eye row, procurved; posterior row, recurved. Ocular mask present. Ocular quadrangle width, 1.10; length, 0.64. Clypeus width, 0.10. AME circular, diameter, 0.24; ALE elliptical, greater diameter, 0.36; PME ovoid, greater diameter, 0.20; PLE elliptical, greater diameter, 0.28. Sternum ( Fig. 20A) slightly convex to its centre, covered uniformly by erect thick hairs and other hairs much smaller; with three pairs of sigillae, placed opposite to coxae I, II and III. Labium sub-trapezoidal; middle length, 0.90; anterior width, 0.74; posterior width, 1.34. Appendage segment lengths. Palp : femur, 3.8; patella, 2.4; tibia, 3.4; Total , 9.5. Leg I: femur, 5.7; patella, 3.5; tibia, 4.3; metatarsus, 3.8; tarsus, 2.6; Total , 19.9. Leg II: femur, 5.2; patella, 3.2; tibia, 3.4; metatarsus, 3.5; tarsus, 2.1; Total , 17.4. Leg III: femur, 4.7; patella, 2.6; tibia, 3.2; metatarsus, 3.9; tarsus, 2.7; Total , 17.1. Leg IV: femur, 5.9; patella, 3.2; tibia, 4.9; metatarsus, 5.8; tarsus, 3.3; Total , 23.1. Leg IV > I> II > III. Appendage spination. Leg I: femur p0-0- 1; tibia p0-1-1 v1-0-2; metatarsus v0-0-1. Leg II: femur p0-0-1; tibia p0-1-1 v1-2-3; metatarsus p0-1-0 v2-0-2. Leg III: femur r0-0-1; tibia p0-2-0 r1-1-0 v1-2-3; metatarsus p1-2-1 r0-1-1 v1-1-3. Leg IV: femur r0-0-1; tibia r1-0-1 v1-2-3; metatarsus p0-1-1 r0-1-1 v1-2-3. Spine cluster in ventral base of metatarsus II absent. Appendage setation. Femora of pedipalps and legs I and II prolaterally covered by a pad of simple and ciliated hairs. Femora IV retrolateral zone covered by a pad of ciliated hairs. Pedipalpal trochanters prolateral surface with thick simple hairs. Metatarsal scopulae. On legs I, apical 3/4 of the segment; on legs II and III, apical 1/2; on legs IV, apical 1/3. Tarsal scopulae. On legs I, divided by a 2–3 hairs wide band of non-adhesive thin hairs; on legs II and III, divided by a 3–5 hairs wide band of thick hairs; on legs IV, divided by a 3–5 hairs wide band of very thick hairs. Claw tufts very dense on every leg. Abdominal urticating hairs. Type III, in dorsal elliptical patch. Sexual features. Retrolateral face of palpal tibiae with prominent, apically inclined, conical nodule near the apex. Pedipalpal bulbs ( Fig. 20B–H). Bulb geniculate. Embolus sub-conical, gradually thinning from base to apex, moderately curved retrolaterally and strongly curved dorsally. The embolus is also twisted counterclockwise (from base to apex) to the point that in the apex, the ventral structures of the bulb become prolateral. PS, PI, PSA and SP keels present. PS is moderately developed, smooth and extends from the embolus base to almost its apex. PI keel mostly smooth, with three apical denticles; it is fused with the PSA keel. PSA keel well developed. SP keels extend only slightly to the embolus base after the sperm pore; they are mostly folded onto each other, forming the sperm pore. Bulbal heel well developed. Legs I Holding Organ. Tibiae I with three apophyses near the apex ( Fig. 20I, J). Prolateral and retrolateral apophyses originate from a common base. Prolateral apophysis conical, slightly bent prolaterally and bearing an oval megaspine on its internal border. Retrolateral apophysis chevron-shaped, not dorsally curved, lacking an internal mound, and with a flattish tip. Accessory apophysis very poorly developed, indistinct, bearing one conical megaspine at its apex and a simple spine on the internal border. The moderately curved metatarsus I folds between prolateral and retrolateral apophyses. Both metatarsi I with a patch of 12 granules on its basal ventro-retrolateral region; lacking granules on basal ventro-prolateral region. Metatarsi I noticeably thin. GenBank accession numbers. COI: KP757187 . ITS1: KP757262, KP757298 . Preservation state. The specimen is in optimal condition, stored in a jar with 80% ethanol. Left pedipalpal bulb stored in a vial in the specimen jar; right bulb is apart, coated with gold. Right leg III preserved in 96% ethanol at −20 °C for molecular studies .

Allotype female: Some quantitative characters are given in Table 4. Colour and pubescence. Carapace and femora dark brown with scarce light copper pubescence ( Fig. 10D). Rest of leg and pedipalpal segments with light copper pubescence on medium grey background. Patellae longitudinal stripes inconspicuous. Prosoma. Caput moderately elevated and fovea deep and procurved. Posterior area of carapace bears numerous very thick erect setae. Eight eyes disposed in two rows on markedly elevated tubercle; anterior eye row procurved; posterior row, recurved. Ocular mask present. Ocular quadrangle width, 1.28; length, 0.73. Clypeus width, 0.18. AME circular, diameter, 0.30; ALE elliptical, greater diameter, 0.38; PME ovoid, greater diameter, 0.22; PLE elliptical, greater diameter, 0.32. Sternum slightly convex to its centre, covered uniformly by erect thick hairs and other hairs much smaller; with three pairs of sigillae, placed opposite to coxae I, II and III. Labium sub-trapezoidal; middle length, 1.10; anterior width, 0.73; posterior width, 1.60. Appendage segment lengths. Palp: femur, 4.3; patella, 3.0; tibia, 2.9; tarsus, 2.8; Total, 13.0. Leg I: femur, 5.8; patella, 4.0; tibia, 4.0; metatarsus, 3.3; tarsus, 2.4; Total, 19.5. Leg II: femur, 5.2; patella, 3.5; tibia, 3.2; metatarsus, 3.1; tarsus, 2.3; Total, 17.3. Leg III: femur, 4.4; patella, 2.7; tibia, 2.7; metatarsus, 3.7; tarsus, 2.4; Total, 15.9. Leg IV: femur, 5.8; patella, 3.6; tibia, 4.5; metatarsus, 5.6; tarsus, 3.1; Total, 22.6. Leg IV > I> II > III. Appendage spination. Pedipalp: femur p0-0-1; tibia p0-1-0 v0-1-2. Leg I: femur p0-0-1; tibia v0-1-0. Leg II: femur p0-0-1; tibia p0-0-1 v0-1-0; metatarsus v1-0-1. Leg III: tibia p0-1-1 r0-2-0 v1-1-3; metatarsus p1-2-0 r0-1-1 v0-1-2. Leg IV: tibia r1-0-1 v1-2-3; metatarsus p0-1-1 r0-1-1 v1-2-3. Spine cluster in ventral base of metatarsus II absent. Appendage setation. Femora of legs I and II prolaterally covered by a sparse pad of simple and ciliated hairs. Palpal femora without pad. Femora IV retrolateral zone covered by a pad of ciliated hairs. Pedipalpal trochanters prolateral surface with thick simple hairs. Metatarsal scopulae. On legs I, full, except for the basal-most portion of the segment; on legs II, apical 2/3; on legs III, apical 1/2; on legs IV, apical 1/4. Tarsal scopulae. On legs I, divided by a 2–3 hairs wide band of non-adhesive thin hairs; on legs II, divided by a 2–4 hairs wide band of thick hairs; on legs III, divided by a 3–5 hairs wide band of thick hairs; on legs IV, divided by a 3–5 hairs wide band of very thick hairs. Claw tufts very dense on every leg. Abdominal urticating hairs. Type III, in dorsal elliptical patch. Sexual features. Single domiform-low spermatheca ( Fig. 20K, L). It is strongly asymmetrical: fully sclerotized in ventral view, but dorsally only at the receptaculum. GenBank accession numbers. COI: KP757186 . ITS1: KP757261, KP757297 . Preservation state. The specimen is in optimal condition, stored in a jar with 80% ethanol. Genital area is in a plastic vial inside the jar. Right leg III preserved in 96% ethanol at −20 °C for molecular studies.

Female variation (n = 1) ( Fig. 27K): Quantitative characters. Carapace length: 7.8; carapace width: 6.5; carapace width/length: 0.83; sternum length: 3.6; sternum width: 3.5; sternum width/length: 0.99; labial cuspules: 52; maxillary cuspules: 154 and 157; spermatheca base width: 1.26; spermatheca length: 0.56; spermatheca base width/length: 0.44. Qualitative features. Ocular mask absent.

Genetic diversity. COI: KP757230 ( Fig. 2; Appendix S1). Intra-specific variation <0.7%. ITS1: Intra-specific variation = 1.1%.

Distribution and natural history: Bonnetina unam is only known from a single locality, at 1200 masl, close to Iguala, Guerrero, in the eastern Balsas Basin ( Fig. 1; Table 1). The predicted distribution model of morphologically close B. aviae ( Fig. 3B; Appendix S2) indicates that the place is at least 60 km away from any B. aviae suitable areas. Specimens of B. unam live under stones in an oak forest ( Fig. 5B), and the single known male was collected in September. It is sympatric with an unidentified tarantula species of the genus Hemirrhagus Simon, 1903 .