Oecobius sudcaliforniana, Alcántar-Valenzuela & Chamé-Vázquez & Jiménez, 2025

Alcántar-Valenzuela, Joel Jair, Chamé-Vázquez, David & Jiménez, María-Luisa, 2025, Four new species of the spider genus Oecobius Lucas, 1846 (Araneae: Oecobiidae) from northwestern Mexico, Zootaxa 5679 (4), pp. 501-520 : 505-508

Oecobius sudcaliforniana spec. nov.

Figs 11–20 , 64–66

Type material. Holotype: 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-040): MEXICO: Baja California Sur, La Paz , Reserva Dra. Laura Arriaga (24.1298°N, 110.4357°W, 18 m), sarcocaule scrub, pitfall, D. Vega, F. Moreno leg., 13/VI/2015.

Paratypes: Same data as for holotype, except (24.1290°N, 110.4307°W, 14 m), 11/VII/2015, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar- 06) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0304); La Paz, presa Buena Mujer (24.0888°N, 110.1936°W, 180 m), pitfall, unnamed collector, 17/III/2004, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-344) ; same data as for preceding, except 21/IV/2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0259) ; same data as for preceding, except 21/VII/2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0260) ; same data as for preceding, except 21/ V /2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0273) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0274) ; same data as for preceding, except 25/VIII/2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0284) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB- Ar-0285) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0286) ; same data as for preceding, 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar- 0287) .

Other material examined. MEXICO: Baja California Sur, La Paz, Reserva Dra. Laura Arriaga (24.1298°N, 110.4357°W, 18 m), sarcocaule scrub, pitfall, D. Vega, F. Moreno leg., 13/ VI /2015, 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0303); arroyo El Novillo, 4 km of San Pedro (23.9279°N, 110.2250°W, 220 m), pitfall, unnamed collector, 16/III/2004, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-345) ; same data as for preceding, 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0246) ; same data as for preceding, 2♀ (CARCIB- Ar-0247) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0248) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0249) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0250) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0251) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-346) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-347) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-348) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0252) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-349) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-350) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB- Ar-351) ; same data as for preceding, except 16/ V /2004, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0253) ; same data as for preceding, except 18/ VI /2004, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0257) ; same data as for preceding, except 18/XI/2004, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar- 0256) ; same data as for preceding, except 21/X/2004, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0261) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0262) ; same data as for preceding, except transition between tropical deciduous forest and sarcocaule scrub, 22/IV/2004, 3♂ 3♀ 3 juvs (CARCIB-Ar-0263) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0264) ; same data as for preceding, 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0265) ; same data as for preceding, 4♂ 1 ♀ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0266) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0267) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0268) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0269) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0270) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0271) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-352) ; same data as for preceding, except 22/VII/2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0272) ; same data as for preceding, except 25/ V /2004, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar- 0275) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0276) ; same data as for preceding, 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0277) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0278) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0279) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0280) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0281) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0282) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0283) ; same data as for preceding, except 26/VIII/2004, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0288) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0289) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0290) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0291) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0292) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0293) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ 2 juvs (CARCIB-Ar-0294) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0295) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0296); Lomas de Centenario, 9.36 km of La Paz (24.1057°N, 110.4355°W, 33 m), exterior of house, manual collection, C. Palacios leg., 04/IX/2022, 1♂ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0241); Reserva Dra. Laura Arriaga of CIBNOR (24.1288°N, 110.4336°W, 14 m), manual collection, unnamed collector, 04/ V /2005, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0242) ; same data as for preceding, except (24.1292°N, W 110.4305°W, 11 m), sarcocaule scrub, pitfall, D. Vega, F. Moreno leg., 11/VII/2015, 1♂ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0243) ; same data as for preceding, except (24.1293°N, 110.4362°W, 15 m), 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0245) ; same data as for preceding, except (24.1298°N, 110.4357°W, 18 m), 13/ VI /2015, 1♂ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-0302) ; same data as for preceding, except (24.1288°N, 110.4310°W, 14 m), 28/VIII/2015, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0300); San Pedrito del Palmar, Todos Santos (23.6522°N, 110.3602°W, 100 m), pitfall, unnamed collector, 19/III/2005, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0258); 0.83 km of the colonia Álamos near the border of La Paz airport (24.0840°N, 110.3540°W, 16 m), exterior of a house, manual collection, J. Alcántar leg., 17/IX/2022, 2♂ 3♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0231) ; same data as for preceding, except 18/IX/2022, 2♂ 2♀ 3 juvs (CARCIB-Ar-0232) ; same data as for preceding, except 24/IX/2022, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0233); Los Cabos , 0.7 km of El Chorro (23.4388°N, 109.8041°W, 195 m), pitfall, unnamed collector, 01/III/2005, 1♂ 2 juvs (CARCIB-Ar-0234) ; same data as for preceding, except C. Palacios leg., 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0235) ; same data as for preceding, except unnamed collector, 01/IX/2005, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0236) ; same data as for preceding, except sweep net, M. Correa leg., 2♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0237) ; same data as for preceding, except pitfall, 2♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0238) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0239) ; same data as for preceding, 4♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0240) ; same data as for preceding, except C. Palacios leg., 16/ V /2005, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0254) ; same data as for preceding, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0255) ; same data as for preceding, 2♂ 1♀ 1 juv. (CARCIB-Ar-353) ; same data as for preceding, except 27/VII/2005, 1♀ (CARCIB- Ar-0297) ; same data as for preceding, except 28/VII/2005, 1♂ (CARCIB-Ar-0298) ; same data as for preceding, 1♂ 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0299) ; same data as for preceding, except 28/X/2005, 1♀ (CARCIB-Ar-0301) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Spanish demonym for the people born in Baja California Sur.

Diagnosis. Male palp of O. sudcaliforniana spec. nov. resembles those of O. isolatoides Shear, 1970 , by having rectangular radical apophysis apically truncated and shorter than the curved terminal apophysis; however, O. sudcaliforniana spec. nov. has a large hyaline membrane on radical apophysis (arrow in Figs 15–17 ; vs. without membrane in O. isolatoides , Fig. 55 , Shear 1970: fig. 63) and the conductor bears three apophyses ( Figs 17 , 66 ; vs. only one hyaline apophysis in O. isolatoides , Figs 57 , 75 , Shear 1970: fig. 62). Epigyne in O. sudcaliforniana spec. nov. resemble those in O. yaqui spec. nov. by having a scape longer than wide; however, O. sudcaliforniana spec. nov. has the scape oblong, almost three times longer than wide ( Fig. 18 ; vs. oval-shaped, two times longer in O. yaqui spec. nov., Fig. 28 ), tip notched ( Fig. 18 ; vs. not notched in O. yaqui spec. nov., Fig. 28 ), and copulatory openings displaced (located about the posterior third of scape length) ( Fig. 18 ; vs. located at the tip of scape in O. yaqui spec. nov., Fig. 28 ).

Description. Male. Coloration. Carapace light brown with three dark submarginal spots. Eye area bordered with black. Legs pale yellowish, with black rings on segments (usually broken) as follows: Fe with two, Pa with one, Ti with two, Mt with two, Ta with one, very diffused distally. Sternum, labium and endites yellowish, sternum with diffused dark lines in margins ( Figs 11–12 ). Opisthosoma dorsum suffused with white spots and few dark brown interspersed, and a large, brown cardiac mark; sides suffused with white spots. Opisthosoma venter light brown anteriorly and posteriorly, median area yellowish with white spots. Spinnerets and anal tubercle mostly pale yellow; distal segment of PLS darker dorsally ( Fig. 11 ).

Carapace, eyes, mouthparts, and opisthosoma as Oecobius culichi spec. nov. except AME slightly larger than PME, separated by one diameter. Measurements: total length 2.18. Carapace 0.86 long, 1.03 wide. Opisthosoma 1.32 long, 0.92 wide. Ti I 0.67, II 0.76, III 0.72, IV 0.79.

Palp. In prolateral view, radical apophysis rectangular, shorter than terminal apophysis, a lateral hyaline membrane runs almost all process length (white arrow in Figs 15–17 ); radical protrusion short, pointed; terminal apophysis long, curved upward, apex flattened dorsoventrally.Conductor with three processes directed retroventrally, the subapical one hyaline, long, and pointed, the middle one sclerotized and pointed, the subbasal one short, heavily sclerotized and blunt; embolus long, tubiform directed retroventrally ( Figs 64–66 ).

Female. Coloration: Similar to male, but carapace darker with inconspicuous white spots; opisthosoma dorsum brownish with white and dark spots, venter with fewer white spots. Measurements: total length 2.78. Carapace 0.83 long, 0.96 wide. Opisthosoma 1.95 long, 1.42 wide. Ti I 0.66, II 0.66, III 0.54, IV 0.73.

Epigyne. Scape oblong, about three times long as wide; scape tip notched; copulatory openings located in the apical third of scape length ( Figs 18–19 ). Vulva . Copulatory ducts long and tubiform, directed anteriorly then arched laterally toward receptacles; receptacles hyaline and globose; sclerotized capsules elongated and transversal, situated laterally at scape base; blind appendix reniform; restricted to posterior third of the epigyne length ( Fig. 20 ).

Variation. Female carapace coloration is usually darker than that in males. The number of white spots on opisthosoma venter varies, but females generally have a reduced number. Measurements: Females (N=9): total length 1.99–2.88. Carapace 0.73–0.93 long, 0.79–1.03 wide. Opisthosoma 1.26–1.95 long, 0.89–1.62 wide. Ti I 0.53–0.73, II 0.56–0.76, III 0.53–0.70, IV 0.53–0.78. Males (N=9): total length 1.75–2.65. Carapace 0.76–0.96 long, 0.96–1.09 wide. Opisthosoma 0.99–1.69 long, 0.70–1.26 wide. Ti I 0.56–0.71, II 0.63–0.74, III 0.60–0.73, IV 0.60–0.76.

Natural history. Specimens of this species were predominantly collected using pitfall traps in sarcocaule scrubland and tropical deciduous forest (Palacios-Cardiel, pers. obs.). Additionally, specimens were found on exterior walls of houses in La Paz, Baja California Sur. In September of 2022, four round ovisacs were observed, with a range of 10 to 14 eggs (N=4).

Distribution. This species is known only from southern Baja California Sur (La Paz and Los Cabos municipalities) ( Fig. 76 ).

Figures

FIGURE 76. Distribution of Oecobius species based on records from the current paper, Shear (1970), and Jiménez & Llinas (2005).

FIGURES 11–20. Oecobius sudcaliforniana spec. nov. 11. male habitus, dorsal; 12. same, ventral; 13. female habitus, dorsal; 14. same, ventral; 15. male palp, prolateral; 16. same, ventral; 17. same, retrolateral; 18. epigyne, ventral; 19. cleared epigyne, ventral; 20. same, dorsal. White arrows point hyaline membrane in Figs. 15–17. Scale bars 11–14: 1.0 mm; 15–17: 0.30 mm; 18–20: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: BA—blind appendix; C—conductor; CD—copulatory ducts; CO—copulatory openings; E— embolus; FD—fertilization ducts; K—sclerotized capsule; R—receptacle; RA—radical apophysis; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURES 61–69. 61–63. Oecobius culichi spec. nov. 64–66. O. sudcaliforniana spec. nov. 67–69. O. yoreme spec. nov. 61, 64, 67. male palp, prolateral. 62, 65, 68. same, ventral. 63, 66, 69. same, retrolateral. The processes of the conductor are colorcoded as follows: green for the subapical process, red for the median process, and blue for the subbasal process. Scale bars 61–69: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; RA—radical apophysis; RP—radical protrusion; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURES 51–60. Oecobius isolatoides. 51. male habitus, dorsal; 52. same, ventral; 53. female habitus, dorsal; 54. same, ventral; 55. male palp, prolateral; 56. same, ventral; 57. same, retrolateral; 58. epigyne, ventral; 59. cleared epigyne, ventral; 60. same, dorsal. Scale bars 51–54: 1.0 mm; 55–57: 0.30 mm; 58–60: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: BA—blind appendix; C— conductor; CD—copulatory ducts; CO—copulatory openings; E—embolus; FD—fertilization ducts; K—sclerotized capsule; R—receptacle; RA—radical apophysis; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURES 70–75. 70–72. Oecobius hoffmannae. 73–75. O. isolatoides. 70, 73. male palp, prolateral. 71, 74. Same, ventral. 72, 75. Same, retrolateral. Scale bars 70–75: 0.10 mm. The processes of the conductor are color-coded as follows: green for the subapical process, red for the median process, and blue for the subbasal process. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; RA—radical apophysis; RP—radical protrusion; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURES 21–30. Oecobius yaqui spec. nov. 21. male habitus, dorsal; 22. same, ventral; 23. female habitus, dorsal; 24. same, ventral; 25. male palp, prolateral; 26. same, ventral; 27. same, retrolateral; 28. epigyne, ventral; 29. cleared epigyne, ventral; 30. same, dorsal. Scale bars 21–24: 1.0 mm; 25–27: 0.30 mm; 28–30: 0.10 mm. Abbreviations: BA—blind appendix; C— conductor; CD—copulatory ducts; CO—copulatory openings; E—embolus; FD—fertilization ducts; K—sclerotized capsule; R—receptacle; RA—radical apophysis; TA—terminal apophysis.