Diamonds in the rough: Ibotyporanga (Araneae, Pholcidae) spiders in semi-arid Neotropical environments Author Huber, Bernhard A. 33607F65-19BF-4DC9-94FD-4BB88CED455F Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, LIB, Bonn, Germany. b.huber@leibniz-lib.de Author Meng, Guanliang 7E8C41F8-77BB-468F-BE9A-D3F1DFCA1E4E Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, LIB, Bonn, Germany. G.Meng@leibniz-lib.de Author Král, Jiří E836F3B5-D704-4EEC-966A-0C4F1FAD324B Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. spider@natur.cuni.cz Author Ávila Herrera, Ivalú M. E3687584-7F64-450D-9492-BE0DD4864AD6 Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. avilai@natur.cuni.cz Author Carvalho, Leonardo S. 28AA7D67-3C9D-495E-8C17-33D35F1A0FAC Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, Brazil. carvalho@ufpi.edu.br text European Journal of Taxonomy 2024 2024-10-18 963 1 169 https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2687/12427 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2024.963.2687 2118-9773 13963130 BA331360-A678-4233-A7CC-7308EF8B6D7E Ibotyporanga imale Huber sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 886A7AAB-02D8-4F62-A2BD-5D1ACEE348DD Figs 23B , 55G–H , 74–78 Diagnosis Males are distinguished from known congeners by dorsal branch of procursus with distinctive distal bend (arrows in Fig. 76 ); also by distal course of main procursus branch ( Fig. 76 ; distal membranous part long, directed towards dorsal; similar only in I. guanambi sp. nov. ). Females are externally possibly indistinguishable from putatively close relatives (species with a split procursus but without median sclerite in female internal genitalia: I. ramosae , I. guanambi , I. capivara sp. nov. , I. sertao sp. nov. ); I. capivara seems to have longer legs (tibia 1>1.4); I. sertao is distinguished by internal genitalia with distinct pair of convoluted tubes and by absence of large median expandable sac. Females of I. ramosae and I. guanambi may be morphologically indistinguishable from those of I. imale sp. nov. Fig. 73. Ibotyporanga spp. , live specimens, part three (cf. Figs 25, 55), all from Brazil. A . I. sertao Huber sp. nov. , male from Pernambuco, W of Orocó. B–C . I. guanambi Huber sp. nov. , male and female with egg sac from Bahia, N of Guanambi. D . I. emekori Huber & Brescovit, 2003 , male from Bahia, near Toca do Índio. E . I. tuxa Huber sp. nov. , male from Bahia, W of Barra do Mendes. F . I. kiriri Huber sp. nov. , male from Bahia, SE of Paramirim. G . I. ouro Huber sp. nov. , male from Bahia, E of Gentio do Ouro. H . I. canudos Huber sp. nov. , male from Bahia, SW of Morro do Chapéu. Etymology The species name remembers the Malê Revolt of 1835, a term derived from the Yoruba word ‘imale’. The slave rebellion was defeated but is considered a turning point in the history of slavery in Brazil ; noun in apposition. Type material Holotype BRAZIL – Bahia • ♂ ; E of São Félix do Coribe ; 13.404° S , 44.110° W ; 470–580 m a.s.l. ; 17 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 5904 . Paratypes BRAZIL – Bahia • 1 ♂ ; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 5905 • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for holotype; UFMG 31655 • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 9032 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24361] • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 5906 . Fig. 74. Known geographic distribution of Brazilian species with long procursus and with dorsal branch on procursus, but without median sclerite in female internal genitalia. Abbreviations: BA=Bahia; CE =Ceará; GO =Goiás; MG = Minas Gerais; PE =Pernambuco; PI =Piauí. Other material examined BRAZIL – Bahia • 3 ♀♀ , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for holotype; CHNUFPI 5907 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-180; one abdomen transferred to ZFMK Ar 24361] • 2 ♀♀ ; SW of São Félix do Coribe , ‘site 1’; 13.4325° S , 44.2168° W ; 470 m a.s.l. ; arboreous caatinga at base of rocky outcrop; 17 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 5908 • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9033 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24362] • 1 ♀ , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5909 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-177] . Assigned tentatively (see Variation below) Morph 2 BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • 1 ♂ ; SE of Monte Rei , Fazenda Lapinha ; 14.5323° S , 44.1559°W ; 490 m a.s.l. ; 15 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and L.S. Carvalho leg.; CHNUFPI 5910 • 2 ♀♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5911 • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9034 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24363] • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5912 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-171] • 1 ♂ ; Itaobim , at margin of BR 367 ; 16.5689° S , 41.4838° W ; 280 m a.s.l. ; 10 Apr. 2015 ; L.S. Carvalho et al. leg.; CHNUFPI 3692 • 3 ♀♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 3703 , 3735, 3769 • 10 ♀♀ , 6 juvs; same locality as for preceding; 27 Nov. 2011 ; I.L.F. Magalhães et al . leg.; UFMG 10151 . Morph 3 BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • 2 ♂♂ , 6 ♀♀ ; Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, near visitor center ; 15.1559° S , 44.2316° W ; 530 m a.s.l. ; 14 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber , L.S. Carvalho and R.A. Torres leg.; CHNUFPI 5913 • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9035 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24364] • 1 ♂ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5914 • 1 ♂ , 3 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5915 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-168] . Fig. 75. Ibotyporanga imale Huber sp. nov. , male from Brazil, Bahia, E of São Félix do Coribe, ZFMK Ar 24361. Left palp, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. Scale line: 0.3 mm. Fig. 76. Ibotyporanga imale Huber sp. nov. A–C . Left tarsus and procursus, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views (arrow: distinctive bend of dorsal branch of procursus), male from type locality, Brazil, Bahia, E of São Félix do Coribe, ZFMK Ar 24361. D–F . Left tarsi and procursi, retrolateral views (arrows: distinctive bend of dorsal branch of procursus), males from Brazil, Minas Gerais, SE of Monte Rei (D), CHNUFPI 5910; from Minas Gerais, Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, near visitor center (E), ZFMK Ar 24364; and from Minas Gerais, Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, near guest house (F), ZFMK Ar 24366. Scale line: 0.3 mm (all figures at same scale). Morph 4 BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • 8 ♀♀ ; NW of Itacarambi , ‘site 2’; 15.0555° S , 44.1715° W ; 630 m a.s.l. ; 13 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber , L.S. Carvalho and R.A. Torres leg.; CHNUFPI 5916 • 1 ♂ , 2 ♀♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9036 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24365] • 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5917 • 6 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5918 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-160] • 1 ♂ ; Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu , Lapa do Rezar (karst cave), at cave entrance; 15.1433° S , 44.2349° W ; 610 m a.s.l. ; 14 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and R.A. Torres leg.; CHNUFPI 5919 • 2 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ ; Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu , near guest house, ‘site 1’; 15.1229° S , 44.2804° W ; 770 m a.s.l. ; degraded shrubby caatinga; 13 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and R.A. Torres leg.; CHNUFPI 5920 • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 9037 [deposited in ZFMK Ar 24366] • 4 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , in pure ethanol; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 5921 [deposited in ZFMK Br22-162] • 2 ♀♀ ; Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu , near guest house, ‘site 2’; 15.1241° S , 44.2813° W ; 770 m a.s.l. ; degraded shrubby caatinga; 14 Nov. 2022 ; B.A. Huber and R.A. Torres leg.; CHNUFPI 5922 . Fig. 77. Ibotyporanga imale Huber sp. nov. , male and female from Brazil, Bahia, E of São Félix do Coribe, ZFMK Ar 24361. A–C . Left genital bulb, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. D–E . Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. F . Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view (asterisk: expandable membranous sac not drawn, cf. Fig. 78D). Scale lines: 0.2 mm. Fig. 78. Ibotyporanga imale Huber sp. nov. A–B . Abdomens, ventral views, females from Brazil, Bahia, E of São Félix do Coribe (A), ZFMK Ar 24361, and from Bahia, SW of São Félix do Coribe (B), ZFMK Ar 24362. C–D . Cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views, same specimen as in A. E–F . Cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views, same specimen as in B. Abbreviation: es=expandable membranous sac. Scale lines: 0.3 mm. Description Male ( holotype ) MEASUREMENTS . Total body length 1.9, carapace width 0.70. Distance PME–PME 55 µm; diameter PME 75 µm; distance PME–ALE 25 µm; distance AME–AME 25 µm; diameter AME 40 µm. Leg 1: 3.89 (1.00+0.23 +1.00 +1.23 + 0.43), tibia 2: 0.80, tibia 3: 0.75, tibia 4: 1.10; tibia 1 L/d: 11; diameters of leg femora 0.17, of leg tibiae 0.09. COLOUR (in ethanol). Prosoma and legs mostly ochre-yellow, carapace medially and ocular area slightly darker, femora and tibiae with darker subdistal rings; abdomen pale gray with indistinct darker internal marks; ventrally with light ochre plates in front of gonopore and in front of spinnerets. BODY . Habitus as in Fig. 55G . Ocular area slightly raised. Carapace with distinct but shallow thoracic groove. Clypeus with sclerotized rim with median notch. Sternum slightly wider than long (0.50/0.46), with pair of very low and indistinct anterior processes near coxae 1. Abdomen globular. CHELICERAE .As in Fig. 77D–E ; width 0.27; with short median frontal apophysis, length ~0.10; stridulatory files very fine and poorly visible in dissecting microscope. PALPS . As in Fig. 75 ; coxa and trochanter unmodified; femur proximally with distinct retrolateral process directed slightly toward distal, with prolateral stridulatory pick, distally widened but unmodified; femur-patella joints barely shifted toward prolateral side; patella dorsally slightly longer than medially wide; tibia-tarsus joints barely shifted toward retrolateral side; tarsus without dorsal process; procursus ( Fig. 76A–C ) with long dorsal branch with distinctive subdistal bend; main branch with light prolateral band, length of distal transparent tip 0.14; genital bulb ( Fig. 77A–C ) with distinct prolateral sclerite on bulbous part; embolus with slender prolateral ridge. LEGS . Without spines but with longer and slightly stronger hairs ventrally on femora; without curved hairs; with several rows of short vertical hairs on tibia 1; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 54%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1; tarsus 1 with 3–4 pseudosegments, distally fairly distinct. Variation (male) Tibia 1 in 15 males : 0.93–1.17 (mean 1.06). The procursus shows slight variation among (but not within) localities ( type morph near São Félix do Coribe and ‘morphs 2–4’ above in Minas Gerais ): the transparent distal tip of the main branch ranges from 110 µm (morph 3) to 210 µm (morphs 2 and 4); type morph is intermediate: 140 µm ( Fig. 76 ). The bent distal element of the dorsal branch ranges from 40–50 µm (morph 4) to 110–120 µm ( type morph and morph 2); morph 3 intermediate: 80–95 µm ( Fig. 76 ). No relevant variation seems to exist in the male cheliceral apophysis. Males usually without or with indistinct lateral dark bands on carapace. The species delimitation analysis ( Fig. S7 ) suggests that the individual ‘morphs’ may in fact represent separate species. The K2P distances between them ranged from 13.1% to 16.8% ( Table S1 ). Female In general, similar to male ( Fig. 55H ) but clypeus and carapace laterally darker ochre; clypeus unmodified; tibia 1 length in 54 females : 0.95–1.33 (mean 1.11). Epigynum ( Fig. 78A–B ) anterior plate triangular to trapezoidal with rounded edges, posterior margin almost straight, with weakly curved, shallow anterior pocket; posterior plate short and simple. Internal genitalia ( Figs 77F , 78C–F ) without median sclerotized structure, with pair of narrow and indistinct pore plates posteriorly, with large expandable membranous structure medially from which pair of membranous sacs or pouches originate laterally. Lateral membranous sacs possibly variable but at least part of this apparent variation seems to be due to different degrees of expansion of the large median expandable membranous structure. Fig. 79. Ibotyporanga sp. “Br22-182”, female from Brazil, Bahia, E of São Félix do Coribe, top of hill; ZFMK Br22-182. A . Abdomen, ventral view. B–C . Cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm. Distribution Known from the type locality in southeastern Bahia , Brazil , and from several localities in northern Minas Gerais ( Fig. 74 ); however, the specimens from Minas Gerais are assigned tentatively. Natural history The specimens from E of São Félix do Coribe were collected in a secondary arboreous caatinga on a granitic hillside ( Fig. 23B ). The spiders were found in dry pieces of wood and bark on the ground. Near the top of the same hill, a single female was found that might represent a separate species ( I. “Br22-182”; cf. Fig. 79 ). The specimens from SW of São Félix do Coribe and from SE of Monte Rei were collected in degraded woodlands at the bases of karst outcrops, in pieces of wood on the ground and under stones. Near the visitor center of Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, the spiders were found in the litter, in dry pieces of wood, and under rocks of a secondary arboreous caatinga. Near the guest house of Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, the spiders were found under construction material in a degraded shrubby caatinga. Near Itacarambi, the spiders were found under rocks in an arboreous caatinga at a karst outcrop; males ran rapidly when disturbed and were thus difficult to catch, while females often remained sitting on the rock. Eight egg sacs were round but slightly flattened, had diameters of 1.4–2.0, and egg diameters of 0.46–0.54; the total number of eggs per egg sac was estimated to be ~12–25.