Taxonomic review and cladistic analysis of Neotropical spider genus Epicratinus Jocqué & Baert, 2005 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with description of eleven new species
Author
Gonçalves, Ricardo Antonio
Author
Brescovit, Antonio Domingos
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-11-30
4886
1
1
77
journal article
9453
10.11646/zootaxa.4886.1.1
c50d2a91-7b34-472c-bbdb-e5d16a21d14e
1175-5326
4297333
E8FBC153-BDE4-4404-9167-20B2DB1DCB14
Epicratinus
Jocqué & Baert, 2005
.
Tenedos
: Brescovit et al. 2002: 319
, Figs 113–115 (misidentification)
Type
species:
Epicratinus amazonicus
Jocqué & Baert, 2002: 120
.
Diagnosis.
Representatives of the genus are easily recognized by the PER strongly procurve (
Figs 4
C–D); the lateral and posterior spinnerets fused in the females and the complete absence of these spinnerets in the males (
Figs 6
C–D), color pattern only with spots on the abdomen and patella III & IV of the with 3 spines (reverted only on male of
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
, which have 4 spines) (
Figs 45B, C, E
).
Description.
See
Jocqué & Baert (2005)
. Supplementary information and changes: medium sized spiders (3.5– 8.8).
Color: prosoma, including legs, chelicerae and sternum ranging from yellow to dark brown, dorsal abdomen usually brown with pale spots (gray, white or yellow) between pale spots; usually pale ventral abdomen, sometimes with brown bands.
High clypeus with erect bristles. Chelicerae with two small teeth in the promargin. Sternum shield-shaped with sinuous margins; both long as wide; anterior margin straight or procurve (
Fig 43F
).
Legs: Formula 4123 or 4132. Spinulation: poor in legs I and II; greater number of spines in III and IV. I: Fe v0, d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0; Pa v0, d0, p0, r0; Ti v1-1-0, d0, p0, r0; Me v0-0-2, d0, p0, r0. II: Fe v0, d1-1-0, p0, r0; Pa v0, d0, p0, r0; Ti v1-1-0, d0, p0, r0; Me v2-0-3, d0, p0-0-1, r0. III: Fe v0, d1-1-1, p0, r0; Pa v0, d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0; Ti v1-1-2, d1-1-0, p1-0-1, r1-0-1; Me v2-0-2, d0-1-0, p0-1-2, r1-1-2. IV: Fe v0, d1-2-1, p0, r1-0-1; Pa v0, d0-0-1, p0-1-0, r0-1-0; Ti v1-1-2, d1-1-0, p1-0-1, r1-0-1; Me v1-1-2, d0-1-0, p1-1-2, r1-1-1. Three tarsal claws; between 7 and 22 teeth in upper ones (
Figs 5E, F
). Trichobothria with a well-defined distal margin of the hood and the latter with transverse ridges hanging over the distal plate and the opening of the alveolus (this with a smooth distal margin) (
Fig. 5D
): in 2 rows on Ti, in 1 line in Mt and Ta. Articulated bristles present. Encapsulated tarsal organ with rounded aperture (
Fig. 5C
). Ventral scopula in Mt II-IV, poorly developed (
Fig. 5A
), with typical feather-shaped bristles (
Fig. 5B
). Elongated abdomen, oval; 6 spinnerets in females (
Fig. 6D
), with the lateral and posterior medium spinnerets fused, having aciniform and aggregate spigots (
Fig. 6F
), only 2 spinnerets in males (
AS
) (
Fig. 6C
). Small flat colulus with a group of setae.
FIGURE 3.
Epicratinus amazonicus
.
A. (IBSP 54166) Habitus male, dorsal view. B. Male, ventral view. C. (IBSP 54166) Female, dorsal view. D. Female, ventral view. E. (IBSP 44633) Male carapace, anterior view. F. (IBSP 54145) Female, anterior view. (Scale in A, B, C, D, F = 1; E = 0.5 mm).
FIGURE 4.
Epicratinus amazonicus
.
A. (IBSP 44633) Carapace male, lateral view. B. (IBSP 54145) Female, lateral view. C. Male, anterior view. D. Female, anterior view. E. Chelicerae, endites and lip of the female, ventral view. F. Endites, anterolateral view, detail showing absence of serrula. (Scale in A, C, E = 0.5; B, D = 1; F = 0.3 mm).
Genitalia
In some studies, terms used in genitalia (especially in male) may vary significantly, and some confusion may occur on the part of the reader. Here, we unify the nomenclature in order to avoid differences in the interpretation of the palps and epigynum (
Figs 1
,
2
).
Male palp
(
Fig. 7
A–C)
Femur
(Fe): Without apophysis and presenting mild prolateral curvature in the median third and basic spinulation d0-1-l, p0, r0, v0.
Patella
(Pa): Patellar apophysis (PA): retrolateral and distal present in
Epicratinus pegasus
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 19A
): PA retrolateral with constricted base on
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 46C
), PA distal with constricted base in
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 25A
) and PA distal in
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 27A
).
Tibia
(Ti): With ventral apophysis, one of the faces may be membranous, may have bristles and two dorsolateral apophyses: a short prolateral and a greater, retrolateral; with prolateral basal projection (except in the
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
and
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
). Usually one-third the length of the cymbium but may be very short (half of normal) in
Epicratinus pegasus
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 19A
).
—Retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA): present, usually simple, accentuated in
Epicratinus amazonicus
,
E. perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E. petropolitanus
(
Fig. 11A
),
E. pugionifer
,
E. takutu
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
or reduced in
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
,
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
,
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
,
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
,
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 46D
) and bifid in
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
,
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
and
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 46H
). In addition, other apophyses may appear on the face basal retrolateral in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
and
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 46F
).
—Dorsal tibial apophysis (DTA): present only in
Epicratinus dookan
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 46D
).
—Prolateral tibial apophysis (PTA): used in
Jocqué & Baert (2002)
to name an apophysis on the prolateral side and is present in all species of
Epicratinus
(
Fig. 46G
).
Cymbium
(Cy): With thin distal portion in all species of the genus (
Fig. 46F
).
—Basal projection of the cymbium:
Jocqué & Baert (2002)
and
Ramírez (2014)
refers to the basal projection of the cymbium as a ‘’cymbial flange’’ and according to
Candiani
et al
. (2008)
are synonyms. Here we follow Brescovit (1997), and this projection is present in all species of the genus (
Fig. 46F
), except in
Epicratinus pegasus
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 19A
) and
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
.
—Retrolateral dorsal concavity: designated as a concavity by
Jocqué (2005)
to accommodate RTA, is present in
Epicratinus amazonicus
,
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E. petropolitanus
,
E. pugionifer
(
Fig. 13A
),
E. takutu
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
.
Basal bulb division:
I. Petiole: sclerotinized and in all species, it has subretangular shape, as in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 1B
).
II. Basal haematodocha (BH): developed in all species, hyaline and little sclerotinized (
Fig. 1B and D
).
Median bulb division:
I. Subtegulum (St): generally, caliciform (
Fig. 1A
). in the palp at rest, the subtegulum stands out prolaterally in
Tenedos procreator
(
Fig. 47A
), retrolaterally in
Epicratinus amazonicus
(
Fig. 47B
),
E. pugionifer
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
, on the tegulum base in
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 1B
),
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
,
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
,
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
,
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
,
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
,
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
.
II. Median haematodocha (MH): connects the subtegulum to the tegulum, flexible, short and non-expandable, occurring in all species of
Colima
(
Fig. 1G
),
Epicratinus
,
Ishania
and
Tenedos
.
III. Tegulum (T): sclerotinized, usually oval with a large part of the spermatic duct visible and in various shapes (
Figs 1B, D, E, G
): “U” shaped in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
and
Colima colima
for example (
Figs 1B, E
); “S” inverted shape in
E
.
amazonicus
(
Fig. 7B
); in “S” in
Tenedos procreator
.
IV. Median apophysis (MA):
Jocqué & Baert (2005)
used as median apophysis which is the conductor in
Epicratinus
. Absent in
Epicratinus
and
Colima
, which is considered synapomorphy for those genera. Retrolaterally present in the tegulum of genera
Tenedos
and
Ishania
, has a flexible membranous base (
Fig. 1C
).
V. Conductor (C): with concavity, often membranous.
Grismado and Platnick (2008)
called it “tegular extension” for species of the genus
Platnickia
.
Candiani
et al
. (2008)
refers to the conductor as a “distal tegular process” for some species of the genus
Tenedos
. Supports the embolus, this may be from its origin to its end, as in
Tenedos procreator
(
Fig. 1C
), supporting most of the embolus as
Epicratinus petropolitanus
and
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 47E
) or only its distal portion, as in
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 1A
).
VI. Tegulum special modifications:
—Ventral tegular apophysis (VTA):
Baehr and Jocqué (1996)
and Brescovit (1997) called it “ventral tegular projection” in
Asteron
and
Anyphaeninae
respectively, while
Grismado and Izquierdo (2016)
refer to it as “tegular membranous appendix” in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
, we define here as Ventral Tegular Apophysis. It occurs on the palp of the genera
Colima
and
Epicratinus
, except for
E
.
pugionifer
and
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
. It is a distal extension of the tegulum that presents hyaline, narrow and long in
E
.
amazonicus
,
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 1A
),
E
.
petropolitanus
,
E
.
takutu
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
; hyaline, spoon-shaped in
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 47F
),
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
and
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
; linguiform in
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
(
Figs 31C
,
37C
); and
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 19B
),
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
and
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
is hyaline, short and thin; in the genus
Colima
is sclerotinized and long (
Fig. 1E and G
).
—Tegular apophysis of the embolus base (TAEB):
Jocqué & Baert (2002)
refer to it as “needle-like apophysis”,
Grismado and Izquierdo (2016)
called it like “Tegulum thin projection”. Prolateral, present between the VTA and the embolus base, has various shapes. In
Epicratinus pegasus
sp. nov.
appears laminar, membranous and with subretangular apex (
Fig. 19C
); in
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
is sclerotinized and hook-shaped (
Fig. 21C
); in
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
and
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
is sclerotinized, thin and short (
Fig. 31C
); in
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
is sclerotinized, thin and long; in
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 47E
) and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
is sclerotinized, with a membranous and subtriangular portion; in
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
is sclerotinized, long and subretangular (
Fig. 29C
); absent in
E
.
amazonicus
,
E
.
pugionifer
,
E
.
takutu
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
.
—Distal tegular apophysis (DTeA):
Baehr and Jocqué (1996)
and
Jocqué & Baert (2002)
cite that this apophysis is developed in the opposite direction of the embolus (
Figs 1A, C
), often acting as a conductor of part of the embolus, as in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 1A
) or almost all its totality, as a functional conductor in
Ishania aztek
(
Fig. 47C
) and
I
.
tentativa
.
Apical bulb division:
Embolus (E): conspicuous, sclerotinized and originating in the distal portion of the tegulum or prolaterally, base directed forward (
Fig. 1A
) in
Epicratinus perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E. petropolitanus
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
,
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
,
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
,
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
,
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
,
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
. Embolus originates in the proximal portion of the tegulum, prolaterally directed (
Fig. 47B
) in
E
.
amazonicus
,
E. pugionifer
,
E. takutu
and
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
. It is shown thin (
Fig. 47E
) or laminar (
Fig. 47F
). Short (
Fig. 21C
) or long (
Fig. 47E
).
Epigynum
(
Figs 2
A–F, 48E–M, 49A–I)
External structures: formed by lateral border (LB), anterior border (AB) and atrium (A).
I. lateral border (LB,
Fig. 2C
) and anterior border (AB,
Fig. 2C
): Brescovit (1997)
Oliveira and Brescovit (2015)
on the work with
Anyphaeninae
and
Xiruana
respectively, show that these borders may be present, but separate as in
Xiruana gracilipes
, contrary to what occurs in
Ishania aztek
,
I
.
tentativa
,
Epicratinus amazonicus
,
E. petropolitanus
,
E. pugionifer
,
E. takutu
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
and
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
, in which both borders are presents, sclerotinized, united in a ‘’handle’’ shape (
Fig. 2C
), in the other
Epicratinus
,
Tenedos garoa
,
T
.
hoeferi
,
T
.
procreator
and in the genus
Colima
, both borders are absent.
II. Atrium (A,
Figs 2A, C, E
):
Grismado and Platnick (2008)
,
Ramírez (2014)
refer to it as “median field”. Brescovit (1997) calls atrium this area on epigynum, and it is this nomenclature that we follow here. In some atrium, a small central plate near the posterior margin may be found, generally horseshoe shaped, as in
Tenedos hoeferi
,
Colima manzanillo
,
Epicratinus amazonicus
,
E. perfidus
comb. nov.
,
E. petropolitanus
,
E. takutu
,
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
(
Figs 19D, E, F
),
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
,
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
,
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
,
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
and
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
. Some species have a central furrow in the atrium (
Ishania aztek
,
E
.
petropolitanus
(
Fig. 48F
) and
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
). The copulatory opening (CO), often inconspicuous, are usually placed near the posterior border between the spermathecae (
Fig. 2B
).
Internal structures:
I. Spermathecae (Sp): number of two, globular or oval in
Colima colima
(
Fig. 48K
),
Epicratinus pikachu
sp. nov.
and
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
; in spiral in
Tenedos garoa
,
T
.
procreator
(
Fig. 48L
); winged in
Epicratinus pegasus
sp. nov.
; are reniform in
Tenedos hoeferi
,
Ishania aztek
,
I
.
tentativa
,
E. amazonicus
,
E
.
petropolitanus
,
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
,
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 48M
) and in most species of the genus. They can be close or even united, as in
E. amazonicus
and
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 49F
) or very distant from each other, as in
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 49G
).
II. Copulatory duct (CD): short and straight or slightly curved in
Procydrela procursor
(
Fig. 49A
); long and sinuous, with sharp curves in
E. perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 2F
); with adjacent parallel longitudinal stretches in
Ishania aztek
and
I
.
tentativa
(
Fig. 49C
); in encapsulated (coiled) inside of the spermathecae as in
E. amazonicus
,
E
.
petropolitanus
and
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
(
Fig. 2F
).
III. Fertilization ducts (FD): at the base of the spermathecae (
Fig. 2D and F
), generally smaller than the length of these, curved or straight, narrow.
Distribution:
Bolivia
,
Brazil
and
Guyana
.
FIGURE 5.
Epicratinus amazonicus
.
A. (IBSP 54145) Female leg II, scopula. B. Detail of A, feather-shape bristles. C.
Epicratinus mauru
(IBSP 15099), Tarsal organ. D.
Epicratinus zangief
(IBSP 135443), Socket of trichobothria. E.
Epicratinus amazonicus
(IBSP 44633) Leg IV of male. F. Leg II of the female. (Scale in A = 0.2; B = 0.03; C = 0.005; D = 0.01; E = 0.05; F = 0.1 mm).
Key to males of the genus
Epicratinus
1. Patella III and IV with 3 spines …........................................................................ 2
Patella III and IV with 4 spines …..........................................................
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
2. Palpal tibia without retrolateral concavity …............................................................... 3
Palpal tibia with retrolateral concavity ….....................................................
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
3. Palpal tibia with retrolateral basal projection …............................................................. 4 Palpal tibia without retrolateral basal projection …........................................................... 6
4. Cymbium without sharp retrolateral basal projection …....................................................... 5 Cymbium with sharp retrolateral basal projection ….......................................
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
5. Cymbium with hyaline semicircular retrolateral basal projection …..............................
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
Cymbium without hyaline semicircular retrolateral basal projection ….........................
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
6. Palpal tibia without retrolateral basal apophysis with constricted base …......................................... 7 With retrolateral basal apophysis with constricted base....................................... …
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
7. RTA in a retrolateral direction …......................................................................... 8 RTA towards the back of the cymbium …................................................................. 10
8. Palpal patella with simple distal apophysis …............................................................... 9 Palpal patella with distal apophysis with constricted base ….....................................
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
9. TAEB sharp ….........................................................................
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
TAEB flap form..................................................................... …
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
10. VTA present …...................................................................................... 11 VTA absent ….............................................................................
E
.
pugionifer
11. RTA simple …...................................................................................... 12 RTA bifid …............................................................................
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
12. RTA short (less than or equal to the length of the palpal tibia)…............................................... 13 RTA long (greater than the length of the palpal tibia)…...................................................... 14
13. VTA short, RTA sharp tip ….................................................................
E
.
amazonicus
VTA
long, RTA blunt tip ….......................................................................
E
.
takutu
14. RTA with sharp distal apex ….......................................................................... 15 RTA in the shape of an inverted boot or scythe ….............................................
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
15. RTA without dorsal apophysis at base...................................................... …
E
.
petropolitanus
RTA
with dorsal apophysis at base.......................................................…
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
Key to females of the genus
Epicratinus
1. Epigynal plate without anterior border ….................................................................. 2
Epigynal plate with anterior border …................................................................... 10
2. Globular, reniform or spiral spermathecae …............................................................... 3
Wing-shaped spermathecae…............................................................
E
.
pegasus
sp. nov.
3. Atrium in another format…............................................................................. 4
Atrium in triangular shape with opening at the top …............................................
E
.
vader
sp. nov.
4. Globular spermathecae ….............................................................................. 9
Reniform spermathecae …............................................................................. 5
5. Vulva without central groove to accommodate embolus ….................................................... 6
Vulva with central groove to accommodate the embolus …..................................
E
.
perfidus
comb. nov.
6. Separate spermathecae …............................................................................... 7
Spermathecae attached by outer plate …......................................................
E
.
stitch
sp. nov.
7. Parallel spermathecae...............................................................................… 8
Diagonal spermathecae................................................................…
E
.
ehonda
sp. nov.
8. Spermathecae in ventral view, without transverse ‘’V’’ cut …....................................
E
.
mauru
sp. nov.
Spermathecae in ventral view, with transverse ‘’V’’ cut........................................ …
E
.
zelda
sp. nov.
9. Epigynum without central plate ….........................................................
E
.
pikachu
sp. nov.
Epigynum with central plaque in ‘’frog’s eye” shape ….........................................
E
.
anakin
sp. nov.
10. Spermathecae with a single compartment...............................................................… 11
Spermathecae with a spiral (coiled CD) compartment …..................................................... 12
11. Circular anterior border without plate in center ….............................................
E
.
dookan
sp. nov.
Circular anterior border with center plate in cup shape ........................................ ..
E
.
omegarugal
sp. nov.
12. Anterior border of another shape …...................................................................... 13
Anterior border large, oval, with part of the lateral border inconspicuous near the spermathecae …...........
E
.
pugionifer
13. Anterior border elongate, almost touching the anterior margin ….............................................. 14
Anterior border short …............................................................................... 15
14. Anterior border in bat shape …............................................................
E
.
zangief
sp. nov.
Anterior border in bulb shape …............................................................
E
.
petropolitanus
15. Anterior border transverse oval ….............................................................
E
.
amazonicus
Anterior border longitudinal oval …................................................................
E
.
takutu
FIGURE 6.
Epicratinus amazonicus
.
A. (IBSP 44633) Male abdomen, side view. B. Same, dorsal view. C. Male spinnerets. D. (IBSP 54145) Female spinnerets. E. Detail of D, showing anterior lateral spinneret. F. Detail of D, showing fused posterior spinnerets. ACi: aciniform; Ag: aggregate; ALS: anterior lateral spinnerets; AT: anal tubercle; MaA: major ampullate; Pi: piriform; PLS: posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS: posterior median spinnerets. (Scale in A, B = 0.5; C = 0.1; D = 0.2; E, F = 0.05 mm).
Clade A