The South American spider genera Mesabolivar and Carapoia (Araneae, Pholcidae): new species and a framework for redrawing generic limits
Author
Huber, Bernhard A.
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-03-19
4395
1
1
178
journal article
30485
10.11646/zootaxa.4395.1.1
8bee84d8-4a01-4e53-8eb3-af176ce1feb9
1175-5326
1202519
B43C234D-45C4-4A6D-9836-8A7524A5B291
Mesabolivar aurantiacus
(
Mello-Leitão, 1930
)
Figs 78–81
,
98–99
,
106–107
Blechroscelis aurantiacus
Mello-Leitão, 1930
: 61
, fig. 13 (♂, Brazil: Pará).
Blechroscelis irroratus
Mello-Leitão, 1947a
: 160
, figs 4–5 (♂♀, Brazil: Pará). Synonymized in Huber 2000: 206.
Blechroscelis virescens
Mello-Leitão, 1947a
: 161
, fig. 6 (♂, Guyana). Synonymized in Huber 2000: 206.
Psilochorus cambridgei
Mello-Leitão, 1947a
: 163
(♂♀, Brazil: Pará); name preoccupied (
Psilochorus cambridgei
Gertsch & Davis, 1937
).
Psilochorus browningi
Roewer, 1951
: 455
; new name for
Psilochorus cambridgei
Mello-Leitão, 1947a
. Synonymized in Huber 2000: 206.
Mesabolivar aurantiacus
: Huber 2000: 206
, figs 42, 43, 81, 801–810.
Autana autanensis
González-Sponga, 2011b: 40
, pl. 1, figs 1–7 (
♂
,
Venezuela
). Synonymized in Huber
et al.
2014a: 419.
Misidentification
Mesabolivari
pseudoblechroscelis
: González-Sponga 1998: 27
, figs 40–41 (♀ paratype only).
Diagnosis.
(amendments; see Huber 2000). Easily distinguished from similar congeners (
M. spinosus
,
M. cyaneus
,
M. macushi
) by male procursus (distinctive ventral process and sclerite embedded in membrane;
Figs 98–99
), by tip of male bulbal process (
Figs 106–107
; mostly membranous with slender process, similar to
M. macushi
), and by epigynal pocket continuing anteriorly into long furrow (Huber 2000: fig. 808). From
M. spinosus
also by much more slender palpal femur.
Type
material.
Blechroscelis aurantiacus
Mello-Leitão, 1930
:
BRAZIL
:
Pará
:
2♂
syntypes
,
MNRJ
, Cuminá [
1.35°S
,
56.05°W
], no further data, examined (Huber 2000).
Blechroscelis irroratus
Mello-Leitão, 1947
:
BRAZIL
:
Pará
:
1♀
type
(? – see Huber 2000),
BMNH
(1897.9.21 501–508),
Breves
[
1.68°S
,
50.47°W
], leg.
F.O. Pickard-Cambridge
, examined (
Huber
2000).
Blechroscelis virescens
Mello-Leitão, 1947
:
GUYANA
:
1♂
type
(? – see
Huber
2000),
BMNH
(1897.8.5.3.8),
Higher Potaro River
[~
5.1°N
,
59.5°W
], examined (Huber 2000).
Psilochorus cambridgei
Mello-Leitão, 1947
:
BRAZIL
:
Pará
:
1♀
type
,
BMNH
(1897.9.20 501–508), Breves [
1.68°S
,
50.47°W
], no further data, examined (Huber 2000).
Autana autanensis
González-Sponga, 2011
: VENEZUELA:
Amazonas
: ♂ holotype, MIZA (MAGS 1162), Municipio
Autana
, Rio
Autana
(4°55’N, 67°24’W,
250 m
),
iii.1989
(S. Obispo), not examined.
New
material examined.
BRAZIL
:
Pará
:
10♂
4♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18963), Belém, Parque Estadual do Utinga, ‘site 1’ (
1.424°S
,
48.429°W
),
25 m
a.s.l.
,
5.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
3♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16- 234), same data
.
14♂
9♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18964–65),
Belém
,
Parque Estadual do Utinga
, ‘site 2’ (
1.433°S
,
48.410°W
),
25 m
a.s.l.
,
5–6.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1♂
2♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-228a), same data
.
8♂
3♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18966),
Marabá
, forest near road, ‘site 1’ (
5.414°S
,
49.074°W
),
140 m
a.s.l.
,
7–8.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1♂
1♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-237), same data
.
3♂
9♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18967),
Serra Pelada
(
5.931°S
,
49.674°W
),
140 m
a.s.l.
, rocky hill,
9.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
2♀
1 juv.
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-242), same data
.
3♂
4♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18968),
Floresta Nacional de Tapajós
, km 67, ‘site 1’ (
2.847°S
,
54.972°W
),
180 m
a.s.l.
,
15.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
3♂
3♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18969),
Floresta Nacional de Tapajós
, km 67, ‘site 2’ (
2.875°S
,
54.941°W
),
190 m
a.s.l.
,
15.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
1♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18970),
Floresta Nacional de Tapajós
, km 72, ‘site 2’ (
2.940°S
,
54.933°W
),
140 m
a.s.l.
,
17.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
2♂
2♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18971),
Floresta Nacional de Tapajós
, km 83 (
3.049°S
,
54.928°W
),
95 m
a.s.l.
,
14–18.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
5♂
3♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18972),
Floresta Nacional de Tapajós
, km 221 (
4.046°S
,
54.938°W
),
80 m
a.s.l.
,
16.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1♂
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-276), same data
.
Amapá
:
7♂
10♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18973), forest SW
Macapá
, ‘site 1’ (
0.051°S
,
51.136°W
),
25 m
a.s.l.
,
12.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
2♂
2♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-246), same data
. 3♂ 2♀, ZFMK (Ar 18974), forest SW Macapá, ‘site 2’ (0.051°S, 51.123°W),
20 m
a.s.l.,
12.x.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho). 2♂ 3♀, ZFMK (Ar 18975), forest SW Macapá, ‘site 4’ (0.057°S, 51.234°W),
25 m
a.s.l.,
13.x.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho);
1♀
2 juvs in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-254), same data
.
Amazonas
:
9♂
11♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18976), Manaus, Reserva Ducke (
2.932°S
,
59.970°W
),
80 m
a.s.l.
,
5– 6.xi.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-332), same data
. 9♂ 6♀, ZFMK (Ar 18977), Presidente Figueiredo, Maroaga Cave and surrounding forest (2.050°S, 59.972°W),
110–150 m
a.s.l.,
7.xi.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho);
1♂
2♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-340), same data
. 6♂ 7♀, ZFMK (Ar 18978–79), forest near Humaitá, ‘site 2’ (7.563°S, 63.116°W),
65 m
a.s.l.,
20–21.x.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho);
2♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-287), same data
. 7♂ 1♀, ZFMK (Ar 18980), forest near Humaitá, ‘site 3’ (7.512°S, 63.393°W),
80 m
a.s.l.,
22.x.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho);
1♂
2 juvs in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-293), same data
. 12♂ 9♀, ZFMK (Ar 18981), forest near Tabatinga (4.244°S, 69.92–69.93°W),
90 m
a.s.l.,
2–4.xi.2016
(B.A. Huber, L.S. Carvalho);
1♀
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-324), same data
.
Rondônia
:
1♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18982),
Floresta Nacional do Jamari
, ‘site 1’ (
9.193°S
,
63.107°W
),
130 m
a.s.l.
,
23.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1 juv.
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-294), same data
.
3♂
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18983),
Floresta Nacional do Jamari
, ‘sites 2 & 3’ (
9.22°S
,
62.93°W
–
9.26°S
,
62.92°W
),
110 m
a.s.l.
,
24.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
2♂
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18984),
Floresta Nacional do Jamari
, ‘sites 4 & 5’ (
9.193°S
,
63.037°W
–
9.195°S
,
63.082°W
),
110–150 m
a.s.l.
,
25.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
).
Acre
:
1♂
3♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18985),
Rio Branco
,
Fazenda Experimental Catuaba
(
10.08°S
,
67.625°W
),
225 m
a.s.l.
,
26–27.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
2♂
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18986), same locality at
10.078°S
,
67.619°W
,
200 m
a.s.l.
,
29.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
.
3♀
,
ZFMK
(
Ar
18987),
Rio Branco
,
Reserva Florestal Humaitá
(
9.749°S
,
67.666°W
),
180 m
a.s.l.
,
28.x.2016
(
B.A. Huber
,
L.S. Carvalho
)
;
1♂
in pure ethanol,
ZFMK
(
Br
16-308), same data.
VENEZUELA
:
Bolívar
:
1♂
1♀
,
ZFMK
(Ar 18988), km 102 from
El Dorado
(
6°04’N
,
61°24’W
), ~
500 m
a.s.l.
, near ground,
2.xii.2002
(
B.A. Huber
)
. 3♂ 1♀, ZFMK (Ar 18989–90), km 44 from El Dorado (6°25’N, 61°38.5’W), ~
200 m
a.s.l., near ground,
2.xii.2002
(B.A. Huber).
GUYANA
:
Upper
Takutu-Upper
Essequibo
:
1♀
in pure ethanol, ZFMK (G010),
4.42 km
S Gunn's Strip, bank of
Essequibo
river (
1.613°N
,
58.638°W
),
240 m
a.s.l.,
6–15.vii.1999
(J.A. Coddington
et al.
).
TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
:
Trinidad
:
6♂
2♀
in pure ethanol, ZFMK (G001), Arena Forest [
10.56°N
,
61.23°W
],
29.vi.2002
(C.K. Starr, J.N. Sewlal).
Description
(amendments; see Huber 2000). Tibia
1 in
108 newly examined males: 10.5–18.9 (mean 15.2); in 85 newly examined females: 8.1–13.6 (mean 10.8). Femora
3 in
most males strongly enlarged and of different color than other legs (reddish rather than dark brown to black;
Fig. 78
); only very small males with barely enlarged femora 3 (e.g., diameters of femora in male with tibia 1 length 16.7: 0.24, 0.24, 0.43, 0.24; in male with tibia 1 length 13.6: 0.19, 0.19, 0.23, 0.19); femora
3 in
males from Maroaga Cave near Presidente Figueiredo not or only slightly lighter than other femora. Most males with spines on metatarsi 2 and 3, rarely only on metatarsi 2, only on metatarsi 3, or without spines (very small males); prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Coloration of males usually similar to females (
Figs 78, 80
), abdomen sometimes more reddish but with same pattern of dark internal marks; only in males from Reserva Ducke abdomen strongly reddish with few indistinct darker marks (
Fig. 79
). Most females with pair of anterior epigynal humps (cf. Huber 2000: figs 808–809), barely visible or absent in females from Reserva Ducke, Tabatinga, and Catuaba; anterior margin of epigynal plate in females from these localities more rounded than in females from other localities.
Natural history.
The spiders were found in large domed webs with a diameter of up to
50 cm
, usually among buttresses of trees and under large tree logs, but sometimes also under large dead leaves on the ground (e.g., palm leaves; Manaus), or higher among the vegetation (especially juveniles). There seemed to be a locality-specific tendency with respect to the degree of exposure: at some localities the webs were mostly hidden in large sheltered spaces (Marabá, Tapajós, Jamari, Rio Branco), in others, most webs were rather exposed, often with the sun directly reaching the spiders (Belém, Humaitá, Tabatinga). They were also found in the twilight zone of caves, where they occupied the lower spaces up to
1 m
above the ground (Maroaga Cave near Figueiredo; unnamed cave in Serra Pelada). At some localities, the spiders were extremely abundant. When disturbed, they started swinging strongly, moving the entire webs with them. In Arena Forest (
Trinidad
), Sewlal & Starr (2008) found ~25% of
M. aurantiacus
webs containing the nabid bug
Arachnocoris trinitatis
.
Distribution.
Widely distributed in northern South America (
Fig. 724
).