Sicarius gracilis, KEYSERLING, 1880

Sicarius gracilis View in CoL : Simon , 1893: 271.

Note: The recognition of this species was hampered by the fact that we could not find Keyserling’s specimen in PAN and the original description is vague and could refer to several Sicarius species. Additionally, Keyserling only recorded S. gracilis for Monterico, Peru, an unspecific location that could refer to many places. However, he also recorded another species, S. peruensis , for this locality. We found two species in the coast of Peru with partially overlapping distributions: one very common, especially around Lima, and another one much rarer. Thus, we decided to retain the name S. peruensis for the more common species, and the name S. gracilis for the rarer species.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from all Neotropical species, except S. gracilis and S. utriformis , by having a single, large distal patch of prolateral black setae in the femora ( Fig. 24D View Figure 24 ). Males differ from S. peruensis by the shorter embolus ( Fig. 46A – C View Figure 46 ) and from S. utriformis by the more abrupt transition between the base and body of the bulb (smooth in S. utriformis ). Females are distinguished from S. peruensis and S. utriformis by the more robust branches of the spermathecae and by the ventral branches of the spermathecae with a single, usually incomplete coil ( Fig. 46D – I View Figure 46 ) (slender branches, double coil in S. peruensis and S. utriformis ).

Description: Male ( Chincha , Ica, Peru, UFMG 15342). Coloration: carapace and chelicerae reddish brown, labium, endites, sternum and legs orange, abdomen brownish grey. Total length 8.7. Carapace length 4.92, anterior width 1.98, thoracic region width 4.72. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.2, ALE 0.2, PLE 0.18, PME – PLE 0.58, ALE – PLE 0.18. Clypeus height 0.84. Eye tubercles present. Macrosetae in lateral border of the carapace in multiple rows. Femora with prolateral black setae in a large distal patch. Sternum length 2.21, width 2.34, cordiform. Femoral thorns: 3. Leg I: femur 6.92 long, patella 2.16, tibia 7.42, metatarsus 5.52, tarsus 3.12. II: fe 7.67, ti 7.75. III: fe 7.17, ti 6.92. IV: fe 7.17, pa 2.08, ti 6.82, mt 5.86, ta 3.1. Abdomen: length 3.96, width 3.88. Palp as in Figure 46A and B View Figure 46 .

Female from Chincha , Ica, Peru (IBSP 165448). As in male, except for the following. Total length 10.75. Carapace length 5.73, anterior width 2.39, thoracic region width 5.07. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.2, ALE 0.2, PLE 0.2, PME – PLE 0.71, ALE – PLE 0.2. Clypeus height 1.12. Sternum length 2.49, width 2.44, cordiform. Femoral thorns: 4. Leg I: femur 6.61 long, patella 2.29, tibia 6.92, metatarsus 4.77, tarsus 3.05. II: fe 7.08, ti 7.25. III: fe 7, ti 6.61. IV: fe 6.92, pa 2.16, ti 6.55, mt 5.18, ta 3.09. Abdomen: length 5.02, width 4.82. Spermathecae branches: 4. Ventral branches present, one pair, with a single coil. Spermathecae as in Figure 46D and E View Figure 46 ).

Variation: Males (N = 5): carapace length 4.51 – 5.73 (5.13), femoral thorns 3 – 4, femur II length 6.61 – 8.7 (7.83). Females (N = 5): carapace length 5.02 – 6.2 (5.48), femoral thorns 3 – 4, femur II length 6.07 – 7.5 (6.68), spermathecae branches 4 – 6. Genital morphology is slightly variable in both sexes; some females, especially those from the northern range of the species, have a sclerotized pore plate in the spermathecae ( Fig. 46I View Figure 46 ), while others do not ( Fig. 46E, G View Figure 46 ). Female subadults have pre-spermathecae with short and blunt branches ( Fig. 46J View Figure 46 ).

Natural history: This species has been collected from coastal deserts and dry forests.

Distribution: Southern Ecuador and coastal areas from northern to central Peru ( Fig. 26B).

Additional material examined: ECUADOR.