Paratobias championi F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900

Paratobias championi F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900 View in CoL

Figs 1B–D View FIGURE 1 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5 View FIGURE 5

Paratobias championi F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900: 162 View in CoL , pl. 11, fig. 2. Machado & Teixeira 2021: 297, figs 13b, 18c. Stephanopis championi (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900) View in CoL . Simon 1903: 1017.

Type material: Holotype: female from Bugaba , Panama, November 1882 – March 1883, G. Champion, not examined (presumably lost).

Other examined material: HONDURAS: Cortés: 1♀, San Pedro Sula, Parque Nacional Cusuco , 15°32′31″N, 88°15′49″W, 14 July 2013, D. R GoogleMaps . Williams, S.J. Longhorn & K.O. Sagastume ( MCTP 46037 View Materials ) . MEXICO: Oaxaca: 1♂, Valle Nacional , 17°47′38″N, 96°15′44″W, 03 August 1983, W. Maddison ( MCZ 134010 About MCZ ) GoogleMaps .

Note. Although the holotype of P. championi has not been examined because it is presumably lost (see Materials & methods), the illustrations provided by Pickard-Cambridge (1900) clearly show its diagnostic features, such as the enlarged anterior femora and their setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). The flattened epigynal plate and the helicoidal copulatory ducts, which can be seen through the tegument transparency, are also represented in the original sketches (see Pickard-Cambridge 1900) and allowed the safe recognition of the species.

Diagnosis. Females of P. championi can be distinguished from those of P. invictus sp. nov. by their darker body coloration, enlarged anterior femora with six or seven stout macrosetae, being two of these macrosetae longitudinally disposed on the dorsal surface of this leg segment ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Moreover, the base of these macrosetae are well-developed conical intumescences, or setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Females of P. invictus sp. nov., on the other hand, are yellowish, have only five femoral macroseta with discrete setiferous tubercles, giving the spider a less armed aspect ( Fig 1A View FIGURE 1 ). The epigynum in P. championi can be also distinguished from that of P. invictus sp. nov. by its longer copulatory ducts, presenting three coils before their descent to the spermathecae, which are twisted and constricted in the middle ( Figs 4D, F View FIGURE 4 ). In females of P. invictus sp. nov. the copulatory ducts are shorter, coiling only twice before they reach the spermathecae ( Fig 2D, F View FIGURE 2 ).

Description. Female (MCTP 46037): Anterior eye row slightly recurved and posterior slightly procurved, ALE diameter twice that of the AME and with conical ocular projections ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ); labium, endites, sternum and chelicerae entirely brownish-red; flattened prosoma (dorsoventrally compressed) with median portion slightly darker than the sides; trapezoid opisthosoma, predominantly dark-yellowish with a pair of lighter longitudinal stripes along the sides of the sigillae ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ); anterior border of opisthosoma is straight. Anterior legs (I and II) entirely brownish red with femora bearing stout setiferous tubercles. Posterior legs (III and IV) predominantly dark-yellow except for the femora, which are lighter (with few brown spots) at their proximal portion and turning brown close to the patellae.

Measurements. eye diameters and interdistances:AME 0.07, ALE 0.19, PME 0.11, PLE 0.14, AME-AME 0.14, AME-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.19, PME-PLE 0.30. Prosoma 3.22 long, 3.11 wide; opisthosoma length 3.55; total body length 6.77. Clypeus 0.30 high; sternum 1.50 long, 1.35 wide; endites 0.77 long, 0.35 wide; labium 0.44 long, 0.54 wide. Leg formula: 1-2-4-3: leg I – femur 3.33/ patella 1.66/ tibia 2.88/ metatarsus 1.88/ tarsus 1/ total 10.75; II – 3.11/ 1.44/ 2.77/ 1.77/ 0.77/ 9.86; III – 1.88/ 1/ 1.55/ 1.1/ 0.77/ 6.3; IV – 2.11/ 1.1/ 1.55/ 1.1/ 0.77/ 6.63.

Male (MCZ 134010): Reddish-brown, flattened prosoma, eyes disposition and size proportion as in female ( Figs 5A, B View FIGURE 5 ); chelicerae, endites and sternum entirely reddish-brown. Dark-yellowish opisthosoma on the sides, with pale-brown median and posterior area. Legs have the same color as the prosoma, except for the proximal area of the posterior femora (III and IV), which are yellowish. Palpi lack the RTA, bearing strong macrosetae instead ( Figs 5D, F View FIGURE 5 ) and presenting a long and filiform embolus encircling the tegulum thrice ( Figs 5C View FIGURE 5 , 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Other characteristics as in the females. Measurements: eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.20, PME 0.14, PLE 0.18, AME-AME 0.12, AME-ALE 0.10, PME-PME 0.18, PME-PLE 0.18. Prosoma 2.75 long, 2.81 wide, opisthosoma length 2.90; total body length 5.56. Clypeus 0.24 high; sternum 1.20 long, 1.20 wide; endites 0.68 long, 0.34 wide; labium 0.40 long, 0.50 wide. Leg formula: 1-2-4-3: leg I – femur 2.81/ patella 1.40/ tibiae 2.34/ metatarsus 1.68/ tarsus 0.94/ total 9.17; II – 2.81/ 1.40/ 2.34/ 1.68/ 0.94/ 9.17; III – 1.56/ 0.78/ 1.40/ 0.94/ 0.78/ 5.46; IV – 1.56/ 0.78/ 1.40/ 0.94/ 0.78/ 5.46.

Distribution. Originally known from PANAMA (Bugaba), herein newly recorded from HONDURAS ( Cortés) and MEXICO ( Oaxaca) ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ).