Paecilaemella armasi, Medrano & Caramori & Kury, 2025

Paecilaemella armasi sp. nov.

Figs 1B View FIGURE 1 ; 4 View FIGURE 4 ; 5 View FIGURE 5

Etymology. It is our pleasure to dedicate this species to the renowned Cuban arachnologist Luis de Armas in honor of his 80th birthday. Name in genitive case.

Holotype. 1 ♂ ( QCAZI 278597 ) Ecuador, Pastaza, Diez de Agosto, Cascada El Triunfo (-1.434028°,-77.791444°, alt.: 1056 m), 22 Jul 2019, A Chagas Jr & A Giupponi leg.

Paratypes. 1 ♀ ( QCAZI 278598 ) same data as the holotype ; 17 ♂ 10 ♀ 2 juv. ( MNRJ 58847 View Materials ) same data as the holotype ; 2 ♂ 4 ♀ ( MNRJ 984 View Materials ) Ecuador, Pastaza, Puyo arredores de Puyo, El Triunfo , cascada y tarabita (-1.4336°,- 77.7925°, alt.: 1060 m), 10 Dec 2021, APL Giupponi, AA Granado, AB Kury, MA Medrano leg. ;

Other examined material. 2 juv. ( MNRJ 9532 View Materials , burned) Ecuador, Pastaza, estrada de terra Puyo-Canelos (- 1.601514°,-77.841967°, alt.: 950 m), 26 Jul 2018, A Giupponi, A Kury & M Medrano leg.

Distribution. Ecuador, Napo moist forests and Eastern Cordillera real montane forests of Pastaza province ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ).

Diagnosis. This species differs from its congeners by having a fragmented gemini mask ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4A View FIGURE 4 ) and from P. andi and P. geminorum by having 13 tarsomeres of leg IV while the other two species have 12. Furthermore, it has an almost glabrous ventral plate ( Fig. 5B, D View FIGURE 5 ) (instead of having microsetae type 4 as in P. andi and P. geminorum ). It shares similarities with P. andi by having two transversal spots between the chevron and the parallel lines ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4A View FIGURE 4 ), although in P. andi it forms a non-fragmented line.

Description. (Male holotype) ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ). Measurements. Body length: 5.7. Maximum width of scutum: 4.7. Carapace length: 2.6, width 3.2. Interocular distance: 1.2. Legs: I: 28.36 (0.74, 9.46, 1.40, 4.34, 7.57, 4.85), II: 69.98 (0.95, 20.30, 2.38, 15.97, 21.00, 9.38), III: 46.21 (1.10, 15.60, 2.30, 7.44, 12.71, 7.06), IV: 63.83 (1.13, 23.41, 2.69, 10.82, 18.26, 7.52).

Dorsum. Large sized cosmetid (dorsal scutum length approximately 6 mm). Dorsal scutum in dorsal view epsilon-shaped with shallow cheliceral sockets ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Dorsal scutum flat in lateral view ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ), coxa IV entirely visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ), thicker than scutum in lateral view. Ocularium low, narrow, with median depression. Scutal grooves poorly delimited. Scutum entirely unarmed and without any granules ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Free tergites I–III and anal operculum smooth and unarmed ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ).

Venter. Coxae I–III triangular, transverse to main body axis. Coxae II to IV connected by tubercle bridges. Ventral elements of coxa I: e1 and e2 forming a single row of ca 12 tubercles; e3 = 1 very large conical process, visible in dorsal view; e4 = 1 large bifid process; e5 = indistinct cluster of 6 cusps. The row of tubercles formed by e1 and e2 is continued in coxa II towards the genital operculum by a row of fused tubercles forming a keel.

Coxa IV pentagonal, greatly developed, oriented obliquely, but almost parallel to body axis. Stigmatic area Tshaped with stigmata large, unconcealed. Free sternites smooth and unarmed.

Chelicera ( Figs 4A, G View FIGURE 4 ). Neither basichelicerite nor hand thickened or swollen in males. Bulla short, rounded, bordered with rounded tubercles, six ectal and four to six posterior. Movable finger with one basal triangular tubercle and a row of smaller rounded tubercles going distally. Fixed finger with a row of rounded tubercles, larger than those of the movable finger.

Pedipalpus ( Figs 4H, I View FIGURE 4 ). Trochanter with stout antero-dorsal protuberance. Femur strongly compressed, concave on mesal surface, borders armed with long tubercles. Tibia strongly depressed, with a weakly distinct groove on the mesal edge. Shape asymmetrical, with ectal side more pronounced, armed distally with a row of eight short spines. Corresponding mesal side with a widely spaced row of seven short spines and a large apical spine. Tarsus moderately elongate, ventro-ectal side with two spines one medial and one apical and a row of small setae. A much sparser ventro-mesal tight row of short spines.

Legs. Elongate and moderately thick (growing thicker from I to IV). Males with basitarsomeres I thickened, first basitarsomere four times longer than the following ones. All femora straight. Femur IV with a distal comb of 11 retroventral tubercles and a subdistal comb of three pro-ventral tubercles ( Figs 4C–E View FIGURE 4 ). Tibia with two ventral rows of granules. Tarsal claws unpectinate. Tarsal formula: 6(3)-6(3)/19(3)-19(3)/11-11/13-13.

Color (1B, 4A). Pattern color of the gemini mask as follows ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ): Two longitudinal parallel rows of spots, with one spot per scutum area. Chevron fragmented into two lateral spots and a medial one forming the letter “v”, two transversal spots between the chevron and the parallel lines. Omega stripe fragmented, formed by four spots: two on the posterior border of area IV and two on the postero-lateral border of DS. Background of body (dorsal and ventral) and appendages Reddish Black (24), dorsal scutum with lighter mottling Moderate Reddish Brown (43) in carapace, as in the pattern depicted in Figure 4A View FIGURE 4 . Pedipalps and chelicerae Reddish Black (24) with lighter mottling Moderate Reddish Brown (43). Blots Yellowish White (92). Distal portion of femur, tibia and patella of the legs Deep Orange Yellow (69). Patella and metatarsus Deep Orange (51) in the proximal portion.

Variation. Size of the tubercles in distal femur IV may vary from remarkable to small and some males are unarmed (similar to females). Females with basitarsomeres not thickened in leg I and the first basitarsomere is not as long as in males, chelicerae slightly smaller than in male. The median part of the chevron may exhibit less extension, that is more fragmented in some specimens.

Genitalia ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ). VP of penis rectangular, widening slightly distally. Lateral margins of the dorsal portion of VP (at MS C level) concave along their length basal to MS C1-C2. Five pairs of larger macrosetae inserted on lateral margin of VP: Two pairs C1–C2 greatly developed, curved and flattened, the third pair of macrosetae, adjacent to C1-C2, robust, cylindrical and straight, is best interpreted as D1, while D2 is much reduced and located basally, inserted in the dorsal part of the VP. The fifth pair of MS, here interpreted as A1, is straight and similar in shape to D1. A pair of small macrosetae B is located ventro-basally on VP, while E1–E2 also reduced are located ventrally. Microsetae absent or extremely reduced. Stylus strongly curved, cylindrical, with small wattle and a well-developed ventral peak formed by barbels. Dorsal process of glans thumb-shaped.