Retiro leonardi, Rodríguez-Castro & Rodríguez, 2025

Retiro leonardi sp. nov.

Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 6–9 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9

Type material. Holotype: 1♂ (CIUQ-026038), from COLOMBIA: Quindío department, Armenia municipality, Parque de la Vida ( 4°32'51.13"N, 75°39'34.20"W), 1700m masl, August 12, 2024, collected by: G. Rodriguez-Castro & E. Rodríguez. GoogleMaps Paratypes: same data as the holotype, 1♀ (CIUQ-026045), 1♀ (CIUQ-026046), 1♀ (CIUQ-026047) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of biologist and professor Leonardo Delgado Santa, in recognition of his contributions to arachnology and his valuable commitment to encouraging biology students at the University of Quindío to become passionate about the study of arachnids.

Diagnosis. The male can be distinguished from R. procerulus , R. plagiatus and R. sabatoi sp. nov. by the slender retrolateral apophysis of the tibia with its striking apical curvature and by the elongated, sclerotized median apophysis ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 A-D). While R. procerulus , R. plagiatus and R. sabatoi sp. nov. have a thick retrolateral apophysis and a short median apophysis (see Dupérré 2023: fig. 5B, C), (see Caporiacco 1995: fig. 2). Females are similar to R. fulvipes and R. rhombifer ( Simon, 1906) but can be distinguished by the slightly excavated lip of the epigynum and the inward-directed spermathecae ( Fig. 8E, F View FIGURE 8 ). While R. fulvipes has a straight epigynum lip and parallel spermathecae (see Dupérré 2023: fig. 2E, F) and R. rhombifer has vertically directed spermathecae (see Dupérré 2023: fig. 7F).

Description. Male ( holotype). Coloration in ethanol ( Fig. 6A–D View FIGURE 6 ): Carapace dull greyish yellow dorsally, with dark spots. Chelicerae dull greyish yellow with scattered erect setae ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Labium rectangular dark grey, endites dull greyish yellow. Sternum heart-shaped, greyish yellow with dark grey margins and with scattered setae ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ). Abdomen pale yellow with a dorsal pattern composed of black spots interconnected below, more abundant laterally and absent ventrally, with erect setae ( Fig. 6B, D View FIGURE 6 ). Measurements: Total length: 6.76. Carapace length 2.76, width 2.22. Fovea 0.48. Eyes: eight arranged in two rows, eye diameters and interdistances. AME:0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0. 15, PLE 0.18, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.15, PME–PLE 0.10, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.08. Clypeus not prominent 0.04 ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Sternum length 1.16, width 1.09. Abdomen length 2.45, width 1. 70. Palp: 2.38 (0.71, 0.22, 0.35). Leg I 7.16 (2.53,0.72, 1.75, 1.23, 0.93), II 6.13 (2.24, 0.39, 1.66, 1.15, 0.69), III 7.00 (2.22, 0.41, 1.52, 1.03, 0.75), IV 6.50 (2.08, 0.55, 1.63, 1.42, 0.82). leg formula I–III–IV–II.

Palp ( Figs 6E–H View FIGURE 6 , 8A–D View FIGURE 8 ). Tibia short, slightly longer than the patella, with an elongated, thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis arising from the middle of the tibia, prominent, crested ventral tibial apophysis, small, pointed dorsal tibial apophysis, bulb as long as it is wide, almost circular; tegulum elongated, sclerotized tegular apophysis projecting into the bulb; short, median apophysis sclerotized; spermatic duct visible retrolaterally. Embolus originating retrolaterally.

Female ( Paratype CIUQ-026045). Coloration in ethanol: As in the male ( Fig. 7A–D View FIGURE 7 ) except abdomen with a greater number of black spots on the lateral and ventral sides of the abdomen ( Fig. 7B, D View FIGURE 7 ). Measurements: Total length: 6.43. Caparace length 2.55, width 1.79. Fovea 0.23. Eyes: eight arranged in two rows, eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.16, PME 0.13, PLE 0.14, AME – ALE 0.08, PME – PME 0.17, PME – PLE 0.13, AME – PME 0.18, ALE – PLE 0.08. Clypeus not prominent 0.03 ( Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ). Sternum length 1.39, width 1.07, Abdomen length: 3.88, width 2.44. Palp: 1.72 (0.62; 0.27; 0.45; 0.38). Leg I 6.15 (1.91, 0.36, 1.84, 1.27, 0.77); II 4.89 (1.60, 0.35, 1.20, 1.10, 0.64); III 4.45 (1.24, 0.36, 1.15, 1.06, 0.64); IV 4.79 (1.15, 0.43, 1.41, 1.10, 0.70). Leg formula I–II–IV–III .

Genitalia ( Figs 7E–F View FIGURE 7 , 8E–F View FIGURE 8 ): epigynum lip slightly excavated; spermathecae reniform, rounded apically and slightly directed inwards.

Natural history. Individuals of R. leonardi sp. nov. were found in a small colony under a wooden bridge ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ), in the Parque de la Vida, which is a natural enclosure in the north of the city of Armenia Quindío. The web is similar to other species of cribellate spiders, but less complex than that of R. sabatoi sp. nov. ( Fig. 9B View FIGURE 9 ).

Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality.