Ammothella spinifera Cole, 1904

Ammothella spinifera Cole View in CoL

Ammothella spinifera Cole, 1904: 275-277 View in CoL , pl. 12. fig. 8, pl. 20, figs 7-9, pl. 21, figs 1-6.

Material. Adult ♀ with eggs in legs (ZSM-A-20060987), Casa Grisales, Bahia del Rodadero , Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 12.10.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A- 20071600), Casa Grisales, Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 12.10.2004 ; Adult ♀ with eggs in legs (ZSM-A- 20071601), Casa Grisales, Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 18.11.2004 ; Adult ♁ (ZSM-A-20060988), Casa Grisales, Bahia del Rodadero , Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 18.11.2004 ; Adult ♀ with eggs in legs (ZSM-A-20060991), Inca-Inca, Bahia del Rodadero , Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 26.11. 2004 ; Adult ♀ (ZSM-A-20060982), Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 26.11.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A-20060990), Inca-Inca, Bahia del Rodadero , Santa Marta ; under stone; 0- 0.5 m; 04.12.2004 ; Adult ♁ carrying eggs (ZSM-A- 20071602), Inca-Inca, Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta ; under stone; 0-0.5 m; 05.12. 2004 .

Description ( Figs 8-11)

Living animals sand-coloured to light brown. Body slender, with very long walking legs ( Fig. 8A). Segmentation lines between all body segments ( Figs 9B View Fig , 11C View Fig ). On the dorsal side of the 2nd body segment, in some specimens also on the 1st, several long setae are inserted ( Figs 8G,H). In juveniles, these have the shape of short protrusions ( Fig. 8G). Each body segment with 2 lateral spines of medium length ( Figs 8C, 9B,D View Fig , 11C View Fig ).

Eye tubercle 2× as long as wide, with one apical sense organ on its pointed tip and two lateral sense organs ( Figs 9C View Fig , 10C View Fig , 11L View Fig ). Eye pigmentation in some specimens rather weak.

Abdomen slightly curved and 2× as long as eye tubercle ( Figs 10D View Fig , 11J View Fig ), slightly flattened on the dorsal side; dorsally and laterally setae and spines of varying size, shape and number are inserted ( Fig. 11J View Fig ). Segmentation line between segment 4 and abdomen ( Fig. 11J View Fig ).

Chelifores composed of 3 articles. 1 st article slightly shorter than 2 nd. Juveniles with developed, but not very strong chelae ( Fig. 8E). Chelae rudimentary in adults ( Fig. 9C View Fig ).

Palps composed of 9 articles ( Figs 8E, 9C View Fig , 11B View Fig ); 2nd and 4th articles the longest, followed by articles 5, 6 and 9. Articles 1, 7 and 8 the shortest, equal in length. Ovigera with 10 articles ( Figs 9G View Fig , 11 View Fig F-H); on the 3 distalmost of these several serrated spines are inserted ( Figs 9G,H View Fig , 11G View Fig ). 7 th and 8 th article each with 2 large, proximal spines ( Fig. 11F View Fig ). Coxa 1 with 2-4 long dorsal setae ( Figs 8C, 9D View Fig , 11D View Fig ) having a rounded tip with cuticular gland pore ( Fig. 11E View Fig ). 2 nd coxa 2× as long as 1 st coxa, and in females distally wider than in males. Coxa 3 of same length as coxa 1 ( Figs 8I, 10A View Fig ). Femur 2× as long as wide, distally armed with small spines ( Fig. 10A View Fig ). Male femur with dorsal cement gland protuberance at 0.2× to 0.21× the length of the femur. Spination in females less pronounced than in males. Adult ovigerous females may have 50- 100 eggs in femora ( Fig. 9F View Fig ). Tibiae of approx. same length, of a slender shape and equipped with several dorsal and lateral spines. Tibia 1 with 2 proximal long setae and 2 long spines. Both tibiae distally have two long and slender spines inserted at the tip of protuberances ( Figs 8I, 10A View Fig ). Tarsus as long as wide, with strong spine and several thin spines ventrally ( Figs 8J, 10B View Fig , 11H View Fig ). Dorsally with a single thin spine on protuberance. Propodus curved, with 3 strong, pointed basal spines ventrally in adults ( Figs 10B View Fig , 11H View Fig ), and 2 in juveniles, respectively ( Fig. 8J). Sole composed of several small spines plus 1 pair of distal spines in adults. In addition there are 3 to 5 long, thin spines dorsomedially ( Figs 10B View Fig , 11H View Fig ), and several thin spines distal to the accessory claws. Main claw 0.5× as long as the propodus, only slightly curved, as accessory claws. Accessory claws 0.75× as long as main claw ( Figs 10B View Fig , 11H View Fig ).

Remarks. A rather reliable feature to determine A. spinifera seems to be the presence of a pair of dorsal spines near the posterior margin of the second trunk segment. Müller (1992) reported on specimens from Barbados, lacking any spines at the posterior margin of the second trunk segment. Remarkably in A. spinifera we observed a pair of spines distally on the sole, as in A. exornata . Child (1979) characterizes A. spinifera as highly variable species recorded for the Pacific coast from California to Panama, the Colombian coast, Barbados and Martinique (see also Müller 1990).