Sicarius peruensis, (KEYSERLING, 1880)

SICARIUS PERUENSIS ( KEYSERLING, 1880) View in CoL

Figures 16C View Figure 16 , 17C View Figure 17 , 18D View Figure 18 , 27B View Figure 27 , 31C View Figure 31 , 32C View Figure 32 , 33F – H, 45 View Figure 45 Thomisoides peruensis Keyserling, 1880: 272 , plate 8, fig. 150. Syntypes from several localities in Peru, deposited in PAN, partially examined, only an immature syntype (PAN 10a) from Chorillos, Peru (see below).

Sicarius peruensis : Simon , 1893: 271; Aguilar & Mendez, 1971: 143, plate 2.

Note: This species was described from several localities in Peru, including Lima, Monterico, San Malu , Montana Nancho and Chorillos ( Keyserling, 1880). Although Keyserling mentions at least a male in the description, we could only find an immature syntype in PAN. He did illustrate a palp, and although his illustration is not very detailed, it shows the projecting cymbium and long embolus characteristic of this species. In addition, this species is very common in Lima and surrounding areas, which are localities from where some of Keyserling’s material came. We decided to retain the name S. peruensis for the species common around Lima, which has been cited under this name in a few works (e.g. Aguilar & Mendez, 1971; Alegre et al., 1977; Binford et al., 2008, 2009). The name S. gracilis is here retained for the rarer species, which is partially sympatric (see discussion below, under S. gracilis ).

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. gracilis and S. utriformis by the long embolus and the abrupt transition between the base and body of the bulb ( Fig. 45A – C View Figure 45 ) (smoother transition in S. gracilis and S. utriformis ). Females are distinguished from S. gracilis by the slender branches of the spermathecae and by the ventral branches with a double coil ( Fig. 45D – K View Figure 45 ) (robust branches, single coil in S. gracilis ), and from S. utriformis by lacking digitiform projections in the spermathecae.

Description: Male ( Canta , Lima, Peru, UFMG 15348). Coloration: carapace and chelicerae reddish brown, labium and endites light brown, sternum and legs brownish yellow, abdomen brownish yellow. Total length 9.6. Carapace length 5.59, anterior width 2.18, thoracic region width 5.52. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.2, ALE 0.2, PLE 0.2, PME – PLE 0.66, ALE – PLE 0.2. Clypeus height 0.92. 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 2.29, width 2.49, cordiform. Femoral thorns: 4. Leg I: femur 8.17 long, patella 2.41, tibia 8.33, metatarsus 6.14, tarsus 3.95. II: fe 9.1, ti 8.9. III: fe 8.33, ti 7.67. IV: fe 7.67, pa 1.96, ti 7.25, mt 5.45, ta 3.68. Abdomen: length 4.16, width 4.01. Palp as in Figure 45A and B View Figure 45 .

Female (same locality, UFMG 15349). As in male, except for the following. Total length 11.38. Carapace length 6.34, anterior width 2.45, thoracic region width 6. Eye diameters and interdistances: PME 0.18, ALE 0.2, PLE 0.2, PME – PLE 0.74, ALE – PLE 0.28. Clypeus height 1.14. Sternum length 2.75, width 2.78, cordiform. Femoral thorns: 5. Leg I: femur 7.42 long, patella 2.58, tibia 7.42, metatarsus 5.02, tarsus 3.35. II: fe 8.08, ti 7.75. III: fe 7.67, ti 6.83. IV: fe 7.58, pa 2.58, ti 6.92, mt 5.08, ta 4.25. Abdomen: length 5.18, width 4.5. Spermathecae branches: 8. Ventral branches present, one pair, with a double coil ( Fig. 45 View Figure 45 ).

Variation: Males (N = 5): carapace length 5.39 – 6 (5.69), femoral thorns 3 – 5, femur II length 7.92 – 9.5 (8.84). Females (N = 5): carapace length 5.25 – 6.34 (5.93), femoral thorns 3 – 5, femur II length 6.61 – 8.08 (7.5), spermathecae branches 6 – 10. Genital shape varies only slightly in both sexes. Subadult females have pre-spermathecae with widely spaced, digitiform branches, and a small, slightly coiled ventral branch ( Fig. 45I View Figure 45 ).

Natural history: Specimens have been collected in coastal deserts, under rocks and cattle dung. Eggcase as in Figure 17C View Figure 17 . Aspects of the natural history of this species were given by Aguilar & Mendez (1971).

Distribution: Coastal deserts in central and northern Peru ( Fig. 27B View Figure 27 ). A record from Yuyapichis River (IBSP 2921), an area of rainforest in Huanuco, is probably a labelling error and has not been included in the map.

Additional material examined: PERU. La Libertad: Guanape, Isla Norte [78.95, 8.53333], D. Duffey, II/1979, 3 # 4 imm. ( AMNH); Trujillo, Hacienda Cartavio [79.01667, 8.1, 46 m], W. Weyrauch, VI – VII/1939, 1 $ (AMNH). Lima: Ca nete ~, Asia, Via Coyallo (76.54303, 12.76814, 130 m), A.D. Brescovit et al., 18/ VI GoogleMaps /2012, 1 # 2 $ 6 imm. ( IBSP 162931 View Materials ); Chilca (76.70336, 12.52661, 246 m), 8 # 10 $ ( IBSP 162916 View Materials ); Huarochıri, Chilca , Via Santo Domingo de los Olleros (76.62456, GoogleMaps

12.45039, 504 m), 1 # 1 $ 3 imm. ( IBSP 162919 View Materials ); Canta, Canta (76.77486, 11.62753, 1612 m), 13/ VI/2012, 1 # 5 $ ( IBSP 162924 View Materials ), 1 # ( UFMG 15348 View Materials ), 1 $ ( UFMG 15349 View Materials ); Road to Arahuay (76.76869, GoogleMaps

11.66231, 1612 m), 1 $ (IBSP 162928); Santa Rosa de Quives, Trapiche (76.81631, 11.69161, 1344 m), 1 # (IBSP 162914); Desembocadura R� ıo Chillon, D. Silva D., 17/II/1984, 1 $ (MUSM 504939); Huaral, Reserva Nacional de Lachay (77.36858,

11.41228, 157 m), A.D. Brescovit et al., 15/VI/2012, 1 $ 2 imm. ( IBSP 162922 View Materials ); same locality (77.32353,

11.37772, 181 m), 3 # 3 $ 3 imm. ( IBSP 162923 View Materials ), 1 # ( UFMG 15346 View Materials ), 1 $ ( UFMG 15347 View Materials ); same locality [77.35, 11.36667, 417 m], P. Aguilar, X/1968, 1 $ 1 imm. ( MUSM 504932 ); Huarochiri, Nieve Nieve (76.68642, 12.02531, 1102 m), A.D. Brescovit et al., 16/VI/2012, 1 # 1 $ 1 imm. ( IBSP 162932 View Materials ); Ricardo Palma (76.65406, 11.92508, 1384 m), 14/ VI/2012, 1 # 1 $ 2 imm. ( IBSP 162929 View Materials ), 1 $ ( IBSP 165445 View Materials ); Sisicaya (76.63144, 12.02775, 1263 m), 16/VI/2012, 1 $ 2 imm. ( IBSP 162926 View Materials ); Verrugas Canon [76.4875, 11.88944, 2329 m], R. C. Shannon, 20/VI/1928, 1 # ( SINHM); Lima, Ancon [77.11667, 11.7, 450 m], J.C. Pallister, 8/II/1947, 1 $ ( AMNH); Atocongo [76.9, 12.2, 342 m], Koepcke, 4/XI/1951, 1 $ 1 imm. ( MUSM 504945 ); Chosica, Santa Marıa de Chosica [76.7, 11.93333, 1124 m], O. Meneses, X/1968, 1 $ 1 imm. ( IBSP 2579 View Materials ); Cieneguilla (76.74375, 12.05431, 917 m), A.D. Brescovit et al., 16/VI/2012, 6 # 9 $ ( IBSP 162917 View Materials ); same locality [76.75, 12.06667, 917 m], D. Silva D., 19/I/1986, 1 $ ( MUSM 504947 ); same locality (76.81667, 12.1, 475 m), P. Centeno, 23/ VI/2007, 1 $ ( MUSM 504934 ); E. Sta. Maria del Mar, Puquio de Chilca, Quebrada de Chilca , 7 km [76.75, 12.4, 720 m], O.F. Francke, 24/XII/1973, 1 $ ( AMNH); La Molina Vieja [76.95, 12.08333, 319 m], O. Meneses, 4/I/1968, 1 $ 2 imm. ( IBSP 2578 View Materials ); Lomas de Atocongo [76.9, 12.2, 342 m], C. Mudahn, 26/V/1984, 1 $ ( MUSM 504942 ); Lomas Flor de Amancaes (77.11667, 11.98333, 36 m), C. Castillo, 15 – 29/III/2005, 1 # ( MUSM 501530 ); Zapallal [77.08333, 11.83333, 503 m], J. Utene, 21/VII/1986, 1 $ ( MUSM 504941 ). Ica: Chincha, Grocio Prado , San Juan (75.98883, 13.40575, 768 m), A.D. Brescovit et al., 19/VI/2012, 3 # 5 $ 1 imm. ( IBSP 162912 View Materials ); (76.10361, 13.41483, 171 m), 2 # 4 $ 1 imm. ( IBSP 162930 View Materials ); Pisco , Humay (75.82083, 13.70058, 718 m), 1 # 5 $ 3 imm. ( IBSP 162915 View Materials ), 1 # ( UFMG 15344 View Materials ), 1 $ ( UFMG 15345 View Materials ). Huanuco: Panguana , Rio Yuyapichis [74.93333, 9.6, 239 m], U. Meede, 7/IX/1977, 1 $ ( IBSP 2921 View Materials ) (this might be a labelling error) GoogleMaps .