Brachypelma auratum, SCHMIDT, 1992

BRACHYPELMA AURATUM SCHMIDT, 1992 View in CoL

( FIGS 2, 9–13, 36A–D, 38)

Brachypelma auratum Schmidt (1992b: 9 View in CoL , fig. 1, 3), D male and female. Schmidt (1993: 82, fig. 187), female. Smith (1994: 160, figs 851–866), male and female. Tesmoingt et al., (1997a: 9, plate 2, fig. 5), female. Schmidt (1997b: 19, fig. 192), female. Locht et al. (1999: 196, fig. 6), female. Peters (2000: 65, figs 210–211), male and female. Peters (2003: 110, figs 439–440, 443, 446–447, male and female. Schmidt (2003: 137, fig. 203), female.

Material examined

Holotype of Brachypelma auratum : MEXICO: ♂, donated 22/II/1992 by Fritzlen ( SMF 38045 About SMF ). Female spermatheca from exuvia mounted in a permanent preparation ( SMF 38045 About SMF ).

Other material: MEXICO: Michoacán: 1 ♂, Mpio. Los Reyes, Los Reyes Salgado, 2/II/2013, Col. J. Mendoza, G. Contreras, D. Ortiz, D. Barrales (CNAN-Ar003658); 1 ♀, Mpio. San Lucas, Salguero 2/II/2013, J. Mendoza, G. Contreras, D. Ortiz, D. Barrales (CNAN-Ar007164); 2♀, Mpio. La Huacana , 5 km SE of Zicuirán, 16/ IX / 2015, Col. J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar 007903, CNAN-Ar010284); 1♀, Mpio. La Huacana , 1 km SE of Chau (CNAN-Ar010284); Guerrero: 1 ♀, Mpio. Arcelia, Desviación a Chacamerito , 3/II/2013, J. Mendoza, G. Contreras, J. Cruz, D. Ortiz (CNAN-Ar007136); 1 ♀, Mpio. Chilpancingo de los Bravo, carretera Coyuca de Catalán-Zihuatanejo , cols. A. Zaldívar, M. García, J. Martínez, V. Salinas (CNAN-Ar007878); Estado de MEXICO: 1 ♂, Mpio. Luvianos, 2/11/2002, E. Gonzalez- Santillan, R. Paredes, C. Durán (CNAN-Ar003592); 2 ♂ and 1♀, donation received from private collection of J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar003660, CNAN-Ar003676. CNAN-Ar003657) .

Diagnosis

Brachypelma auratum can be distinguished from all other known Brachypelma species by the coloration of the legs with red-orange flame-shape on patellae ( Fig. 36A–D). It also differs in the shape of the genitalia in both sexes with palpal bulb straight, embolus short and broader at apex ( Fig. 10C–D). The prolateral superior keel normally developed and slightly directed retrolaterally ( Fig. 10A). Apical keel with a great backward development, extending almost the same length of prolateral superior keel ( Fig. 10B–C). The prolateral inferior keel is joined to prolateral superior keel at the apex and slightly extended to downwards ( Fig. 10D). Also differs by the spermatheca ventral face smooth, with spermathecal baseplate subrectangular ( Figs 11C, 12E–F).

Brachypelma auratum is identified by possesing the following character combination: male palpal bulb straight with a broad spoon-shape ( Fig. 10C), prolateral superior keel normally developed, directed retrolaterally and slightly extended to backward ( Fig. 10A, C); prolateral inferior keel weakly developed restricted to embolus apex, better seen dorsally ( Fig. 10A); apical keel developed extending widely backwards ( Fig. 10B). Embolus tip slightly directed to retrolateral ( Fig. 10A–B). Embolus short and wide, similar in length to tegulum ( Fig. 10). Spermatheca fused semicircular, with a single receptacle strongly sclerotized ( Figs 11C, 12E–F). Spermathecal baseplate divided, more separated above ( Fig. 12E–F); ovate and 2.5 wider than its height ( Figs 11C, 12E–F). Both sexes possess an orange flame-shape area over the patellae ( Fig. 13A–C).

Redescription

Male (CNAN-Ar003658) ( Figs 9–10): Body length 42.09 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 18.16 length, 18.00 width. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea straight, 4.15 wide ( Fig. 9A). Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.40; ALE 0.55; PME 0.40; PLE 0.65; AME–AME 0.50; AME–ALE 0.23; PME–PME 1.13; PME–PLE 0.13; ALE–PLE 0.37. Ocular tubercle width 2.60, length 2.13; clypeus absent ( Fig. 9D). Labium length 2.07, width 2.27; with 113 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 270 (left) and 248 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with 10 (left) and 10 (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first large, second small, third large, fourth–tenth large). Sternum length 9.00, width 7.42. Sigilla oval, first to third pairs hardly visible, posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 9B). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.25, 9.45, 14.08, 15.17, 10.32, 66.27; II: 15.92, 9.32, 12.61, 13.91, 9.06, 60.82; III: 14.49, 8.06, 11.73, 14.15, 8.68, 57.11; IV: 17.61, 8.40, 14.79, 19.44, 9.61, 69.85. Palp: 10.88, 7.08, 10.35, -, 3.55, 31.86. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.10 long, 1.30 apart; PLS, 2.83 basal, 2.20 middle, 3.70 distal. Tarsi I–IV entirely scopulated. Metatarsus I entirely scopulated, II scopulated 75%, III scopulated 50% distally, IV scopulated 25% distally. Tibia I with two tibial apophyses normally developed, which originate from a common base. Prolateral apophysis with inner spine half its length; retrolateral apophysis same width throughout its length, apex slightly curved to prolateral ( Fig. 9F–G). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 9E). Stridulatory setae: with claviform stridulating setae on palp trochanter retrolateral face; leg I trochanter and femur prolateral face. Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1p; II 1p; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 2p, 1r; II 2p, 3v; III 3p, 4v, 2r; IV 1p, 4v, 1r; palp 2p, 3v; metatarsi II 1p, 1v; III 3p, 7v, 2r; IV 2p, 13v, 2r. Palp: embolus almost straight with a broad spoon-shape, prolateral superior keel normally developed, directed retrolaterally and slightly extended to backward; prolateral inferior keel weakly developed restricted to embolus apex, better seen dorsally, apical keel developed extending widely backwards. Opening of the embolus is on the prolateral side, just behind the opening is located a concavity which delimits the apical keel boundary from the remaining part of the embolus. Embolus apex slightly curved to retrolateral ( Fig. 10A–D). Urticating setae: types I and III arranged in one dorsoposterior patch, black in colour. Type III are located in an oval dorsomedial area extended to posterior. Type I surround the type III area; with intermediates between type III and I in transition areas ( Fig. 9C). Colour pattern: in live specimens, adult males with carapace peach colour (pantone 712c) around the border, some specimens also present this colour behind the fovea. Carapace colour is black (pantone process black); chelicerae dorsally black; ventral coxae, labium, maxillae and sternum brownish black; abdomen dorsally black with sparse rose colour setae (pantone 487c), ventrally brownish black. Legs and palpi: femora black, patellae with a proximal dorsomedial signal orange (pantone 173c) flame-shape area, distal ring putty colour (pantone 728c), with some brownish pink setae laterally; tibiae proximal threequarters process black with some sparse brownish pink setae, distal quarter brown range and metatarsi process black with brownish pink setae and a warm grey ring at the terminal end; tarsi black ( Fig. 13A).

Female (CNAN-Ar007878) ( Fig. 12A–E): Body length 61.36 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 26.34 length, 24.61 width. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea straight, 5.70 wide ( Fig. 12A). Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.47; ALE 0.80; PME 0.37; PLE 0.70; AME–AME 0.67; AME–ALE 0.33; PME–PME 1.57; PME–PLE 0.13; ALE–PLE 0.43. Ocular tubercle width 2.97, length 2.93; clypeus lacking ( Fig. 12C). Labium length 3.05, width 3.55; with 86 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 250 (left)–276 (right) cuspules ( Fig. 12D). Cheliceral promargin with 10 (left)–11 (right) teeth. Sternum length 11.39, width 9.76. Sigilla oval, first to third pairs hardly visible; posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 12B). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 16.56, 10.85, 13.73, 13.01, 8.64, 62.79; II: 15.65, 10.60, 11.60, 12.49, 7.59, 57.93; III: 14.59, 9.57, 10.83, 13.77, 8.52, 57.28; IV: 17.94, 10.05, 14.04, 18.78, 9.75, 70.56. Palp: 12.62, 8.57, 8.93, -, 10.35, 40.47. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.50 long, 2.05 apart; PLS, 4.15 basal, 4.15 middle, 4.25 distal. Tarsi I – IV entirely scopulated. Metatarsi I entirely scopulated, II scopulated 90%, III scopulated 70% distally, IV scopulated 40% distally. Stridulatory setae: with claviform stridulating setae on palp trochanter retrolateral face; leg I trochanter and femur prolateral face. Chaetotaxy (left side): femora palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae palp 1p, 5v; II 1 p, 3v; III 3 v; IV 3 v; metatarsi II 2 v; III 5 v, 2r; IV 1 p, 8v, 1r. Genitalia: fused semicircular spermatheca, with a single receptacle strongly sclerotized, four times wider than its height. Spermatheca baseplate divided, more separated above, each baseplate ovate 2.5 wider than high, outer side slightly smaller than the inner ( Fig. 12E). Variation: some specimens have a wider base up to five times greater than height, young or juveniles can present the superior edge slightly inward in middle. Ventral face smooth. Baseplate division can vary in length ( Figs 11C, 12F). Urticating setae: types I and III arranged in one dorsoposterior patch, black in colour. Type III are located in an oval dorsomedial area extended to posterior. Type I surround the type III area, with intermediates between type III and I in transition areas. Colour pattern: in live specimens, adult females with two carapace patterns: (1) light brown (pantone 7414c) around the border and process black in dorsomedial, juveniles or subadults same pattern ( Fig. 13B); (2) light brown around the border and extended behind the fovea, with process black from the fovea to caput ( Fig. 13C); chelicerae dorsally oxford blue (pantone 532c); ventral coxae, labium, maxillae and sternum brownish black; abdomen dorsally black with sparse rose colour setae (pantone 487c), ventrally brownish black. Legs and palpi: femora black, patellae with a proximal dorsomedial signal orange (pantone 173c) flame-shape area, distal ring putty colour (pantone 728c), with some brownish pink setae laterally; tibiae proximal three quarters process black with some sparse brownish pink setae, distal quarter brown range and metatarsi process black with brownish pink setae and a warm grey ring at the terminal end; tarsi black ( Fig. 36A–D) .

Distribution and habitat: Brachypelma auratum is known from part of the Neotransvolcanic belt, being found in south-western Estado de MEXICO, north-western Guerrero, central Michoacán and the northeastern border of Jalisco with Michoacán ( Figs 2, 38) where it occurs in thorn and deciduous secondary forests ( Fig. 13D). It is a fossorial species whose modified or self-excavated burrow s can be found under large rocks and large tree roots amongst thorny brush. Burrows do not have any silk around the entrance.

Remarks

The type specimen of B. auratum (SMF38045) lacks palpal bulbs because they were removed, possibly when it was described ( Fig. 11A). It was not possible to find them in the holotype jar, nor in the laminated collection at the Senckenberg Museum. One mounted spermatheca was found instead of a palpal bulb ( Fig. 11B–C). The origin of that spermatheca is uncertain. However, the other features like patellae coloration and tibial apophysis in the type specimen are sufficient for identification of this species.