Brachypelma boehmei, SCHMIDT & KLAAS, 1993

BRACHYPELMA BOEHMEI SCHMIDT & KLAAS, 1993 View in CoL

( FIGS 2, 18– 22, 37E–H, 38)

Brachypelma boehmei Schmidt & Klaas, 1993: 7 View in CoL , figs 1–2 (D male and female); Schmidt (1993: 82, fig. 193a), male; Schmidt & Klaas (1994: 8, figs 1–2), male and female; Smith (1994: 164, figs 884–900), male and female; Tesmoingt et al., (1997a: 9, plate 2, fig. 1), female; Schmidt (1997b: 19, fig. 190), male; Bertani (2000: 30, figs 41–42), male; Peters (2000: 67, fig. 218), female; Peters (2003: 115–117, figs 461–469), male and female; Schmidt (2003: 137, figs 201, 273), male and female.

Material examined

Holotype of Brachypelma boehmei : MEXICO: ♀, no more data, K. Böhme ( SMF 40590 About SMF ) . Paratype. MEXICO: ♂, no more data, K. Böhme ( SMF 38043 About SMF ) .

Other material: MEXICO: Guerrero: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Mpio. La Unión Isidoro Montes de Oca , 3km NE of La Unión, 12/XII/2013, J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar007185, CNAN-Ar007186, CNAN-Ar007833) ; 2 ♂, Mpio. La Unión Isidoro Montes de Oca , 1km SW of La Unión, 17/XII/2016, J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar010589, CNAN-Ar010591) ; 2 ♀, Mpio. La Unión Isidoro Montes de Oca, Carretera Fed 37D, 16/IX/2015, J. Mendoza (CNAN-Ar007905, CNAN-Ar010285) ; Oaxaca: 1 ♂, Mpio. Salina Cruz, X/1963, E. Martín (CNAN-Ar003426) (collection data of this specimen are considered wrong due to lack of evidence of the species in Oaxaca and considering the restricted distribution of the species to a single municipality in Guerrero).

Diagnosis

Brachypelma boehmei can be distinguished from all other known Brachypelma species by the coloration of the carapace and legs that are orange ( Fig. 22A–C). It also differs in the shape of genitalia in both sexes with palpal bulb straight ( Fig. 19C–D), embolus similar in length as tegulum and broader than embolus base at apex ( Fig. 19A–B). The prolateral superior keel normally developed and slightly directed retrolaterally ( Fig. 19A). Apical keel with a great backward development, extending more than the length of prolateral superior keel ( Fig. 19B). The prolateral inferior keel is joined to prolateral superior keel at the apex and slightly extended to backwards ( Fig. 19A). The prolateral apophysis is almost half the length of the retrolateral apophysis ( Fig. 18F–G). It also differs in the spermatheca ventral face striated ( Fig. 20B), with spermathecal baseplate lanceolate, notoriously separated and lower than the height of the spermatheca ( Fig. 21E–G).

Brachypelma boehmei is identified by possesing the following character combination: male palpal bulb straight with a broad spoon-shape at apex, prolateral superior keel normally developed and slightly directed retrolaterally; prolateral inferior keel weakly developed restricted to embolus apex; apical keel developed extending to backwards more than the length of the prolateral superior keel. Embolus tip slightly directed to retrolateral. Embolus large and broad, similar in length to tegulum ( Fig. 19A–D). Spermatheca fused trapezoidal, with a single receptacle strongly sclerotized. Spermathecal baseplate divided, noticeably separated; lanceolate and three times wider than its height ( Figs 20B, 21E–G). Carapace and legs of both sexes are orange in general ( Fig. 22A–C).

Redescription

Male (CNAN-Ar010589) ( Figs 18, 19, 22A): Body length 41.39 (not including chelicerae and spinnerets), carapace 19.71 length, 18.82 width. Caput not markedly elevated; fovea recurved, 4.50 wide ( Fig. 18A). Eyes: anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interocular distances: AME 0.46; ALE 0.53; PME 0.46; PLE 0.56; AME–AME 0.43; AME–ALE 0.20; PME–PME 1.20; PME–PLE 0.13; ALE–PLE 0.43. Ocular tubercle width 2.47, length 2.23; clypeus absent ( Fig. 18D). Labium length 2.40, width 3.25; with 85 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 248 (left) and 187 (right) cuspules. Cheliceral promargin with ten (left) and ten (right) teeth (proximal to distal: first–second large, third medium, fourth large, fifth small, sixth–tenth large). Sternum length 8.70, width 8.09. Sigilla oval, first to third pairs hardly visible, posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 18B). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Length of legs and palpal segments (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 16.94, 9.01, 13.20, 13.72, 8.47, 61.34; II: 15.56, 8.79, 11.94, 12.60, 8.48, 57.37; III: 14.40, 8.00, 11.29, 13.86, 8.43, 55.98; IV: 17.26, 8.51, 13.06, 18.04, 9.26, 66.13. Palp: 11.02, 6.54, 9.51, -, 4.51, 31.58. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.15 long, 0.95 apart; PLS, 3.80 basal, 2.55 middle, 3.25 distal. Tarsi I–IV entirely scopulated. Metatarsus I entirely scopulated, II scopulated 80%, III scopulated 60% distally, IV scopulated 40% 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. 18F–G). Metatarsus I curved ( Fig. 18E). Stridulatory setae: with claviform stridulating setae on palp trochanter and femur retrolateral face; leg I coxa, trochanter and femur prolateral face. Chaetotaxy (left side): femora I 1p; II 1p; palp 1p; patellae none; tibiae II 3p, 3v, 1r; III 3p, 4v, 2r; IV 1p, 4v, 1r; palp 2p, 2v; metatarsi I 2v, II 1p, 4v; III 2p, 7v, 2r; IV 2p, 15v, 1r. Palp: embolus straight with a broad spoon-shape at apex and similar in length as tegulum. Prolateral superior keel normally developed and slightly directed retrolaterally; prolateral inferior keel weakly developed restricted to embolus apex, better seen dorsally, apical keel developed extending to backwards more than the length of the prolateral superior keel. 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. 19A–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. 18C). Colour pattern: in live specimens, adult males with carapace colour persimmon (pantone 166c) and tacao (pantone 721c) around the border ( Fig 22A); chelicerae dorsally tussock (pantone 729c); ventral coxae, labium, maxillae and sternum seal brown (pantone 440c); abdomen dorsally coffee bean (pantone black 2c) with sparse light raw sienna (pantone 722c) setae, ventrally seal brown. Legs and palpi: femora coffee black, patellae with a proximal dorsomedial persimmon flame-shape area, surrounding this and distally is raw sienna, with some setae laterally of same colour; tibiae and metatarsi persimmon, with some lateral raw sienna setae; tarsi proximally backer’s chocolate (pantone 732c) and distally coffee bean ( Fig. 37E–H).

Female (CNAN-Ar007905) ( Figs 21A–E, 22B): 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. 21A). 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. 21C). Labium length 3.05, width 3.55; with 86 cuspules. Maxilla inner corner with approximately 250 (left)–276 (right) cuspules ( Fig. 21D). Cheliceral promargin with ten (left)–11 (right) teeth. Sternum length 11.39, width 10.09. Sigilla oval, first to third pairs hardly visible; posterior pair once its length from the margin ( Fig. 21B). 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: 12.48, 7.51, 9.34, -, 9.32. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.50 long, 2.05 apart; PLS, 4.15 basal, 4.15 middle, 2.55 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 I 1p, II 1p; patellae none; tibiae I 1p, 3v; II 3p, 4v; III 3p, 6v, 2r; IV 1p, 4v, 1r; palp 2p, 6v; metatarsi I 3v; II 1p, 3v; III 2p, 8v, 1r; IV 2p, 15v, 1r. Genitalia: fused trapezoidal spermatheca, with a single receptacle strongly sclerotized, three times wider than its height. Spermatheca baseplate divided, widely separated in middle, each baseplate lanceolate three times wider than high, outer side slightly smaller than the inner ( Fig. 21E). Variation: some specimens have a wider base up to four times wider than height, young or juveniles can present the superior edge slightly inward in middle. Ventral with variation on striation. Baseplate division can vary in length ( Figs 20B, 21F–G). 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) tango (pantone 7412c) in all the carapace with pink flare (pantone 5025c) around the border, juveniles or subadults same pattern ( Fig 22B); (2) pink flare around the border and sandy brown (pantone 7411c) in dorsomedial, with two seal brown (pantone 440c) longitudinal patches from the fovea to caput ( Fig. 22C); chelicerae dorsally beaver colour (pantone 4715c); ventral coxae, labium, maxillae and sternum seal brown; abdomen dorsally black (pantone 426c) with putty colour (pantone 721c) setae, ventrally black. Legs and palpi: femora coffee black, patellae with a proximal dorsomedial cinnabar (pantone 173c) flame-shape area, surrounding this and distally is dark salmon (pantone 472c), with some setae laterally of wafer colour (pantone 4745c); tibiae and metatarsi chardonnay (pantone 1355c), with some lateral wafer setae; tarsi proximally Backer’s chocolate (pantone 732c) and distally coffee bean ( Fig. 37E–H).

Distribution and habitat: Brachypelma boehmei is the species with the most restricted distribution being only known from the Sierra de Cumbres region, an area characterized by low complex and rolling hills with plains, belonging to the subprovince Costas del Sur in south-western Guerrero ( Figs 2, 38). It occurs in thorn and deciduous forests ( Fig. 22D). It is a fossorial species whose burrows can be found under large angular rocks and large tree roots amongst thorny brush. Burrows do not have any silk around the entrance.