Monoblemma cubaensis, Martínez, 2025

Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov.

Figures 11–13 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 , 14 View FIGURE 14 A−D, 15, 16B, D, 20B, F.

Type material. Holotype: CUBA. Santiago: Santiago de Cuba, Río Mata, Yegua , 2km NE El Escandel , 266m, (20°05'34''N, 75°41'49''W), N. Platnick, A. Sánchez, A. Pérez & G. Alayón leg., 19.V.2010, 1 ♂ ( AMNH, vchLAM-563 ) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: same data as the holotype, 4 ♂ 5 ♀ ( AMNH), GoogleMaps 1 ♀ ( AMNH, vchLAM-564 ) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the country where the species is distributed.

Diagnosis. Males of Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from to those of Monoblemma cambridgei ( Bryant, 1940) new combination by the longer embolus with a laminar projection at the base ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 A−D, 16B, D, 20B). Males are further distinguished by the laminar, canaliculate cheliceral apophyses ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 B−F). Females are characterized by the elongated and wider central process and larger seminal receptacles ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 E−F, 15E−F, 20F).

Description. Male (holotype, AMNH). Total body length 1.04, carapace length 0.46, width 0.37, height 0.26. Clypeus height 0.15. Eye diameters and interdistances: four eyes, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.05; PLE separated by almost one ALE diameter. Sternum sub-rhomboidal with recurved posterior edge, length 0.26, width 0.27. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.08. Legs: Leg I—femur 0.31/ patella 0.07/ tibia 0.22/ metatarsus 0.18/ tarsus 0.21/ total 0.99; II—0.26/ 0.11/ 0.22/ 0.15/ 0.21/ 0.95; III—0.23/ 0.09/ 0.14/ 0.16/ 0.18/ 0.80; IV—0.21/ 0.08/ 0.25/ 0.22/ 0.22/ 0.98. Abdomen length 0.64, width 0.51. Body coloration reddish-brown, carapace marginally darker ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 A−C). Legs brown, femora darker, metatarsi and tarsi yellow. Spinnerets brown. Carapace: cephalothorax reticulate, with small granules on posterior side, suboval-shaped, anterior edge strongly projected; four eyes arranged in two rows widely separated each other, ALE>PLE, ALE and PLE adjacent; clypeus high and anteriorly projected with rounded anterior edge ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 A−C); thoracic region reticulate, high, thoracic very short, transversal ( Figs. 13 View FIGURE 13 A−C, E); Chelicerae with developed laminar, canaliculate frontal apophysis, anteriorly positioned ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 B−C); endites sub-quadrangular, anteriorly narrow; labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long; sternum rugose almost as long as wide ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ). Legs with many fine setae, femora with granulated cuticle, tibiae-tarsi cuticle striated, tarsi longer than metatarsi. Opisthosoma: with some black, fine setae on posterior edge ( Figs. 11A View FIGURE 11 , 14A View FIGURE 14 ); dorsal scutum oval-shaped and smooth; ventral scutum (pulmonar scutum) finely reticulated and with some fine setae and four spigots at the epyadrium ( Fig. 14D View FIGURE 14 ); with three lateral scuta, extending to the posterior side of the anal plate, lateral regions with some free sclerites ( Figs. 11B View FIGURE 11 , 14A View FIGURE 14 ); postgenital scutum rectangular, long, very narrow; preanal scutum rectangular, approximately as wide as the pulmonar scutum, with straight lateral edges. Six spinnerets surrounding by the anal plate ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 A−C), ALS large with two articles, basal article very wide, distal article short, with several piriform gland spigots and two major ampullate gland spigots; PMS short with two articles, covered by modified setae and a large spigot, presumably a minor ampullate gland, and several aciniform gland spigots; PLS with two articles, the apical article is flat and is covered by long modified setae and aciniform gland spigots ( Fig. 14C View FIGURE 14 ). Palp: femur cylindric with simple setae on the cuticle; patella short with long setae; tibia swollen with simple and long setae; cymbium short with black, long setae; bulb large, pear-shaped, strongly projected and anteriorly constricted; spermatic ducts very wide at base, narrower toward the embolus, with a medial expansion; embolus long but shorter than bulb, filiform, straight, with a laminar projection at base ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 A−D, 16B, D, 20B).

Female (paratype, AMNH). Total body length 1.01, carapace length 0.45, width 0.39, height 0.26. Clypeus height 0.13. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.04, PLE 0.03; PLE separated by one ALE diameter. Sternum length 0.27, width 0.28. Chelicerae (paturon) length 0.11. Leg measurements: Leg I—femur 0.36/ patella 0.12/ tibia 0.28/ metatarsus 0.19/ tarsus 0.21/ total 1.19; II—0.30/ 0.12/ 0.25/ 0.15/ 0.16/ 1.01; III—0.27/ 0.11/ 0.22/ 0.18/ 0.21/ 1.02; IV—0.26/ 0.12/ 0.32/ 0.25/ 0.26/ 1.22. Abdomen length 0.69, width 0.59. Coloration as male, legs uniformly brown ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 D−F). Carapace: cephalothorax smooth, with striated at posterior edge and under eyes; eyes white in two rows ALE>PLE; clypeus high, anteriorly projected ( Fig.15 View FIGURE 15 A−C); thoracic region rugous ( Fig. 15A View FIGURE 15 ); Chelicerae with large developed lateral apophyses at distal edges ( Fig. 15B View FIGURE 15 ); endites sub-quadrangular-shaped with the wide basal edge, narrowing towards the distal edge ( Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 ); labium trapezoidal-shaped and wider that long ( Fig. 11F View FIGURE 11 ); sternum rugose with few setae on margins ( Fig. 11F View FIGURE 11 ). Opisthosoma: covered with white and black fine setae ( Figs. 10E View FIGURE 10 , 11F View FIGURE 11 ); scuta as in the male; postgenital scutum narrower. Genitalia orifice small, placed at posterior edge of epigynal fold; central process wide, distally rounded; seminal receptacles massive, membranous; internal glands rounded; vulval ducts short, very wide ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 E−F, 15E−F, 20F).

Variation. Males (n=5): total length: 1.02-1.08; carapace length: 0.39-0.46. Females (n=5): total length: 1.01- 1.04; carapace length: 0.41-0.45.

Distribution. Only known from Cuba ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 ).