Neischnocolus ruffoi, Dupérré & Tapia, 2025

Neischnocolus ruffoi sp. nov.

Figs 5–7 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 , 12 View FIGURE 12 , map 2.

Type material. Male holotype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, OTONGA reserve (-00.41564° -79.00452°) 2105 m, 24 May–08 June 2014, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré, ECFN 11635 ( QCAZ). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1 ♂, ECFN 11636 ( ZIMG); 1 ♂, ECFN 11637 ( ZMH-A0029122 ); 1 ♂, ECFN 11638 ( QCAZ); OTONGA Reserve (-00.41994° -79.00623°) 1997 m, 1♀ 1juv., 15 Jan. 2020, hand collecting, Faml. Tapia-Caisaguano, ECFN 4901 ( ZMH-A0029118 ); OTONGA reserve (-00.41994° -79.00623°) 1997 m, 2 ♂, 8–21 June 2014, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré, ECFN 11639 ( QCAZ); OTONGA reserve (-00.41941° -78.99607°) 1717 m, 1 ♂, 24 May–08 June 2014, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré, ECFN 931 ( ZMH-A0002683 ) .

Diagnosis. Males most resemble N. pampenita sp. nov. but are distinguished by their large serrated PAC keel ( Fig. 6E View FIGURE 6 ) while PAC keel not serrated and smaller in the latter ( Fig. 9E View FIGURE 9 ). Females most resemble N. pampenita sp. nov. but are distinguished by the basal atrium medially with less sclerotized rectangular region ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 , arrow), while basal atrium with triangular less sclerotized in the region in the latter ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 , arrow).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a tribute to the esteemed Italian entomologist Sandro Ruffo (1915–2010) who serves as the curator of Zoology at the Verona Natural History Museum. In recognition of his support in acquiring the land that constitutes the OTONGA reserve where the new species is found.

Description (Male holotype): Total length: 11.36, carapace length: 5.54; carapace width: 4.85; abdomen length: 5.82. Coloration (ethanol): Carapace oval, orange-brown densely covered with light brown setae and few black setae; fovea transverse ( Fig. 5A, B View FIGURE 5 ). Chelicerae ornage densely covered with light brown setae and dark brown setae; promargin with nine teeth, furrow with seven denticles basally. Eight eyes, anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved; AME 0.17, ALE 0.26, PLE 0.17 PME, 0.16, PME–PME 0.44. Labium orange-brown, with 9 cuspules. Maxillae orange-brown, with 16 cuspules. Sternum light orange, longer than wide (2.89/2.29), labiosternal sigilla joined ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ); three pairs of oval sigilla located near coxae III, coxae II and coxae I. Abdomen oval, densely covered with brown recumbent setae ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ); with type Id urticating setae on dorsoposterior part. Legs orange-brown densely covered with light brown setae; all tarsi fully scopulate, tarsus IV very thin; metatarsi I–III with thin 25% scopula, metatarsi IV ascopulate; tarsi I, II with entire scopula, tarsi III–IV entirely divided by setae; tibia I with fused subapical apophyses, both branches with large apical spines ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ). Legs measurements: total length: I 18.69 (5.68/2.53/4.66/3.48/2.34) II 15.66 (5.02/2.10/3.45/2.82/2.27) III 15.44 (4.43/2.17/3.39/3.16/2. 29) IV 19.67 (5.26/2.22/4.50/5.16/2.53); leg formula 4123. Spination: tibiae I v 0-0-1, II v 0-0-2, p 0-0-1, III v 0-0-2, p 0-0-0, r 0-0-1, IV v 0-0-2, p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1; metatarsi I v 0-0-3; II v 0-1-3 (apical), III v 0-2-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-0-1, IV v 1-1-1-2-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-1-1; palpal tibiae p 0. Genitalia: palpal tibia (2.65 length, 1.05 width) with two truncated conical processes on retrolateral surface ( Fig. 6B, C View FIGURE 6 ); cymbium divided, with two lobes, prolateral lobe larger than retrolateral one; bulb with well-developed prolateral keels, PS short and serrated, R keel short, A keel transparent, PAC large and serrated, PI keel smooth ( Fig. 6E, F View FIGURE 6 ); dorsal area of embolus without granulation; tegular protuberance lacking granulation ( Fig. 6E View FIGURE 6 ).

(Female paratype, ECFN 4901). Total length: 12.41, carapace length: 5.53; carapace width: 5.02; abdomen length: 6.88. Coloration (ethanol): Carapace as in male ( Fig. 7A, B View FIGURE 7 ). Eyes as in male; AME 0.21, ALE 0.30, PLE 0.21, PME, 0.15, PME–PME 0.51. Chelicerae as in male; promargin with nine teeth, furrow with 12 denticles basally. Labium dark reddish-brown, with seven cuspules. Maxillae dark reddish-brown with 44 cuspules. Sternum orange, longer than wide. (2.42/2.27).Abdomen: as in male; with type Id located in dorsoanterior part. Legs, all tarsi fully scopulate, metatarsi I–II 50% scopulate, metatarsi III 25% scopulate, metatarsi IV ascopulate; tarsi I, II with entire scopula, tarsi III–IV entirely divided by setae. Legs measurements: total length: I 11.17 (3.63/1.88/2.49/1.43 /1.74) II 10.86 (3.32/1.65/2.33/1.87/1.69) III 10.41 (3.13/1.49/1.94/2.16/1.69) IV 13.77 (3.88/1.59/2.87/3.41/2.02); leg formula 4123. Spination: tibiae, III v 0-02, IV v 2-2-1-3 (apical), p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1; metatarsi I v 0-0-1, II v 0- 0-3 (apical), III v 0-2-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-0-1, IV v 2-2-1-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-1-1. Genitalia with strongly sclerotized oval basal atrium, medially with transparent rectangular region ( Fig. 7D, E View FIGURE 7 ); with a pair of parallel spermathecae, straight, not extending beyond basal atrium, right spermatheca shorter ( Fig. 7D, E View FIGURE 7 ).

Distribution. Only found at the type locality in Cotopaxi province.

Natural History. Specimens were collected between 1717–2105 m, in a low evergreen forest (BsBn04) and a mountain evergreen forest (BsMn03) (Iglesia et al. 2013a, b).