A New Species of North American Tarantula , Aphonopelma Paloma (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae )
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1992. The Journal of Arachnology 20 :189—199 A NEW SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN TARANTULA , APHONOPELMA PALOMA (ARANEAE, MYGALOMORPHAE, THERAPHOSIDAE ) Thomas R. Prentice: Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside , California 92521, US A ABSTRACT. Aphonopelma paloma new species, is distinguished from all other North American tarantula s by its unusually small size and presence of setae partially or completely dividing the scopula of tarsus IV i n both sexes. Both sexes also are characterized by a general reduction of the scopula on metatarsus IV . Males are characterized by a swollen third femur . In 1939 and 1940 R. V. Chamberlin and W. with anterior and posterior edges in the same Ivie described almost all of the currently recog- plane. All ink drawings except femora were aide d nized North American theraphosid spiders . De- by a camera lucida. Palpal bulb and seminal re- spite the acknowledged significance of their work , ceptacles were cleared in 10% NaOH (for 12 hr. it is difficult to apply Chamberlin's keys wit h at 50 °C.) prior to illustration . Scanning electron much success even in dealing with specimen s micrographs were taken with a JEOL JSM C35 . from type localities, primarily because their small Abbreviations for eyes are standard for Araneae. sample sizes did not allow variational assess- For leg spination, abbreviations are as follows : ment. Eleven of these species descriptions were a = apical, b = basal, d = dorsal, e = preapical, based on single males, five on single females, an d L = left, m = medial, p = prolateral direction, r three on two males each (Chamberlin & Ivie 1939; = retrolateral direction, R = right, usu . = usually, Chamberlin 1940). By increasing the sample size v = ventral, var . = variable, 0.33, 0.50, etc. = and working with both sexes, I describe here a approximate fraction of the total segment lengt h new species of tarantula, Aphonopelma paloma, a spine is from the proximal end . Color refer- based on characters that have been selected after ences are from the color charts in the Munsell evaluating variation . Because of deficiencies in Book of Color and refer to color of live specimen s variational data the values of characters such as under natural light conditions . spination, meristic and morphometric ranges, and various ratios as taxonomic tools have not bee n Aphonopelma paloma, new specie s Figs. 1—12 assessed adequately . Therefore, specific ratios and morphometric comparisons as well as tables Types.—Holotype male, allotype female from showing spination patterns and leg and palp seg- Pinal County, Arizona, 3 mi . NE exit 151 off I- ment lengths and ranges are provided . These data 8, 17—18 November 1989 . Paratype males: 1 5 should be useful in future taxonomic studies. A November 1986 — 1, 18—19 November 1989 — brief account of the natural history of A . paloma 2, 17 November 1990 — 2; Paratype females : 1 8 is included. Nov. 1989 — 2. Holotype and allotype deposite d in the American Museum of Natural History . METHOD S Etymology. —The specific epithet is from the Measurements were made using an America n Spanish word paloma (dove) which was used i n Optical 570 stereoscope equipped with an eye - the plural to describe a vast plain in the south- piece micrometer accurate to 0.1 mm. Leg and western desert of Arizona - Palomas Plain - where pedipalp measurements were made on the sid e there is an abundance of these tiny tarantulas. appearing most normal (e.g., not in the process Diagnosis. --A.palomadiffers from other North of regeneration) . Trochanters and coxae mea- American theraphosid spiders by the presence of surements were performed from ventral aspect, setae partially or completely dividing tarsus IV other leg and pedipalp segments from dorsal as- scopula and, to a lesser extent, tarsus III scopula pect (Coyle 1971) . Carapace length was taken (Figs. 1-3). Additional characters that further dif- 189 190 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY ferentiate A. paloma from other small species are its unusually small size, reduced metatarsal sco- pulation, and swollen third femora of males . Of the four small species that may overlap A. pal- oma in size (Chaunopelma radinum Chamberlin 1940; A. marxi Simon 1891 (Bonnet 1939) ; A. phasmus Chamberlin 1940 ; and A. ingrami Jung 1975 (Jung 1975 ; invalid name from unpub- lished thesis, types deposited under that name in the American Museum of Natural History)), only A. ingrami (name used for reference only) males have been found to do so but lack swollen third femora . Males from the remaining three species also lack swollen femora . All genera = Rhechostica Simon 1892 (Raven 1985) = Aphon- opelma Pocock 1901 (Bull . Zool. Nomen. 48 (2) June 1991, Opinion 1637) . Description .—Male: Holotype male . Length 14.5 mm. Carapace length 5 .7 mm, carapace width 5.1 mm carapace width/carapace length 0.89. Tibia I/metatarsus I, 1 .09 . Leg span 47 mm. Entire tarantula black except silvery reflec- tion from black carapace hairs, grayish silver chelicerae, and interspersed long straw-colored abdominal setae . Ventral aspect also black ex- cept orange color of labium and anterior mos t portions of maxillae. Leg and palp segment lengths are in Table I. Third femur noticeably swollen (Figs. 4-6), width, viewed from above, 1.7 mm, femora I and IV at widest point 1 . 1 mm. Lower process of tibial spur with one me- gaspine, long upper process with two shorter me- gaspines (Fig . 7). Chelicerae clothed in pale grayish-silver pu- bescence, longer silverish setae interspersed o n dorsal surfaces. Cheliceral width 2.7 mm. Chel- iceral width/carapace width, 0 .53. Promargins of each fang furrow with eight macroteeth. Carapace clothed with medium long dens e black hairs (Munsell, 5Y 2/1), not closely ap- 004 pressed. Thoracic groove a transverse pit . Ce- 15K:1J 4 phalic region not rising abruptly from thoracic Figures 1—3 .—A. paloma, new species. Scanning region, but in gradual arch . Extreme posterio- electron micrographs showing setae (arrows) dividing dorsal surface with scattered medium length bris - scopula on right tarsi, ventral : 1, paratype male, tarsu s ; 2, center section of tles, shorter bristles just anteriad . III (top), tarsus IV (bottom), x 24 tarsus IV in Fig. 1, x 200 ; 3, paratype female, tarsus Ocular area compact and elevated, turret com - III (top), tarsus IV (bottom), x 36 . paratively low. Anterior eye row slightly pro- curved; AME round, diameter 0 .3 mm, separat- 1 .5 x AME diameter; PLE rounded, 0 .7 x AME ed from each other by their diameter; ALE oval, diameter; PME-PLE nearly contiguous; ALE-PLE length 0.8 x AME diameter; AME-ALE 0 .1 x 0.4 x AME diameter; AME-PME 0.1 x AME di- AME diameter. Posterior eye row nearly straight, ameter; median ocular quadrangle wider poste- at most slightly procurved; PME rounded, 0.7 x riorly. AME diameter, separated from each other by Abdomen with short black (Munsell, N 1/) PRENTICE—NEW SPECIES OF APHONOPELMA 19 1 Figures 4—6 .—Aphonopelma paloma, new species . Right femora of holotype male showing relative widths , dorsal: 4, femur IV ; 5, femur I; 6, femur III. pubescence, long dark brown setae with straw- Legs black and hirsute; black pubescence in colored apices (Munsell, 5 YR 7/10, 10 YR 8/ addition to medium long dark brown to blac k 6) and longer attenuated setae, bases dark brown , setae with straw-colored apices, medium density , distal halves straw-colored (Munsell, 10 YR 8 / and very long straw-colored setae with dark 6) copiously interspersed. Longest setae less dense brown bases, low density . All tarsi fully scopulate on venter than dorsum. Circular patch of black with setae dividing tarsus IV scopula on proxi- type I (Cooke et al . 1972) urticating hairs (Fig. mal 0.60. Extent of metatarsal scopula: meta- 8) covering posteriodorsal % of abdomen . tarsus I, 0 .67; metatarsus II, 0 .50; metatarsus III, 192 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY Table 1.-Aphonopelma paloma, holotype male: leg and pedipalp length (mm) . Leg I II III IV Palp Coxa 2.3 2.0 1 .8 1.9 1 .9 Trochanter 1.3 1 .2 1 .0 1.1 1 .2 Femur 6.1 5.5 5.0 5.8 3.6 Patella 2.7 2.4 2.1 2.4 1 .8 Tibia 4.8 4.0 3.4 4.7 3.4 Metatarsus 4.4 4.4 4.7 6.0 Tarsus 2.7 2.7 2.7 3.0 1.0 Total leg length 24.3 22.2 20.7 24.9 12.9 Female: Allotype female . Length 16 .2 mm. Carapace length 5.2 mm, carapace width 4.2 mm, carapace width/carapace length 0.81 . Tibia I/ metatarsus I, 1 .17. Leg span 33 mm. Female gray; legs and carapace bronze-gray (Munsell, 1 0 YR 4/2) and abdomen black-gray (Munsell, 1 0 YR 3/1). Ventral aspect also gray except orange - brown color of labium and anterior halves o f maxillae. Third femur not swollen as in male . Leg and palp segment lengths in Table 2 . Chelicerae clothed in grayish pubescence with long silverish setae as in holotype; cheliceral width 3.1 mm. Cheliceral width/carapace width, 0 .74. Figure 7.-Aphonopelma paloma, new species . Left tibia I of holotype male showing general shape of spur Promargin of right fang furrow with eight ma- processes and megaspine location, prolateral aspect ; croteeth, left fang furrow with seven macroteeth . mgs = megaspine. Carapace clothed in moderately short, dens e bronze-gray hairs more closely appressed tha n in male. Numerous black attenuated setae, api- distal 0.25 divided by setae; metatarsus IV, distal cally straw-colored, interspersed . Thoracic groove 0.17, divided by setae.