Tafana maracay De Oliveira & Brescovit 2021, sp. nov.

Tafana maracay sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 692C24F0-D9ED-4D1B-9831-129C603BB253

Figs 8C–F, 25–26, 33D, 34

Diagnosis

Males of T. maracay sp. nov. resemble those of the silhavyi group by having the apophysis at the base of the embolus laminar, but differ from the other species by having the retrolateral tibial apophysis short, curved apically and presenting a basal projection rounded (Figs 25C–E, 26C). Females resemble those of T. silhavyi and T. arawak sp. nov. by having the epigynal plate with a wide atrium, but differ by having the copulatory ducts slightly narrowing in the anterior region (Figs 25F–G, 33D).

Etymology

The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality Maracay, currently the capital of the State of Aragua in Venezuela.

Material examined

Holotype VENEZUELA • 1 ♂; Aragua, Colonia Tovar; [10°24′20″ N, 67°17′22″ W]; E. Simon leg.; MNHN 11319.

Paratypes VENEZUELA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN 11319 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; IBSP 209871.

Other material

VENEZUELA – Aragua • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN 11314.

Description

Male (holotype, MNHN 11319)

COLOR. Exemplar probably discolored. Carapace orange with cephalic region dark (Fig. 25A). Labium, sternum and endites yellow. Chelicerae reddish. Legs I–IV yellow, darkest at tarsi. Abdomen yellow with dark spots in dorsal view (Fig. 25A).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 4.7, carapace length 2.1, width 1.8. Clypeus height 0.04. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.1, PME 0.1, PLE 0.1; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME– PME 0.1, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.02. Chelicerae 0.6 long, with four promarginal teeth and five retromarginal denticles.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I—femur 2.0 / patella 0.9/ tibia 2.2/ metatarsus 1.83 /tarsus 0.9 /total 7.83; II— 1.9/ 0.7/ 1.8 /1.8 / 0.5/ 6.7; III—1.2/ 0.6/ 1.0/ 1.1/ 0.4/ 4.3; IV—1.7 / 0.6/ 1.4/ 1.8 /0.49 / 5.99.

LEG SPINATION. I—tibia v2-2-2, p0-1-1, r1-1-0, metatarsus v2-0-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0; II—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-0, r1-1-0, metatarsus p0-1-0, r0-1-0; III—tibia p1-1-1, r1-1-1; IV—tibia p1-1-1.

PALP. Retrolateral tibial apophysis short, extremely curved at the apex; cymbium with basal retrolateral projection; apophysis at the base of the embolus laminar and coiled; embolus long with large base and narrow apex; median apophysis long and curved apically; ventral tegular process short and hyaline; subtegulum hardly visible; sperm duct with primary looping large (Figs 25C–E, 26A–C).

ABDOMEN. Length 2.6, epigastric furrow 0.6 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 1.2 from base of spinnerets.

Female (paratype, MNHN 11319)

COLOR. Exemplar probably discolored. Coloration as in males of this species (Fig. 25B).

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.6, carapace length 2.5, width 1.95. Clypeus height 0.06. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.12, PME 0.1, PLE 0.1; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME– PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.1, ALE–PLE 0.04. Chelicerae 1.0 long, with four promarginal teeth and five retromarginal denticles.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I—femur 1.8 /patella 0.9/ tibia 1.8/ metatarsus 1.5/ tarsus 0.8 /total 6.8; II— 1.8/ 0.9/ 1.6 /1.4 / 0.7/ 6.4; III—1.5 / 0.8/ 1.0/ 1.22 / 0.4/ 4.22; IV—2.0 / 0.9 /1.6 / 2.2/ 0.6/ 7.3.

LEG SPINATION. I—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-1, r0-1-0, metatarsus v2-0-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0; II—tibia v2-2-2, p1-1-1, r0-1-0, metatarsus p0-1-0, r0-1-0; III—tibia p1-1-0, r1-1-0; IV—tibia r1-1-0.

EPIGYNUM. Hood triangular and connecting to the lateral lobes; wide atrium; epigynal plate covered by cuticle in the posterior region; lateral lobes sinuous. Internally, copulatory ducts slightly narrow in the anterior region; primary spermathecae oval; secondary spermathecae large, above primary spermathecae; fertilization ducts long (Figs 25F–G, 26D–E, 33D).

ABDOMEN. Length 4.0, epigastric furrow 1.0 from tracheal spiracle, spiracle 1.7 from base of spinnerets.

Variation

Three males: total length 4.1–5.3; carapace 1.8–2.4; femur I 1.9–2.5. Four females: total length 4.3–6.6; carapace 1.7–2.3; femur I 1.3–2.0.

Distribution

Venezuela (Fig. 34).