Charinus cearensis Miranda & Giupponi & Prendini & Scharff 2021, sp. nov.

Charinus cearensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1041FC16-D0B0-4CDF-BC9E-AC5B2AA993C9

Figs 43, 54–56; Table 4

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from other Charinus in eastern South America by means of the following combination of characters: carapace with carina ventral to lateral eyes; cheliceral claw with nine teeth; leg IV basitibia with four articles.

This species resembles C. potiguar, but can be differentiated by the smaller number of cheliceral teeth, with nine teeth in C. cearensis sp. nov. compared with thirteen teeth in C. potiguar, and greater number of spines on the pedipalp patella in C. cearensis sp. nov.

Etymology

Adjective refering to Ceará, the Brazilian state in which the type locality is located.

Type material

Holotype BRAZIL • ♀; Ceará, Ubajara, Parque Nacional de Ubajara, Gruta de Ubajara; [03°50′ S, 40°53′59″ W]; Jul. 1979; Ricardo leg.; IBSP 67.

Paratypes BRAZIL • 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; 03°49′57.2″ S, 40°53′59.4″ W; 29–28 Jul. 2013; L.S. Carvalho and D.N. Lima leg.; cave’s drainage flue; CHNUFPI 1255, AMCC [LP 13401] • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1252 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1254 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1253 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1251 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1250 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CHNUFPI 1256.

Description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae (Fig. 54A); frontal process triangular, visible in dorsal view (Fig. 54C). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci; lateral margin, ventral to lateral eyes, with small carina. Median eyes well developed (Fig. 54C); median ocular tubercle shallow, with pair of setae; lateral eyes well developed, seta posterior to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad well separated from carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae (Fig. 54B); other sternal platelets narrow and concave, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with four setae anteriorly and two setae near membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with prominent setae posteromedially and some smaller setae near margin (Fig. 55A–C); gonopod sucker-like, unsclerotized basally (Fig. 55A, C, F); tubular from base to apex, with broad aperture (Fig. 55A, F); genital operculum with smooth surface between gonopod and distal margin (Fig. 55D); sensilla on lateral margin of genital operculum (Fig. 55E). Male unknown.

CHELICERAE. Small tooth projecting from retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of claw with continuous row of setae, basally to medially; claw with nine teeth; row of setae on prolateral surface of basal segment with eight setae in one row; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with four prominent setae encircled by round carina and five setae on margin (Fig. 54A). Femur with five dorsal spines and four or five ventral spines (Fig. 54E–F); spine between dorsal spines 2 or 3; two prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin; small spine ventral to extra spine proximal to ventral spine 1, near articulation between femur and trochanter. Patella with five dorsal spines in primary series (Fig. 54E); prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, one-third length of spine I; four ventral spines (Fig. 54F); prominent setiferous tubercle between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and five setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, proximal spine one-third length of distal spine (Fig. 54D); cleaning organ with 25–28 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles, tarsus I with 41 articles; first tarsal article shorter than second article; rod sensilla with five setae in shallow groove; tarsal organ situated close to base of tarsal claw (Fig. 56A, C). Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate margin projecting from apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated medially on pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 4.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

According to L.S. Carvalho (pers. com.), C. cearensis sp. nov. is uncommon and only found near drainage flues in the dark zone of the cave (Gruta de Ubajara). Searches of nearby caves, such as Gruta do Morcego Branco, ca 50 m from the type locality, as well as outside the caves, were unsuccessful in finding additional specimens, suggesting the species is restricted to Gruta de Ubajara. A schizomid, Rowlandius ubajara Santos, Ferreira & Buzatto, 2013, is also endemic to the cave.

Remarks

The holotype possesses an extra spine between dorsal spines 3 and 4 on the femur of the sinistral pedipalp. The holotype possesses four ventral spines on the pedipalp femur whereas the paratype possesses five ventral spines, the last spine appearing to be a duplication of the previous spine, as both spines are similar in length and color. The basitibia of leg IV consists of three pseudo-articles on one leg and two pseudo-articles on the other, in the holotype, whereas the basitibia consists of four pseudoarticles on both legs of the paratype.