Medionops simla Chickering, new combination

Medionops simla (Chickering) new combination

Figures 18, 19A–F

Nops simla Chickering, 1967: 13, figs 16–17. Nentwig, 1993: 97, figs 49a–c

Types. Male holotype from Simla = William Beebe Tropical Research Station, (10°41'1"N 61°17'W) Arima Valley, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, 31.iii.1964, A. M. Chickering, deposited in MCZ 23096, examined. Female paratype, 25.iv.1964, other data as holotype, deposited in MCZ 128290, examined.

Additional material examined. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Trinidad: Simla = William Beebe Tropical Research Station, (10°41'1"N 61°17'W), Arima Valley, 25.iv.1964, A. M. Chickering, 1imm. (MCZ 1 28289). Arima, v.1953, N.L.H. Krauss, 2♂ (palp for SEM), 1 imm. (AMNH).

Diagnosis. Males and females resemble those of M. claudiae n. sp. in having the dorsal abdomen with five pairs of irregular dark gray spots forming two rows, but in M. simla n. comb. the irregular spots are touching (Figs 18 A–B). Can be further distinguished by its large size (more than 5 mm total length); males with tip of embolus strongly curved, not acuminate, and wider at the end (Figs 18 D–E, 19D–F); females with a deep median concavity on distal margin of receptaculum (Fig. 18 F).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.1. Carapace 2.2 long, 2.0 wide. Sternum 1.9 long, 1.8 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.2; II: 3.1; III: 2.9; IV: 3.5. Carapace dark orange; chelicerae, palps and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter. Endites, labium and sternum light orange. Abdomen whitish gray, dorsal pattern with five big pairs of irregular dark gray spots forming two rows, touching (Fig. 18 A), posterior ventrally there is a pair of elongate dark gray spots, extending forward from spinnerets. Crista short, and gladius with the common shape among nopine. Palp with a spherical oval bulb, embolus longer than cymbium (Fig. 18 D–E, 19A), tip of embolus curved and wider at the end (Figs 18 D–E, 19D–F).

Female (paratype): Total length 5.5. Carapace 2.7 long, 2.5 wide. Sternum 2.4 long, 2.3 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.4; II: 3.3; III: 3.1; IV: 3.6. Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum darker than the male. Abdomen as in the male, but somewhat darker (Fig. 18 B). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Crista and gladius as in male. External genitalia with a transversal short genital opening (go), wide sclerotization around spiracles, accentuated in both sides (Fig. 18 C). Internal genitalia with a wide receptaculum, deep median concavity (mc) on distal margin; short proximal section of uterus externus (ue), not reaching length of receptaculum; broad and strongly sclerotized internal fold (if) (Fig. 18 F).

Distribution. Known from Trinidad and Panama (Fig. 21).