Aysenoides nahuel Izquierdo & Ramírez, 2008, new species

Aysenoides nahuel new species

Figs 12–22

Types: Male holotype and 1 female paratype from Chile, Región IX (Araucanía), Malleco province, Nahuelbuta National Park, S 37º47’, W 73º00’, elev. 1200 m, 12 February 2005, leg. J.E. Barriga T., fogging Nothofagus dombeyi, deposited in MHNS.

Additional material examined: CHILE: Región VII (Maule): Prov. Curicó: 20 Km E Potrero Grande, El Relvo S 35º11.14’, W 70º56.1’, elev. 1100 m, 8 May 2004, leg. J.E. Barriga T. fogging Nothofagus dombeyi, 14 immatures (MACN­Ar 13431); Región IX (Araucanía): Prov. Malleco: Nahuelbuta National Park, S 37º47’, W 73º00’, elev. 1200 m, 12 February 2005, leg. J.E. Barriga T. fogging Nothofagus dombeyi, 2 females and 1 immature (MACN­Ar 13434); Región VIII (Biobío): Ñuble: Las Trancas, W La Unión, 6–10 February 1988, 500 m, leg. L.E. Peña G. 1 male (AMNH).

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the word for the American tiger Panthera onca Linnaeus in the language of the Mapuche, indigenous inhabitants of southern Chile and Argentina, and referring to the coloration pattern of the new species, which is similar to a tiger’s fur.

Diagnosis: Males can be easily recognized from other Aysenoides species by the shape of the copulatory bulb, with a conspicuous paramedian apophysis slightly protruding to the retrolateral side (Figs 18–20); females differ by having divergent, well separated accessory bulbs (Figs 21, 22).

Description. Male (holotype): Prosoma length 2.40, width 1.53. Length of tibia/metatarsus: I, 2.52/2.30; II, 1.97/1.67; III, 1.13/1.17; IV, 1.72/1.60. Chelicerae less robust than those of female, with two teeth on retromargin, three on promargin. Sternum length 1.35, width 0.80. Spines: leg I, femur d 1­1­1, p 2ap, r 0­1­0; tibia v 2­2 ­2 (x­p 1­x slightly displaced to prolateral); metatarsus d p1­p1­0, p 1­1­0, v 2 bas. II, femur = I except p1 ap; tibia p 1­d1­1, r 1­0­1, v (p1­r1)­(r1­p1) ­2 [(p 1­x)­(x­p1)­x less developed]; metatarsus = I except v 2 ­0­ 2. III, femur d 1­1­1, p and r 0­1­1; tibia p 1­d1­1, r 1­d1­1, v 2­2 ­2; metatarsus d 0­p1­2, p and r 1­1­1, v 2 ­p1­ 2. IV, femur d 1­1­1, p and r 1ap; tibia v p1­2­2 (x­r 1­x slightly advanced), r 1­d1­1; metatarsus d r1­p1­2, p 0­1­ 1, r 1ap, v 2­2 ­2. Leg III directed forward. Opisthosoma length 3.38, epigastrium–spiracle 1.75, spiracle–spinnerets 0.20.

Color in ethanol (Figs 16–17): Prosoma reddish­brown, paler on dorsal region. Ocular region dark, chelicerae dark reddish­brown, sternum and labium light brown, gnathocoxae paler. Legs yellowish to cream, legs I and II darkening from tibiae to tarsi. Opisthosoma with dorsal pattern of cream to yellow chevrons on dark brown background, sides dark brown with cream longitudinal band.

Palp: tibia long, width/length 0.57, RTA long, acute. Cymbial conductor wide. Sperm duct with two conspicuous loops at apical margin. Embolus with basal process short, hyaline. Median apophysis hyaline, slen­ der, hook shaped. Primary conductor with canal, heavily sclerotized, fitting distal portion of embolus. Secondary conductor absent. Paramedian apophysis with one conspicuous cusp, protruding over retrolateral border of cymbium in ventral view.

Female (paratype): Prosoma length 2.73, width 1.33. Length of tibia/metatarsus: I, 1.30/1.17; II, 1.23/ 1.13; III, 0.87/0.93; IV, 1.40/1.23. Chelicerae strong, with three teeth on retromargin, three on promargin. Length of sternum 1.43, with 0.80. Spines: Femur I, d 1­1­1, p 2ap; tibia v 2­2 ­2 (x­p 1­x slightly displaced to prolateral); metatarsus v 2 bas. II, femur d 1­1­1, p 1ap; tibia v r1­1­2, p 1ap; metatarsus v 2 ap. III, femur d 1­ 1­1, p and r 1ap; tibia d p1­2­0, v 2 ap, r 1­0­1; metatarsus d 0­2­2, v 2 ­0­2, p 1­1­1, r 1 ap. IV, femur d 1­1­1, r 1ap; tibia v p1­p1­2, r 0­1­1; metatarsus d r1­p1­2, v 2 ­p1­2, p 1ap, r 1ap. Third legs directed forward. Opisthosoma length 3.73, epigastrium­epigastrium 1.80, spiracle­spinnerets 0.33.

Color in ethanol (Figs 12–14): as in male.

Epigyne: Simple plate, limit between lateral lobes and median field fading beyond copulatory openings (Fig. 15). Spermathecae spherical, accessory bulbs divergent (Figs 21–22).

Variability: Spines in males: Femur II, p 1ap. Tibia I, p 1­d1­1, r 1ap. II, v r1­2­2, p 0­d1­ 1. IV, v 2 ­p1­2. Metatarsus I, v 2 ­r1­0, p 0­d1­0. II, v 2 ­p1­r1­0, p 0­d1­0. III, v 2 ­0­ 2. IV, v 2 ­p1­2, r 1­0­1, d 0­p1­2. Spines in females: Femur I, p 2ap. III, p and r 1ap. IV, r 1ap. Tibia II, v r1­r1­2, r 1ap. III, v 0­p1­2, p 0­d1­1, r 1­d1­ 1. IV, r 0­1­1. Metatarsus III, d 0­p1­2, p and r 0­d1­ 1. IV, d r1­0­2, r 1ap.

Natural history: Most of the specimens were collected fogging the canopy of the southern beech Nothofagus dombeyi.

Distribution: Southern forests of Chile, form Curicó to Valdivia provinces.