Almafuerte kuru Grismado & Carrión 2017, sp. nov.

Almafuerte kuru sp. nov.

(Figs. 16, 17 f, 22a)

Types. Holotype female from Argentina: Santiago del Estero Province: Departamento Moreno: Mercedes, 10 km E Amamá, VII–VIII 1995, D. Vezzani coll. (MACN-Ar 18257). Paratypes: same data as the holotype, six females (MACN-AR 36687, prep. CJG-1482).

Etymology. The specific name means “worm” in Quichua santiagueño language, and refers to the elongate, coiled shaped copulatory ducts, very different from other congeners. “Quichua santiagueño” is a dialect still spoken in many regions of Santiago del Estero, derived from the original Peruvian Quechua language.

Diagnosis. Females of A. kuru are recognized by the smaller primary spermathecae and the very long and convoluted copulatory ducts (Fig. 17 f).

Description. Female holotype: Measurements: Total length 8.97, carapace 3.06 long, 2.42 wide; sternum 1.78 long, 1.39 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.165, ALE 0.119, PME 0.125, PLE 0.151; AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.14, ALE-PLE 0.06. Legs (femur/patella/tibia/metatarsus/tarsus); I 2.17/1.43/1.78/1.14/0.892, II 1.92/1.25/1.49/1.15/0.781, III 1.69/0.95/1.09/1.25/0.732, IV 2.27/0.98/1.99/1.89/ 0.851. Leg spination: femora: I d1-1, p0-0-1; II d1-1-0, p0-1/0-1; III d1-1-0, dp 0-1-1/0, dr 0-1-1; IV d1-0-1-0, dr 0-0-0-1; patellae: III r1, IV r1; tibiae: II v1 ap, III d1-0-0, p1-1-1, v1-2 -2ap, r0-1-0-1; IV p1-0-1, v1-2 -2ap, r1-1; metatarsi I v1 -0-0, II v2-2 -0, III d0-2-0-2, p 0-1-0-1, v2-2 -2ap, r1-1-0-1, IV d1-2-0-2, p1-1-0-1, v2-2 -2ap, r0-1-0-1.

Epigynum (Fig. 16 c–e): Anterior hood relatively small, posterior to that, the slightly sclerotized field has strong procurved folds; copulatory area orange, with the convoluted copulatory ducts visible by transparency; copulatory openings ventrally located, connecting with long and very convoluted ducts (especially the section between the copulatory openings and the insertion of the secondary spermathecae), ending in relatively small primary spermathecae (Fig. 17 f). All other characters are common for the genus.

Natural history and habitat preferences. Unknown. The type locality belongs to the Dry Chaco biogeographic province, in a semiarid secondary forest that suffered an intense deforestation in recent years (biotope characterized in detail by Vezzani et al. 2001).

Material examined. Only the types.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality, in central Santiago del Estero, Argentina.