Allocosa alticeps (Mello-Leitão, 1944)

Figs 4, 5 E–F, 6E–F, 8C–D, 9

Glieschiella alticeps Mello-Leitão, 1944: 347, figs 37–38 (Male lectotype and immature female paralectotype (designated herein) from San Blas, Buenos Aires, Argentina (40°33´S, 62°13´W), M. Birabén leg., II.1941, MLP 16060, examined; MLP 16061, not found).

Allocosa alticeps: Capocasale 2001: 272.

Remarks. Mello-Leitão (1944) described the male and the female. From the examination of the types (MLP 16060) we found a male with an immature female. In the original description the author mentioned another second type sample (MLP 16061), but it was not found in that collection.

Other material examined. Argentina. Buenos Aires. Pehuen-co, Bosque Encantado (39°0'S, 61°34'W), 3. II.2013, N. Ferretti leg., 1 female (FCE Ar 6708); 1 female (FCE Ar 5974); 8.I.2014, 1 female (FCE Ar 4835); 1 male (FCE Ar 4836); 1 male, 1 female (FCE Ar 4837); 1 male (LZI 318); all collected by G. Pompozzi; same locality, L. Schwerdt leg., 1 female (LZI 316); S. Copperi leg.,1 female (LZI 317); N. Ferretti leg., 1 male (LZI 319).

Diagnosis. A. alticeps resembles A. marindia sp. nov. in the similar body size, colouration and by the vulval chambers laterally projected, but differs by the terminal apophysis of the male bulb slightly folded at the tip (Figs 4 A–D, 5E), and by the tip of the head of the spermathecae laterally projected (Figs 4 F, 6F).

Description. Male (Lectotype). The body is densely covered with setae. Carapace yellowish with cephalic area high. Eyes surrounded by black rings. Thoracic grooves narrow and dark brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Clypeus yellowish, with four median setae. Labium dark brown, truncated at the apex. Endites dark brown, convergent, with rounded apex. Sternum yellowish, with dark edges, acuminate posteriorly. Legs yellowish. Opisthosoma yellowish, with light brown spots. Spinnerets yellow, densely covered with dark setae, anterior laterals the longest. Total length 7.75. Carapace 4.85 long, 3.20 wide. Clypeus 0.25 high. Eye diameters and interdistances AME 0.22, ALE 0.15, PME 0.43, PLE 0.33, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.40, PME–PLE 0.50, PLE–PLE 0.83. Chelicerae 2.70 long, with three promarginal teeth, the median the largest, and three retromarginal teeth, increasing in length from basal to apical. Opisthosoma 3.50 long, 2.25 wide. Leg formula IV/I/III/II; segment length: I femur 3.20/patella 1.50/tibia 2.35/ metatarsus 2.25/ tarsus 1.45/total 10.75. II 3.0/1.50/1.90/2.0/1.35/9.75. III 3.0/1.63/2.0/2.58/1.50/10.70. IV 3.75/2.0/3.0/3.40/1.75/13.90. Leg spination: I, femur p1ap, d1-1-1, r1-1; patella p1, r1; tibia p1-1, r1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-1, r1-1, v2-2 - 3. II, femur p1, d1-1-1, r1-1; patella p1, r1; tibia p1-1, d1, r1-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 - 1. III, femur p1-1, d1-1-1, r1ap; patella p1, r1; tibia p1-1, d1, r1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus v2-2 - 3. IV, femur p1-1, d1-1-1, r1ap; patella p1, r1; tibia p1-1, d 1, r1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v3-2 -3. Palpus: cymbium longer than tibia, with two apical macrosetae. Terminal apophysis folded, median apophysis bifurcated (Figs 4 A–D, 5E–F).

Female (FCE Ar 4835). As in male except for the following: endites yellowish. Total length 9.60. Carapace 4.80 long, 3.01 wide. Clypeus 0.20 high. Eye diameters and interdistances AME 0.2, ALE 0.15, PME 0.40, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.4, PME–PLE 0.50, PLE–PLE 0.75. Chelicerae 2.50 long, with three promarginal teeth, the median the largest, and three retromarginal teeth, increasing in length from basal to apical. Opisthosoma 4.20 long, 3.3 wide. Leg formula IV/I/II/III; segment length: I femur 3.30/patella 1.60/tibia 2.30/ metatarsus 2.10/ tarsus 1.50/total 10.80. II 3.0/1.50/2.10/2.0/1.40/10.0. III 2.90/1.40/2.0/2.20/1.50/10.0. IV 3.06/1.60/3.10/3.30/1.80/12.86. Leg spination: I, femur p1ap, d1-1-1, r1ap; patella p1; tibia p1-1, r0-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2-2 - 1. II, femur p1ap, d1-1-1, r1-1; patella p1; tibia p1-1, v1-1 -2; metatarsus p1-1-2, r1-2, v2-2 - 1. III, femur p1-1, d1-1-1, r1-1; patella p1, r1; tibia p1-1, d1, r1-1, v2-1 -2; metatarsus p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v2- 2 - 1. IV, femur p1-1, d1-1-1, r1; patella p1, r1ap; tibia p1-1, d1, r1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus p1-1-2, r1-1-2, v3-2 -1. Palpus with conspicuous prolateral macrosetae in patella, tibia and metatarsus. Tarsal claw pectinated and well developed. Epigynum rather flat, with lateral copulatory openings (Figs 4 E, 6E).

Variation. Measurements, male (n=5): carapace length 4.1–4.9; carapace width 3.0–3.6; femur I length 3.0– 3.6. Female (n=5): carapace length 3.8–4.8; carapace width 3.0–3.5; femur I length 2.6–3.3.

Natural history. Allocosa alticeps lives in sand coastal dunes associated with psammophile vegetation, where specimens construct burrows (Fig 8 C–D). The species was also registered in sandy areas with exotic vegetation of Tamarix gallica L. (Tamaricaceae), Eucalyptus sp. and Pinus sp. (Celsi & Montserrat 2008).

Distribution. Southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Fig. 9).