Architis catuaba Santos, sp. nov.

Architis catuaba Santos sp. nov.

Figures 4–6, 11

Type material. Holotype: female from Reserva Extrativista Catuaba, Senador Guiomard, state of Acre, BRA- ZIL, 10o04’S 67o38’W, 7.XII.2002, E.F. Morato coll. (IBSP 91472).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from type locality.

Diagnosis. Architis catuaba Santos sp. nov. is similar to Architis ikuruwa Carico, 1981, A. comaina Santos, 2007, A. altamira Santos, 2007 and A. neblina Santos & Nogueira sp. nov. in the presence of long copulatory ducts enclosed in epigynal integument folds (see Santos 2007a; figs 7D, 8B, D). The species can be distinguished by the presence of a pair of lateral atria delimited anteriorly by sclerotised keels and the bulging lateral lobes ventrally in the epigynum (Fig. 5) and by the internal genitalia with the posterior fourth of copulatory ducts being inside sclerotised cases (Fig. 6).

Description. Male. Unknown.

Female (based on holotype from Senador Guiomard, Brazil). Carapace dark grey, pilose, with a pair of pale lateral stripes (Fig. 4). Anterior eye row strongly procurved, with lateral eyes larger than median eyes. Posterior eyes with approximately the same diameter as anterior laterals (Fig. 4). Clypeus, chelicerae and endites pale orange. Labium dark orange. Sternum pale yellow, with four radial black stripes on each side. Legs and pedipalpus orange, suffused with dark-grey. Abdomen dark-grey dorsally, with a few creamcoloured posterior stripes. Venter of abdomen dark-grey, with a pair of lateral cream-coloured stripes and four pale chevrons. Anterior lateral spinnerets orange, remaining spinnerets dark-grey. Total length 3.7. Carapace 1.6 long, 1.5 wide. Tibia I length 3.2, II 3.3, III 2.3, IV 2.8. Abdomen 2.1 long, 1.2 wide. Epigynum with median field well developed and delimited laterally by sclerotised keels. Lateral lobes restricted to posterior portion of epigynum, projected ventrally and over median field (Fig. 5). Copulatory ducts connected to a small anterior copulatory chamber and gently sinuous. Base of spermathecae indistinct, stalk of spermathecae short and curved. Head of spermathecae large, with two apical spermathecal knobs. Fertilisation ducts mesal, connected to the stalk of spermathecae and curved ectally (Fig. 6).

Remarks. The fact that Architis gracilis and A. catuaba are both represented by a single specimen from the same locality, a male and a female respectively, could suggest they are conspecific. However, a detailed examination of their morphology supports the description of these specimens in two species. Architis gracilis has the structure of pedipalpus and colour pattern resembling no other species in the genus, whilst A. catuaba is probably related to three other species, judging by the characteristics of the female genitalic organs (see diagnosis). Furthermore, they are very different in body size, colouration and eye size and configuration. In the several hundreds of Architis specimens listed in Santos (2007a, b) conspecific males and females are always conservative in these characters.

Natural History. The type specimen was collected by beating undergrowth foliage in a mature forest.

Distribution. Known only from its type locality in western Brazilian Amazonia.