Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus Pocock 1903

Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus Pocock, 1903

(Figs 19, 145, 217–235)

Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus Pocock, 1903: 82, 84; Petrunkevitch 1911: 86; 1939: 289; Roewer 1942: 256; Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz 2006: 8, fig. 10; World Spider Catalog 2021.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished from those of all other species by slender embolus very curved distally, 5 or more times tegulum length in retrolateral view (Fig. 217). Females resemble those of P. cambridgei, P. irminia and P. pulcher by the elongated, non triangular spermathecae (Fig. 224). They differ by having the spermathecae apex curved toward center, and central area with 3–4 oval lobes weakly sclerotized (Fig. 224). Additionally, males and females have the stridulatory organ with curved line of thick setae (Figs 225, 227).

Type material. Lectotype male (here designated) and 2 paratypes females, from Ecuador, Rio Sapayo [0°44’N, 78°56’W](BMNH 1903.7.1.111.113), examined by RB (2003) (Figs 229–235).

Other material examined. COLOMBIA: Nariño: Barbacoas [1°40’N, 78°08’W], Altaquer, Reserva Natural Río Ñambí, 1440 m a.s.l., 1 female, Estudiantes Universidad de Nariño col. (ICN-Ar-6928); 1 female, M. Medrano, Y. Cifuentes, D. Martínez, A. García col. (ICN-Ar-6950); 3 females 2 males 1 immature, D. Martínez, C. Castellanos, C. Perafán col. (ICN-Ar-7507); 1 female, M. Medrano, Y. Cifuentes, D. Martínez, A. García (ICN-Ar-7512); ECUADOR: Pichincha: Los Bancos [0°01’N 78°53’W], 1 female, Vivar col., 17 December 1988 (QCAZ-40); Santo Domingo Magdalena, 1500 m a.s.l, 1 female, B. Yangari col., 02 November 1995, on plant of banana leaves at day (QCAZ-08); Esmeraldas: Alto Tambo [0°54’N, 78°32’W], 1 female (QCAZ-158); Santo Domingo del Tachira, Tinalanura Resort (0°18’28.8” S, 79°2’59.3”W), 804 m. a. s. l., 1 male, A. B. Bonaldo col., 7 December 2009 (MPEG ARA 022980); near Calderón, Tundaloma Lodge (1°10’57.98”N, 78°45’09.32”W), 55 m a.s.l, 1 female, A. Kury & A. Giupponi col., 8–9 February 2014 (MNRJ 7711).

Redescription. Male (ICN-Ar-7505). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 30.91. Carapace: 15.12 long, 14.66 wide, 7.49 high. Chelicera: 7.36 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 21.31, 8.85, 18.04, 16.57, 8.29, 73.06. II: 18.96, 7.61, 16.32, 16.09, 7.26, 66.24. III: 16.53, 6.61, 13.76, 14.54, 6.45, 57.89. IV: 18.81, 7.66, 17.48, 19.81, 6.72, 70.48. Palp: 12.55, 5.84, 11.25, -, 3.10, 32.74. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.39, 2.49, 2.43, 2.53, palp= 1.99; patellae I–IV= 2.45, 2.54, 2.33, 2.59, palp= 2.13; tibiae I–IV= 1.76, 1.83, 1.87, 1.9, palp= 1.88; metatarsi I–IV= 1.44, 1.35, 1.56, 1.34; tarsi I–IV= 1.29, 1.37, 1.49, 1.41, palp= 1.99. Abdomen: 14.35 long, 8.77 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.61 long, 0.62 wide, 0.33 apart; PLS, 2.43 basal, 2.59 middle, 2.16 distal; midwidths 1.13, 1.06, 0.87, respectively. Carapace: 1.03 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.78 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.88 high, 2.38 long, 3.40 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.78, ALE 0.66, PME 0.58, PLE 0.61, AME–AME 0.60, AME–ALE 0.30, AME–PME 0.24, ALE– ALE 2.61, ALE–PME 0.19, PME–PME 2.11, PME–PLE 0.11, PLE–PLE 2.67, ALE–PLE 0.32. Maxilla: length to width 1.69. Cuspules: ca. 111 spread over inner corner. Labium: 1.83 long, 1.83 wide, with ca. 92 cuspules ca. 1 diameter from each other. Chelicera: basal segment with 11 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on retrolateral side of chelicerae. Strikers: 3–4 lines of 6–8 long filiform setae, disposed on ventral-basal portion of chelicera, before the teeth row, short setae at ectal side of chelicera (Fig. 226). Sternum: 7.58 long, 5.84 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV, II, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.96. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0; I: 2/0; II 2/0; III: 0/2; IV: 0/2. Maxilla stridulatory organ: composed of 15–17 thick setae disposed in curved line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae, longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 13–15 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 225). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Tibial apophysis (Figs 221–223): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral process, one at the apical part of retrolateral process. Small rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis.

Palp (Figs 217–220): tegulum length 0.86, width 1.77, embolus proximal width 0.61, length 4.47. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 5.20. Embolus distal third very curved to ventral and retrolateral sides. Embolus tapers to tip ending in roughly straight tip.

Color pattern: Carapace and tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi blue-grayish, femora black and gray, abdomen with reddish brown setae.

Redescription. Female (ICN-Ar-7505): Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 35.72. Carapace: 16.47 long, 14.44 wide, 9.27 high. Chelicera: 8.85 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.60, 8.96, 14.25, 12.57, 7.72, 61.1. II: 15.3, 8.8, 12.93, 11.83, 6.73, 55.59. III: 13.22, 6.94, 10.35, 11.41, 5.86, 47.88. IV: 14.70, 6.90, 14.21, 15.53, 5.85, 57.19. Palp: 10.82, 5.73, 7.77, -, 7.69, 32.01. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.55, 2.83, 2.38, 2.50, palp= 2.19; patellae I–IV= 2.81, 2.78, 2.60, 2.47, palp= 2.44; tibiae I–IV= 2.35, 2.30, 2.07, 2.09, palp= 2.24; metatarsi I–IV= 2.10, 2.04, 1.66, 1.49; tarsi I–IV= 2.24, 1.99, 1.96, 1.85, palp = 2.39. Abdomen: 17.15 long, 10.73 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.34 long, 0.74 wide, 0.90 apart; PLS, 2.52 basal, 1.48 middle, 2.38 distal; width 1.73, 1.75, 1.2, respectively. Carapace: 1.14 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 3.30 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.82 high, 2.23 long, 3.47 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.76, ALE 0.72, PME 0.47, PLE 0.63, AME–AME 0.60, AME–ALE 0.76, AME–PME 0.25, ALE–ALE 2.63, ALE–PME 0.32, PME–PME 1.98, PME–PLE 1.13, PLE–PLE 2.57, ALE–PLE 0.28. Maxilla: length to width 1.86. Cuspules: ca. 135 spread over inner corner. Labium: 2.51 long, 2.57 wide, with ca. 133 cuspules spaced ca. 1 diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 14 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of chelicera. Strikers: 2–3 lines of 8–9 long filiform setae, disposed on ventral-basal portion of chelicera before teeth row, short setae at ectal side of chelicera (Fig. 228). Sternum: 7.65 long, 6.45 wide.

Legs: Formula: I = IV, II, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.94. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0, I: 2/0, II 2/0, III: 0/2, IV: 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 15–17 thick curved setae disposed on a curved line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae, longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 12–15 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 227). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I.

Spermathecae (Fig. 224): Two elongated spermathecae completely separated, curved toward center on its distal part, with 3–4 oval, protruding, sclerotized lobes disposed on a central fold on middle area of spermathecae, decreasing in size from apex. Apical lobe of spermathecae digitiform, lobes weakly sclerotized.

Color pattern: Carapace and abdomen blue-gray, legs and palpal femora and tibiae blue-gray. Carapace and legs blue-greyish, abdomen gray.

Distribution. Ecuador and Colombia (Fig. 145).