Amazonius n. gen.

(Figs 19, 311–417)

Tapinauchenius: in part, T. elenae Schmidt, 1994.

Pseudoclamoris: in part, P. burgessi Hüsser, 2018.

Type species. Amazonius elenae (Schmidt, 1994).

Diagnosis. Amazonius n. gen. species resemble those of Psalmopoeus by the presence of a maxillary lyra. They can be distinguished by the lyra being oval, formed by only slender and numerous setae (Fig. 322) compared to the lyra of Psalmopoeus.

Etymology. The generic name refers to the Amazon, the geographic region where all the species of the genus are known to inhabit. The genus is masculine in gender.

Composition. Amazonius elenae (Schmidt 1994) n. comb., Amazonius burgessi (Hüsser, 2018) n. comb., Amazonius giovaninii n. gen. n. sp., Amazonius germani n. gen. n. sp.

Description. Carapace longer than wide, cephalic region slightly raised. Cephalic and thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea straight, deep. Chelicerae without rastellum. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae disposed without any noticeable pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before the tooth row (Fig. 323). Eye tubercle slightly raised or raised, wider than long. Clypeus absent. Anterior eye row straight. Labium wider than long or as long as wide, with ca. 117–211 cuspules concentrated on anterior third center. Maxillary lyra weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxilla (Fig. 322). Maxilla sub-rectangular, anterior lobe distinctly produced into conical process, inner angle bearing ca. 135–247 cuspules. Labio-sternal groove shallow, flat, with two slightly separate sigilla. Sternum longer than wide, posterior angle acute, not separating coxae IV. Sigilla: three pairs, posterior oval, anterior small, all one diameter or less from margin, some pairs sometimes not evident. Leg formula: I=IV II III (most species), IV I II III (A. elenae n. comb. and A. germani n. sp. females). Laterally directed setae on metatarsi and tibia of males. Clavate trichobothria on distal 2/3 of tarsi. Scopula of tarsi and metatarsi I–II very extended laterally giving them a spatulate appearance. Femora IV without retrolateral scopula. Stridulatory setae absent of coxae of legs and palp. Legs with spines on ventral apical tibiae and metatarsi, without central spines. ITC absent; STC with small denticles. Posterior lateral spinnerets digitiform. Urticating setae lacking. Male tibiae I with tibial apophysis with two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, metatarsi I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis. A protuberance behind retrolateral process. Tibiae II lacking apophysis. Globose bulb with small subtegulum; prominence on prolateral tegulum developed. Embolus not flattened, lacking keels, long, lacking a curved tip. Embolus proximal portion straight in frontal view. Cymbium sub-triangular in retrolateral view, with almost equal lobes, without developed rounded process on retrolateral lobe. Spermathecae straight, completely separated, elongate, with well defined projections or lobes on apical area (A. elenae n. comb. and A. burgessi n. comb.) or with a subdivided apical lobe (A. giovaninii n. gen. n. sp. and A. germani n. gen. n. sp.). All species show ontogenetic changes on abdominal pattern. Brownish juveniles lacking metallic green or blue sheen, with black tarsi contrasting with other lighter articles.

Distribution. Venezuela, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru.

Key to Amazonius n. gen. species

Males

1 Embolus with an accentuated curvature to retrolateral side distally (Fig. 315)...................................... 2

- Embolus mostly straight, with a slight curvature distally (Fig. 348).............................................. 3

2 Embolus with basal curvature and narrowing at tip (Figs 312, 315)................................ A. elenae n. comb.

- Embolus basal portion roughly straight and tapering to tip (Figs 398, 401)..................... A. germani n. gen. n. sp.

3 Embolus in dorsal view thick narrowing abruptly on distal portion (Fig. 367).................. A. giovaninii n. gen. n. sp.

- Embolus in dorsal view tapering from its half (Fig. 348)...................................... A. burgessi n. comb.

Females

1 Spermathecae with single sub segmented distal lobe (Fig. 371)................................................. 2

- Spermathecae with multilobular distal lobes (Fig. 319)........................................................ 3

2 Femora I and II ventrally covered with modified short stiff setae (Figs 357–359)............... A. giovaninii n. gen. n. sp.

- Femora I and II ventrally covered with normal long and slender setae (Figs 360–361)............. A. germani n. gen. n.sp.

3 Femora I and II ventrally covered with modified short stiff setae (Figs 355–356)................... A. burgessi n. comb.

- Femora I and II ventrally covered with normal long and slender setae (Figs 353–354)................. A. elenae n. comb.