Neochelas amambay Pett, Grismado & Ramírez sp. nov.

Fig. 17

Type material. Holotype ♂: PARAGUAY: Amambay: Parque Nacional Cerro Corá, 28 May–9 June 1982, J.A. Kochalka leg. (MNHNP-JAK 000.002.763).

Paratypes: Same locality as holotype, “leaf litter”, 29 May–3 June 1982, J.A. Kochalka leg. (1 ♀, MNHNP-JAK 000.002.762). ARGENTINA: Misiones: Arroyo Urugua-í, -25.94754, -54.22802, 1 February 1950, A. Giai & W. Partridge leg. (1 ♀, MACN-Ar 3255).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality, the department “ Amambay ” in Paraguay.

Diagnosis. Males are distinguished from others in the bispinosus group by the large rectangular RTA that is as long as the tibia, and a retrolaterally arising bifid CON that is about 1.5× the length of the E (Fig. 17F, H). Females resemble those of N. prominens (Platnick & Shadab 1974b: figs 7, 8) in having relatively large CO situated at the center of an epigynal depression, but differ by the much larger depression situated anteriorly, shorter and nearly parallel S2, and more coiling copulatory ducts. Females are also similar to those of N. gualamba sp. nov. (Fig. 19C, D) in having large, anterolaterally placed CDR, with small spherical S 2 in the center of the epigyne (although S2 and CDR are at inverted positions) and CO anteromedially positioned (Fig. 17J), but they can be distinguished by the different looping patterns of the CD.

Description. Male (holotype). Color: Carapace reddish-orange, borders darker, with distinct lighter patch posteriorly. Abdomen yellowish, with strong, grey venation. Orange scutum covering much of dorsum face. Carapace: 2.78 long, 2.06 wide, 1.04 high. Sternum: 1.38 long, 1.14 wide. Endites: Lateral spurs with an initial tapering before producing to subrectangular shape. Eyes: PERW = 1.18, AERW = 0.86.AER very slightly procurved in frontal view and subequal, equally spaced. PME oval and silvery. Chelicerae: 1.18 long, 0.61 wide, no median concavity. Abdomen: 2.94 long, 1.98 wide. Legs: Leg I: F = 2.06, P = 0.83 T = 1.66, Mt = 1.30. Leg II: F = 1.84, P = 0.74, T = 1.54, Mt = 1.28. Cusps: Leg I: VCT 13, VMtC 13, VTaC 7. Leg II: VCT 13, VMtC 9, VTaC 4/1. Palp: patella and tibia roughly same width, without rugose surface, RTA large, rectangular, as long as tibia, with dorsally recurving claw-shaped protrusion at ventral margin; CY slender, with width approximately half that of bulb; bulb spherical; E spike-like and 0.5× length of bulb; CON translucent, bifid, arising retrolaterally on apical side, significantly longer than E.

Female (MNHNP-JAK 000.002.762). Color: Carapace deep red to brownish-red. Abdomen pale. Carapace: 3.28 long, 2.26 wide, 1.40 high. Sternum: 1.58 long, 1.28 wide. Endites: without lateral spur. Eyes: PERW = 1.34, AERW = 0.94. AME slightly closer to ALE than each other. Chelicerae: 1.16 long, 0.73 wide. Abdomen: 3.58 long (incl. pedicel), 2.60 wide. Legs: Leg I: F = 2.06, P = 0.85, T = 1.66, Mt I = 1.44. Leg II: F = 1.94, P = 0.76, T = 1.59, Mt II = 1.45. No leg cusps. Epigyne: Epigynal region about 1.5× longer than wide, with shallow circular anterior atria that are around half overall length of epigyne; CO set in heavily sclerotized black depressions in posteromedian part of atria; CD long, with complex vertical and horizontal loops; S2 long and oval, anterolaterally situated, occupying about 0.6× length of epigyne; CDR small and spherical, situated just posterior to CO; S1 spherical, situated at posterior margin of epigyne.

Other material examined. ARGENTINA: Jujuy: Ledesma: Yuto, -23.64605, -64.47331, March 1967, M.E. Galiano leg. (1 ♂, MACN-Ar 16679, 1 ♂, MACN-Ar 16694). Salta: Orán: Vado Hondo, -23.12520, -64.44876, March 1967, M.E. Galiano leg. (1 ♂, MACN-Ar 16687). BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Derrubadas, Parque Estadual do Turvo, 4–8 May 2004, R. Ott et al. leg. (1 ♂, MCN-FZBRS 39427).

Distribution. Northern Argentina (Jujuy and Misiones provinces), eastern Paraguay (Amambay Department), and southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul State).