Charinus mysticus Giupponi & Kury 2002

Charinus mysticus Giupponi & Kury, 2002

Fig. 43; Table 4

Charinus mysticus Giupponi & Kury, 2002: 1–4, figs 1–10.

Charinus mysticus – Baptista & Giupponi 2003: 80. — Miranda & Giupponi 2011: 66, fig. 13. — Vasconcelos et al. 2013: 496, fig. 12. — Vasconcelos & Ferreira 2016: 185. — Miranda et al. 2016c: 19, 29.

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from other Charinus in eastern South America by means of the following combination of characters: retrolateral surface of basal segment of chelicera with small blunt tooth; pedipalp tarsus with three spines; leg IV distitibia sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Etymology

Latin adjective, translated from the name of the type locality, which means ‘charmed’ (Giupponi & Kury 2002).

Type material

Holotype BRAZIL • ♀; Bahia, Cave in Encantados, Gentil do Ouro, 16 km from Santo Inácio, road to Gameleira; 11°25′58.94″ S, 42°30′20.94″ W; MNRJ 9022.

Paratype BRAZIL • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNRJ 9022.

Additional material examined

BRAZIL • 1 ♂; Bahia, Central; 11°08′07.62″ S, 42°06′41.43″ W; MNRJ 9289 • 1 ♂; Bahia, Central, Gruta Rolling Stones; 7 Jul. 2007; M.E. Bichuette leg.; MNRJ 9291 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; MNRJ 9290.

Supplementary description

CARAPACE. Frontal process large, subtriangular, visible in dorsal view; distinct curved carina between ocular triads and margin of carapace. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle present; median ocular tubercle shallow, slightly higher than carapace surface, with pair of small setae. Lateral eyes well developed, pale, small seta posterior to each lateral ocular triad.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly into large, blunt tubercle, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae, and rounded posteriorly. Medial platelet (tetrasternum) and third platelet (pentasternum) forming single convex platelet, with pair of large setae anteriorly, and several small setae posteriorly; metasternum with two anterior setae at border between membranous and sclerotized region, and three setae in longitudinal row, from anterior to posterior; four to six setae posteriorly.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum posterior margin slightly convex, with several setae along margin and on surface. Gonopods unsclerotized basally; gonopods sucker-like with small invagination anteriorly.

CHELICERAE. Small tooth in retrolateral row of basal segment. Prolateral surface with transverse row of around six small setae, ventrally to dorsally. Four setae, retrolateral, retromedial, prolateral and promedial, on dorsodistal margin, near membranous region of claw. Claw with eleven denticles and row of setae on retrolateral surface from base to near apex (dorsal side).

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with two or three small setae and four setae on anterior margin of round carina. Femur with three distinct setiferous tubercles proximal to spine 1; primary series with five dorsal spines, and smaller spine between spines 2 and 3; small spine, similar in length to spine 4 (suggesting it was duplicated), present between spines 3 and 4 in holotype female (MNRJ 9022), as on sinistral pedipalp of C. diamantinus sp. nov.; four or five ventral spines, small spine between spines 1 and 2, and 2 and 3; large ventral spine proximal to spine 1. Patella with five dorsal spines; large setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, about one-third length of spine I; four ventral spines decreasing in size; distinct setiferous tubercle between spines II and III; two or three setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with two dorsal spines, proximal spine two-thirds length of distal spine; ventral spine situated in distal half of tibia; three setiferous tubercles in row near base of spine; six or seven long setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with three dorsal spines; ventral row of cleaning brush with 26 or 27 setae.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 41 articles. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudoarticles; trichobothrium bt situated in proximal third; distal apex of basitibial pseudo-articles with dark, denticulate projection. Leg IV distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf; sc and sf each with six trichobothria; tarsus with distinct white annulus distally on first article.

Measurements

See Table 4.

Distribution

Known from two caves in the western part of the Brazilian state of Bahia.

Natural history

Holotype and paratypes were collected 8 m from the entrance of the cave. The behavioral repertoire of the species was studied by Tagliatela et al. (2019).