Nops guanabacoae MacLeay. B 1839

Nops guanabacoae MacLeay, 1839

Figures 1A‒E; 2A‒I; 3A‒B; 4A, C; 5A‒B, D; 20A‒J; 21A‒L; 22A‒L; 23A‒L.

Nops guanabacoae MacLeay, 1839: 3, pl. 1, fig. 1. Female syntype from Guanabacoa, La Habana, Cuba, (depository unknown, not examined). Walckenaer, 1842: 442. Lucas, 1857: 27. Banks, 1909: 167. Hasselt, 1887: 85, pl. 6, fig. 7. Franganillo, 1936: 38. Bryant, 1940: 271, figs 12, 16. Male ¨ allotype ¨ from Isla de Pinos (= Isla de la Juventud), Cuba, 1918, Barbour & Brooks (MCZ 128568; examined). Alayo, 1957: 9. Chickering, 1967: 11, figs 9–10. Alayón, 1977: 4, fig. 2a–b. Heimer, 1990: 3, fig. 3. Sánchez– Ruiz, 2004: 96, fig. 3.

Nops olivaceus Franganillo, 1931: 287. Three syntypes from Guanabacoa, Santiago de Las Vegas and Ingenio Nela, Cuba, sex not specified (depository unknown, not examined). Synonymized by Franganillo, 1936: 38.

Remarks. Females syntypes were not found. MacLeay (1839): p. 4 offered to exchange his specimens of Nops guanabacoae by specimens of Artema Walckenaer and/or Tessarops Rafinesque, suggesting that the caponiid specimens were sent away in the 19th century. Thus, syntypes probably are disperse or lost. Male and female specimens from several localities in the main island of the Cuban archipelago are conspecific with the male ¨ allotype ¨ described by Bryant (1940) and the female described by Alayόn (1986). The species also occurs in Bahamas (new record).

Additional material examined. BAHAMAS: Andros Island: Pigeon cay, 1‒6.v.1994, R.S. Anderson, 1♂ 3 immatures (AMNH). South Bimini: v.1951, W.J. Gertsch & M.A. Cazier, 1♀ 7 immatures (AMNH). vi.1951, M.A. Cazier & P. Vaurie, 1♀ (AMNH). CUBA: Pinar del Río: Cueva de las Perlas, 18.v.1998, A. Fong. 1♀ (BSC 523). Viñales National Park, near Dos Hermanas (22°37′16.99′′N, 83°43′33.40′′W), iii‒iv.2012, CarBio team 1♀ 1 immature (USNM). Viñales, 19.iv.2010, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ 1 immature (BSC 611). Isla de la Juventud, Nueva Gerona, Loma de Guanábana (21°51′16″N, 82°46′21″W), iii.1976, L.R. Hernández 1♀ (IES). Sabana Llana, Luis Lazo, vii.1969, G. Alayόn & L.F. Acosta, 1♀ (MNHNCu). Habana: (no more data), 1 immature (USNM). Finca San Miguel, El Cangui, iii.1976, L.R. Hernandez, 1 immature (IES). La Habana: Cojimar (23°09′47″N, 82°17′38″W), 6.ix.1951, M.L. Jaume, 1 immature (IES). Santiago de las Vegas, N. Banks, 1♀ (MCZ128571). San Antonio de los Baños, 21.iii.1915, Barbour & Brooks, 1♀ (MCZ 128569). Matanzas: Campismo Bacunayagua (23°08′35″N, 81°40′27″W), 7.x.1999, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 572). Cienfuegos: Belmonte, 17.ii.1920, W. Goldring, 1♀ (AMNH). Soledad Quarry, 4‒13.viii.1931, L. G. Worley, 1♂ 2♀ 3 immatures (MCZ 128573). Soledad, 25.vi.1925, G Salt, 1 immature (MCZ 128572). Ditto, 10.viii.1931, L. G. Worley, 2♀ (MCZ 128574). Ditto, 1‒11.viii.1934, P.J. Darlington, 1♀ 1 immature (MCZ 128570). Ditto, viii.1931, 1 ♀ (AMNH). Juraguá, Castillo de Jagua, 3.ii.1973, L.R. Hernández, 1♀ 1 immature (IES). Camagüey: Loma de la Caridad, Sierra de Cubitas, 15.vi.1984, L.F. de Armas, 1♀ (MNHNCu). Yaguajay, Minas, 16.iv.1976, L.F. Armas, 1♀ (IES). Reserva Ecolόgica Limones Tuabaquey, Sierra de Cubitas, 2.ii.2009, Y. Martínez, 3♀ (CIMAC). Reserva Ecolόgica Limones Tuabaquey (21°34′59′′N, 77°45′5′′W), Sierra de Cubitas, 14.ii.2009, A. Sánchez‒Ruiz, 3 immatures (CIMAC). Villa Clara: Cayo Conuco, Caibarien, 20.ii.2006, T. M. Rodríguez, 1♀ (BSC 534). Punta Bravo, Caibarien, 16.v.2006, R. Teruel & T.M. Rodríguez, 1 immature (BSC 569). Las Güiras, Santa Clara, 18.xii.2007, N. Gόmez, 1♀ (BSC 519). Presa Ochoa y Ochoita, Santa Clara, 26.v.2006, R. Teruel, 1♂ (BSC 501). Presa Ochoa, Santa Clara, 26.v.2006, R. Teruel, 2♂ 3♀ (BSC 531). El Copey, Placetas, 1.vi.2009, R. Teruel. 3♂ 7♀ (BSC 527). Ditto, 1.vi.2009, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 529). Ditto, 15.v.2006, R. Teruel & T.M. Rodríguez, 1♀ 2 immatures (BSC 568). Ciego de Ávila: Sabanas de San Felipe, Florencia, 26.v.2006, R. Teruel & T.M. Rodríguez, 8♀ (BSC 615). Entrada del Hotel TRYP, Cayo Coco, 29.v.2001, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ immature (BSC 577). Turiguanό, vii.1977, L.F. de Armas, 2♀ (MNHNCu). Santi Spiritus: 6 km. Al Sur de Yaguajay, v.1978, L.F. Armas, 1♀ (IES). Monumento a Adalberto Delgado, Trinidad, 20.v.2006, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 558). Márgenes del Río Guaurabo, Trinidad, 20.v.2007, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ immature (BSC 570). Las Tunas: Guanabani, Amancio, viii.1978, L.R. Hernández, 2♀ 1 immature (IES). Puerto Manatí, 2.xii.1981, L.F. Armas, 1♀ (BSC 585). Sabalo, Jobabo, 9.iii.2003, A. Sánchez & R. Teruel, 2♀ 29 immatures (BSC 554). Holguín: Centeno, Pueblo Nuevo, Moa, 20.x.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ immature (BSC 584). Cayo Saetia, Mayari (20°46′31″N, 75°34′26″W), L.F. de Armas, 1♂ (MNHNCu). Centeno, Pueblo Nuevo, Moa, 27.ix.2005, R. Teruel, 2♀ 1 immature (BSC 525). Aguas Claras, 23.i.1995, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 571). Pinares de Mayarí, 30.iv.1997, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 564). Cañada amarilla, Sagua de Tánamo, 10.xi.2004, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 3♀ (BSC 556). Cerro Las Tinajitas, Rafael Freyre, 18.vi.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 562). Granma: Alegría de Pío, Niquero (20°02′N, 77°35′W), 4.iii.2002, A. Fong, 1♀ (BSC 533). Jiguaní (20°22′N, 76°25′W), Los Negros, ii.1913, T. Barbour, 2♀ (MCZ 128575). Farallones (19°55′30″N, 77°41′32″W), Las Coloradas, Niquero, x.1985, G. Alayόn, 1♀ (MNHNCu). Ditto, 10.vii.2001, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 580). Santiago de Cuba: Puerto de Boniato (20°05′56″N, 75°48′21″W), 18.v.1972, L.F. Armas, 1♂ 1♀ (IES). Río La Mula (19°56′55″N, 76°45′37″W), Guamá, 24.vi.2002, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 576). Ditto, 16.vi.1999, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 520). Ditto, 20.vi.2003, R. Teruel, 1♂, 3♀ (BSC 530). 1 Km N de Campismo Río La Mula (19°57′02″N, 76°45′34″W), Guamá, 20.vi.2005, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♂ (for SEM) 1♀ (BSC 536). Ditto, 15.vi.1997, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1 immature (BSC 560). Los Morones, Guamá, 23.vi.1999, A. Sánchez‒Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 532). Reserva Ecolόgica Siboney‒Juticí (19°57′39″N, 75°42′52″W), 7.v.2010, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♂ 4♀ 4 immature (BSC). Ditto, 9‒14.ix.2012, F. Cala & A. Deler, 1♂ (IBSP 212795). Ditto, 25.i.2011, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♂ 1 immature (IBSP 212797). Ditto, 8.v.2010, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ 6 immatures (BSC). Juticí (19°57′44″N, 75°44′48″W), Reserva Ecolόgica Siboney‒Juticí, 9.v.2010, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♂ 3♀ 1 immature (BSC 600). Ditto, 6.v.2010, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 503). Playa Verraco, Baconao, 15.viii.2000, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 567). Laguna Baconao, 17.xi.2001, A. Fong, 1♀ (BSC 565). Ditto, 9.viii.2008, D. Ortiz, 1♀ (BSC 524). El Retiro, Reserva Baconao, 4.v.2006, R. Teruel, 1♂ (BSC 535). La Pimienta, III Frente, 27.v.2004, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 557). Km 7.5 road to La Gran Piedra (20°00′23″N, 75°40′31″W), 15.vi.2002, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 574). Ditto, 15.vi.2002, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (IBSP 212796). El Sapo, road to Gran Piedra, 8.vi.2003, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 573). La Cantera, Mella (20°23′26″N, 75°52′51″W), 30.v.2005, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 551). Ditto, 1.iii.2009, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC 700). Ditto, 11.iii.1999, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 579). Ditto, 1.iii.2009, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz, 1♀ (BSC). Road between El Morro and La Estrella (19°58′07.8″N, 75°51′49.3″W), 22.viii.2012, R. Teruel, 1♂ 1 immature (IBSP). Sardinero, 5.v.2010, N. Platnick, 1♂ (IBSP 212793). Juan Gonzales (19°57′49.2″N, 75°59′41.5″W), Guamá, 20.viii.2010, F. Cala & R. Teruel, 2♀ (BSC 537). Cascada Juan Gonzáles (19°57′53.0″N, 75°59′38.1″W), Guamá, 10.vi.2009, R. Teruel, 1♀ (BSC 561). Ditto, 14.vii.2012, A. Sánchez ‒ Ruiz & F. Cala, 1♀ 2 immatures (IBSP 21 2798). Playa Blanca, Guamá, 27.ix.2003, R. Teruel & L.F. Armas, 1♀ (BSC 559).

Diagnosis. Males resemble similar congeners Nops flutillus and Nops largus by having a long embolus; but can be distinguished by its straight shape (Figs 20C‒D; 23A), ending in a tip with 9 or 10 short extensions (Fig. 23D‒E). Females can be distinguished by the receptaculum with wider and deeper invagination (Fig. 2B).

Description. Male (“ allotype ” MCZ 128568): For description and further diagnostic illustration, see Bryant (1940) p.271 with the corrections of Chickering (1967) p.11, also adding the following: Sternum 3.7 long, 3.0 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.8; II: 3.75; III: 3.3; IV: 4.05. Posterior unpaired claws elongated and dorsally reflexed (Fig. 22B, D). PLS longer than PMS. Palp with a straight embolus longer than palpal tibia (Figs 20C‒D; 23A), ending in a truncate tip with 9 or 10 short extensions (Fig. 23D‒E).

Female (IES 3.1281): For description and further diagnostic illustration, see Alayόn (1977), also adding the following: Sternum 3.9 long, 3.4 wide. Leg measurements: I: 3.9; II: 3.85; III: 3.4; IV: 4.15. Posterior unpaired claws and spinnerets as in male. External genital area with strongly sclerotized lep and laterals sides of anterior plate, remarkable ess (Fig. 20I). Internal genitalia with wide invagination on receptaculum and uterus externus with narrow base (Figs 2B; 20J).

Natural history. All specimens were collected in the soil, under rocks or Agave sp. plants in several habitats, from the coast to 1700 m elevation in the Cuban mountain range. Some females were collected guarding their eggs within a cocoon of orange silk (Fig 1A).

Distribution. Extensively distributed throughout the Cuban archipelago and now recorded from the Bahamas (Fig. 19B).