Medionops blades new species

Figures 1E; 2–6

Types. Male holotype from Páramo de Monserrate (4°36'N 74°3'W), 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl, Colombia, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, deposited in AMNH. Paratypes: one male, one female and 1 immature, same data as holotype, deposited in AMNH.

Additional material examined. COLOMBIA: Bogotá: Páramo de Monserrate (4°36'N 74°3'W), 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, 1♂ for SEM, 2 imm. (AMNH). Paramo de Guaca, 40 km NE of Bogotá, 2920 m asl, 23.vii.1968, H. Sturm, 2♂, 1♀ (genital area, palp, spinnerets and legs for SEM) (MCZ 128513).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the blade–shaped projections on the tip of the male embolus, and is masculine in gender.

Diagnosis. Male and females resemble those of M. cesari n. sp. and M. murici n. sp. in having the abdomen with light whitish gray chevron dorsal pattern, but can be distinguished by having uniform chevron marks (Fig. 6 A). Males with several blade–shaped projections on the tip of embolus (arrows in Figs 2 J–L); females with internally projected median septum on the posterior plate (Figs 4 J–L).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.2. Carapace 1.9 long, 1.7 wide. Sternum 1.7 long, 1.5 wide. Leg measurements: I: 2.80; II: 2.75; III: 2.30; IV: 3.05. Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps and legs orange; coxae and trochanters lighter. Endites, labium and sternum light orange. Abdomen dark gray with a pattern formed by five light grey chevrons (Figs 6 A, B). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Crista short, gladius with the common shape among nopine (Figs 3 D, G, J). Palp with spherical oval bulb and embolus longer than cymbium (Figs 6 D–E), tip of embolus slightly curved, sinuous dorsally, with several blade–shaped projections (Figs 2 J–L).

Female (paratype): Total length 5.9. Carapace 1.7 long, 1.5 wide. Sternum 1.6 long, 1.4 wide. Leg measurements: I: 2.85; II: 2.80; III: 2.40; IV: 3.10. Carapace, chelicerae, labium, legs, coxae, endites and sternum as in the male. Abdomen as in the male, but somewhat lighter. Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen.

Crista (ca) and gladius (gl) as in male (Fig. 5 G). External genitalia with strongly convex and wide genital opening (go), wide sclerotization around spiracles (ess), slight on anterior plate (ap) (Fig. 6 C). Internal genitalia with slight median concavity (mc); fine internal fold weakly sclerotized; posterior plate with median septum (Figs 4 J–L).

Distribution. Known only from the Bogotá province in Colombia (Fig. 21).