Chococtenus cuchilla new species

Figs 10–13, 57.

Type material. Male holotype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve (- 00.41564°S - 79.00425°W), 08–21.vi.2014, pitfall, 2105 m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (QCAZ). One female paratype from Ecuador, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Biological Reserve, 08–21.vi.2014, night collecting, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (QCAZ).

Additional material examined. Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province: Otonga Biological Reserve (- 00.41994°S - 79.00623°W), 03–16. viii.2014, 1 ♀, pitfall, 1997m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 16.viii.–05. ix.2014, 1 ♀, pitfall, 1997m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 05–19. ix.2014, 1 ♀ (DTC); (- 00.41564°S - 79.00425°W), 24.v.–08.vi.2014, pitfall, 2105m, 3♂ 1♀, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 03–16. viii.2014, 3 ♂ (DTC); 03– 16. viii.2014, 3 ♀ (AMNH); 13–25. xi.2014, 1 ♂1♀ (DTC); 25.xi.–08. xii.2014, 4 ♂1♀ (DTC); (- 00.42261°S - 79.5107°W), 24.v.–08. vi.2014, 2 ♂, pitfall, 2225m, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (DTC); 08–21 vi.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC); 03–16. viii.2014, 3 ♂ (DTC); 05–19. ix.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC); 19.ix.–02. x.2014, 1 ♀ (DTC); 13–25. xi.2014, 1 ♂1♀ (DTC); 25.xi.–08. xii.2014, 1 ♂ (DTC). Otonga Biological Reserve, 21.vi.–02. vii.2014, 1 ♂, pitfall, E. Tapia, C. Tapia, N. Dupérré (AMNH).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the Spanish language, meaning mountain ridge, where the spiders were collected.

Diagnosis. Males are distinguished from all species of the genus by their very short embolus (Fig. 10). Females are distinguished by their heart-shaped median sector of the epigynum, from C. lasdamas by the short, ventrally positioned copulatory openings (Fig. 13).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 7.9; carapace length: 3.9; carapace width: 5.5; abdomen length: 4.0. COLORATION: Carapace brown, sides dark brown with pattern composed of blackish lines; pars cephalica light brown apically with white setae behind PME and PLE; pars thoracica light brown apically; fovea dark brown (as in C. cappuccino Fig. 20). Abdomen and legs as C. otonga. LEGS: Total length: I: 16.2; II: 15.1; III: 13.1; IV: 17.3. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia I p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1; metatarsus I p1-1-1, r1-1. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia II p1-1, r1-1, d1-1-1; metatarsus II p1-1-1, r1-1. Femur III pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia III p1- 1, r1-1, d1-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia IV p1-1, r1-1, d1-1- 1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2-1. GENITALIA: Palpal cymbial keel week (Fig. 10). Ventral tibial apophysis elongated and curved, retrolateral tibial apophysis spine-like (Figs 10, 11). Tegulum oval; median apophysis short and curved; conductor lobed, hyaline; membranous tegular process hyaline, short, not reaching embolus; embolus base not twisted; embolus short and thin, originating prolaterally, slightly enlarged before tip (Fig. 10).

Female (paratype). Total length: 8.2; carapace length: 4.1; carapace width: 3.8; abdomen length: 4.1. COLORATION: Carapace and abdomen as in male. Legs orange-brown with 3 black bands on femurs, tibiae and metatarsi. LEGS: Total length: I: 11.5; II: 11.1; III: 10.1; IV: 13.0. LEGS SPINATION: Femur I p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia I p1, r1, d0; metatarsus I p0, r0. Femur II p1-1-1-1, r1-1-1; tibia II p0, r0, d0; metatarsus II p0, r0. Femur III pl-1-1-1, r1-1-1-1; tibia III p1-1, r1-1, d1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus III p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2. Femur IV pl-1-1-1, r1-1; tibia IV p1-1, r1-1, d1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsus IV p1-1-1, r1-1-1, v2-2 -2-1. GENITALIA: Epigynum with heartshaped median sector, apically without unsclerotized sector, slightly concave; lateral processes short, positioned basally (Fig. 12). Internal genitalia with short, curved copulatory ducts; head of spermathecae rounded with an apico-lateral pore, base of spermathecae triangular; fertilization ducts short (Fig. 13).

Natural history. Most specimens where collected in pitfall lines set up between 1997–2225 m. This specialist species was only collected in the cloud forest, and qualifies as a cloud forest specialist.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (Fig. 57).