Agalenocosa luteonigra (Mello-Leitão)

(Figs 8 b, 13, 14, 24c, 25)

Aulonia luteonigra Mello-Leitão, 1945: 247, f. 31–32; male and female from Argentina, Misiones, Pindapoy, examined, but see the Remarks section below.

Agalenocosa luteonigra, Capocasale, 2001: 270, f. 1–7.

Remarks. Mello-Leitão (1945) indicated as “ types ” of this species one male and one female from Argentina, Misiones, Pindapoy deposited in MLP 16480. Pereira et al. (1999) and Capocasale (2001) reported that such number does not exist in the MLP collection, but there are one female and one male from the same locality labelled as “cotypus” in Birabén´s collection in the MLP. Pereira et al. (1999) suggested that the specimens of Birabén´s collections should be the types, but Capocasale (2001) proposed as holotype and paratype the specimens deposited in Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), labelled as types by Mello-Leitão. We agree with Pereira et al. (1999) because the MLP specimens fit the description that Mello-Leitão provided.

Other material examined. ARGENTINA. Misiones: Santa María, Viana, J. M., 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 3520). URUGUAY. Maldonado: Arroyo de la Llama, sobre ruta 39 (Km 75), 131 m, S 34º 19’03.6’’ W 54ª48’10.7’’, Labarque, F., Ojanguren, A. & Mattoni, C., 10. x.2005, 1 ♂ 3 ♀ 1 immature (MACN-Ar 24206).

Diagnosis. This species is easily recognised by the dark coloration of the body. Males of A. luteonigra resemble those of A. tricuspidata in the shape of the tibial apophysis but can be recognised by the long and retrolaterally pointed terminal apophysis and the reduced dorsal branch of the median apophysis (Fig. 14 d). Females resemble to those of A. punctata in the shape of the vulva, but can be differentiated by the elongated head of the spermathecae (Fig. 14 b).

Description. Male (MACN-Ar 24206). Carapace uniform black (Figs 13 d–f). Sternum and labium black. Chelicerae lighter than labium, light brown, covered with brown bristles. Dorsum of abdomen uniformly black, lighter ventrally. Legs: Femora dark brown with paler distal parts and the other legs are pale brown without annulations. Leg formula IV>III> I> II.

Spination: femur I p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, II p 0-d1-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-d1-d1, III p 0-d1-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-d1-d1, IV p 0- d1-d1 d 1-1-1; patella I d 0-1, II p 1 d 1-1, III p 1 d 1-1 r 1, IV p 1 d 1-1 r 1; tibia I p d1- 1 v r1-2-0, II p d1-1 v 2- 2 -0, III p d1-1 d 1-1 r 1-1 v 2-2 -2ap, IV p 1-1 d 1-1 r 1-1 v 2-2 -2ap; metatarsus I v 2-2-2ap, II p d1-d1-2ap r 0-0- 2ap v 2-2 -1ap, III p d1-1-2ap r d1-1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap, IV p d1-1-2ap r d1-1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap.

Palp. Basal apophysis of the palpal tibia rounded, medium sized (Fig. 8 b). Subtegulum in the mesal side of the alveolus. Tegulum, with a shallow prolateral furrow (Figs 14 c–e). Ventral branch of the median apophysis triangular, dorsal branch reduced to a transverse pointing protuberance directed retrolaterally (Fig. 14 d). Terminal apophysis elongated and pointed retrolaterally (Fig. 14 d).

Female (MACN-Ar 24206). Colour in ethanol (Figs 13 a–c), as in male. Leg formula IV> III> I> II.

Spination: femur I p 0-0-d1 d 1-1-1, II p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-0-d1, III p d1-0-d1 d 1-1-1 r d1-0-d1, IV p d1- 0-d1 d 1-1-1 r 0-0-d1; patella I d 1-0, II p 1 d 1-1, III p 1 d 1-1 r 1, IV p 1 d 1-1 r 1; tibia I v 2-2-0 d 1-0-1, II p d1-0-d1 d 1-0- 1 v r1-2-0, III p 0-d1-1 d 0-1-1 r 0-1- 1 v p1-p1-0, IV p 0-d1-1 d 0-1-1 r 0-1- 1 v p1-2-2ap; metatarsus I v 2-2-2ap, II p 1-0-2ap r 0-0-1ap v 2-2 -1ap, III p d1-d1-2ap r d1-d1-2ap v 2-2 -1ap, IV p d1-1-1 d 0- 0-2 r d1-1-1 v 2-2 -1ap.

Epigynal plate without pockets or atria, copulatory openings surrounded by a small and rounded lightly sclerotised area (Fig. 14 a). Vulva: head of spermatheca digitiform, shorter than the stalk. Vulval chamber rounded, behind to the base of spermathecae in dorsal view (Fig. 14 b).

Measurements. Female, MACN-Ar 24206 (male, MACN-Ar 24206): TL 4.60 (4.80), CL 2.40 (2.60), CW 1.87 (1.80), CH 0.80 (0.70), AL 2.40 (2.10). Eyes: AME 0.08 (0.10), ALE 0.07 (0.07), PME 0.23 (0.20), PLE 0.20 (0.15). Row of eyes: AER 0.47 (0.50), PME 0.55 (0.57), PLE 0.80 (0.75). Sternum (length/width) 1.33/1.00 (1.37/ 1.07). Labium (length/width) 0.18/0.17 (0.38/0.33). Legs: length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I 1.93 + 2.20 + 1.47 + 0,73 = 6.33, II 1.87 + 2.27 + 1.40 + 0.73 = 6.27, III 1.87 + 2.20 + 0.73 + 1.67 = 6.47, IV 2.33 + 3.20 + 2.80 + 0.87 = 9.20 (I 2.33 + 2.67 + 1.80 + 0.80 = 7.60, II 2.33 + 2.47 + 1.80 + 0.80 = 7.40, III 1.93 + 2.33 + 1.80 + 0.73 = 6.79, IV 2.33 + 2.47 + 1.80 + 0.73 = 7.33).

Variation. Females (males) (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.60 – 5.60, 5.22 ± 0.43; CL 2.40 – 2.93, 2.65 ± 0.23; CW 1.87 – 2.13, 1.98 ± 0.12 n = 4.

Distribution. Known only from the northeastern Argentina (Misiones) and southeastern Uruguay (Maldonado) (Fig. 25).