Neotrops platnicki, new species

Figures 77–79, 86A–B; map 7

TYPES: Male holotype from Ecuador: Napo: Jatun Sacha biological station, tropical forest, 410 m, - 1.06597 °, - 77.61672 °, Dec. 01, 2009, to Dec. 05, 2009, C.J. Grismado and F.M. Labarque (Niarchos Expedition) (QCAZ PBI_OON 30567); deposited in QCAZ, and female paratype from Ecuador: Napo: Parque Nacional Napo-Galeras, wet forest, forest canopy, 1005 m, - 0.74361 °, - 77.59138 °, Nov. 27, 2009 (Niarchos Expedition, MACN-Ar 26907 PBI _ OON 30620); deposited in MACN-Ar.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Norman I. Platnick, leader of the PBI project and also of the sucessful Niarchos Expedition to Ecuador, and in recognition of his tremendous contribution to the knowledge of the taxonomy of the family Oonopidae.

DIAGNOSIS: Of the species in the platnicki group, N. platnicki resembles N. pithecia in having an ovoid palpal bulb, but differs in the shape of the conductor and embolus, and in having the bulb clearly separated from the cymbium (figs. 78B–D, 86B). The female differs from others in the group by the long anterolateral projections of the anterior receptacle (figs. 79H, 86A).

DESCRIPTION: MALE (holotype, PBI_OON 30567). Total length 1.74. Cephalothorax: Carapace yellow, ovoid in dorsal view, pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view, anteriorly narrowed to between 0.5 and 0.75 times its maximum width; lateral margin straight; nonmarginal pars cephalica setae dark, needlelike, scattered; nonmarginal pars thoracica setae absent; marginal setae dark, needlelike. Clypeus setae dark, needlelike. Eyes all subequal, all circular; posterior eye row straight from front; ALE separated by their radius to diameter, ALE-PLE touching, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum as long as wide, yellowish white, anterior margin unmodified, posterior margin not extending posteriorly of coxae IV; setae sparse, evenly scattered. Mouthparts: chelicerae, endites, and labium yellow; cheliceral setae light, evenly scattered. Labium anterior margin indented at middle; with six or more setae on anterior margin. Endites with median, longitudinal ridge and anterolateral rounded projections, dark, heavily sclerotized (fig. 77E). Abdomen: Dorsum pale white. Book lung covers elliptical. Postepigastric scutum yellow. Spinneret scutum absent. Dorsum setae dark, needlelike. Colulus represented only by setae. Legs: Yellow; femur IV slightly thicker than femora I–III. Leg spination: leg I: femora d1-1, tibiae v2-2-2-2-2-0; metatarsi v2-2-2-2; leg II: femora d1-1, tibiae v2-2-2-2-2-0, metatarsi v2-2-2-2; leg III: femora d1-1-1, tibiae d1, p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap, metatarsi p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap; leg IV: femora d1-1-1, tibiae d1, p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap, metatarsi p1-1, r1-1, v1- 2ap. Trichobothria not examined. Genitalia: Palp proximal segments pale orange; femur normal size, two or more times as long as trochanter; cymbium pale orange, ovoid in dorsal view, not fused with bulb; bulb pale orange, more than two times as long as cymbium, slender, ovoid; sperm duct long, relatively conspicuous, apparently originating from center of bulb; extending distally, then proximally, before looping back toward the embolus; middle loop with distal thickening from which point it becomes less sclerotized before leading into embolus; conductor complex, with ventral, pointed translucent flange and second branch anteriorly directed, sclerotized and with folded tip; embolus dark, relatively long and thick, apex overlaps tip of conductor (figs. 78B–D, 86B).

FEMALE (PBI_OON 30620). Total length 1.79. As in male except as noted. Cephalothorax: Carapace broadly oval in dorsal view; nonmarginal pars cephalica setae absent. Eyes PME oval, PLE oval. Sternum longer than wide, precoxal triangles present; setae dark. Labium elongated hexagon. Palp: spines absent, three trichobotria on the tibia. Abdomen: Postepigastric area setae dark, needlelike. Legs: Patella plus tibia I nearly as long as carapace, femur IV slightly thicker than femora I–III. Leg spination: leg I: femora d1-1, tibiae v2-2-2-2-2-0, metatarsi v2-2-2-2; leg II: femora d1-1, tibiae v2-2-2-2- 2-0, metatarsi d0-1, v2-2-2-2; leg III: femora d1-1-1, tibiae d1, p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap, metatarsi p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap; leg IV: femora d1-1- 1, tibiae d1, p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap, metatarsi d0- 1, p1-1, r1-1, v1-2ap. Genitalia (figs. 79H, 86A): Anterior receptacle with transversely expanded tip with pointed lateral extensions from which muscles arise to the transverse ridge; gland ducts not visible, but with probable small vesicle at stalk base; ventral ridges with strong indentation at middle, the presumed copulatory opening.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: None.

DISTRIBUTION: Amazonic rainforest in Napo Province, Ecuador (map 7).

NOTE: The male and female were not collected together, but are matched by geographical proximity and similar somatic morphology.