Linothele spinosa Drolshagen & Bäckstam 2021, n. sp.
Creators: name: Drolshagen, Bastian
name: Bäckstam, Christian M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Dipluridae
Linothele
Linothele spinosa

description: Linothele spinosa n. sp.
(Figs 15; 17 K-M; 19 F)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B9735F95-4D4F-46E2-9CDE-7F9CF1DAA503
TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Peru • ♂ F1; near Iquitos; 2007; H. W. Auer leg.; NHRS-KASI000000036.
Paratypes. Peru • 1 ♀ *, 2 ♀ F1; same data as for holotype; NHRS-KASI000000037.
ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘spined’ and refers to the presence of preening-combs on ventrodistal posterior metatarsi, otherwise only observed in L. macrothelifera; the gender is feminine.
TYPE LOCALITY. — Iquitos, Peru.
DISTRIBUTION. — Only known from the type locality.
DIAGNOSIS. — The male of L. spinosa n. sp. can be distinguished from those of other species of Linothele by the MP [(IML*100)/ MAD = 416], being low and domed (Fig. 15C, D), as well as their proportionally long [(PL*100)/BD = 385] embolus bearing no keels (Fig. 15A, B). Females differ from those of most other species of Linothele by the presence of preening-combs and can further be distinguished from those of L. macrothelifera by their longer spermathecae stalks bearing an elongated vesicle (Fig. 15G) and their distribution.
DESCRIPTION
Male (holotype)
CL = 8.6. CT = 12. MC = 50-51. Colouration in alcohol: Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps pale, yellow; opisthosoma (length: 12.04) with distinct pattern, mid-dorsally consisting of quadrate spots anteriorly, which become more rectangular posteriorly, or can be interconnected, forming longitudinal lines, laterally with several spots, ventrally with longitudinal lines and spots (Fig. 17K, L); maculae absent. Clypeus narrow. Palp measurements: 15.3 (5.6, 3.1, 4.8, 1.8). Leg measurements: I: 39.8 (9.7, 5.1, 8.8, 8.6, 7.6); II: 36.9 (9.0, 4.3, 7.9, 8.5, 7.2); III: 35.1 (8.4, 3.8, 7.2, 9.7, 6.0); IV: 43.9 (10.5, 4.2, 8.9, 12.9, 7.4). Leg formula 4123. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: PMS: 1.43; PLS: apical segment broken off. Palpal organ: [(PL*100)/BD = 385], see Figure 15A, B. Megaspine and MP: [(IML*100)/MAD = 416], see Figure 15C, D.
Female
Colouration as for male, but prosoma, chelicerae, legs, and pedipalps light brown and dorsal pattern on opisthosoma more distinct (Fig. 17M). Colouration alive (Fig. 19F): Carapace covered with golden setae. Clypeus: narrow, see Figure 15H. Sternum, labium and maxillae: see Figure 15F. Leg formula: 4123. Scopula divided. Preening-combs present. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segment of the PLS rigid, see Figure 15E. Spermathecae: consisting of two apically elongated stalks with thin bases, bearing several short and an elongated vesicle at 1:2–1:3B, see Figure 15G.
Varibility
CL = 8.3-10.8. CT = 11-14. MC = 40-72. Palp measurements: 15.0-20.0 (5.0-6.3, 2.7-3.6, 3.7-5.2, 3.6-4.9). Leg measurements: I: 34.0-36.1 (8.9-9.6, 5.1-5.3, 8.0-8.5, 7.0-7.6, 5.0- 5.1); II: 26.0-34.1 (7.0-9.1, 3.8-5.2, 5.7-7.7, 5.5-7.1, 4.0-5.0); III: 24.5-32.9 (6.2-8.5, 3.0-4.4, 5.3-6.8, 6.4-8.4, 3.6-4.8); IV: 37.9-42.1 (8.0-10.5, 4.5-9.4, 7.0-9.2, 9.1-11.6, 4.4-6.0).
REMARKS
The male holotype has been preserved immediately after the moult to adulthood which might have caused its very light colouration.
NATURAL HISTORY
Unknown.
description: Published as part of Drolshagen, Bastian & Bäckstam, Christian M., 2021, A taxonomic review of the mygalomorph spider genus Linothele Karsch, 1879 (Araneae, Dipluridae), pp. 163-196 in Zoosystema 43 (10) on pages 184-186, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2021v43a10, http://zenodo.org/record/4720674