Amazonius elenae, n. comb.
Creators: name: Cifuentes, Yeimy
name: Bertani, Rogerio
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Theraphosidae
Amazonius
Amazonius elenae

description: Amazonius elenae (Schmidt, 1994) n. comb.
(Figs 19, 311–343, 353–354)
Tapinauchenius elenae Schmidt, 1994a: 258, fig. 1 (nomen nudum); Schmidt, 1994b: 1, figs 1–2; Auer, Huber & Bochtler, 2007: 21, figs 29–31, 47; Samm & Schmidt, 2008: 14, figs 8–10; World Spider Catalog 2021.
Pseudoclamoris elenae Hüsser 2018: 73, fig. 13A; Cifuentes & Perafán 2020: 109, fig. 4.8F.
Diagnosis. Females of Amazonius elenae n. comb. resemble those of A. burgessi n. comb. by the multilobular spermathecae (Fig. 319). They can be distinguished by the normal long setae on the ventral area of femur I (Figs 353–354). Males resemble those of A. germani n. sp. by the male palpal bulb embolus with an accentuated curvature to retrolateral side distally (Fig. 315). They differ by the embolus narrowing abruptly distally (Figs 312–313, 315).
Type material. Holotype male from Ecuador, Hirschi leg., deposited at SMF 37349, examined (see remarks below) (Figs 337–341).
Other material examined. ECUADOR: Puyo, Pastaza [1°29’S, 78°00’W], 1 female, Norton Whitten col., 1978, (CASENT-9071252); BRAZIL: Acre: Senador Guiomard [10°09’S, 67°44’W], 1 female, C. Alexandre col. 12–17 July 2013 (MNRJ 7712); Amazonas: Careiro Castanho BR 319 km 181 sitio S. Paulo (04°12’48’’ S, 60°49’04’’ W) 1 male, J. A. Rafael and F. F. Xavier, 12–27 May 2017 (INPA 9101); Guajará, Ipixuna river (7°06’39”S, 73°05’25”W), 1 female, P. Bührheim and N. O. Aguiar, 13–19 June 1995 (INPA 9102); Rondônia: no municipality, 1 female, M. di Bernardi col., 05-VII-1991 (MCP 1518); Porto Velho, Abunã [9°42’S, 65°22’W], Transecto 9, Parcela 2.050m, noturna, 1 female, M.C. Silveira col., 26 August 2011 (MZUSP 39923); same locality, Mutum [8°33’S, 63°42’W], transecto 8, 1 male, Equipe Jirau 3, 31 August 2010 (MZUSP 35369); transecto 6 parcela 400m, 1 female, P. Colas-Rosa, 22 May 2013 (MZUSP 54914); same locality, Abuña, transecto 12, parcela 50 m, at night, 1 male, M.C. Silveira col., 23 January 2012 (MZUSP 46302); same locality, Mutum, transecto 5 parcela 200 m, 1 female, S. Outena-Jorge col., 17 november 2010, collected at night (MZUSP 37479); same locality, Abunã, transecto 12, parcela 50 m [9°41’S, 65°21W], 1 Male, Equipe arachnida 7 col., 25 August 2011, at night (MZUSP 39179); Candeias do Jamari, Samuel (Hydro Electric Damp site) [8°49’S, 63°23’W], 1 female, W. Bokerman col., January 1989, fell into boat from overhead vegetation (MNRJ 7713).
Redescription. Female (MNRJ 7712): Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 40.84. Carapace 16.38 long, 14.66 wide, 8.95 high. Chelicera: 9.25 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 11.19, 7.57, 10.44, 8.47, 5.21, 42.88; II: 11.22, 6.89, 9.24, 8.74, 5.82, 41.91; III: 11.21, 6.26, 8.95, 9.41, 5.48, 41.31; IV: 13.37, 6.58, 12.10, 12.31, 5.42, 49.78. Palp: 9.26, 5.31, 6.31, -, 5.81, 26.59. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.84, 2.70, 2.81, 2.67, palp= 2.21; patellae I–IV= 3.26, 2.95, 2.82, 2.90, palp= 2.19; tibiae I–IV= 2.74, 2.46, 2.36, 2.79, palp= 2.10; metatarsi I–IV= 2.17, 2.03, 1.76, 1.67; tarsi I–IV= 2.00, 1.91, 1.88, 2.03, palp= 2.04. Abdomen: 23.15 long, 16.52 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.24 long, 1.44 wide, 1.03 apart; PLS, 3.36 basal, 2.64 middle, 3.38 distal; midwidths 2.07, 2.08, 1.51, respectively. Carapace: 1.12 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.19 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.18 high, 2.45 long, 4.26 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.66, ALE 0.89, PME 0.47, PLE 0.63, AME–AME 0.85, AME–ALE 0.48, AME–PME 0.37, ALE–ALE 2.84, ALE–PME 0.52, PME–PME 2.15, PME–PLE 0.27, PLE–PLE 3.06, ALE–PLE 0.38. Maxilla: length to width 1.43. Cuspules: ca. 148 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.62 long, 2.58 wide, with ca. 154 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae disposed without any discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before tooth row (Fig. 323). Sternum: 8.60 long, 6.03 wide.
Legs: Formula: IV I II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.16. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 1/2 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 0/0; II 0/0; III 1/1; IV 0/1. Maxillary stridulatory organ (Fig. 322): weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxillae.
Spermathecae (Fig. 319): Two spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with numerous apical small to median lobes, two striae from base to apex form fold on ventral view.
Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace and abdomen light brown with golden setae, legs and palpal femora light brown, tibia and metatarsus distal with white-pink ring.
Redescription. Male (MZUSP 35369). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 25.16. Carapace 11.04 long, 9.41 wide, 7.15 high. Chelicera: 5.25 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 12.10, 6.30, 10.84, 9.15, 5.16, 43.55; II: 10.56, 5.81, 9.64, 9.12, 4.49, 39.62; III: 10.47, 5.05, 8.56, 8.78, 4.62, 37.48; IV: 11.97, 5.05, 11.48, 12.50, 4.33, 45.33; Palp: 7.71, 4.18, 6.03, -, 1.96, 19.88. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 1.85, 1.90, 1.98, 1.94, palp= 1.35; patellae I–IV= 2.00, 1.91, 1.93, 1.86, palp= 1.40; tibiae I–IV= 1.55, 1.59, 1.51, 1.55, palp= 1.43; metatarsi I–IV= 1.19, 1.14, 1.04, 1.10; tarsi I–IV= 1.18, 1.17, 1.18, 1.17, palp= 1.26. Abdomen: 13.31 long, 7.71 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.25 long, 0.66 wide, 0.66 apart; PLS, 1.48 basal, 1.31 middle, 2.48 distal; midwidths 0.87, 0.84, 0.69, respectively. Carapace: 1.17 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 1.61 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.38 high, 1.74 long, 2.87 wide. Clipeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.68, ALE 0.56, PME 0.42, PLE 0.48, AME–AME 0.57, AME–ALE 0.14, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–ALE 2.07, ALE–PME 0.26, PME–PME 1.65, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 2.06, ALE–PLE 0.11. Maxilla: length to width 1.92. Cuspules: ca. 135 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.43 long, 1.49 wide, with ca. 135 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae, disposed without any discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row (Fig. 321). Sternum: 5.35 long, 4.45 wide.
Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.04. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 1 behind retrolateral process; II: 2/0; III 0/2; IV 1/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxillae (Fig. 320). Tibial apophysis (Figs 316–318): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral, one at apical part of retrolateral process. A rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis.
Palp (Figs 312–315): tegulum length 0.88, width 1.22, embolus proximal width 0.57, embolus length 3.20. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 3.64. Embolus distal third curves abruptly to retrolateral side. Embolus narrows to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip.
Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace and abdomen brown with some golden setae, leg and palpal femora brown with golden setae, tibia and metatarsus apically with white-pink ring.
Distribution. Ecuador and Brazil (Fig. 311).
Remarks. Schmidt (1994a) published a presumptive description of his new species Tapinauchenius elenae based on an exuvium of a female from Ecuador, Napo, Tena. However, he did not explicitly designate a holotype nor the institution where the specimen was or should be deposited. In the same year (Schmidt 1994b), he described the male from Ecuador, but now explicitly stating it was the holotype and citing the Senckenberg Museum as the institution where it was deposited. Therefore, we consider the first publication of the species a “nomen nudum”.
We found important spermathecal variation in the species, some specimens having a wide spermathecae having the same width throughout its length and with several terminal lobes (Figs 330–332). Other specimens (Figs 333–336) have a constriction near the tip and a few lobes.
description: Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on pages 99-105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6253223