Josa olimpica Martínez, Kochalka, Cabra-Garcia & Ramírez, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Martínez, Leonel
name: Kochalka, John A.
name: Cabra-Garcia, Jimmy
name: Ramírez, Martin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Anyphaenidae
Josa
Josa olimpica

description: Josa olimpica sp. nov.
Figs 17–22
Type material. Holotype: COLOMBIA. Magdalena: Ciénaga, Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Quebrada El Chorro, southern branch of the lake, manual caught, 3797 m, [10°47′00″N, 73°32′04″W], J. Kochalka leg., 5.III.1975, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2682; vchLAM-260). Paratypes: same locality data as the holotype 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2683; vchLAM-261), 1 ♂ 3 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2684); Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Serranía Dunanchucua, northern peak of Norte Grande, 3992 m, 7.III.1975, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2695), Tip of Pico Norte Grande de la Cuchilla Cesarguarniaga, 4398 m, 2.II.1974, 1 ♂ 3 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2687); Serranía Dunanchucua, northern peak of Norte Grande, 3992 m, 7.III.1975, 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 46696; vchLAM-262), 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2695), 4236 m, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2690); Quebrada El Chorro, north of Río Sevillano, 3718 m, 13.II.1974, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2692); Río Tucurinca, Lago del Rio Tucurinca, 4785 m, 16.III.1975, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2693); East tip of Pico Cristobal Colón, 5275 m, [10°49′59.7″N, 73°40′08.6″W], 12.I.1974, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2696); East tip of NW Pico Cristobal Colón, almost at superior peak, under loose rocks, on a nearly vertical cliff, surrounded by glacial ice, 5500 m, [10°50′10.3″N, 73°41′11.0″W], 10.I.1974, 1 imm. (MUSENUV-Ar- 2697); Lago Arucuina, Río Tucurinca, 4176 m, 12.III.1975, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 46697; vchLAM-263); Lago del Rio Tucurinca, 4785 m, 16.III.1975, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2698), 1♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2699); South slope of Pico Tiaroma, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2700). César: Valledupar, Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Donachui, Río Donachui, top of woody vegetation, manual caught, 4230 m, [10°47′50.0″N, 73°37′34.5″W], J. Kochalka leg., 6.I.1973, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2685); Meoyaca, Río Donachuí, 3596 m, [10°47′04.5″N, 73°33′40.4″W], 2.I.1973, 1 ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2689); same locality as before, but Naboba zone, top of Meoyaca, Rio Donachuí, northern extension, under rocks, at the lower edge of the Pico La Reina / Pico Ojeda Glacier, 4800 m, [10°49′08.0″N, 73°37′58.6″W], 9.I.1973, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2691); same locality, but Donachuí, Río Donachuí, north tributary of Lago Mavaria, 4008 m, 8.III.1973, 1 ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar- 2694). Ciénaga, 5 km N from Santa Marta, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, S. W. Páramo, 3657m, P. Dalington coll., 2.II.1929, 1 ♂, 2 ♀ (MCZ-IZ 170963, 170964, 170965).
Etymology. The specific epithet alludes to the high altitudes of the type locality in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is a noun in genitive.
Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished from those of other species of Josa by the following combination of characters: bifid external section of the conductor with anterior branch shorter than posterior, which is long and sharp (Figs 19A–B, 20A–B, 21A–B, D, H); embolus describing a loop around basal process, with a thin and long laminar projection (Figs 20C, 21H–I), and bifid median apophysis with many small denticles on external edge (Fig. 21F, see inset). Females of this species are distinguished from those of other species of Josa by the shape of the posterior sclerotized projections of lateral lobes, which are narrow, handle-like, arched, and with deep rounded anterior depressions (Figs 19E, 20D), the median field visible in dorsal view (Figs 19E, 22E–F), small, elongated spermathecae, laterally positioned at the median region of the epigyne (Figs 19E–F, 20E–F, 22).
Description. Male (holotype, MUSENUV-Ar-2682; vchLAM-260) (Fig. 17): Total length 8.89. Carapace length 4.35, width 3.29, height 1.07. Clypeus length 0.12. Sternum length 2.31, width 1.58. Legs. Leg I: ti length 3.84/width 0.49, mt 3.20. II: ti 3.82/0.52, mt 3.13. III: ti 3.12/0.45, mt 3.29. IV: ti 3.95/0.54, mt 4.11. Spines: legs I–II, femur d 1-1-1, p 0-1d2ap, r 0-d1-d1; tibia v 2-2-2; metatarsus v 2-0-0. III–IV, femur d 1-1-1, p 0-d1-d1, r 0-d1- d1; patella r 1me; tibia v 2-2-2, p 1-d1-1-0, r 1-d1-1-0, d (r1-1) bristles; metatarsus d 0-p1-2, v 2-2-2, p d1-1-0-1, r d1-1-0-1. Abdomen: length 4.31, width 2.52, spiracle–epigastrium 1.72. Color: carapace brown, with two wide longitudinal discontinuous dark brown stripes, extending to fovea and marginally covered by abundant white setae; eyes bordered by black rings, triangular band emerging from posterior side of PLE and PME. Clypeus brown, low with abundant white setae. Chelicerae brown with black spots and fine setae on frontal edge. Endites light brown, light at anterior side. Labium and sternum dark brown. Legs coxae light brown, femora-tarsi brown with some dark patches, patellae less pigmented. All articles with black dots, stripes, and covered by few white and black setae, abundant white setae between coxae. Abdomen with pattern of black patches on lighter brown background, sub-rounded by thin band; anterior region of dorsum medially with a wide longitudinal dark band extended to submedial region, followed by five wide and very short chevrons, lateral regions with many dots. Abdomen covered with few fine white setae, anterior region with a dense bunch of setae. Venter dark gray with many light patches. Palp: tegulum without tegular lobe. Median apophysis very wide, bifid, with anterior hook-shaped tip, posterior region with a denticulated edge (Fig. 21F). Conductor large, rounded, external section apically bifid (Figs. 19A–B, 20A–B, 21A–B, D), with posterior tip long, sharp, anterior tip shorter with small apical denticles, dorsal section sharp (Fig. 21B). Paramedian apophysis short, heavily sclerotized, sharp, narrow. Embolus apically filiform, with a narrow laminar projection extending to subapical side; basal process small, reticulate, posterior region rounded, with pronounced external keel (Figs 19E–F, 20E–F, 21).
Female (paratype, MUSENUV-Ar-2683; vchLAM-261). (Fig. 18): Total length 11.18. Carapace length 5.98, width 4.16, height 1.72. Clypeus length 0.28. Sternum length 2.90, width 2.20. Legs. Leg I: ti length 3.43/width 0.70, mt 2.86. II: ti 4.12/0.65, mt 3.26. III: ti 3.24/0.63, mt 3.49. IV: ti 4.39/0.60, mt 3.97. Spines: legs I–II, femur d 1-1-1, p 0-d1-d1, r 0-d1-d1; tibia v 2-2-2; metatarsus v 2bas. III, femur d 1-1-1, p 0-d1-d1, r 0-d1-d1; patella r 1me; tibia v p1-2-2, p 1-d1-1-0, r 1-d1-1-0, d (r1-1) bristles; metatarsus d 0-p1-2, v 2-2-2, p d1-1-0-1, r d1- 1-0-1, IV=III but femur r 1d. Abdomen: length 6.08, width 3.96, spiracle–epigastrium 2.15. Color pattern as in male, but more pigmented. Lateral regions of abdomen with many dots. Epigyne: median field transverse, wide, oval in posterior view (Fig. 22E–F). Lateral lobes with sclerotized extensions wide, rounded, with small, rounded concavities at anterior side. Spermathecae small, oval, lateromedially placed. Copulatory ducts long, thin, coiled along longitudinal axis, oriented in parallel, anterior region rounded (Figs 20E, 21A–B). Ducts of accessory bulbs long, convergent (Figs 19E–F, 20E–F, 22).
Variation: Males (n=5): total length: 7.51–11.35; carapace length: 3.75–4.35, width: 2.72–3.29; abdomen length: 4.31–5.38, width: 1.59–2.62. Females (n=5): total length: 11.18–11.35; carapace length: 5.88–5.98, width: 4.06–4.16; abdomen length: 5.38–6.08, width: 3.65–3.96. The pigmentation and abdominal spots are variable across specimens, the carapace can be darker, and the abdominal spots more defined. The anterior tip of apical region of the external section of the conductor seems broken in some specimens, resulting in an entire and sharp conductor tip.
Distribution. Only known from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia (Fig. 31).
Ecological comments. When the high-altitude specimens were collected at 5500 masl, and at several other sites nearby, it was noted that this species was not only present but also abundant and active, a very fast runner on the rocks and snow. The specimens found at 5500 masl were collected from beneath rocks, and the specimen MUSENUV-Ar-2696, found at an altitude of 5275 meters, was caught during the day, near noon, running on the surface of a large rock surrounded by snow and glacial ice; there were no loose rocks for shelter. This species appears to be very abundant in the Páramo of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, which may explain the presence of some specimens at high altitudes. However, systematic field sampling is necessary to determine if there are established populations at altitudes above 5000 meters or if these are merely stochastic occurrences.
description: Published as part of Martínez, Leonel, Kochalka, John A., Cabra-Garcia, Jimmy & Ramírez, Martin, 2025, Revealing the identity of Josa chazaliae (Simon, 1897) (Araneae: Anyphaenidae): new species and the highest altitude record for a spider in South America, pp. 201-242 in Zootaxa 5566 (2) on pages 223-231, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5566.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14702734