Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitao 1917
Creators: name: Bertani, Rogério
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Theraphosidae
Lasiodora
Lasiodora parahybana

description: Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão, 1917
(Figs 1 ─2, 8, 16─18, 125─164)
Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão, 1917: 74; 1921: 339, 349; 1923: 246, 267, f. 98, 149; Petrunkevitch 1939: 240; Roewer 1942: 251; Bonnet 1957: 2356; Bücherl 1957: 402, f. 82; Schiapelli & Gerschman de Pikelin 1979: 294, f. 1─7 (misidentified as L. klugi); Pérez-Miles et al. 1996: 52, f. 27 (misidentified as L. klugi); Bertani (2000): 38, f. 35─36 (misidentified as L. klugi); World Spider Catalog 2023.
Lasiodora acanthognatha Mello-Leitão, 1921: 337, 339; 1923: 244, 246, f. 100, 146; Petrunkevitch 1939: 238; Roewer 1942: 250; Bonnet 1957: 2355; Silva-Moreira et al. 2010: 69. New synonymy.
Diagnosis. Lasiodora parahybana males and females resemble those of L. benedeni, L. franciscana n. sp., L. klugi (part) and L. sertaneja n. sp. (part) by having spiniform setae only on the upper distal area of retrolateral maxilla (Figs 131 ─132). They can be distinguished by having browinish or greyish very spatulate stridulatory setae spread over the area between the prolateral coxa I sutures (Figs 133─134).
Type material. Holotype female of Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão, 1917, from Brazil, state of Paraiba, Campina Grande [7°13’S, 35°53’W], Hortencio Ribeiro col., MNRJ 47, not located, lost (Silva-Moreira et al. 2010). Holotype immature male of Lasiodora acanthognatha Mello-Leitão, 1921, from Brazil, state of São Paulo, without collector, deposited “in my own collection”, later transferred to MNRJ 47798, examined (Figs 147 ─150).
Other material examined. BRAZIL: Piauí: Brasileira, PARNA Sete Cidades (04°06’7.5”S, 41°41’38.1”W), 22 August 2004, L. S. Carvalho col. (MPEG ARA 005135); Dom Expedito Lopes, Alpes do Burity, Rodovia BR 316, km 277, between Dom Expedito Lopes and Gaturiano, engarrafadora de água mineral Manaíra (6°57.175’S, 41°42.582’W), 1 female, 1 immature male, 360 m a.s.l., A. Kury & A. Giupponi, 22 March 1999 (MNRJ 2652); Ceará: without locality, 1 female, P. A. Brenel, ref. 29530 (IBSP 6358); Baturité, Serra do Baturité [4°19’S, 38°53’W], 1 male, H. Urban, 1932 (IBSP 910); 1 male, same collector and date (IBSP 911); Campos Sales [7°4’S, 40°22’W], 1 male, S. Rocha, 12 July 1968 (IBSP 29); Crateús, Ibiapaba, Serra das Almas [5°3’S, 40°56’W], 1 male, M. Carvalho, 22 April 2003 (IBSP 11266); Ubajara [3°51’S, 40°55’W], 1 male, B. C. Cabral, 26 April 2003, close to Ubajara cave mouth (DZUB 2273); Rio Grande do Norte: Nisia Floresta, Buzios (sic “ Bugios ”) [6°02’S, 35°06’W], 1 male, Joacyr, 28 March 2002 (IBSP 11348); Paraíba: without locality, 1 female (IBSP ref. 29527); 1 male, Ref. 29527, 27 February 1981 (IBSP Ref. 29527); Areia [6°58’S, 35°44’W], 1 female, A. D. Brescovit, 13 April 1997, (IBSP 6455); João Pessoa [7°8’S, 34°51’W], 1 male, M. Neves (IBSP 6457); Campus da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 1 male, P. Fransinetti, February 1981, ref. 29527 (IBSP 4689); 1 male, P. Fransinetti, ref. 29527 (IBSP 6359); 2 males, same collector, February 1981, ref. 29527 (IBSP 4696); Piancó [7°11’S, 37°55’W], 1 female, Exp. Depto. Zool., June 1957 (MZUSP 28578 E.2196); Pernambuco: Agrestina, Faz. Amapá [8°27’S, 35°56’W], 1 male, Exp. ABC-MZSP, 10─ 17 June 1971 (MZUSP 10402); same collectors and data, 1 male, Exp. ABC-MZSP, 10─ 17 June 1971 (MZUSP 10401); Caruaru [8°17’S, 35°58’W], 1 male, B. Beto, ref. 80548 (IBSP 7013); 1 immature male, N. P. Heta, January 1982, ref. 40623 (IBSP 4701); Gravatá [8°12’S, 35°34’W], 1 male, P. F. L. Silva (IBSP 10294); Igaraçu, RPPN Charles Darwin [07°48’S; 34°57’W], 1 female, R. Bertani, D. R. M. Ortega & R. H. Nagahama, 19 August 2006, inside a house (PE 1169) (MNRJ 7758); Ilha de Itamaracá [7°44’S, 34°49’W], 1 immature male, Vanzolini, 6 June 1963 (MZUSP 4991); 1 male, N. Lopes leg., F. Borba ded., August 2006, inside a house (MNRJ 7759); Itamaracá, Engenho São João, 1 female 2 males, Exp. ABC - MZUSP, 9─ 11 May 1971 (MZUSP 28576); Moreno [8°06’S, 35°05’W], sic Tapera, an old train station (Caramaschi 2008), 1 male, (MNRJ 13566); Pau D’Alho [7°54’S, 35°10’W], 1 immature male, P. F. L. Silva (IBSP 10292); Ponta de Pedras [7°37’S, 34°48’W], 1 female, Montouchet, 30 August 1970 (MZUSP 28583); Recife [8°2’S, 34°52’W], 1 male, P. F. L. Silva (IBSP 10669); 1 male, same collector (IBSP 10667); 1 immature male, same collector (IBSP 10668); 1 female, 1934, identified as Lasiodora parahybana by Mello-Leitão (MNRJ 42343); Rio Formoso, Reserva Biológica de Saltinho (8°43’3.96”S, 35°11’1.99”W), 1 female, R. Bertani, D. R. M. Ortega, R. H. Nagahama, 9 August 2006 (PE1069) (MNRJ 7760); 1 male, same collectors, 10 August 2006 (PE1075) (MNRJ 7761); Alagoas: 2 males, E. Dente, February 1957 (MZUSP 28581 – E 2411); Maceió [9°38’S, 35°42’W], 1 male, G. J. Silva, May 1981, ref. 30410 (IBSP 4663); Maceió, Bairro Barro Duro, 1 male, N. Ló, 26 May 2000 (IBSP 11341); Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici (9°14’7.23”S, 35°47’4.29”W), 1 female, R. Bertani, D. R. M. Ortega & R. H. Nagahama, 12 August 2006 (AL1084) (MZUSP 78865); 1 male, born in captivity (19 january 2007) from female AL1084 (1622) (MZUSP 78866); 1 male, born in captivity (19 January 2007) from female AL 1084 (1627) (MZUSP 78867); 1 male, R. Bertani, R. H. Nagahama & D. R. M. Ortega (MZUSP 78868); Fazenda Santa Fé (9°16’1.83”S, 35°50’3.93”W], 1 female, same collectors, 15 August 2006 (AL1138) (MZUSP 78869); Murici, Pedra Branca [9°17’S, 35°56’W], 550 m a.s.l., mata, 1 female, D. M. Teixeira, 23 November 1983 (MNRJ 13784); Passo de Camaragibe, Fazenda Santa Justina [9°14’S, 35°29’W], 2 males, H. R. Silva & C. A. Caetano, 13─ 18 January 1988 (MNRJ 13697); 1 male, same collectors and data (MNRJ 13714); Quebrangulo [9°19’S, 36°28’W], 1 immature male, R. O. Bettini, February 1985, ref. 48228 (IBSP 4851); São Miguel dos Campos, 1 female, E. Dente, September 1951 (MZUSP 28582 - E 2437); São Miguel dos Campos, Fazenda Prata, Usina Sinimbú [9°46’S, 36°5’W], 1 female, D. F. Moraes, May 1984 (MNRJ 13261); Mato Grosso: without locality, 1 female, A. C. Martins, 4 September 1985, ref. 19477 (IBSP 4378).
Redescription. Male (MNRJ 7761). Carapace 24.85 long, 23.97 wide, chelicera 13.14. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 23.77, 12.54, 20.65, 19.77, 11.43, 88.16. II: 22.30, 11.24, 18.42, 18.84, 10.79, 81.59. III: 19.98, 10.91, 15.96, 19.69, 10.11, 76.65. IV: 23.56, 10.84, 19.88, 27.20, 11.01, 92.49. Palp: 15.0, 8.74, 12.21, –, 5.39, 41.34. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 4.64, 4.91, 5.71, 5.01, palp = 3.51; patellae I–IV = 4.83, 4.72, 4.87, 4.73, palp = 3.56; tibiae I–IV = 3.95, 3.51, 3.76, 3.78, palp = 4.10; metatarsi I–IV = 2.43, 2.39, 2.52, 2.43; tarsi I–IV = 2.59, 2.41, 2.61, 2.46, palp = 3.55. Abdomen 23.77 long, 16.78 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 3.08 long, 1.11 wide, 0.82 apart; PLS, 4.89 basal, 3.42 middle, 4.58 distal; midwidths 2.07, 1.73, 1.20, respectively.
Carapace: 1.04 longer than wide; cephalic area moderately raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: 4.66 wide. Eyes and eye tubercle: Tubercle 0.98 high, 2.65 long, 3.62 wide. Clypeus 0.22 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.54, ALE 0.77, PME 0.52, PLE 0.67, AME–AME 0.76, AME–ALE 0.49, AME–PME 0.33, ALE–ALE 2.43, ALE–PME 0.54, PME–PME 1.81, PME–PLE 0.18, PLE–PLE 2.67, ALE–PLE 0.47, AME–PLE 0.87. Eye group 3.47 wide, 1.68 long. Maxillae: Length 8.0, width 4.43. Cuspules: 314 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 3.84 long, 4.14 wide, with 178 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior third center. Chelicera: basal segment with 11 teeth in row on promargin and denticles in basal area. Sternum: 12.01 long, 9.62 wide.
Legs: leg formula: I=IV II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.05. Stridulatory apparatus: Retrolateral maxilla: small to large spiniform setae on upper basal area, interspersed with very plumose setae, middle and lower areas lacking spiniform setae (Figs 131 ─132). Leg I prolateral coxa: confluence of sutures region with ca. 20 brownish, short, spatulated stridulatory setae and several smaller ones (Figs 133─134). Region above sutures with plumose setae and some curved spiniform setae. Region below sutures covered with plumose setae having slightly incrassate base (Fig. 135). Coxae I and III retrolateral faces covered with plumose setae and a group of small spiniform setae on upper region. Retrolateral face of coxa II lacking small spiniform setae. Coxa II prolateral face with same apparatus as in leg I, but ca. 8 large setae; in coxae III and IV the stridulatory setae are very slender. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV and metatarsi I–II fully scopulated; III 1/2, IV 1/5 distal. Metatarsus IV divided by row of 3–4 setae. Spination: palp: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v1-2-0, p2-3-2; leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v1-1-1ap, p0-1-0, metatarsus v1-0-1ap; leg II: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-1-4(3ap), p0-1-1; metatarsus v1-0-3ap; leg III: femur r0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v1-0-3ap, p1-1-0, r0-1-1, metatarsus v3-2-6(5ap), p1-1-2(1ap), r1-1-1; leg IV: femur 0, patella 0, tibia v0-1-6(2ap), p1-1-1, r1-1-0, metatarsus v26(8ap), p0-1-2(1ap), r0-2-2(1ap). Urticating setae. Position, type and length range: MA, I, 0.31–0.37; LA, I, 0.29–0.31; MM, III, 0.66–0.72; LM, I, 0.37–0.45; MP, III, 0.69–0.76; LP, I, 0.41–0.43.
Palp (Figs 125 –127). Palpal bulb pyriform, embolus slightly shorter than tegulum, slightly flattened laterally at distal region, apex short and thick. Prolateral keels present. PS forming embolus edge distally. A short. R sharp, divided posteriorly, with series of conspicuous denticles on its edge. SA well developed. Bifid tibial spur (Figs 128─129) with processes originating from common base, both straight, retrolateral longest, with a curvature at its distal portion. A single, flattened, rhomboidal spine contiguous to internal upper face of retrolateral process, and three such spines at the internal face of prolateral process. Metatarsus I curved on its basal third, when folded touches apex of retrolateral process.
Color pattern (in alcohol): Carapace and chelicerae black. Carapace bordered with light brown short setae, chelicerae with some long light brown setae. Legs black with sparse light brown long setae. Coxae of legs ventrally and sternum reddish brown, covered with short velvety black setae. Labium and maxillae reddish brown. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally black with abundant long light brown or slightly reddish setae. Femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi of legs and palp with very discrete light stripes. Apex of leg segments with discrete (femora) or very discrete (patellae, tibiae and metatarsi) whitish rings on apex.
Redescription. Female (MZUSP 78869). Carapace 29.12 long, 26.47 wide, chelicera 17.38. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 21.37, 12.63, 16.94, 15.57, 9.53, 76.04. II: 19.37, 11.42, 14.91, 14.31, 8.57, 68.58. III: 17.53, 10.66, 13.0, 14.80, 8.41, 64.40. IV: 20.80, 11.26, 16.83, 21.47, 9.20, 79.56. Palp: 15.30, 9.19, 12.26, –, 10.04, 46.79. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 4.28, 4.65, 5.30, 4.45, palp = 3.65; patellae I–IV = 5.33, 5.49, 5.39, 5.10, palp = 4.27; tibiae I–IV = 4.17, 4.17, 4.16, 3.91, palp = 3.65; metatarsi I–IV = 3.27, 3.05, 3.03, 2.81; tarsi I–IV = 3.17, 3.15, 3.25, 3.21, palp = 3.27. Abdomen 32.31 long, 25.84 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 3.40 long, 1.70 wide, 1.87 apart; PLS, 5.10 basal, 4.12 middle, 5.02 distal; midwidths 2.65, 2.12, 1.56, respectively. Carapace: 1.10 longer than wide; cephalic area noticeably raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: 6.62 wide. Eyes and eye tubercle: Tubercle 1.13 high, 2.54 long, 3.65 wide. Clypeus 0.6 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.59, ALE 0.67, PME 0.54, PLE 0.77, AME–AME 0.70, AME–ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.35, ALE–ALE 2.66, ALE–PME 0.46, PME–PME 1.93, PME–PLE 0.21, PLE–PLE 2.81, ALE–PLE 0.40, AME–PLE 0.93. Eye group 3.63 wide, 1.60 long. Maxillae: Length 9.93, width 6.36. Cuspules: 327 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium 3.64 long, 5.22 wide, with 182 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior third center. Chelicera. basal segment with 12 teeth in row on promargin and denticles in basal area. Sternum: 11.67 long, 10.27 wide.
Legs: formula: I=IV II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.05. Stridulatory apparatus: Retrolateral maxilla: small to large spiniform setae on upper area, interspersed with very plumose setae, middle and lower areas lacking spiniform setae (Figs 136 ─137). Leg I prolateral coxa: confluence of sutures region with ca. 5 short, brownish, spatulated stridulatory setae and several smaller ones (Figs 138─139). Region above sutures with plumose setae and some curved spiniform setae. Region below sutures covered with plumose setae having slightly incrassate base (Fig. 140). Coxae I–III retrolateral faces covered with plumose setae and a group of small spiniform setae on upper region. Prolateral coxa II with same apparatus as in coxa I; on coxae III and IV, stridulatory setae on prolateral face are very slender. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulated; III 1/2, IV 1/4 distal. Metatarsus IV divided by row of 2–3 setae. Spination: palp: femur p0-0-1ap, patella 0, tibia v1-2-5(4ap), p0-2-0, r0-1-0; leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-0-3ap, metatarsus v0-0-1ap; leg II: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-1-3ap; metatarsus v1-0-3ap; leg III: femur 0, patella 0, tibia v0-2-4(3ap), p1-1-1, r0-1-1, metatarsus v5-2-3ap, p1-1-1, r0-1-1; leg IV: femur 0, patella 0, tibia v0-0-5(2ap), p0-0-2(1ap), r1-0-2, metatarsus v24(4ap), p0-2-1, r0-1-1. Urticating setae: Position, type and length range: MA, I, 0.31–0.34; LA, I, 0.36–0.37; MM, III, 0.68–0.72, some I, 0.49–0.51; LM, I, 0.35–0.39; MP, III, 0.73–0.79; LP, I, 0.44–0.47.
Spermathecae (Fig. 130): Two short spermathecae separated by heavily sclerotized short area, spermathecal stalk narrower than spermathecal bulb.
Color pattern (in alcohol): As in male, except in the conspicuous white rings on apex of leg and palp segments.
Morphological variation. I found two color patterns in Lasiodora parahybana. Specimens collected on the very humid areas of Brazilian Atlantic Forest on the coast of the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraíba have the carapace and legs greyish to dark greyish and the whitish rings on distal articles of legs and palp are faded. The abdomen dorsum is covered with long yellowish or pink setae (Figs 154─155, 159─162). Specimens from localities on the coast of the states of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, or in semi-arid areas far from the coast, living in enclaves of Brazilian Atlantic Forest, have the carapace, legs, and palp black with conspicuous wide white rings on distal articles of legs and palp. The long setae on abdomen dorsum are vivid red (Figs 153, 157─158). Despite the differences in color pattern, I failed to correlate the specimen patterns with genitalic or somatic characters; thus, they are herein considered to belong to the same species.
Remarks. The holotype female of Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão, 1917, collected in Campina Grande in the state of Paraiba, Brazil, should be deposited at MNRJ, but is presumed lost (Silva-Moreira et al. 2010). Despite the unavailability of the type, a single Lasiodora species was found to occur north of São Francisco River, and some specimens collected close to the type locality were examined. Moreover, Mello-Leitão (1917) described the stridulatory apparatus of the type as formed by nine bacilliform setae arranged in two rows (4+5), which agrees with the spatulate stridulatory setae of the examined specimens. Thus, I keep the name Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão, 1917 as valid based on the study of specimens from vicinities of the type locality. Moreover, this name has been traditionally used to name this large species occurring on the states of Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and Piauí; and cited in diverse publications, such as studies of venom components.
The holotype of L. acanthognatha is an immature male from São Paulo, Brazil. Mello-Leitão (1921) diagnosed this species by the presence of a “rose-thorn-like spur in the external surface” of the chelicera. Actually, the holotype has a spur as cited in the description, but only on the left chelicera (Figs 149─150). Thus, this structure is not symmetrical and it is likely to be a morphological anomaly. Even though the description and label state the specimen is from the state of São Paulo, it has spatulate stridulatory setae on the coxae I, similar to those of L. parahybana, which does not occur in São Paulo (Fig 147). I believe it is a label mistake and, as the stridulatory apparatus morphology agrees with that of L. parahybana, I consider Lasiodora acanthognatha Mello-Leitão, 1921 a junior synonym of Lasiodora parahybana Mello-Leitão 1917.
Distribution. Brazil, from the state of Piaui in the north and west to the state of Alagoas in the south (Figs 163 ─164). The São Francisco River seems to be a barrier to the dispersion of the species southwards.A single record for the state of Mato Grosso is questionable (see distribution and notes on natural history of Lasiodora above).
Natural history. Specimens of Lasiodora parahybana are found in areas of Brazilian Atlantic Forest on the Brazilian coast, but also in forested enclaves in Caatinga biome (see distribution and notes on natural history of Lasiodora above). They are fairly easy to find at the biological reserves of Saltinho in the state of Pernambuco and Murici in the state of Alagoas, both areas covered with extensive areas of Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Adults were seen inside burrows in ravines (Fig. 156) or in the space between tree roots, especially Ficus trees. Sometimes they were seen wandering during day or night. Immatures were found under rocks and fallen logs (pers. obs.).
Vieira et al. (2012) reported the predation of the lizard Tropidurus hispidus Spix (Tropiduridae) by Lasiodora klugi in the Caatinga biome, in São José dos Cordeiros, state of Paraíba, Brazil. They stated L. klugi has a broad geographical distribution, with records in both the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes and quoted Bertani (2001). However, in that paper (Bertani 2001), a distribution was given of the genus Lasiodora, not the species L. klugi. Both the image published by Vieira et al. (2012) as well as the locality indicate the species is L. parahybana, not L. klugi.
Nyffeler & Knörnchild (2012) reported the predation of an unidentified bat by L. parahybana in “northeastern Brazil ”. However, no image or locality was given for a possible confirmation of the species.
Souza et al. 2023 recorded a L. parahybana specimen preying on a Boana albomarginata treefrog. However, the published image shows a theraphosid with spatulate scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi of the anterior legs, a characteristic of arboreal theraphosids. Probably, the specimen corresponds to Iridopelma hirsutum Pocock, an arboreal theraphosid recorded for Estação Ecologica de Murici (Bertani 2012) where the predation event was recorded.
Guette et al. (2006) studied peptides from the venom of specimens they identified as L. parahybana, but without additional information on the specimens used.
The antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activities from L. parahybana venom was evaluated by Ferreira et al. (2016). Specimens used in Ferreira et al. (2016) are from a locality from which some specimens were examined here; thus, it is possible to confirm the species used. Ultrastructural characterization of the hemocytes were made by Soares et al. (2013).
description: Published as part of Bertani, Rogério, 2023, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Lasiodora C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) with notes on related genera, pp. 1-116 in Zootaxa 5390 (1) on pages 58-68, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5390.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10434516