Papiri cacau Rheims, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Rheims, Cristina A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Sparassidae
Papiri
Papiri cacau

description: Papiri cacau sp. nov.
Figs 6, 10–11, 32–46, 79
Type material. Holotype: ♂, BRAZIL: Bahia: Una, Reserva Biológica de Una [-15.1667, -39.1000], 15–28 November 2000, A.D. Brescovit et al. leg. (IBSP 47109). Paratypes: BRAZIL: Bahia: 1 ♂, same data as for holotype (IBSP 47108); 1 ♀, same data as for holotype (IBSP 47106); 1 ♂, same data as for holotype (IBSP 47114); 1 ♀, same data as for holotype (IBSP 47112); 1 ♂ Camamu [-13.9406, -39.0984], 2013–2014, C.M.P. Leite leg. (IBSP 318288); 1 ♂, Salvador [-12.8667, -38.5000], 2012, M.L. Peres leg. (IBSP 274709). Pernambuco: 1 ♂, Recife, Horto Dois Irmãos (-7.9333, -34.8667), June–December 2000, M.L. Peres leg. (IBSP 275228); 1 ♀, same data as for previous specimen (IBSP 275781).
Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Pernambuco: 1 ♀, Recife, Horto Dois Irmãos (-7.9333, -34.8667), June–December 2000, M.L. Peres leg. (IBSP 275224); 1 ♀, same data as for previous specimen (IBSP 275471); 1 ♀, same data as for previous specimen (IBSP 275186). Bahia: 1 ♂, Una, Reserva Biológica de Una [-15.1667, -39.1000], 15–28 November 2000, A.D. Brescovit et al. leg. (IBSP 47122); 1 ♂, same data as for previous specimen (IBSP 47110); 1 ♀, same data as for previous specimen (IBSP 47120).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the fruit of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Originally cultivated in the Amazon River basin region, cacao spread through Pará and reached Bahia, where it better adapted to the region’s climate and soil, causing the so-called 'cacao boom' of the 1930’s in Brazil. To this day, it is widely cultivated in southern Bahia, and its cultivation method, also known as “cabruca-cacau”, is responsible for the conservation of large corridors of the Atlantic Forest in the region; noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. Specimens of P. cacau sp. nov. resemble those of P. cabruca sp. nov. (Figs 21–31) by the male palps with single branched RTA (two or three branches in the other species) and female epigyne with MS partially covering LL and anterior groove projecting posteriorly over MS (LL partially covering MS and anterior groove not projecting over MS in the other species). They are distinguished from those of the latter species by the male palps with MA, small, knob-shaped (Figs 15–16, 37, 42) (cup-shaped, with strongly indented margin P. cabruca sp. nov.) and by the epigyne with LL with posterior margin smooth and MS surpassing the posterior margin of LL (Figs 39, 44) (LL with posterior triangular projections and MS not surpassing the posterior margin of LL in P. cabruca sp. nov.).
Description. Male (holotype): Coloration as in Figs 32–33. Total length 10.3. Dorsal shield of prosoma: 4.7 long, 3.8 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.1 long, 2.9 wide. Eyes: diameters:0.35, 0.27, 0.22, 0.26; interdistances: 0.24, 0.10, 0.38, 0.39, 0.15, 0.09. Legs (1423): I: 15.0 (4.5, 2.3, 4.0, 3.3, 0.9); II: 14.7 (4.6, 2.3, 3.8, 3.1, 0.9); III: 12.3 (3.9, 1.9, 2.9, 2.8, 0.8); IV: 14.6 (4.4, 1.6, 3.5, 4.0, 1.1). Spination follows the generic pattern, with tibia I–II bearing six pairs of ventral spines. Palp: VTA small, triangular; RTA single branched, laminar, resembling a dog’s head in retrolateral view and curled ventrally (Fig. 27); ST visible between 3–4 o’clock in retrolateral view; spermophore with retrolateral undulation (between 3–4 o’clock); TBE long, with an acute point; TBC laminar, three times longer than wide, slightly pointed at tip; C hood four times longer than wide, tip curled, ventrally resembling a beanie; E arising from tegulum at 7 o’clock position, narrowing subdistally to a filiform tip, with a filiform subdistal projection; MA knob-like (Figs 15–16, 36–38, 41–43).
Female (IBSP 47112, paratype): Coloration as in Figs 34–35. Total length 13.4. Dorsal shield of prosoma: 5.1 long, 4.1 wide. Opisthosoma: 8.0 long, 4.9 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.37, 0.30, 0.20, 0.30; interdistances: 0.25, 0.14, 0.46, 0.45, 0.20, 0.10. Legs (4123): I: 14.2 (4.2, 2.5, 3.8, 2.8, 0.9); II: 13.8 (4.2, 2.4, 3.5, 2.8, 0.9); III: 11.8 (3.8, 2.0, 2.6, 2.5, 0.9); IV: 14.9 (4.5, 1.8, 3.4, 4.0, 1.2). Spination follows the generic pattern with tibiae I–II as in male. Epigyne: EF roughly as long as wide, widest posteriorly, with one long lateral MAB on each side; LL posteriorly smooth, rounded; MS as long as wide; ag forming a triangular elevated area over the entire length of MS (Figs 39, 44). Vulva: IDS with Dh kidney-shaped connecting ventrally with Ds by long sclerotized, narrow duct; Ds roughly oval; FD posteriad (Figs 40, 45–46).
Variation. Males (n=8): total length: 8.9–10.3; prosoma length: 3.8–4.9; femur I length: 4.0–4.5. Females (n=7): total length: 10.4–13.4; prosoma length: 4.6–5.3; femur I length: 4.0–4.9.
Distribution. Known from the states of Pernambuco and Bahia, northeastern Brazil (Fig. 79).
description: Published as part of Rheims, Cristina A., 2025, Papiri gen. nov., a new genus of huntsman spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae) from Brazil, pp. 526-548 in Zootaxa 5583 (3) on pages 534-538, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5583.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/14804629