Antillena miguelangeli Santos & Bertani, 2024, new species
Creators: name: Santos, Gabriel De Los
name: Bertani, Rogério
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Theraphosidae
Antillena
Antillena miguelangeli

description: Antillena miguelangeli new species
(Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 3C, 3E, 3G, 4, 5A–B, 6–8)
Diagnosis. Males of Antillena miguelangeli sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of A. rickwesti by the longer and slender embolus and the presence of poorly developed keels in the embolus (Figs. 2 D−E, 3). Females differ from those of A. rickwesti in having a plateau-shaped spermathecae with its distal sclerotized half of an elliptical appearance (Fig. 5B).
Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honor to the Dominican herpetologist Miguel Ángel Landestoy, for his contributions to the knowledge of Antillena’ s distribution.
Type material. Holotype male (MNHNSD 09.1729) from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Valverde province, Mao, Los Quemados, Refugio de vida silvestre El Cañón del río Gurabo: 19.49313° -71.179251°; 180 m, 11.XI.2020. C. Marte & G. de los Santos leg.; inside a silk-covered burrow on tree, at around 21:00 hrs. Paratype female (MNHNSD 09.1728), same collecting data as holotype.
Other material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Valverde province, Mao, Los Quemados, Refugio de vida silvestre El Cañón del río Gurabo: 19.49313° -71.179251°; 180 m, 2 females, C. Marte & G. de los Santos leg., 12 September 2018 (MNHNSD 09.1730, 09.1731); 19.49323° -71.17799°; 174 m, 2 females, 29.V.2018, same collectors, 29 May 2018 (MNHNSD 09.1732, 09.1733).
Description. Male holotype. Carapace, legs and pedipalps brown dorsally, chelicerae and eye tubercle chestnut brown. Abundant pinkish setae covering carapace, chelicerae, and legs articles except on metatarsi and tarsi where pinkish setae are of distinctly lower density. Patellae, tibiae, and metatarsi distally with patches of white setae differently distributed. Abdomen dark gray with pink setae and having a light pattern, consisting in a single anteriorly located irregular patch and four indistinct lateral stripes from central to distal part of abdomen (Fig. 7A). Urticating setae forming a patch on the posterior half. All femora dorsally with two longitudinal stripes of abundant tiny pubescence, and without body setae; retrolaterally with one of such longitudinal stripes (most noticeable on posterior legs). All patellae dorsally with two of such stripes, slightly diagonal and meeting distally; tibiae I−IV dorsally with two longitudinal stripes. Ventrally, the labium, sternum, maxillae, coxae, and legs light brown (Fig. 1A); abdomen gray.
Total length 22.7. Carapace 8.6 long, 7.3 wide. Ocular tubercle flattened, 1.25 long, 1.95 wide, clypeus absent; OQ 0.85 long, 1.95 wide (Fig. 1B). Anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row slightly recurved. AME round, diameter 0.36; PME round, diameter 0.20; ALE ovoid, greater diameter 0.40; PLE ovoid, greater diameter 0.43. Eye interdistances:AME−AME 0.31, AME−ALE 0.30, AME−PME 0.10, AME−PLE 0.30; PME−PME 1.08, PME−PLE 0.03, ALE−PLE 0.20, ALE−ALE 1.30; PLE−PLE 1.44. Fovea transverse, 1.3 wide; 5.15 from the anterior edge of carapace. Chelicerae 4.3 long, with 1 row of teeth on the promargin (Fig. 1C). Left chelicera with 9 teeth and right with 8 teeth; each chelicera with 5 microspikes (granulation) between basal teeth 1−3. Sternum 4.3 long, 3.2 wide; covered by large, thin erect setae and with abundant pinkish setae (Fig. 1A). Labium dome-shaped, with anterior region almost straight, bearing long, thin, and erect setae (Fig. 1A); 0.92 long, 1.32 wide; 60 labial cuspules on the anterior third. Maxilla 2.95 long, 1.50 wide. Right maxilla with 148 cuspules forming a triangle on its basal anterior part; left maxilla with 157 cuspules, with same distribution. Three pairs of sigilla located near coxae I (rounded, 0.19 long, 0.14 from edge), coxae II (rounded, 0.22 long, 0.11 from edge), and coxae III (ellipsoidal, 0.40 long, 0.27 from edge). Abdomen 9.5 long, 6.7 wide; with type II urticating setae 0.53–0.57 in length. Spinnerets: PLS triarticulated, 3.73 long, basal segment 1.39, middle segment 0.90, apical segment 1.44, digitiform; PMS monoarticulated, 0.40 long.
Scopulae: all tarsi 100 % scopulate; metatarsi I−II 95 %, III ≈ 60 %, IV ≈ 40 % scopulate. Tarsi I−III with scopula entire, tarsi IV less dense and with a band of elongated setae (not dividing the scopula); metatarsi IV divided by a band of elongated setae. Scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi I−II laterally extended, distinctly less developed in posterior tarsi and metatarsi. Claw tufts paired, well-developed. Dorsally, all tarsi with two rows of short claviform trichobothria distributed irregularly on apical half. Cymbium with two rows of such trichobothria on basal half. All paired tarsal claws without teeth. Plumose setae on retrolateral face of femur IV absent. Spination absent on all leg segments and palps.
Cymbium with almost equal cymbial lobes and small conical process with a dorsal patch of short spines on its distal part (Fig. 2 D−E). Embolus moderately long and slender (Figs. 2 D−E; 3A, 3C, 3E, 3G), smoothly curved, projected retrolaterally but with a small ventrally projected bend at its distal third, carrying three smooth keels (PS, PI and A), not well-developed (Figs. 3A, 3C, 3E, 3G). Tegulum oval, smooth, without any tegular structures. Palpal tibia without any process. Tibia I with single subapical tibial apophysis, apically covered with numerous thin and large spines (Fig. 2 A−C). Metatarsus I contact the retrolateral side of tibial apophysis when flexed. Maxillary and trochanteral stridulatory bristles absent. Coxae I−IV prolaterally with many soft spiniform setae, also present above the suture; retrolaterally present on coxae I and III, reduced in number and only present distally.
Appendages segment lengths. Leg I: femur 7.8, patella 4.4, tibia 5.8, metatarsus 5.4, tarsus 2.9; total 26.3. Leg II: 7.1, 4.2, 5.7, 5.6, 2.7; 25.3. Leg III: 6.4, 3.5, 5.2, 4.9, 2.6; 22.6. Leg IV: 7.9, 3.9, 6.5, 6.1, 2.7; 27.1. Pedipalp: 4.6, 2.8, 3.5, -, 1.9; 12.8. Leg formula: I=IV>II>III. Leg IV/I= 1.03.
Description. Female paratype. Carapace brown, legs and pedipalps brown dorsally, chelicerae and eye tubercle chestnut brown. Abundant pinkish setae distributed as in the male. Patellae, tibiae, and metatarsi patches of white setae as in male. Abdomen mostly black with pink setae and having a light pattern consisting in three distinct lateral stripes: the anterior and middle stripes each connect to one triangle in the mid-dorsal; posterior stripe is interrupted by the patch of urticating setae. The anterior triangle connects with a semi-circular patch on the base of the abdomen. Ventrally, the labium, sternum, maxillae, coxae, and legs light brown; abdomen gray. Scopulae without remarkable differences between anterior and posterior metatarsi and tarsi.
Total length 25.5. Carapace 10.4 long, 8.2 wide. Ocular tubercle flattened, 1.52 long, 2.05 wide, clypeus absent; OQ 1.06 long, 2.05 wide (Fig. 4B). Anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row slightly recurved. AME round, 0.30; PME round, 0.22; ALE ovoid, 0.49; PLE ovoid, 0.40. Eye interdistances: AME−AME 0.63, AME−ALE 0.36, AME−PME 0.22, AME−PLE 0.49; PME−PME 1.30, PME−PLE 0.04, ALE−PLE 0.22, ALE−ALE 1.53; PLE−PLE 1.75. Fovea transverse, 1.8 wide; 6.5 from the anterior edge of carapace. Chelicerae 4.9 long, with a single row of teeth on the promargin (Fig. 4C). Left chelicera with 11 teeth and 6 microspikes between basal teeth 1−2; right chelicera with 10 teeth and 4 microspikes between basal teeth 1–3. Sternum 5.2 long, 3.8 wide (Fig. 4A). Labium 1.21 long, 1.71 wide; 81 labial cuspules on the anterior third. Maxilla 3.43 long, 1.91 wide. Right maxilla with ca. 165 cuspules, left maxilla with 147 cuspules. Three pairs of sigilla, anterior rounded 0.18 long, 0.09 from the edge; middle rounded 0.19 long, 0.08 from the edge; posterior ellipsoidal 0.35 long, 0.13 from the edge. Abdomen 10.2 long, 6.7 wide with type II urticating setae 0.52–0.56 in length. Spinnerets (Fig. 5A): PLS triarticulated, 4.60 long, basal segment 1.50, middle segment 1.10, apical segment 1.50, digitiform; PMS monoarticulated, 0.90 long. Spermathecae paired, short and broad, plateau-shaped with distal half strongly sclerotized and of elliptical form (Fig. 5B).
Appendages segment lengths. Leg I: femur 7.2, patella 4.1, tibia 4.9, metatarsus 4.8, tarsus 2.9, total 23.9. Leg II: 6.8, 4.2, 5.0, 4.5, 2.7, 23.2. Leg III: 5.9, 3.7, 4.4, 4.2, 2.7, 20.9. Leg IV: 7.1, 4.2, 5.9, 5.3, 2.5, 25.0. Pedipalp: 5.5, 3.2, 3.0, -, 3.1, 14.8. Leg formula: I=IV>II> III. Leg IV /I = 1.05.
Distribution. Dominican Republic: only known from the type locality at Valverde province (Fig. 6).
Discussion. The morphology of the genitalia of Antillena rickwesti is highly divergent from that of other aviculariine species, due to the presence of keels on the embolus of the male bulb, and the short, well-sclerotized female spermathecae. The male of Antillena miguelangeli sp. nov. has a not so modified embolus, with poorly developed keels. Furthermore, the embolus is more slender than that of A. rickwesti and resembles those of other aviculariine species (Fig. 3 A−H). The presence of developed keels on the embolus of A. rickwesti males is certainly a convergence with those of theraphosines, ornithoctonines and Poecilotheria Simon species, as no other aviculariine species presents keels on the embolus. The discovery of a second species of Antillena with poorly developed keels, an intermediate state between the absence of keels found in other aviculariine species and the well-developed keels of A. rickwesti, supports the idea of convergence.
Field-notes on Antillena. These spiders benefit from the natural holes on tree trunks created when some branches break down or by another cause, building their retreats by upholstering the hole and making a silk tube that varies in length in relation to the size of the hole (Fig. 8). In general, this silk tube has a vertical orientation and possess two entrances: upper and lower. The spider perches at the lower entrance, leaving leg III and cephalothorax (complete or just half) outside of the burrow, waiting for a prey to pass/land nearby. In some situations, the spider was observed as far as 0.5 m away from the entrance, and in some other cases (least frequent), the spider was perched in the upper entrance.
Retreats have been observed at heights between 0.3–4.0 m, but they are usually seen between 1.0– 2.5 m. More than one retreat in trees with multiple branches were observed, but never in the same branch (Fig. 8A). There have been 5− 8 juveniles found in the same retreat along with the maternal female, sometimes with a marked instar difference; it is frequent to see the juveniles in the entrance or in small clusters close to the retreat entrance (Fig. 8B). A male was collected inside a completely sealed retreat. It was observed that these spiders start their activity right after sunset. Finally, at Refugio de vida silvestre El Cañón del río Gurabo most of the retreats were seen on trees of Haematoxylum sp.
description: Published as part of Santos, Gabriel De Los & Bertani, Rogério, 2024, A new species of the Hispaniolan endemic genus Antillena Bertani, Huff and Fukushima, 2017 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae), with notes on the natural history of the genus, pp. 419-430 in Zootaxa 5493 (4) on pages 421-427, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5493.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/13330365