Harmonicon candango Wermelinger-Moreira, Castanheira & Baptista, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Wermelinger-Moreira, Gabriel
name: de Souza Castanheira, Pedro
name: Baptista, Renner Luiz Cerqueira
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Dipluridae
Harmonicon
Harmonicon candango

description: Harmonicon candango sp. nov.
Figs 2 A – J, 3 A – G, 4
Material examined.
Holotype: Brazil • ♂; Brasília, Distrito Federal [15°44'20.1"S, 47°55'36.9"W]; 18 October 1973; W. R. Lourenço leg.; MNRJ 7625.
Paratypes: Brazil • ♀; same data as for preceding; MNRJ 7626; 4 ♂♂, 19 j; same data as for preceding; MNRJ 13709.
Etymology.
The specific epithet “ candango ” is a masculine noun in apposition used to designate the inhabitants of the city of Brasília, especially to the immigrants from Northeast Brazil who built the city.
Diagnosis.
Harmonicon candango sp. nov. can be separated from all other Harmonicon by its lyra composed of setae curved from its base and bearing spatulate tips (Figs 2 H, 3 C) (vs. setae with strongly curved, thin, and acute tips) (e. g., Fig. 1 C; Maréchal and Marty 1998, fig. 2 A, B; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, fig. 6). Males of H. candango sp. nov. resemble H. oiapoqueae by the dark colour and the similar pedipalp bulb profile, with a low hump at the bulb near the basis of embolus, which is not crooked and almost straight (Fig. 2 B, D). They may be recognised from those of H. oiapoqueae by the presence of the ventral setae near the retrolateral tubercle at metatarsus I (Fig. 2 J), tibia I with retrolateral spur bearing thorn thinner and more curved (Fig. 2 I, J) (vs. spur thick and almost straight; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, figs 4, 7), and prolateral macroseta opposing the distal spur long and thin (Fig. 2 J, just insertion mark) (vs. absent in H. oiapoqueae; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, fig. 7). Furthermore, the pedipalp bulb of H. candango sp. nov. has a longer embolus (ca. 1, 5 × longer than the bulb proper, Fig. 2 B, D) than H. oiapoqueae (ca. 1, 2 ×; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, fig. 2) in retrolateral view. Females of H. candango sp. nov. are differentiated from H. oiapoqueae and H. rufescens by the spermathecae with median branch bearing 3–4 apical lobules (Fig. 3 D – F) (vs. tip round, blunt, and without lobules) (Fig. 1 D – F; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, fig. 5), and lateral branch with a very wide and multilobulate tip (Fig. 3 D – F) (vs. tip with few lobules or folded over the stem) (Fig. 1 D – F; Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, fig. 5).
Description.
Male (holotype, MNRJ 7625). Carapace oblong, wider at middle portion, light orange-brown, caput slightly elevated and darker; cephalic area with darker furrows, covered with dark setae; and margins of thoracic area with a row of long, thick, rigid, erect, and curved dark setae pointing ectally (Fig. 2 A). Clypeus long, with frontal margin carrying 15 median-sized to long, thick setae facing forward (Fig. 2 A). Eye tubercle with 10 thick setae on its anterior margin; area between eyes with 10 shorter, thicker setae and others abundant dark but not thicker setae (Fig. 2 A). Eye formula: ALE> PLE> AME> PME. Ocular area much wider than long. Anterior eye row slightly recurved. Posterior eye row slightly recurved. Median ocular quadrangle wider than long, wider at its posterior margin. AME rounded, ALE and PLE elliptical, and PME reduced, oval. AME - AME separated by less than its diameter. AME contiguous to PME. AME separated from PME by ca. half its diameter. ALE and PME contiguous to PLE. Fovea transverse and slightly recurved (Fig. 2 A). Labium wider than long with no cuspules (Fig. 2 G). Sternum longer than wide, covered by black erect setae and brownish thin recumbent setae, one pair of labial sigilla comma-shaped and almost touching each other along the median line of the body, three sigilla on each side near margin, increasing in size from first to last, the third pair larger and elliptical (Fig. 2 G). Chelicerae dark red with 11 promarginal teeth at right and 12 promarginal teeth at left, fang furrow with denticles. Plectrum with five separated thick setae on both sides. Maxillae elongated with 22 and 25 cuspules at left and right pedipalps, respectively (Fig. 2 G). Lyra asymmetrical at ventral side of maxilla, formed by 6–7 modified thick and long setae, increasing in size basally to distally; apical portion with 1–2 less curved setae and subsequent ones strongly curved. Left lyra with six (Fig. 2 H) and right one with seven setae. Leg formula IV> I> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I – 8.0 + 2.7 + 8.6 + 8.2 + 5.3 = 32.8, II – 6.4 + 2.0 + 7.2 + 6.7 + 5.1 = 27.4, III – 6.2 + 1.5 + 6.1 + 7.7 + 4.9 = 26.4, IV – 7.3 + 2.1 + 8.1 + 10.1 + 6.4 = 34.0. Leg I with modified tibia and metatarsus, forming a clasping mechanism (Fig. 2 I, J). Tibia I with retrolateral spur (or apophysis) relatively long, elevated and pronounced in both lateral and retrolateral view, thicker than its thorn, curved and blunt (Fig. 2 I, J); thorn longer than the spur, relatively thin, curved at retrolateral view (Fig. 2 I), straight at ventral view (Fig. 2 J), pointed at tip, and with prolateral distal spine (fallen off, but indicated by its insertion). Metatarsus I with retrolateral tubercle obtuse, with wide basis, and situated about the same level as the basis of the first ventral macroseta at the retrolateral side, tubercle region slightly thickened in ventral view (Fig. 2 I, J). Tarsi with few small cracks covering almost all dorsal and lateral faces, except by basis and tip of article; all tarsi with dense scopulae; metatarsus I – II with scopulae; metatarsus I with more than metatarsus II; metatarsus III – IV with thin scopulae; ITC without teeth; STC teeth: I: 11–5, II: 13–5, III: 12–4, IV: 10–4. Macrosetae: Leg I: femur pld 0–0 – 2, d 3–2 – 0 right, d 1–2 – 0 left, rld 1–1 – 1, patella 0, tibia r 1–1 – 0, p 1–1 – 1 right, p 0–1 – 1 left, v 1–1 – 1 ap (apophysis), metatarsus v 1–1 – 1; Leg II: femur d 1–2 – 0 right, d 2–2 – 0 left, pld 0–2 – 1 right, rld 0–1 – 2 left, patella 0, tibia p 0–1 – 1, v 1–1 – 2, metatarsus v 1–2 – 1 right, v 1–1 – 2 left, p 0–1 – 0; Leg III: femur d 2–1 – 0, rld 1–1 – 1, pld 1–2 – 1, patella 0, tibia d 0–1 – 1 right, d 0–1 – 0 left, p 0–1 – 1, v 1–0 – 2 right, v 1–1 – 2 left, metatarsus d 1–1 – 1, rld 1–1 – 0, pld 0–2 – 1 left, p 1–1 – 1 right, v 2–2 – 3; Leg IV: femur rld 2–2 – 1, d 4–2 – 0, pld 1–1 – 0 right, pld 1–1 – 1 left, patella 0, tibia d 0–1 – 0, p 1–1 – 0, r 0–1 – 1, rld 1–0 – 0, v 1–2 – 2 left, v 2–2 – 2 right, metatarsus d 2–2 – 2, rld 1–2 – 0 right, p 0–1 – 1 right, v 2–1 – 4, p 1–1 – 1 left, plv 0–0 – 1 left, r 1–1 – 1 left. Abdomen covered with dark setae, dorsum brown without stripes, with a slightly paler area before the cardiac mark, which is outlined by a somewhat darker brown line (Fig. 2 A), and venter uniform brown. PLS longer than half of abdomen, with articulate fusules in all articles, and last article finger-like and with light patches of ventral cracks (Fig. 2 A). Pedipalp elongated, bearing three macrosetae, one retrolateral placed near the end of its median third (Fig. 2 B, fallen off, just the insertion), one prolateral at its distal third, and one prolateroventral at its median third. Pedipalp bulb 0.25 × longer than wide, oblong in prolateral (Fig. 2 D) and retrolateral views (Fig. 2 C), but more globose in dorsal (Fig. 2 E) and ventral views (Fig. 2 F), tapering to merge with embolus basis well demarcated (Fig. 2 C – F). Embolus around 1.5 × longer than bulb itself, almost straight, tapering towards its acute, slightly curved tip (Fig. 2 C – F).
TL 20.1. Carapace 9.0 long, 7.8 wide, carapace length / width 1.15. AME 0.27 mm, AME - AME 0.23 mm. Abdomen 11.1 long, 5.4 wide. Spinnerets: PMS 1.8 long; PLS 13.4 long, basal article 3.5, middle 4.1, distal 5.8.
Female (paratype, MNRJ 7626). Carapace and clypeus as in male (Fig. 3 A). Eye tubercle with 13 thick setae on its anterior margin; area between eyes with 13 shorter, thicker setae and others abundant grey and thinner setae (Fig. 3 A). Eyes as in male (Fig. 3 A). Labium and sternum as in male (Fig. 3 B). Chelicerae, as in male with 11 promarginal teeth at both sides. Plectrum as in male but with 8–9 separated thick setae on left side and right side, respectively. Maxillae with shape as in male but bearing 29 and 27 cuspules at the left and right pedipalp, respectively (Fig. 3 B). Lyra at ventral side of maxilla similar to male. Left lyra with seven regular setae and an additional distal one much thinner than the others (Fig. 3 C), right lyra with seven setae. Leg formula IV> I> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I – 6.1 + 2.4 + 6.5 + 5.2 + 3.6 = 23.8, II – 5.0 + 2.2 + 5.7 + 4.8 + 3.4 = 21.1, III – 5.1 + 1.2 + 5.0 + 5.7 + 3.3 = 20.3, IV – 5.8 + 1.6 + 6.7 + 7.9 + 4.3 = 26.3. Tarsi and metatarsi as in male, palpal tarsi with middle to apical scopulae; pedipalp claw with eight teeth; ITC without teeth; STC teeth: I: 12–3, II: 8–4, III: 12–3, IV: 8–3. Macrosetae: Leg I (right absent): femur pld 0–0 – 1 left, d 1–1 – 0 left, rld 0–0 – 1 left, patella 0 left, tibia p 0–1 – 1 left, v 1–1 – 2 left, metatarsus v 1–2 – 1 left; Leg II: femur d 1–1 – 0, pld 0–1 – 1, patella 0, tibia p 0–1 – 1, v 0–1 – 1 right, v 0–1 – 2 left, metatarsus p 0–1 – 0 left, v 1–2 – 3 left, v 1–2 – 2 right; Leg III: femur d 3–0 – 0 right, d 2–0 – 0 left, rld 1–1 – 1, pld 0–1 – 1 right, pld 0–1 – 0 left, patella 0, tibia rld 1–0 – 0, r 1–1 – 0 right, r 0–1 – 0 left, p 1–1 – 0, v 1–1 – 2, metatarsus d 0–0 – 2, p 1–1 – 1, pld 0–1 – 1 left, r 1–1 – 0, v 2–2 – 1 left, v 2–2 – 3 right; Leg IV: femur d 2–1 – 0 right, d 4–1 – 0 left, rld 1–3 – 1 left, rld 1–2 – 1 right, patella 0, tibia rld 1–0 – 0, r 1–1 – 0, p 1–1 – 0, v 1–0 – 2, v 1–1 – 2 right, metatarsus p 1–1 – 1 left, p 1–1 – 0 right pld 0–1 – 1, rld 1–2 – 1, v 1–4 – 3 left, v 2–3 – 3 right. Abdomen similar to male, slightly damaged, dorsally with a paler anterior area near the cardiac mark (Fig. 3 A). Spermathecae separated by ca. 1.2 × its length, with two thick stems (or branches) at each side, basal part not sclerotised, translucent, remaining portions sclerotised, opaque, and yellowish brown, each branch with almost same thickness; median branch basally straight with a curvature at the middle portion outwards and then straight up to its tip with 3–4 lobules; lateral branch straight with tip much larger than its stem; and tip of the median branch multilobulated (Fig. 3 D – F).
TL 24.9. Carapace 9.4 long, 7.6 wide, carapace length / width 1.24. AME 0.29 mm, AME - AME 0.26 mm. Abdomen 15.5 long, 8.8 wide. Spinnerets: absent.
Taxonomic notes.
Our interpretation of the published drawings and photos of some Harmonicon species differs from those stated in their respective original publications. For example, the H. cerberus holotype seems to have suffered a torsion during its collecting and conservation process. Pedroso and Baptista (2014) stated that the figures 7, 8, and 9 of the palpal bulb of H. cerberus were retrolateral, prolateral, and dorsal views, respectively. However, we now consider their fig. 9 as better interpreted as retrolateral, matching the profile of the palpal bulbs of other Harmonicon species (i. e., Fig. 2 D, F). Furthermore, Pedroso and Baptista (2014, fig. 8) seems to be a dorsal view, while Pedroso and Baptista (2014, fig. 7) is then a ventral view (vs. Fig. 2 E, F). A similar torsion has probably happened in the male holotype of H. oiapoqueae. Drolshagen and Bäckstam (2011) stated that they included drawings of the retrolateral and prolateral views (Drolshagen and Bäckstam 2011, figs 1, 2) of the right pedipalp, but careful comparison indicates that they are respectively dorsal and ventral views, both slightly inclined sideways.
Variation.
Males (n = 5). TL 14.4–20.1. Chelicerae with 10–12 promarginal teeth, plectrum with 5–8 setae, maxillary cuspules from 22–38. Tibia I with prolateral distal macrosetae thinner and longer than the retrolateral thorn (whenever present). Pedipalp tibia with a variable set of macrosetae, sometimes with the prolateral or retrolateral lacking, often with the prolateroventral lacking.
Distribution.
Only known from Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, a locality in the Cerrado biome (Fig. 4).
description: Published as part of Wermelinger-Moreira, Gabriel, de Souza Castanheira, Pedro & Baptista, Renner Luiz Cerqueira, 2024, A new species of Harmonicon F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896, from central-west Brazil and redescription of H. rufescens F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Dipluridae), pp. 261-271 in Evolutionary Systematics 8 (2) on pages 261-271, DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.141847