Urupelma veronicae Kaderka, Lüddecke, Rezac, Rezacova and Hüsser, sp. n.
Creators: name: Radan Kaderka
name: Tim Lüddecke
name: Milan Řezáč
name: Veronika Řezáčová
name: Martin Hüsser
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Theraphosidae
Urupelma
Urupelma veronicae

description: Urupelma veronicae sp. n.
(Figures 62–69, 78D; Tables 21, 22, 24)
Types
Male holotype (MUSM-ENT 0513019) from Peru, Cusco, Abra Málaga under Nevado Veronica, 4428 m a.s.l., 8.X.2018, R. Kaderka col.; male paratype (MUSM-ENT 0513018) from Peru, Cusco, Abra Málaga under Nevado Veronica, 4450 m a.s.l., 8.X.2018, R. Kaderka col.; female paratype (MUSM-ENT 0511156) from Peru, Cusco, Nevado Veronica, 4405 m a. s.l., 17 October 2016, R. Kaderka col., female paratype (MUSM-ENT 0511154) from Peru, Cusco, Nevado Veronica, 4371 m a.s.l., 17 October 2016, R. Kaderka col.
Etymology
The specific name refers to the type locality along Nevado Veronica, 5893 m high on a snow-covered mountain in the Cusco Department, Peru.
Diagnosis
Urupelma veronicae sp. n. differs from U. ashaninka sp. n., U. johannae sp. n., U. atarraz sp. n. and U. megantonianum sp. n. in the absence of urticating setae of type IV (only type III are present).
The males of U. veronicae sp. n. differ from all congeners in the presence of short and stout embolus with well-developed PI, developed PS keel and weakly developed R keel (Figure 65). Two almost equal subapical apophyses are present on male tibia I, basally fused, both with short spine. Palpal tibia retrolaterally without a cluster of short spiniform setae, the retrolateral process is present. Males of U. veronicae sp. n. and U. dianae sp. n. differ from all congeners in having R keel weakly developed and well-developed TP present in palpal bulb (developed or well-developed R keel and the presence of less developed TP in palpal bulbs of the other congeners). Males of U. veronicae sp. n. and U. dianae sp. n. differ in the habitus and colouration (see Figures 62, 70A).
Distribution
Known only from the type locality (Figures 69, 76, 77).
MALE (MUSM-ENT 0513019): (Figures 63–65) Total length: 15.07, carapace length 7.69, width 6.77, chelicerae with 10–11 teeth on promargin. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row slightly recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: (Figure 63C) AME 0.39 (oval), ALE 0.33 (oval), PME 0.29 (oval), PLE 0.36 (oval), AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.09, PME-PME 0.62, PME-PLE 0.07, ALE-PLE 0.10, AME-PME 0.04, OQ length 0.66, width 1.30. Ocular tubercle length 1.14, width 1.30, clypeus narrow, length 0.065. Fovea transverse, straight, deep, width 0.83, 4.83 from anterior edge of carapace. Labium length 1.14, width 1.58, anterior third with 17 cuspules, maxillae with 58–60 cuspules in basal half. Ventral maxilla without short spiniform setae, maxillary lobe well developed. Cuspules on labiosternal suture not joined. Sternum length 4.17, width 3.61, three pairs of sternal sigilla located near coxae III (length 0.42, 0.43 from edge of sternum), coxae II (length 0.27, 0.29 from edge of sternum) and coxae I (length 0.25). Leg formula: IV> I> II> III. Incrassate leg segments: palpal tibia and femur III. Maxillary and trochanteral stridulatory bristles absent.
Scopulae: All tarsi 100% densely scopulate, metatarsi I 70%, metatarsi II 50%, metatarsi III 0%, metatarsi IV 20% scopulate. Tarsal scopulae I–II divided by a narrow longitudinal band of setae, tarsal scopulae III–IV divided by a wide longitudinal band of setae. Dorsal face of all tarsi and cymbium with two irregular longitudinal rows of very short claviform trichobothria. Denticulation of paired tarsal claws on right legs (prolateral/retrolateral row): I 5/5, II 5/5, III 6/5, IV 7/5. Plumose setae on retrolateral face of femur IV absent.
Spination: femora I p 0-0-1, II p 0-0-2, III d 0-0-4, IV d 0-0-2 and femora of palps p 0-0-1; patellae I v 0-0-2 (apical), II v 0-0-1 (apical), III p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1, IV p 0-1-0, r 0-1-0 and patellae of palps 0; tibiae I v 1-2-2 (apical), p 1-0-1, r 0-0-1, II v 3-3-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 1-1-0, III v 1-3- 3 (apical), p 1-1-0, r 1-1-0, IV v 3-3-3 (apical), p 1-1-0, r 0-1-1 and tibiae of palps p 0-0-2; metatarsi I v 0-1-1 (apical), p 1-1-1, r 1-1-1, II v 3-3-1 (apical), p 1-1-1, r 0-1-1, III v 2-1-3 (apical), p 1-1-1, r 1-1-1, IV v 1-2-2-1-3 (apical), p 1-1-1-1, r 1-1-1, tarsi I–IV and tarsi of palps 0.
Palpal organ as in Figure 65, embolus short, apically retrolaterally curved, with four keels, PS, PI, A and R keel, PS keel well developed on tegulum, PI keel subapically with oval lobe, apically with small oval lobe, A keel long, transparent, R keel present on ventral side. Tegulum with well-developed subconical basal apophysis. Sperm pore is located between PI and A keel. Retrolateral lobe of cymbium thinly covered with short spiniform setae. Prolateral cymbial lobe distinctly larger than retrolateral one. Retrolateral face of palpal tibia with distinct subapical protuberance without spiniform setae (Figure 64A, B). Two almost equal, basally joined subapical apophyses are present on tibia I (Figure 64C): a retrolateral tibial apophysis with short apical spine, a prolateral tibial apophysis with single, retrolateral spine exceeding the apex. Metatarsus I not sigmoidly curved and without basal or median protuberance on retrolateral face. When flexed, metatarsus I contacts the apex of retrolateral tibial apophysis.
Abdomen (Figure 63F, G): urticating setae of type III are located in a central patch. Size of the patch: length 2.69, width 3.26. PLS: length 2.91, basal segment 1.17, middle segment 0.73, apical segment 1.01, all digitiform. PMS: 0.73.
Colouration and covering setae: dorsal view: (Figure 62) carapace, chelicerae and legs covered with whitish setae. Patellae I, II and palpal patella with two equal longitudinal stripes covered with whitish pubescence, patellae III, IV with two unequal diagonal stripes without covering setae. Abdomen orange brown with long yellowish-brown setae, except for central dark brown patch comprising urticating setae, and anterior light brown patch comprising pubescence without long setae. Ventral view: black, except booklung and area above epigastric scutum, which are brown (Figure 63F). Spinnerets black.
FEMALE (MUSM-ENT 0511156): (Figures 67, 68) Total length: 22.0, carapace length 9.5, width 8.7, caput domed, chelicerae with 12–14 teeth on promargin. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: (Figure 67C) AME 0.37 (circular), ALE 0.26 (oval), PME 0.29 (oval), PLE 0.38 (oval), AME-AME 0.25, AME-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.69, PME-PLE 0.10, ALE-PLE 0.23, AME-PME 0.07, OQ length 0.806, width 1.495. Ocular tubercle flattened, length 1.248, width 1.495, clypeus absent. Fovea transverse, deep, straight, width 1.64, 6.52 from anterior edge of carapace. Labium length 1.34, width 1.91, anterior quarter with 13 cuspules, maxillae with 57–61 cuspules in basal third, short spiniform setae absent. Sternum length 4.7, width 3.9, with three visible pairs of sternal sigilla located near coxae III (length 0.26, 0.47 from edge of sternum), coxae II (length 0.26, 0.31 from edge of sternum) and coxae I (length 1.43, 0.30 from edge of sternum). Leg formula: IV> I> II> III. All leg segments uniform.
Scopulae: All tarsi 100% densely scopulate, tarsi IV on both lateral sides only, metatarsi I 90%, metatarsi II 50% scopulate, metatarsi III and IV without scopulae. Tarsal scopulae I–III divided by a longitudinal band of setae, in tarsi IV divided by a wide band of setae (scopulae on ventral side is missing). Dorsal face of all tarsi and cymbium with two irregular longitudinal rows of very short claviform trichobothria. Denticulation of paired tarsal claws on right legs (prolateral/retrolateral row): I 5/3, II 4/4, III 8/5, IV 6/0 (retrolateral claw significantly smaller, probably regenerate, denticulation on left side: 5/6. Plumose setae on retrolateral face of femur IV absent.
Spination: femora I 0, II d 0-0-1, III 0, IV 0 and femora of palps 0, patellae I–IV and patellae of palps 0, tibiae I 0, II p 0-0-1 (apical), r 0-0-1 (apical), III v 0-1-2 (apical), r 0-1-0, IV v 0-1-3 (apical), r 1-1-0 and tibiae of palps v 0-0-3 (apical), metatarsi I v 0-1-1 (apical), II v 0-2- 1 (apical), III v 2-2-2 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-1-1, IV v 3-2-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 1-1-1, tarsi I–IV and tarsi of palps 0.
Spermathecae: (Figure 68) two separated seminal receptacles with short, stout convergent necks terminating in oval lobes with distinct granulation.
Abdomen: urticating setae of type III are located in oval central patch (Figure 66). PLS: length 4.76, basal segment 1.77, middle segment 1.22, apical segment 1.77, all digitiform. PMS: 1.04.
Colouration and covering setae: dorsal view: (Figure 66) carapace brown, caput covered with thick dark grey pubescence, the rest of carapace with thin dark grey pubescence arranged radially, chelicerae, edge of carapace, coxae and trochantera covered with pale setae, femora, patellae, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi dark grey, intermixed with long pale and dark setae. Patellae I, II and palpal patella with two almost equal parallel longitudinal stripes without covering setae, patellae III, IV with two unequal diagonal stripes. Palpal femur prolaterally partly bare. Abdomen (Figure 67E) covered with short dark grey setae, intermixed with long pale and dark setae, except for the oval central patch which is light brown, and two pairs of small bare spots on anterior abdomen. Length of the central patch: 3.9, width 4.3. Ventral view: anterior maxillae reddish-brown, posterior maxillae purple, labium purple, sternum, coxae, trochantera, femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi dark grey. Abdomen ventrally dark grey and without dark longitudinal band (Figure 67D). Spinnerets dark grey.
description: Published as part of Radan Kaderka, Tim Lüddecke, Milan Řezáč, Veronika Řezáčová & Martin Hüsser, 2023, Revision of the Peruvian tarantula Homoeomma peruvianum (Chamberlin, 1916): description of a new genus with eleven new species and insights to the evolution of montane tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae), pp. 1710-1824 in Journal of Natural History 57 (41 - 44) on pages 1800-1808, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2265621, http://zenodo.org/record/10491985