Gephyrellula condeuba Schinelli, Prado, Baptista & Takiya, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Schinelli, Hector Baruch Pereira
name: Wanderley do Prado, André
name: Cerqueira Baptista, Renner Luiz
name: Takiya, Daniela Maeda
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Philodromidae
Gephyrellula
Gephyrellula condeuba

description: Gephyrellula condeuba sp. nov.
Figs 1, 2 A, 3, 4 A
Type-material.
Holotype: Brazil: • ♂; Bahia, Condeúba, Morro da Feirinha, 950 m altitude; 15°03'49"S, 42°09'23"W; 10–11.xi.2021; H. Schinelli, A. Prado, R. Baptista leg.; UFRJ 2418.
Paratype: • ♀; Same data as holotype; UFRJ 2419.
Etymology.
The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the type-locality.
Diagnosis.
The male of G. condeuba sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of G. violacea by the body covered by abundant dark grey spots and stripes, especially on legs and dorsum of abdomen (Fig. 1 A), with carapace presenting black dots and stripes throughout, without white triangular mark (Fig. 1 A) (vs. fewer dark spots throughout body and carapace with abundant black dots and stripes only on each side, with a wide median almost uniform light brown band and presence of a dirty white triangular marking on the posterior half of the cephalic area in G. violacea, see Santos and Rheims 2018, fig. 15); RTA wider and bifid, with sclerotized acute tips (Figs 1 D, 2 A) (vs. thin and with only one tip in G. violacea, Fig. 2 B, also see Santos and Rheims 2018, figs 6, 7, 11, 12, 20, 21); VTA with a clearly convex ventral margin, presenting a basal flap (Figs 1 D, 2 A) (vs. VTA with straight ventral margin, Fig. 2 B, also see Santos and Rheims 2018, figs 7, 12, 21); and PCA larger, distinctly hook-shaped (vs. PCA very small) (Fig. 1 D – F, see Santos and Rheims 2018, figs 6, 8, 11, 12, 20, 21).
Females of Gephyrellula condeuba sp. nov. and G. violacea can be distinguished from G. lavidabonita (known only from the female holotype) by the MS wider than long (vs. longer than wide); pointed, elevated lobe of LP projecting over MS (vs. no lobe and MS covering posterior portion of LP); and GP present (vs. absent). Gephyrellula condeuba sp. nov. females can be recognized from those of G. violacea by the absence of a distinct white triangular mark on the carapace (Fig. 3 A) (vs. present in G. violacea, see Santos and Rheims 2018, fig. 17); median projection of LP very elevated from the plane of the epigyne as a clearly tridimensional fold, thinner and acute, not surpassing the margins of the MS (Figs 3 D, 4 A); GP longer, deeper and more conspicuous; and GH in a more horizontal position, clearly pointing to the ectal side and not surpassing the anterior margin of spermathecae (Figs 3 D, 4 A) (vs. median projection barely elevated from the plane of the epigyne, wide and rounded, clearly surpassing MS margins; GP shorter and shallow; and GH in a vertical position, pointing anteriorly and clearly surpassing the anterior margin of spermathecae, Fig. 4 B, also see Santos and Rheims 2018, fig. 15, 23).
Description.
Male (holotype UFRJ 2418). Total length: 3.04. Carapace 1.26 long, 1.37 wide; brownish yellow; suffused with black to dark gray irregular spots and radial bands extending from fovea to margins; with pair of non-pigmented areas over the cephalic sulcus; lateral margins almost uniformly black; with lateral row of bristles (most fallen, with only sockets left); flattened; wider than long (ca. 1.1 ×), wider at level of leg II, narrowed anteriorly, with maximum width ca. 3 times clypeus width; cephalic region also with black spots and bands, densely packed in eye area and forming a trident in its posterior half, slightly elevated and not distinctly separated by cephalic sulcus from the thoracic region. Clypeus low and vertical; shorter than MOQ; with sockets indicating presence of fallen macrosetae. Chelicerae with same color and pattern as carapace but fewer dark spots; with sparse setae (most lost in alcohol); fangs the same color as paturon; no visible teeth (but chelicerae were not dissected, making difficult the assessment of teeth presence). Labium and endites a little darker than sternum; labium wider than long with anterior margin rounded; endites longer than wide, oblong, angled inwards. Sternum pale yellow with dark grey irregular spots, fewer spots present in the anterior region behind the labium; anterior margin slightly concave; posterior margin round and convex, separating coxae IV by ca. 1.5 times their width. Eyes in two recurved rows; median quadrangle wider than long, wider posteriorly; median eyes of each row closer to lateral ones than to the other; white ocular veil present in all eyes. AME: 0.056, ALE: 0.051, PME: 0.048, PLE: 0.060. Interdistances: AME - AME: 0.14, AME - ALE: 0.45, ALE - PLE: 0.15, ALE - ALE: 0.29, PME - PME: 0.20, PME - PLE: 0.13, PLE - PLE: 0.52. MOQ width in anterior margin 0.22, posterior margin 0.29, length 0.24. Clypeus height: 0.118. Clypeus height index: 0.086.
Several legs missing in specimen, with only left leg II (but lacking tarsus and part of metatarsus) and right legs III and IV remaining. Leg II much longer than III and IV, which are almost of the same size. Trochantera, femora, and distal two-thirds of tarsi light brown; a little lighter ventrally, scattered with dark gray irregular spots. Patellae, tibiae, metatarsi, and basal third of tarsi mostly dark brown, with denser dark grey spots. Tarsus without visible spots at distal two-thirds; claw tufts present. Legs without scopula. Leg macrosetae pattern: Leg I without macrosetae. Femur II: d 0-1 - 0, r 0-1 - 1. Tibia II: v 1-2 - 2, r 0-0 - 1, p 0-0 - 1. Femur III: d 1-1 - 0. Tibia III: v 0-2 - 0. Femur IV: d 1-1 - 0. Tibia IV: v 0-0 - 2. No spines on any patellae.
Abdomen: dorsum with barely visible pale brown background, covered by densely packed black to dark grey spots and few subtle stripes. Cardiac area without spots delimiting its margins and with fewer spots. Small unpigmented patches spread over the dorsum, mostly at posterior third. Abdomen oval, longer than wide; with a deep notch in anterior margin. Two pairs of conspicuous dorsal sigillae, the second one elongated and subdivided, followed by two pairs of smaller depressions in the end of the median third. Venter pale yellow with abundant dark gray spots, not so dense as in dorsum. Spinnerets pale yellow, conical.
Palp: patella shorter than tibia, without apophysis. Tibia with 1 prolateral and 1 dorsal macrosetae, and 2 apophyses. VTA lamelliform, with middle and basal areas membranous and whitish yellow and lateral margins more sclerotized and darker; apical margins a little projected like a flap around a median concavity. VTA juxtaposed with RTA, with basal portion of its dorsal margin hidden by ventral crest of RTA. RTA bifid; sclerotized; with single broad base which narrows abruptly, originating two apical darker spiniform projections separated by a V-cleft, ventral one pointing straight up distally and with a thin curved crest connected to its basis, and dorsal one a little larger, slanted and pointing dorsally. Cymbium oblong, ca. 1.8 × longer than wide; with 1 prolateral macroseta and apical scopula of tenent setae. Tegulum elliptic, ca. 1.7 × higher than wide. Sperm duct clearly visible through tegument for most its extension; extending along retrolateral margin of tegulum, rising from proximal margin forming large S-shaped tube with long tight median loop and much wider anterior one, with distal portion tapering and vanishing into embolus near prolateral margin. Tegular suture extending from outside apex of upper loop to inside the median loop. PCA small, but distinctly noticed and clearly hook-shaped, close to apex of median loop. Primary conductor absent. RMC not seen (but it may be small and translucent and visible only on Scanning Electron Microscopy as in G. violacea). Embolus filiform, describing a crooked curve, with strong reduction in diameter at its base and regularly tapering and getting paler towards its thin tip.
Female (paratype UFRJ 2419). Total length 3.52. General shape as in male, but with a much lighter coloration, lacking black or dark gray spots. Carapace 1.20 long, 1.30 wide; pale orange yellow with vaguely defined pale yellow triangular area at posterior half of the cephalic area; lateral margins with a white stripe, very thin anteriorly but increasing in size towards posterior margin, which lacks white pigment. Only sockets of lateral rows of bristles as in male. Chelicerae, labium, endites, and coxae with color similar to carapace. Sternum pale yellow, with thin dark contour through most of its extension. Eyes sizes: AME: 0.042, ALE: 0.040, PME: 0.038, PLE: 0.045. Interdistances: AME - AME: 0.14, AME - ALE: 0.04, ALE - PLE: 0.17, ALE - ALE: 0.29, PME - PME: 0.18, PME - PLE: 0.10, PLE - PLE: 0.50. MOQ width in anterior margin 0.20, posterior margin 0.25, length 0.21. Clypeus height: 0.114. Clypeus height index: 0.088.
Legs pale yellow, a little darker on inner side and at distal portion of metatarsi and whole tarsi; bearing small dark spots at macrosetae´s base. Legs without scopula. Leg macrosetae pattern: Tibia I: v 1-2 - 2 - 1 (unaligned), r 1-1 - 0. Metatarsus I: v 2-2 - 2, r 0-1 - 1. Leg II without spines. Tibia III: v 0-2 - 2 - 0, r 1-0 - 0 p 1-0 - 0. Metatarsus III: v 2-2 - 2, r 1-1 - 0, p 1-1 - 0. Tibia IV: v 0-2 - 0. Metatarsus IV: v 2-2 - 2, r 1-0 - 0, p 1-0 - 0. No spines on any patellae or femora. Leg measurements: Leg I: Total: 5.17 [Femur 1.55, Patella 0.63, Tibia 1.28, Metatarsus, 1.13 Tarsus: 0.58]. II: 5.05 [1.59, 0.59, 1.20, 1.01, 0.66]. III: 4.67 [1.50, 0.57, 1.13, 0.98, 0.49]. IV: 4.05 [1.39, 0.38, 0.96, 0.87, 0.45].
Abdomen 2.44 long, 1.46 wide. Dorsum covered by big white guanine spots, with slightly darker cardiac area, and scattered irregular gray and pale brown dots and streaks. Dorsal sigillae as in male. Venter with beige background covered by less dense guanine spots than dorsum, especially at anterior portion and median line. Spinnerets beige, conical.
Genitalia: Epigynal plate ca. 1.3 × wider than long; MS as wide as long, wider at anterior margin. CG long, transversely placed, beginning at the anterior area of epigyne and just a bit posteriorly to anterior margin of main spermathecae and pointing ectally. GH in ectal position to spermatheca, not surpassing its anterior margin. Lateral plates projected as a thin, acutely pointed, elevated median lobe, separating the CG and the GP. GP longer than wide, regularly concave, with its anterior margin fused to the margin of the elevated lobe of the lateral plate; bearing a small concave excavation at its middle portion.
Note.
Although males of Gephyrellula display usually more black pigment spread on the body than females, such as in G. violacea (see Santos and Rheims 2018, figs 1, 15–18), the amount of black pigment on the male holotype of Gephyrellula condeuba sp. nov. is unusually high (Fig. 1 A – C). It is unclear whether the colour pattern of the holotype is a normal condition of the species or if it is a melanic specimen. Only additional specimens may answer that question.
Habitat.
All specimens were collected by beating tree branches in a riparian forest around a small stream at Morro da Feirinha, around 950 m high. These riparian forests are small humid vegetation patches scattered in a large dry Cerrado region.
Distribution.
Known only from the type locality in Condeúba, Bahia state, Brazil (Fig. 5).
Additional material examined.
Brazil: Bahia: • 4 juv.; Condeúba, Morro da Feirinha; 15°03"49'S, 42°09"23'W; 24. ii. 2024; H. Schinelli leg.; UFRJ 2438.
description: Published as part of Schinelli, Hector Baruch Pereira, Wanderley do Prado, André, Cerqueira Baptista, Renner Luiz & Takiya, Daniela Maeda, 2025, A new species and the phylogenetic placement of the Neotropical genus Gephyrellula Strand, 1932 (Araneae, Philodromidae), pp. 87-98 in Evolutionary Systematics 9 (1) on pages 87-98, DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.9.143758