Oxyopes crewi Bryant
Creators: name: Santos, Adalberto J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Oxyopidae
Oxyopes
Oxyopes crewi

description: Oxyopes crewi Bryant
Figs 6, 7, 10 A
Oxyopes crewi Bryant, 1948: 361 –363, pl. 3 figs 21, 26–27 (Male holotype from Port-au-Prince[18.5392o N 72.335o W], Nord- Est, Haiti, R.J. Crew leg., deposited in MCZ 20947, examined. Female allotype, same data, deposited in MCZ 43986, examined. Male and three female paratypes, same data, deposited in N. Banks collection, not found). Roewer 1955: 332; Brady 1964: 479.
Oxyopes salticus; Banks 1903: 341; 1909: 166; Bryant 1940: 286.
Remarks. Both Banks (1903) and Bryant (1940) list Oxyopes salticus in Cuba, and the latter even states that this species is relatively common in Havana and Soledad. Although I could not see any Cuban specimen collected before 1940, which could have been examined by them, I am confident these records can actually be attributed to O. crewi. I support this statement on the fact that, among the hundreds of specimens examined for this study; I did not find a single member of O. salticus from Cuba (see also Brady 1964: 479).
Diagnosis. Oxyopes crewi resembles O. salticus and O. incantatus sp. nov. (see O. salticus diagnosis), but can be distinguished by the pedipalpal tibia with a long ventral keel delimiting the retrolateral tibial scoop, the cymbial protrusion narrower apically and the basal embolic apophysis large, partially covering the embolus (Figs 6 A, B, 7A–C). Females can be recognised by the epigynum with the median process comparatively flattened and the lateral processes large, partially covering the median process in ventral view (Figs 6 C, D, 7D, E). As far as I could see, this is the only of the three species treated here that has females with damaged epigyna. Even in these cases, they can be recognised by the remains of the lateral processes (Fig. 6 F).
Description. Male (La Caoba, San Luis, Cuba, IBSP 165039). Carapace faint brown, with a median and a pair of lateral bands of brown cuticular scales. Pars cephalica with a lateral dark grey stripe and an anterolateral dark grey spot. Clypeus and chelicerae pale brown, with a pair of dark grey stripes from the anterior median eyes to the apex of the paturon. Endites faint brown, dark grey on the ectal margin. Labium dark brown. Sternum pale yellow, dark grey on the margins, near the base of coxae. Pedipalpal tibia orange, cymbium dark brown, remaining segments pale yellow. Legs yellow, femora I–III with a ventral, longitudinal dark grey stripe. Femur IV with basal and apical dark grey spots on venter. Opisthosoma dark grey, suffused with yellow spots and with a dark brown cardiac mark. Tegument moderately shiny, covered with smooth cuticular scales. Sides and venter dark grey. Spinnerets faint brown. Total length 3.66. Carapace 1.88 long, 1.45 wide. Tibia I length 1.6, II 1.42, III 0.99, IV 1.22. Opisthosoma 1.78 long, 1.14 wide. Ventral tibial apophysis with a large, oblique anterior keel, forming a retrolateral keel inside the retrolateral tibial scoop. Dorsal limit of the retrolateral tibial scoop with a triangular projection, retrobasal tibial apophysis triangular (Figs 6 A, B, 7B). Tegulum with a wrinkled retrolateral sector (Fig. 6 A).
Female (La Caoba, San Luis, Cuba, IBSP 165039). Colour as in male, except by the following. Ventral stripes on femora II and III interrupted in the middle, femur IV without ventral spots. Opisthosoma dorsally and laterally white, covered with sparse brown cuticular scales. Cardiac mark brown. Venter white, with a median dark grey band from the epigastric sulcus to the spinnerets. Total length 5.36. Carapace 2.16 long, 1.63 wide. Tibia I length 1.93, II 1.78, III 1.3, IV 1.32. Opisthosoma 3.2 long, 2.03 wide. Epigynum markedly sclerotised, ventrally bulging posteriorly to the median process (Fig. 6 C, D). Lateroposterior border with a marked ridge near the base of the lateral processes (Fig. 7 E). Copulatory ducts stout, with a sigmoid trajectory and mostly oriented dorso-ventrally (Fig. 6 E). Spermathecae rounded, with anterior glandular pores (Fig. 7 F) and one ectal Bennet’s gland pore. Fertilization ducts short, posteriorly directed (Fig. 6 E).
Variation. Colour varies from pale yellow to faint brown among both males and females. Females may show broken epigynal processes (Fig. 6 F). Subadult females have a pre-epigynum similar to the described above for O. salticus. Measurements: males (N=14), total length 3.2–4.58, carapace width 1.35–1.73. Females (N=10), total length 4.17–5.69, carapace width 1.4–1.73.
Natural history. There is no published information on this species’ natural history. A sample from Santiago de Cuba was labelled as collected by sweeping, indicating that specimens dwell on herbaceous or understory foliage. Two other samples, from Spanish Town (Jamaica), were collected from nests of the hunting wasp Trypoxylon texense (Crabronidae), the same wasp that was reported provisioning nests with Oxyopes salticus in Florida (Kurczewski 1963). As mentioned for the other species, there is no information on sexual behaviour, but specimens with damaged epigyna (Fig. 6 F) suggest that males can break the anterior process during or after copulation. This kind of behaviour has been reported for other spider families (Mouginot et al. 2015; Nakata 2016, and references therein) and can represent an attempt of impeding the female to copulate with subsequent males. If that is the case, it is plausible to suppose that the anterior process has some importance guiding the positioning of the male copulatory apparatus before intromission.
Distribution. Known only from Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Saint Kitts & Nevis (Fig. 10 A), from where I could not find a single specimen of O. salticus. A recent record of O. salticus from Jamaica (Crews et al. 2015) can represent the only exception to this distribution pattern, but this still requires a confirmation, since I have not seen the voucher specimens of that study. Based on the material examined here, it seems that Oxyopes crewi somehow replaces O. salticus on those islands, which are geographically surrounded by distribution records of the latter species. This is interesting, in view of the obvious high dispersal and invasive capacity of O. salticus. Considering the close proximity between O. crewi and O. salticus distribution records, it is possible that these species compete in nature and that, at least until now, O. crewi populations have been able to impede O. salticus invasion. This curious distribution pattern deserves a future investigation, based mainly on both species’ natural history and phylogeography.
Additional material examined. BAHAMAS. New Providence: Nassau (25.0589o N, 77.3451o W), J.S. Bonhote leg., 2/VII/1998, 1 ♂ (BMNH). CUBA. Artemisa: Mariel, Guajaibán River (22.9875o N 82.7536o W) P. Alayo leg., VIII/1 967, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); Sierra de Anafe (22.9530o N 82.6443o W), M. Barro leg., 27/X/1946, 10 ♂ 23 ♀ 12 juv. (AMNH); 23/II/1947, 1 ♂ (AMNH); 1/I/1947, 1 ♂ (AMNH); 29/XII/1946, 2 ♀ (AMNH); 10/XI/ 1946, 16 ♂ 36 ♀ 12 juv. (AMNH); Cienfuegos: Soledad (22.4833o N 80.45o W) C. & P. Vaurie leg., VII/1956, 1 ♀ (AMNH); Holguín: La Melba, Moa (20.6o N 74.8167o W), A. Sánchez leg., 24/VII/1997, 1 ♂ (IBSP 165044); 23/ VII/1997, 5 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 juv. (IBSP 165047); La Habana: Havana (23.1319o N 82.3642o W), A. Archer leg., 19/VI/1955, 1 ♀ 1 juv. (AMNH); Marianao (23.0767o N 82.43o W), M. L. Jaumel leg., 30/VII/1950, 2 ♀ (AMNH); Marianao, Laguito (23.0767o N 82.43o W) P. Alayo leg., IX/1967, 4 ♂ 3 ♀ (MCZ); Santiago de las Vegas (22.97o N 82.3869o W), VII/1967, 4 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); San Antonio de los Baños, Laguna de Ariguanabo (22.9092o N 82.4907o W), V/1967, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); Pinar del Río: Guane (22.2025o N 84.0875o W), G. Alayón Garcia leg., IX/ 1967, 26 ♂ 8 ♀ 2 juv. (MCZ); G. Alayón Garcia leg., 26 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 juv. (MCZ); 1♂ 1♀ (UFMG 19945); Santiago de Cuba: La Maya (20.1685o N 75.6472o W, sweep net), P. Aiayo leg., VI/1967, 1 ♂ (MCZ); Versalles (19.9961o N 75.8383o W), P. Alayo leg., 1 ♂ (MCZ); Santiago de Cuba, Reserva Ecológica Siboney-Juticí (19.9593o N 75.7715o W), A. Sánchez leg., 15/VII/1997, 2 ♂ (IBSP 165041); La Caoba, San Luis (20.1875o N 75.8508o W), 25/ III/2005, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (IBSP 165039); Santiago de Cuba, Sevilla, La Redonda (20.0064o N 75.7344o W), J. L. Reyes leg., 1/XII/1996, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 2 juv. (IBSP 165040); La Redonda, Carretera a Siboney (19.9667o N 75.75o W), A. Sánchez leg., 8/XII/1999, 1 ♀ (IBSP 165048); Siboney, Cueva los Mafaes (19.9602o N 75.7073o W), 26/III/1998, 1 ♀ (IBSP 165037); Guamá, La Mula (19.9333o N 76.8o W), 18/VI/1997, 2 ♂ (IBSP 165036); Cuabitas (20.0633o N 75.8075o W), 10/XII/1955, 2 ♀ (AMNH); Camino de Aguadores, S from La Torre (19.9797o N 75.7894o W), 10/VII/ 1955, 1 ♂ (AMNH). DOMICAN REPUBLIC. Monte Cristi: 4 km W Villa Vasquez (19.7397o N 71.4829o W), 1/X/ 1985, 1 ♀ (FSCA). JAMAICA: Clarendon: Kellits, Mason River (savanna, 18.15o N 77.2333o W), M. W. Sanderson leg., 16–17/IV/1959, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ (AMNH); Kingston: Kingston (18o N 76.8o W), Darlington leg., 27–29/VIII/1934, 1 ♀ (MCZ 19864); Jack's Hill Road (18.0375o N 76.7685o W), A. M. Chickering leg., 6/XII/1957, 2 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); Palisades (17.9387o N 76.8168o W), A.M. Chickering leg., 1/XI/1957, 3 ♀ 2 juv. (MCZ); Manchester: Christiana (18.1736o N 77.4912o W), 12/XI/1957, 3 ♀ 3 juv. (MCZ); Mandeville (18.0417o N 77.5071o W), E.B. Bryant leg., III/ 1934, 1 ♀ (MCZ 19779); A.M. Chickering leg., 13/IV/1937, 1 ♀ 1 juv. (MCZ 19870); Portland: 1 mi SE Manchioneal (18.0397o N 76.2827o W), Blackwelder & Chapin leg., 30/I/1957, 1 ♂ 2 juv. (USNM); Saint Andrew: Constant Spring (18.0508o N 76.7937o W), 1 ♀ (USNM); Saint Ann: 8 mi N Moneague (18.3889o N 77.1202o W), A.M. Chickering leg., 7/XI/1957, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 juv. (MCZ); Phoenix Park (18.2972o N 77.1393o W), 25/VI/1954, 1 ♀ 3 juv. (MCZ); Claremont (18.3312o N 77.1736o W), 20/VI/1954, 1 ♀ (MCZ); 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); Moneague (18.2756o N 77.1118o W), Darlington leg., 26/VIII/1934, 1 ♀ (MCZ 19807); Saint Catherine: Spanish Town (dry shrubs, collected from nests of Trypoxylon texense, 17.9911o N 76.9574o W), D.B. Jayasingh leg., 15/VIII/1974, 1 ♂ (MCZ 19778); 10/V/1974, 8 ♂ 9 ♀ 8 juv. (MCZ); Spanish Town, Jamaica School of Agriculture (18.0067o N 76.9326o W), A. M. Chickering leg., 23/XI/1957, 3 ♀ 1 juv. (MCZ); Old Harbour (17.9414o N 77.109o W), A.M. Chickering leg., 9/X/1957, 2 ♂ 1 juv. (MCZ); Saint James: Great River (18.4462o N 77.9891o W), 23/VI/1954, 2 ♂ 1 ♀ (MCZ); St Andrew: Ferry (18.0252o N 76.8733o W), A.M. Chickering leg., 28/X/1957, 3 ♂ 4 ♀ (MCZ); Liguanea (18.0176o N 76.7644o W), 4/XI/1957, 1 ♀ (MCZ); Munroe Road (18.0183o N 76.7662o W), 19/XI/1957, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 6 juv. (MCZ); Mona Heights (18.0129o N 76.7499o W), 22/XII/1963, 1 ♂ 1 juv. (MCZ); Trelawny: Fallmouth (18.4936o N 77.6559o W), C. & P. Vaurie leg., 20/VII/1960, 1 ♂ (AMNH). SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS. Saint Kitts: Half Way Tree Village (17.3333o N 62.8167o W), 28/I /?, 1 ♂ 1 juv. (USNM).
description: Published as part of Santos, Adalberto J., 2017, The jumping lynx spider Oxyopes salticus Hentz, 1845 and its Neotropical relatives (Araneae: Oxyopidae), pp. 457-481 in Zootaxa 4216 (5) on pages 471-474, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.242322