Taraire oculta Álvarez-Padilla & Kallal & Hormiga 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando
name: Kallal, Robert J.
name: Hormiga, Gustavo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Tetragnathidae
Taraire
Taraire oculta

description: Taraire oculta, sp. nov.
Figures 4–5, 45–48, 50, 55
TYPE MATERIAL: Male holotype and female allotype from New Zealand, South Island, Fox Glacier, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Glacier View Road, Chalet Lookout Walk, 43° 29′ 45.5″ S, 170° 1′ 54.8″ E, 297 m., G. Hormiga, N. Scharff, J. Pedersen, 2 February 2012, night collecting (DNA series voucher GH1133), deposited at MONZ.
DIAGNOSIS: In Taraire oculta, the epigynum median projection extends beyond its posterior margin (fig. 47B), while in T. rufolineata this projection does not exceed this margin (fig. 47A). The epigynal median plate of T. oculta is conical, narrow (ca. 1/4 width of epigynum), and the copulatory openings are directed to the sagittal plane (figs. 47D, 48A), whereas in T. rufolineata it is triangular, almost the same width as the epigynum, and the copulatory openings are directed toward the epigynum lateral margins (fig. 47C). In T. oculta the conductor basal and distal portions bend apically and hide most of the embolic apophysis (figs. 46B, 48G, 50B); in T. rufolineata only the distal portion of the conductor is bent and the embolus basal apophysis is completely visible in ventral view (figs.46A, 49A). The CEBP has one heavily sclerotized spine (figs. 46D, 48E, 50A–C) that is absent in T. rufolineata.
DESCRIPTION: Female (TEAU031, TEAU042) total length 7.6. Cephalothorax length 2.9, width 2.3. Clypeus height 0.9 AME diameter. Chelicera promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively, cheliceral denticles absent. Femur I length 3.8. Copulatory ducts modified as membranous sacs shaped as wizard hats with smooth cuticle (figs. 47F, 50E), spermathecae round and slightly more sclerotized than the “copulatory sacs,” accessory duct glands clustered on puDzall-shaped clusters (figs. 47F, 48C, 50E).
Male (TEAU032, TEAU042) same as female except as noted. Total length 5.7. Cephalothorax length 2.6, width 2.1. Clypeus 0.6 AME diameter. Cephalothorax and abdomen coloration lighter than in female. Femur I length 4.7. Expanded palp: basal hematodocha largely distended and responsible for most of the movements, embolic division considerably less expansible; conductor membranous section mobile but not expanded. Embolus-tegulum membrane present, embolus filiform and completely unlocked from conductor (fig. 45F). Embolic apophysis attachment membranous, apophysis formed by a heavily sclerotized curved lamella with a membranous center (figs. 45F, 46B, 50A).
VARIATION: Females (N = 3) total length 5.36– 7.61, cephalothorax length 2.46–2.67, width 1.87–2.18. Males (N = 2) total length 4.81–5.73, cephalothorax length 2.47–2.59, width 1.99–2.07.
ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is taken from the Spanish word for “hidden,” oculto, in reference the embolic apophysis hidden by a conductor fold, which is a diagnostic feature of this species.
DISTRIBUTION: This species is found in the South Island of New Zealand (fig. 55).
NATURAL HISTORY: Taraire oculta builds vertical orb webs with an open hub (n = 10). The webs are often located near the forest floor, in areas such as under rock shelves. There is variation in in the hub placement, central some webs but in the upper part of the web in the webs of some juveniles (but not all).
MATERIAL EXAMINED: N = 14. NEW ZEA- LAND, South Island, Fox Glacier, National Park Westland Tai Poutini, Glacier View Road, Chalet Lookout Walk, 43° 29′ 45.5″ S, 170° 1′ 54.8″ E, 297 m. G. Hormiga, N. Scharff, J. Pedersen, 2 February 2012, night collecting, 2 females, behavior voucher GWU; 1 female (image voucher TEAU031) GWU; 1 male (image voucher TEAU032) GWU; 4 males, 14 females (image voucher TEAU042) GWU; 2 males, 12 females (DNA series voucher GH1133) GWU; 3 females, 1 immature (DNA series voucher GH1133) GWU; 1 male, 1 female (G. Hormiga field image photos DSC_7902-7910) GWU; 1 female (field image voucher photos 7915–7919/ 2. ii.2012 GH) GWU; 1 female (field image voucher photos 7930–7940/ 2.ii.2012 GH) GWU; 1 female (field image voucher photos 7941–7945) GWU; 1 female (field image voucher photos DSC_7946– 7949/ 2.ii.2012 GH) GWU; 1 female (field image voucher photos DSC_7965–7967/ 2.ii.2012 GH) GWU; Franz Josef Glacier, Alex Knob Track, 43° 24′ 39.0″ S, 170° 10′ 59.4″ E, 182 m. G. Hormiga, G. Giribet, M. Arnedo, R. Fernández, F. Álvarez- Padilla, R.J. Kallal, C. Baker, 17 January 2016, 1 male, 2 females GWU; Leith Saddle Track, 45° 47′ 58.4″ S, 170° 30′ 55.7″ E, 377 m. G. Hormiga, G. Giribet, M. Arnedo, R. Fernández, F. Álvarez- Padilla, R.J. Kallal, C. Baker, 22 January 2016, 1 male GWU; Stewart Island, Rakiura National Park, Fern Gully, 46° 53′ 27.5″ S, 168° 5′ 47.8″ E, 51 m, G. Hormiga, G. Giribet, M. Arnedo, R. Fernández, F. Álvarez-Padilla, R.J. Kallal, C. Baker, 20 January 2016, 1 male, GWU.
description: Published as part of Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, Kallal, Robert J. & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2020, Taxonomy And Phylogenetics Of Nanometinae And Other Australasian Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae: Tetragnathidae), pp. 1-107 in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2020 (438) on pages 1-107, DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090.438.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4613901