Bioacoustics of Lasiodora benedeni

Redescription. Male (IBSP 4595). Carapace 20.60 long, 19.99 wide, chelicera 9.94. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 20.41, 10.10, 15.64, 16.21, 9.65, 72.01. II: 19.24, 9.21, 15.12, 15.99, 8.95, 68.51. III: 17.14, 8.12, 14.00, 16.98, 8.68, 64.92. IV: 20.50, 8.92, 17.78, 23.36, 9.85, 80.41. Palp: 12.73, 7.04, 10.38, –, 4.42, 34.57. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.80, 3.71, 4.71, 3.69, palp = 2.74; patellae I–IV = 3.75, 4.00, 3.91, 3.76, palp = 3.05; tibiae I–IV = 3.36, 2.80, 2.98, 2.67, palp = 3.15; metatarsi I–IV = 1.96, 1.92, 1.82, 1.85; tarsi I–IV = 1.76, 1.68, 1.71, 1.33, palp = 3.19. Abdomen 19.70 long, 13.14 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.45 long, 1.07 wide, 0.77 apart; PLS, 3.72 basal, 2.75 middle, 3.93 distal; midwidths 1.28, 1.14, 0.89, respectively. Carapace: 1.03 longer than wide; cephalic area moderately raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea 3.47 wide. Eyes and eye tubercle: Tubercle 0.98 high, 2.04 long, 2.86 wide. Clypeus 0.46 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.63, ALE 0.76, PME 0.45, PLE 0.66, AME–AME 0.40, AME–ALE 0.38, AME–PME 0.21, ALE–ALE 1.87, ALE–PME 0.54, PME–PME 1.45, PME–PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 2.13, ALE–PLE 0.42, AME–PLE 0.53. Eye group 2.86 wide, 1.52 long. Maxillae: Length 6.42, width 4.00. Cuspules: ca. 231 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.57 long, 3.17 wide, with ca. 113 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior third center. Chelicera: basal segment with 13 teeth in row on promargin and denticles on basal area. Sternum: 8.63 long, 8.16 wide. Legs : leg formula: IV I II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.11. Stridulatory apparatus: Retrolateral maxilla: small spiniform setae on distal upper area, interspersed with plumose setae, middle and lower areas lacking spiniform setae ( Figs 82 ─83). Leg I prolateral coxa: confluence of sutures region with several reddish, slender, slightly spatulate stridulatory setae (Figs 84─85). Region above sutures with plumose setae and some curved spiniform setae. Region below sutures covered by plumose setae having no incrassate base (Fig. 86). Coxa I retrolateral face covered with plumose setae and a group of small spiniform setae on upper region. Retrolateral face of coxae II─ III lacking small spiniform setae. Coxa II prolateral face with same apparatus as in leg I, in coxae III and IV , the stridulatory setae are very slender. Scopula : Tarsi I– IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulated; III 1 /2, IV 1 /5 distal. Metatarsus IV divided by row of 3–4 setae. Spination : palp: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-1-0, p3-3-1; leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-0-1ap, metatarsus v0-0-1ap; leg II: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v2-1-3ap, p1-0-1; metatarsus v1-0-4(3ap), p1-0-0; leg III : femur p0-0-1, r0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-2-2(1ap), p1-1-1, r1-1-1, metatarsus v3-2-4ap, p1-1-1, r0-1-1; leg IV: femur r0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-2-5(3ap), p1-1-0, r1-0-0, metatarsus v20(2ap), p1-1-0, r0-1- 1. Urticating setae: Position , type and length range: MA, I, 0.41–0.45; LA, I, 0.31–0.45; MM , III , 0.83–0.85; LM, I, 0.30–0.39; MP, III, 0.82–0.88; LP, I, 0.34–0.38. Palp ( Figs 76 –78). Palpal bulb pyriform, embolus slightly shorter than tegulum length, slightly flattened laterally at distal region, apex short and slender. Prolateral keels present. PS forming embolus edge distally. A short. R sharp, not pronounced, with wavy edge. SA well developed. Bifid tibial spur (Figs 79─80) with two processes originating from common base, both straight, retrolateral longest and with a curvature at its distal portion. A single, flattened, rhomboidal spine contiguous to the internal upper face of retrolateral process, and four such spines at the internal face of prolateral process. Metatarsus I curved on its basal third, when folded touches apex of retrolateral process. Color pattern (in alcohol): Carapace and chelicerae black. Carapace bordered with scattered light brown long setae, chelicerae with some long light brown setae. Legs black with sparse light brown long setae. Coxae of legs ventrally and sternum reddish brown, covered with short black setae. Labium and maxillae reddish brown. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally black with abundant long reddish setae. Femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi of legs and palp with very discrete light stripes. Apex of leg segments with discrete whitish rings on apex. Redescription. Female (IBSP 4574). Carapace 21.78 long, 21.17 wide, chelicera 13.37. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 16.88, 9.91, 12.94, 11.26, 7.18, 58.17. II: 15.29, 8.88, 11.14, 10.68, 6.61, 52.60. III: 13.97, 8.27, 10.07, 11.02, 6.70, 50.03. IV: 16.87, 8.81, 13.41, 16.33, 7.39, 62.81. Palp: 12.20, 7.41, 9.01, –, 8.04, 36.66. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.89, 3.90, 4.35, 3.68, palp = 2.99; patellae I–IV = 4.09, 4.07, 3.98, 3.98, palp = 3.41; tibiae I–IV = 3.57, 3.34, 3.55, 3.33, palp = 3.18; metatarsi I–IV = 2.65, 2.56, 2.47, 2.22; tarsi I–IV = 2.51, 2.39, 2.45, 2.34, palp = 2.50. Abdomen 31.80 long, 24.42 wide. Spinnerets: PMS missing on both sides; PLS, 4.76 basal, 2.48 middle, 3.92 distal; midwidths 1.73, 1.37, 1.23, respectively. Carapace: 1.03 longer than wide; cephalic area noticeably raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: 3.12 wide. Eyes and eye tubercle: Tubercle 0.82 high, 2.29 long, 3.38 wide. Clypeus 0.74 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.65, ALE 0.80, PME 0.55, PLE 0.78, AME–AME 0.64, AME–ALE 0.52, AME–PME 0.23, ALE–ALE 2.17, ALE–PME 0.71, PME–PME 1.56, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 2.45, ALE–PLE 0.50, AME–PLE 0.66. Eye group 3.31 wide, 1.77 long. Maxillae: Length 7.59, width 4.50. Cuspules: ca. 332 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium 3.11 long, 4.06 wide, with 190 cuspules spaced by ca. one diameter from each other on the anterior third center. Chelicerae: basal segment with 14 teeth in row on promargin and denticles on basal area. Sternum: 9.92 long, 9.09 wide. Legs : formula: I = IV II III . Length leg IV to I: 1.08. Stridulatory apparatus: Retrolateral maxilla: small spiniform setae on the upper distal area, interspersed with plumose setae, middle and lower areas lacking spiniform setae ( Figs 87 ─88). Leg I prolateral coxa: confluence of sutures region with several reddish, slightly spatulate, slender stridulatory setae (Figs 89─90). Region above sutures with plumose setae and some curved spiniform setae. Region below sutures covered with plumose setae having no incrassate base (Fig. 91). Coxa I retrolateral covered with plumose setae and a group of small spiniform setae on the upper region. Retrolateral face of coxae II─ III lacking spiniform setae. Coxa II prolateral with same apparatus as in coxa I, in legs III and IV , the stridulatory setae are very slender. Scopula : Tarsi I – IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I –II fully scopulated; III 1 /2, IV 1 /6 distal. Metatarsus IV divided by row of 5–6 setae. Spination: palp: femur p0-0-1ap, patella 0, tibia v0-5-3ap, p1-1-1; leg I: femur p0-0-1, patella 0, tibia v0-0-2ap, metatarsus v0-0-1ap; leg II: femur 0, patella 0, tibia v0-1-2ap, p0-1-1, metatarsus v1-0- 3ap, p1-0-0; leg III : femur 0, patella 0, tibia v2-2-2ap, p1-1-1, r1-1-1, metatarsus v2-2-4ap, p2-0-1, r0-1-1; leg IV : femur 0, patella 0, tibia v0-2-6(2ap), p1-1-0, r1-1-0, metatarsus v26(4ap), p1-0-1, r0-1-1. Urticating setae: Position, type and length range: MA, I, 0.29–0.33; LA, I, 0.27–0.29; MM , III , 0.69–0.74, some type I, 0.44–0.50; LM, I, 0.40 –0.47, some type III , 0.59–0.78. MP and LP regions bald. Spermathecae (Fig. 81): Two short spermathecae separated by heavily sclerotized short area, spermathecal stalk slightly narrower than elongated spermathecal bulb. Color pattern (in alcohol): As in male, except: Legs black with abundant light brown long setae. Abdomen dorsally and ventrally with abundant long light brown setae. Apex of leg segments with whitish rings on apex. Morphological variation. Lasiodora benedeni males normally have a slender and long bulb embolus with a slender apex ( Figs 76 ─78). Females have slender spermathecae normally closely positioned (Fig. 81). However, some variation was found mainly on the spermathecae, which, sometimes, have their bulbs wider. This normally happens in specimens with very sclerotized spermathecae (pers. obs.) (Fig. 117).

Remarks. The type of L. benedeni Bertkau, 1880 is probably lost, as the majority of the non-European types of Bertkau ( Levi 1991: 203 ). Fortunately, Bertkau (1880) published an illustration of the spermathecae, something unusual at that time ( Fig. 75 ). He also gave measurements of cephalothorax ( 20 mm ) and abdomen ( 26 mm ) indicating it was a large specimen, and specified the type locality as Chapeu d’Uvas, a small town close to Juiz de Fora, in the state of Minas Gerais , Brazil . With fresh specimens from the region of the type locality and having the information on spermathecae shape and the large size of the type , it is possible to identify the species and to consider it valid. Moreover, it is the only Lasiodora species distributed for a large area around the type locality. The holotype female of Lasiodora differens Chamberlin, 1917 has a stridulatory apparatus with slender reddish setae on coxae I and II, and spermathecae bulbs are slender (Fig. 99). The type locality is in the distribution of L. benedeni , even though on its western extreme. Thus, I consider L. differens Chamberlin, 1917 a junior synonym of L. benedeni Bertkau, 1880 . The holotype female of Lasiodora curtior Chamberlin, 1917 has stridulatory apparatus with slender reddish setae on the coxae I and II and spermathecae bulbs are slender ( Fig. 98 ). The type locality in Vassouras, state of Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , is compatible with the distribution of L. benedeni . Therefore, I consider L. curtior Chamberlin, 1917 a junior synonim of L. benedeni Bertkau, 1880 . The syntypes of L. mariannae are male and female, both from Mariana, state of Minas Gerais , Brazil . The specimens are very fragmented, but the diagnostic structures are preserved. The stridulatory apparatus of the lectotype is formed by a group of slender, reddish setae on coxa I (Figs 102─103) and the spiniform setae on retrolateral maxilla are distributed only on the upper area of the segment (Fig. 104). The male bulb has the apex of bulb slender ( Figs 100 ─101). The paralectotype female has the same structure of stridulatory apparatus ( Figs 106 ─108) and the spermathecae bulbs are slender (Fig. 109). All these characters are compatible with those of L. benedeni , therefore, I consider L. mariannae Mello-Leitão, 1921 a junior synonym of Lasiodora benedeni Bertkau, 1880 . Mello-Leitão (1921) described male and female of Lasiodora difficilis collected by Cleophas in the state of São Paulo , Brazil . Just two years after, Mello-Leitão (1923) redescribed the species and stated the male is from the state of Ceará and only the female was collected by Cleophas, in the state of São Paulo . Only the female was found at the MZUSP, and, as the male is probably lost, the female MZUSP 139 is herein designated as lectotype . As diagnostic characters, such as the stridulatory apparatus ( Figs 110 ─112) and spermathecae (Fig. 113), are compatible with L. benedeni , I consider Lasiodora difficilis Mello-Leitão, 1921 a junior synonym of Lasiodora benedeni Bertkau, 1880 . The holotype female of Lasiodora erythrocythara Mello-Leitão, 1921 (MNRJ 50), from state of São Paulo , Brazil , is very fragmented and darkened. However, the stridulatory apparatus ( Figs 114 ─116) and spermathecae (Fig. 117) are preserved and are compatible with those of L. benedeni . Therefore, I consider Lasiodora erythrocythara Mello-Leitão, 1921 a junior synonym of Lasiodora benedeni Bertkau, 1880 . The holotype female of Acanthoscurria cristata Mello-Leitão, 1923 deposited at MNRJ has the label handwritten by the author, stating “Typo” and “ São Paulo ” instead of Ceará , as in the original description. The specimen has the stridulatory apparatus ( Figs 118 ─119) and spermathecae (Fig. 120) compatible with those of L. benedeni Bertkau, 1880 , species that can be found in the state of São Paulo , but not in the state of Ceará . Thus, I believe a mistake occurred and the real type locality is São Paulo . Due to the agreement in diagnostic characters, I consider Acanthoscurria cristata Mello-Leitão, 1923 a junior synonym of Lasiodora benedeni Bertkau, 1880 .

Diagnosis. Lasiodora benedeni males and females resemble those of L. parahybana , L. franciscana n. sp. , L. klugi (part) and L. sertaneja n. sp. (part) by having spiniform setae only on the upper distal area of the retrolateral maxilla ( Figs 87 ─88). Males can be distinguished from all the above species by the slender apical portion of the embolus ( Figs 76 ─78). Females can be distinguished from those of L. parahybana by having slender stridulatory plumose setae on prolateral coxae (Figs 90─91); from those of L. franciscana n. sp. and L. sertaneja n. sp. , they can be distinguished by spermathecae with narrow bulb (Fig. 81). From L. klugi , it differs by the relatively slender and short stridulatory setae spread over the area between the prolateral coxa I sutures (Figs 89─90).