24 km north of Xicotepec de Juarez, 1070 m asl, oak forest litter, Puebla, México, collected 17 June 1983 by R. Anderson, male (AMNH).

This specimen is virtually identical to the holotype and paratype males from Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México, despite having been collected about 480 km (300 miles) east-southeast of there. The Aguascalientes type specimens came from a garden, and I speculated that they might have been introduced, but then only considered introductions from outside México. While it is possible (though unlikely) that the species has a natural range of this size, the Aguascalientes specimens could have been brought to that major urban center with garden plants from Puebla. Future collecting may solve the dilemma, and may also produce the presently unknown females.

Male holotype and two female paratypes collected in Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, Tulare Co., California, 1 May 2004, by J. Krejcaet al. deposited in California Academy of Sciences (CAS); male and female paratypes from same locality, collected 17–18 July 2003 by J. Krejca et al. deposited in Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH).

The notably larger size of the females distinguishes this species of Ortholasma from all others.

The species name, a Latin noun in apposition, refers to a gigantic statue, or by implication, anything outlandishly large for its type.

Male holotype: total length, 4.5, width, 2.25. Color uniform blackish brown, legs somewhat lighter brown. Carapace arcuate, about twice as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; median keels connect eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels also arising on innermost lateral hood process. Two acute lateral hood processes each about half as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels absent, only subocular portion present. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, length 1.6, width 1.0; bearing 24 lateral T-shaped tubercles, all connected. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin. Scute 2.6 long, 2.25 wide. Pattern of scute keels typical, paired median scute spines low, scarcely standing above level of keels; posterior marginal keel with complete fenestrations (Fig. 2).

Chelicerae (Figs 4, 5, 10) with basal article 0.9 long, 0.25 wide, prominent epigamic gland with dense vestiture of small, fine setae (Fig. 5), otherwise sparsely setose; second article 0.75 long, 0.21 wide, with small, curved mediobasal tooth. Palpus (Figs 6, 20) with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with several ventral seta-tipped tubercles; tibia swollen; dimensions given in Table 1. Legs in order of length, 2 (11.95), 4 (9.7), 3 (6.3), 1 (5.8); metatarsus 2 with 8 false articulations, otherwise false articulations lacking; tarsi 1–4 with 10, 11, 10, 11 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 1. Leg femora with typical ornamentation (Fig. 7).

Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, suture faintly indicated. Penis (Fig. 30) 1.0 long, typically thin; glans (Fig. 31) sinuate with hooked tip, subtended by small setae.

Female paratype: total length, 6.6, width, 4.2. Nonsexual characters as in male (Fig. 3); median hood process 1.7 long, 0.9 wide. Scute 4.5 long, 4.2 wide. Chelicera without gland on basal article, distal article lacking tooth, basal article 1.05 long, 0.26 wide; distal article 0.90 long, 0.24 wide. Palpal tibia not swollen, dimensions given in Table 2. Legs in order of length, 2 (10.6), 4 (7.34), 3 (5.7), 1 (4.87); metatarsus 2 with 6 false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 7, 8, 9, 11 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 2. Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, without suture. Ovipositor typical.

All specimens deposited in CAS unless otherwise noted. CALIFORNIA: Fresno Co., 3 mi. south of Trimmer, 4 June 1967, under rhyolite in oak forest, T. Briggs, female (AMNH). Tulare Co., Johnsondale, Kern River, 4 July 1956, V. Roth, W. Gertsch, female (AMNH); Lost Soldier’s Cave, December 1977, A. Grubbs, female (AMNH); 21 July 2003, J. Krejcaet al., female, 23 July 2003, molt fragment, 9 November 2003, female; Lightening Cave, 30 June 1952, A. Lange, female (used for SEM; AMNH); Sequoia National Park, Ash Mtn., 26 April 1951, E. Schlinger, male (AMNH); Paradise Cave, 30 April 2004, J. Krejca et al., male, juveniles; Lange Cave, 6 May 2004, J. Krejca et al., male, 2 females, 6 May 2004, male, female, 7 May 2004, late instar juvenile; Carmoe Crevice, 5 July 2003, J. Krejcaet al., male; May’s Cave, 16 May 2004, J. Krejca et al., female, early juvenile; Hidden Cave, 15 November 2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, male; Highway 245, 14 mi. north of Woodlake, near Cottonwood Creek and Rattlesnake Creek confluence, 26 March 2009, M. Hedin et al., female (pictured alive and in the field in Fig. 1).

The preponderance of cave records is probably misleading; the species shows no signs of troglomorphosis and specimens from caves are nearly identical to the few surface-collected specimens. The cool, moist environment of caves probably attracts individuals (troglophily). Caves have been much more thoroughly collected than surface habitats, and in this case most of the records come from a biological survey of the caves of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The caves mentioned in the Distribution section are located on a map in Shear and Shelley (2008: Fig. 9). The Fresno Co. record may be questionable. The label places Trimmer in Kern Co., but according to all sources, it is an unincorporated community in Fresno Co., on the north shore of the Pine Flat Reservoir (shown on some maps as Isabella Reservoir). The elevation in the vicinity is less than 610 m (2000’) asl, while no other records of the species but one (near Woodlake) come from below 2100 m (about 7000’) asl. If accurate, this record suggests a wider distribution for Ortholasma colossus sp. n.

The size of the species, at least 50% longer than the next largest, is striking when seen side-by-side with congeners; only Ortholasma rugosum approaches it with some 4.5-mm-long males. However, most males of Ortholasma colossus sp. n. are longer than 4.5 mm, and the largest females of Ortholasma rugosum are only 4.8 mm long, compared to the usual 6–7 mm in colossus sp. n.

Male holotype (TMM) from Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, México, collected 10 April 1982 by Terri Treacy.

Like Trilasma trispinosum sp. n., ranchonuevo sp. n. has three lateral hood processes, but the median hood process of ranchonuevo sp. n. is much broader and has more dorsal tubercles. There are more small keel cells on the scute of trispinosum sp. n. than in ranchonuevo sp. n.The male of ranchonuevo sp. n. has a single false articulation in each of the second and fourth leg femora; such are present in all legs of trispinosum sp. n. males. Tarsal counts of the single available specimen are 3, 4, 4, 4, the lowest for any Trilasma.

The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Male holotype: total length, 2.7, width, 1.6. Color pale tan to yellowish brown. Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connecting eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels arising both on innermost and middle lateral hood processes. Three blunt lateral hood processes each about one-half as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels suppressed, subocular portion vaguely indicated, eyes relatively large, bulging. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, with nearly parallel sides, then converging distally, length 0.9, width 0.3; median keels of carapace continuing as rows of lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 18–20 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; 5 or 6 dorsal tubercles present, connected linearly to one another but not obviously to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 6 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.6 long, 1.6 wide. All keels relatively low. Small keel cells present only on areas 2–4, as single transverse rows of 6–8 cells. Paired median scute spines prominent, on areas 4, 5 larger than adjacent keel tubercles (Fig. 47).

Chelicerae (Fig. 11) with basal article 0.62 long, 0.22 wide, sparsely setose, with small, median distal tooth; second article 0.62 long, 0.20 wide, with dark, median basal tooth. Palpus (Fig. 21) with dense vestiture of clavate setae; patella and tibia swollen, but glands not marked by patches of small setae, trochanter with ventral seta-tipped tubercles very low, almost obselete; dimensions given in Table 3. Legs in order of length, 2 (6.66), 4 (4.74), 3 (3.12), 1 (3.0); metatarsus 2 with 2 false articulations, femora 2, 4 with single basal false articulation; tarsi 1–4 with 3, 4, 4, 4 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 3. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 3.64, 8.33, 3.46, 7.0. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, notched. Penis (Figs 32, 33) typical of genus.

The male holotype of Trilasma ranchonuevo sp. n. is significantly larger than the male paratype of Trilasma trispinosum sp. n. and has longer legs. The pattern of small cells on the scute is quite different, and the median hood process is much broader in relation to its width, with many more dorsal tubercles. On the left side of the body of the holotype, the innermost lateral hood process is irregularly developed, suggesting that the innermost process is the “extra” one and that its presence or absence might be subject to variation.

Rancho Nuevo is in the Sierra Nevada Oriental in western Tamaulipas, near the Nuevo Léon border and about 22 miles northwest of Ciudad Victoria. Coordinates: 23°51'50.40N; 99°27'07.43W, elevation 8600’ (2650 m).While the region around Rancho Nuevo is famous for its caves, this specimen was collected on the surface and shows no signs of troglobiosis.

Female holotype, male and female paratypes (TMM) from Puerto del Aire, Veracruz, México, collected 6 January 1966 by J. Richter, in cloud forest oak litter.

Differing from all other Trilasma except ranchonuevo sp. n.in the three, rather than two, lateral hood processes of the carapace, but distinct from ranchonuevo sp. n. in the extremely narrow median hood process, with only a few dorsal tubercles.

The species epithet refers to the three lateral hood processes.

Female holotype: total length, 2.6, width, 1.7. Color uniform chestnut brown, legs somewhat lighter brown, proximal parts of femora whitish yellow. Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connect eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels also arising on innermost lateral hood process. Three blunt lateral hood processes each about one-fourth as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels absent, subocular portion vaguely indicated, eyes relatively large, bulging. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, narrow, length 0.9, width 0.11; median keels of carapace continue as rows of reduced lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 18–20 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; only 2 or 3 dorsal tubercles present. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 6 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.5 long, 1.7 wide. All keels relatively low. Small keel cells of scute area 1 absent, small keel cell rows progressively wider posteriorly, widest on area 4; small cells of area 5 in two groups either side of midline. Paired median scute spines small, on areas 4, 5 no larger than adjacent keel tubercles (Figs 42, 43).

Chelicerae (Fig. 12) with basal article 0.65 long, 0.18 wide, sparsely setose; second article 0.52 long, 0.18 wide. Palpus with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with ventral seta-tipped tubercles; dimensions given in Table 4. Legs in order of length, 2 (5.45), 4 (4.99), 3 (3.10), 1 (3.05); metatarsi without false articulations, femur 4 with single basal false articulation; tarsi 1–4 with 4, 5, 4, 5 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 4. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 3.5, 7.0, 3.75, 5.25. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, with suture. Ovipositor typical of subfamily.

Male paratype: total length, 2.3, width, 1.2. Nonsexual characters as in female, but dorsal ornament reduced, obscured in paratype by secretion; median hood process 0.79 long, 0.2 wide. Scute 1.2 long, 1.2 wide. Chelicera (Fig. 13) without gland on basal article, second article with forward-projecting tooth, basal article 0.60 long, 0.20 wide; distal article 0.51 long, 0.15 wide. Palpal patella and tibia swollen, small ventral glandular areas indicated by patches of fine setae (Fig. 22), dimensions of palpus given in Table 5. Legs in order of length, 2 (5.76), 4 (4.96), 3 (3.32), 1 (3.22); all femora with single, basal false articulation, metatarsi without false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 4, 5, 4, 5 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 5. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 3.9, 9.8, 4.0, 6.1. Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, with two small, lateral notches. Penis typical (Figs 34, 35).

This species is the most distinctive of all Trilasma species due to the very short and narrow median hood process, which has only one or two dorsal armed tubercles. The female holotype (Figs 42, 43) is anomalous in that the keel extending from the eye tubercle to the posterior margin of the carapace is doubled on the left side. The pattern of keel cells is very distinct in the female holotype and paratype, but the male paratype has a much-reduced ornament. However, this is uncertain because of the thick secretion covering the dorsum and median hood process in the single available specimen; this material could not be cleaned off using ultrasonics, or methanol as a solvent. Notable also is the presence in the male of basal false articulations in all the femora. In the female, only the fourth femur has a basal false articulation. The presence of palpal glands in the male palpal patellae and tibiae is indicated by the patch of fine setae on the ventral side, and in still-adhering secretion on the tibia.

Puerto del Aire is a small village west of the larger city of Acultzingo, Veracruz, and southeast of Morelos Canadá, Puebla, virtually at the Puebla-Veracruz border (18°42'13.5N; 97°21'29.6W). The elevation is about 2556 m (7500 ft.) asl.

Holotype female and male paratype (TMM) from Cueva de Polvo Tempestado, 1–2 km south of San Josecito, Nuevo Léon, México, collected 1 March 1989 by George Veni and Allan Cobb; female paratype (TMM) from Sótano de las Tres Ventanas, Purifacición area, Cuauhtémoc, Nuevo Léon, México, collected 29 November 1981 by Paul Fambro; male paratype (TMM) from Pozo de las Pantaletas, Santa Marta de Arriba, 20 km southeast of Zaragoza (UTM 433010/2656459), collected 26 November 1999 by Peter Sprouse. See Notes, below, for a detailed discussion of these localities.

A long-legged, pale species most similar to Trilasma petersprousei sp. n., which is about half again as large. Trilasma tempestado sp. n.has the second femur about the same length as the scute, and has two false articulations in the fourth femora of both males and females, while petersprousei sp. n. lacks femoral false articulations. With the male paratype only 2.1 mm in length, this species is the smallest known Trilasma, about the same size as Martensolasma jocheni, the smallest known ortholasmatine.

The species epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to the type locality.

Female holotype: total length, 2.6, width, 1.5. Color pale tan to yellowish brown. Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connecting eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels arising both on innermost and middle lateral hood processes. Two blunt lateral hood processes each about one-third or less as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels suppressed, but subocular portion visible, eyes relatively small. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, with nearly parallel sides, then converging distally, widest at about midlength, length 0.90, width 0.40; median keels of carapace continuing as rows of lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 20 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; 11–12 dorsal tubercles present, connected complexly to one another and to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 4 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.6 long, 1.5 wide. All keels relatively high. Small keel cells present on areas 1–5; area 1 with 3–4 small cells in midline, area 2 with about 10 small cells in transverse row less than ½ width of scute, area 3 with about 16 small cells in midline, area 4 with 20–23 small cells in transverse row about 2/3 width of scute, area 5 with two paramedian groups of 3–4 small cells. Paired median scute spines relatively prominent, on all areas distinctly larger than adjacent keel tubercles (Figs 44, 45).

Chelicerae (Fig. 14) with basal article 0.60 long, 0.20 wide, sparsely setose; second article 0.56 long, 0.18 wide. Palpus (Fig. 24) slender, with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with two prominent seta-bearing ventral tubercles; dimensions given in Table 6. Legs in order of length, 2 (8.80), 4 (6.12), 3 (4.48), 1 (4.32); metatarsus 2 with 3 false articulations, femora 4 with 3 false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 5, 6, 7, 8 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 6. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 7.33, 16.67, 8.0, 12.14. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, separated from sternite by suture. Ovipositor typical of genus.

Male paratype: total length, 2.1, width, 1.3. Color uniform light chestnut brown. Nonsexual characters as in female (see Figs 44, 45, 48 and description, above), but dorsal ornament somewhat reduced; median hood process 0.70 long, 0.25 wide. Scute 1.3 long, 1.3 wide. Chelicera (Fig. 15) without gland on basal article, second article with strong, anteriodorsal, slightly hooked, conical protuberance, basal article 0.50 long, 0.17 wide; distal article 0.52 long, 0.16 wide. Palpal patellae and tibiae swollen, epigamic glands present and marked by patches of fine setae (Fig. 23), dimensions of palpus given in Table 7. Legs in order of length, 2 (8.68), 4 (6.00), 3 (4.48), 1 (4.26); metatarsus 2 with 2 false articulations, femur 4 with 3 false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 5, 5, 6, 6 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 7. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 7.43, 20.0, 6.89, 10.5. Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, with two small, lateral notches. Penis typical (Figs 36, 37).

Like Trilasma petersprousei sp. n., this species is pale and long-legged, yet does not appear to be a troglobiont. It occurs in at least two distinct karst areas. Cueva de Polvo Tempestado is located 1–2 km south of the village of San Josecito (23°58'12.68N; 99°54'21.18W, elev. ca. 2300m (7570’)). This is a small, vertical cave, one of several in the area. Sótano de las Tres Ventanas is a pit in the well-known Río Purificación karst region located in Nuevo Léon and Tamaulipas between Zaragoza, NL, and Ciudad Victoria, Tamps. The coordinates are 23°53’30.583N; 99°28’20.445W, at an elevation of 2210 m asl. The entrance pit drops 35 m to a rubble pile, which slopes down to a plug at -45 meters. Temperature measured at this point was 8.6° C during exploration on 29 November 1981 (P. Sprouse, pers. comm.) Sistema Purificación, located in this area, is one of the deepest and longest cave systems in México. Pozo de las Pantaletas is located near the village of Santa Marta at coordinates of 23°51’40.16N; 99°41’23.982W and an elevation of 2800 m asl. This is a vertical cave with multiple rope drops leading to a depth of 140 m. All of these records are rather tightly clustered in a mountainous region of Nuevo Léon that makes an easterly salient into Tamaulipas 35–45 km northwest of Ciudad Victoria. It would be no surprise to see specimens from the adjoining part of Tamaulipas.

Female holotype (TMM) from Hoya de las Guaguas, 10 km south of Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, México, collected 29 August 1986 by Peter Sprouse.

Trilasma petersprousei sp. n. is a long-legged species, with long, thin pedipalps. The high tarsal count of the holotype (6, 12, 6, 8) and the presence of 12 false articulations in the second metatarsi also distinguish it from other species.

The species is named for the collector, Peter Sprouse of Zara Environmental, LLC, a noted explorer of Mexican caves who has collected many new species of troglobionts and troglophiles.

Female holotype: total length, 3.4, width, 1.9. Color pale tan to yellowish brown. Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connecting eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels arising both on innermost and middle lateral hood processes. Two blunt lateral hood processes each about one-half as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels suppressed, but subocular portion obvious, eyes relatively large, bulging. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, with nearly parallel sides, then converging distally, widest slightly beyond midlength, length 1.10, width 0.45; median keels of carapace continuing as rows of lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 20 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; about 15 dorsal tubercles present, connected complexly to one another and to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 6 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.8 long, 1.9 wide. All keels relatively low. Small keel cells present on areas 1–4; area 1 with 2–3 small cells in midline, area 2 with 4–6 small cells in transverse row less than ½ width of scute, area 3 with 5–6 small cells in midline, area 4 with 10–12 small cells in transverse row about ½ width of scute. Paired median scute spines not prominent, on areas 4, 5 only slightly larger than adjacent keel tubercles (Fig. 46).

Chelicerae (Fig. 16) with basal article 0.70 long, 0.23 wide, sparsely setose; second article 0.72 long, 0.20 wide. Palpus (Fig. 25) slender, with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with two prominent seta-bearing ventral tubercles; dimensions given in Table 8. Legs in order of length, 2 (14.05), 4 (9.43), 3 (5.90), 1 (5.73); metatarsus 2 with about 12 false articulations, femora without false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 6, 12, 6(7), 9 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 8. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 8.25, 36.8, 9.0, 28.2. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, separated from sternite by suture. Ovipositor typical of genus.

While Trilasma petersprousei sp. n. has long, thin legs and palpi, it does not appear in any other way to be a troglobiont; the eyes are large and well-pigmented and it lacks the exaggerated median hood process of Trilasma sbordonii, a true troglobiont.

Hoya de las Guaguas (sometimes spelled Huahuas in Spanish) is an immense pit, 478 m (1565’) deep, developed in limestone of the Sierra Huasteca, and located at 21°31'56'N; 99°02'01.15W, about 460 m (1500’) asl. The entrance is large enough that sufficient light reaches the floor to sustain a plant community (P. Sprouse, pers. comm.).

Female holotype (AMNH) from Chipinque Mesa, Monterrey, Nuevo Léon, México, collected 24 June 1969 by Stewart B. Peck.

The paired median area tubercles are strongly developed in this species and project well above the level of the keels. Like trispinosum sp. n., there is a single false articulation in female femur 4, but trispinosum sp. n. has 3 lateral hood processes, while chipinquensis sp. n. has 2.

The species epithet, an adjective, refers to the type locality.

Female holotype: total length, 2.7, width, 1.5. Color dark brown, nearly black (possibly artifact of preservation). Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connecting eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels arising both on innermost and middle lateral hood processes. Two blunt lateral hood processes each about one-half as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels strongly developed, but subocular portion easily seen in dorsal view, eyes relatively small. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, with nearly parallel sides, only slightly converging distally, length 0.95, width 0.40; median keels of carapace continuing as rows of lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 16 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; about 6 dorsal tubercles present, connected in a single row to one another but not to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 6 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.7 long, 1.5 wide. All keels well elevated above dorsum. Small keel cells present on areas 2–4; areas 2, 3 with 5–8 small cells in midline, area 4 with 10–12 small cells in transverse row about 2/3 width of scute. Paired median scute spines prominent, on all areas significantly larger than adjacent keel tubercles, standing well above keels; pair of spines also present on metapeltidium (Fig. 50).

Chelicerae (Fig. 17) with basal article 0.64 long, 0.21 wide, sparsely setose; distal article 0.60 long, 0.19 wide. Palpus (Fig. 26) relatively slender, with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with two prominent seta-bearing ventral tubercles; dimensions given in Table 9. Legs in order of length, 2? (-), 4 (5.62), 3 (4.66), 1 (4.20); metatarsi without false articulations, femora 4 without single false articulation; tarsi 1–4 with 5, -, 7, 6 articles respectively (tarsi 2 missing). Lengths of leg segments given in Table 9. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 5.56, 12.86, 5.56, 7.60. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, separated from sternite by suture. Ovipositor typical of genus.

The holotype female was mentioned and briefly described by Shear and Gruber (1983). The present examination resulted in some different observations, primarily in that I could not see the false articulation of the second femur observed in 1983. The second leg is absent from the left side, and broken off at the tibia-metatarsus joint on the right.

Chipinque Mesa is a ridge of the Sierra Madre Oriental overlooking the city of Monterrey, to the north. Approximate coordinates are 25°36'29.43N; 100°21'18W; elevation at the top of the ridge is 1524 m (5000’). Chipinque Mesa is now a part of the Parc Nacional Cumbre and is a popular sight-seeing destination for visitors to Monterrey. It is densely forested in pines.

Shear and Gruber (1983) provided a detailed description based on specimens from Llano Grande, Puebla, México, a location about 28 km due northwest of the type locality, Río Frío. Now, judging from Google Earth aerial photographs, both of these places have become heavily urbanized and it seems unlikely conditions exist any longer that could support this species. Shear and Gruber (1983) mapped some of the localities given by Goodnight and Goodnight (1942, 1945b), but were not able to find all of them. Shear and Gruber expressed doubt about the identity of specimens from the Nevada de Colima, Jalisco, locality in particular; it is far separated from the others, as is the Guanajuato locality (Goodnight and Goodnight 1942). The presence of another species (see below) in Hidalgo, not far from the localities in Puebla and El Distrito Federal, suggests that at least the Guanajuato and Jalisco material may also represent undiagnosed species.

I no longer include Ruaxphilos petrunkevitchou Goodnight & Goodnight in the synonymy of Trilasma bolivari, as Shear and Gruber (1983) did, because of the distance between the type localities (that of petrunkevitchou is in Veracruz). It is very likely that petrukevitchou is another species, but the type is an early instar that has not developed any of the species-diagnostic characters. Its identity can only be established by the collection of adults at the type locality.

I provide some new illustrations (Figs 52, 53) for comparison with the other species described here as new. The illustrations are of a female specimen collected by Fred Coyle at the pass between Toluca and México City, Distrito Federal, on Rt. 15, elev. 3000 m (9800’) asl, on 4 June 1982.

Male holotype (TMM) from El Chico, Pachuco, Hidalgo, México, collected 1 January 1976, no collector named.

This species is closest to Trilasma bolivari sp. n., but differs from it in having fewer small cells on the scute, shorter, stouter legs, and less prominent scute area tubercles. In addition the dorsal tubercles on the median hood process of Trilasma bolivari sp. n. are much more numerous and are scattered over the stem of the process, with connections to the lateral tubercles; Trilasma hidalgo sp. n. has fewer dorsal tubercles which are arrayed in a line and only rarely connected to the lateral tubercles.

The species epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

Male holotype: total length, 3.2, width, 1.3. Color dark brown, nearly black. Carapace arcuate, about 1.5X as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connecting eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels arising both on innermost and middle lateral hood processes. Two blunt lateral hood processes each about one-third as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels strongly developed, subocular portion especially prominent. Median hood process arising dorsally on eye tubercle, widest point past midline of length, length 1.0, width 0.4; median keels of carapace continuing as rows of lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 30 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; about 15 dorsal tubercles present, connected in a single row to one another but not to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 8 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.3 long, 1.3 wide. All keels well elevated above dorsum. Small keel cells present on areas 2–5; area 2 with 5 or 6 small cells in single transverse row; area 3 with 10 to 12 small cells in single transverse row, but row is slightly wider than row on area 2; area 4 with two paramedian groups of 2 or 3 small cells each; area 5 similar, but only 1 or 2 small cells. Paired median scute spines prominent, significantly larger than adjacent keel tubercles on areas 2–5 (Fig. 51).

Chelicerae (Fig. 18) with basal article 0.82 long, 0.28 wide, sparsely setose; second article 0.65 long, 0.22 wide. Palpus (Fig. 27) stout, tibia, patella crassate, with dense vestiture of clavate setae; trochanter with two prominent seta-bearing ventral tubercles; dimensions given in Table 10. Legs in order of length, 2 (7.44), 4 (5.70), 3 (4.01), 1 (3.98); no false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 4, 5, 5, 6 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 10. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 4.58, 12.50. 4.58, 8.0. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, not separated from sternite by suture. Penis typical of genus (Figs 40, 41).

“El Chico” doubtless refers to what is now Parque Nacional El Chico, located north of the city of Pachuca. The Parque is extensive but approximate coordinates are 20°12'26N; 98°43'52W; elevations within the park range from 2300–3090 m (7540–10131’) asl. The mountains are covered with a dense pine forest, with fir at the higher elevations. Goodnight and Goodnight (1945b) reported Trilasma bolivari from three separate collections at this place; those specimens (AMNH, not re-examined for this study) are undoubtedly hidalgo.

Male holotype and female paratype from “Las Ventas, Honduras, ” collected 11 February 1939 by R. V. Chamberlin (AMNH).

The short, relatively crassate legs and the extremely prominent subocular keels (Fig. 55) separate this species from others. Trilasma ranchonuevo sp. n. (Tamaulipas, México) has false articulations in femora 2 and 4 that are absent in Trilasma tropicum sp. n. The male has an acute dorsal knob on the basal article of the chelicerae, as well as the tooth on the second article.

The species epithet refers to the occurrence of the species in the Neotropics.

Male holotype: total length, 2.5, width, 1.4. Color uniform light chestnut brown, metatarsi and tarsi of legs 3, 4 whitish yellow. Nonsexual characters as in female (see Figs 54, 55, and description, below), but dorsal ornament reduced, partially obscured in holotype by secretion; median hood process 0.80 long, 0.3 wide. Scute 1.4 long, 1.4 wide.

Chelicera (Fig. 19) without gland on basal article but with dorsal, conical protuberance, second article with forward-projecting tooth, basal article 0.50 long, 0.21 wide; distal article 0.55 long, 0.19 wide. Palpal patellae and tibiae swollen, epigamic glands probably present but not marked by patches of fine setae (Fig. 29), dimensions of palpus given in Table 11. Legs in order of length, 2 (6.44), 4 (5.34), 3 (3.76) , 1 (3.80); legs lacking false articulations; tarsi 1–4 with 5, 5, 6, 7 articles respectively. Lengths of leg segments given in Table 11. Length/width ratios of femora, in order: 4.5, 10.7, 4.2, 7.8.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, with two small, lateral notches. Penis typical (Figs 38, 39).

Female paratype: The female paratype (Figs 54, 55) is mounted on a SEM stub, therefore it was not possible to get accurate measurements of the appendages. Total length, 2.9, width, 1.8. Carapace arcuate, about twice as wide as long, with complete lateral and posterior submarginal keels; pair of median keels connect eye tubercle and innermost lateral hood process, lateral keels also arising on innermost lateral hood process. Two blunt lateral hood processes each about one-fourth as long as median hood process. Circumocular keels prominent, subocular portion strongly developed, eyes of usual size. Median hood process arising rostrally on eye tubercle, relatively narrow, length 0.8, width 0.3, ten fenestrations on each side, sides nearly parallel; median keels of carapace continue as rows of reduced lateral tubercles on median hood process, about 20–22 lateral tubercles, linearly connected; about 8 dorsal tubercles present, connected to each other but not to lateral tubercles. Metapeltidium free, complete keel along anterior margin, 10 tubercles posterior to keel, connected to it by single branch each. Scute 1.7 long, 1.7 wide. All keels relatively low. Small keel cells of scute area 1 present, small keel cell rows progressively wider posteriorly, widest on area 4; small cells of area 5 few, in two small groups near midline. Paired median scute spines moderately developed, on areas 4 distinctly larger than adjacent keel tubercles.

Chelicerae as described for male, but lacking dorsal protuberance on basal article, tooth on second article. Palpus (Fig. 28) as in male but patellae and tibiae not swollen. Legs in order of length, 2, 4, 3, 1; leg articles without false articulations. Leg femora with typical ornamentation.

Genital operculum broadly rounded, marginate, with suture.

I mounted the only female on an SEM stub under the impression there was a second female in the collection, but the second specimen turned out to be a male. Thus measurements of the appendages of the female became impossible, but there is no reason not to suspect that the typical sexual dimorphism in appendage lengths is characteristic of this species.

Las Ventas is not listed for Honduras by the U. S. Board on Geographical Names (http://geonames.nga.mil/ggmagaz), nor could it be found by Google Earth. There are four places named Las Ventanas and one called Las Ventanillas, scattered in four different departments of Honduras. There is a village of Las Ventas in El Salvador (13°35'58.55N; 88°21'00W; 365 m (1050’) asl) but it is in the central part of the country, not close to the border with Honduras. Otherwise the name evidently is not used for a populated place in Central America. The type locality is therefore in doubt, but because the collection was made 70 years ago, it is possible “Las Ventas” was in existence then in Honduras, having since disappeared from geographic databases, or the label is a lapsus for one of the Las Ventanas. In any case, if this species is really from Honduras, it occurs farther south than any New World dyspnoan, at approximately the same latitude as Cladolasma angka in Thailand.