Research Article |
Corresponding author: Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón ( lat_mactans@yahoo.com.mx ) Academic editor: Cristina Rheims
© 2018 Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón, Mayra R. Cortez-Roldán, Alma R. Juárez-Sánchez, Karen P. Solís-Catalán.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Valdez-Mondragón A, Cortez-Roldán MR, Juárez-Sánchez AR, Solís-Catalán KP (2018) A new species of Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe (Araneae, Sicariidae), with updated distribution records and biogeographical comments for the species from Mexico, including a new record of Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour). ZooKeys 802: 39-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.802.28445
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A new species of the spider genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832, Loxosceles malintzi sp. n., is described from the states of Puebla, Morelos and Guerrero, in the central region of Mexico. The description is based on adult males and females with morphological and ultra-morphological images. Updated distribution maps are provided for the 39 species recorded from the Mexican territory (including the new species). The states with the greatest diversity are Baja California Sur, Baja California and Sonora, with five species each. A total of 441 records for the 39 species, based on arachnological collections, data bases and literature, were used to update the distribution maps. Loxosceles boneti Gertsch, 1958 is the species with the highest number of records in Mexico, with a total of 58 records from different localities. The states with the most records so far are Guerrero, with 55 records, Morelos, with 35 records, and Baja California Sur, with 30 records. Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820), an introduced species, is recorded for the second time in Mexico, from the state of Chihuahua, being the first well-documented record for the country. Mexico has the greatest diversity of species of Loxosceles worldwide, with 39 (two introduced species) of the 134 described species. Additionally, biogeographical comments for the species from Mexico are provided.
Biogeography, Loxosceles malintzi sp. n., North America, taxonomy
Spiders of the genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 are better known in North America as “violin spiders”, “recluse spiders”, or “brown recluse spiders”; commonly known by the medical community and general public to cause dermonecrotic lesions caused by their poisonous bites and the venom component, Sphingomyelinase D, an enzyme that destroys endothelial cells lining the blood vessels (
Some North American synanthropic species of Loxosceles, such as L. reclusa in the United States, have been closely studied for their biological, medical and physiological aspects, analyzing their abundances, distribution and natural history (
The primary aim of this paper is to describe a new species of Loxosceles from the central region of Mexico, distributed in the states of Puebla, Morelos and Guerrero. Additionally, we update the distribution records for the Mexican territory providing new records, including that of L. rufescens, an introduced species from the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East (
The specimens were hand collected and deposited in ethanol (80%) in the Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Institute of Biology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (
Abbreviations:
AME anterior median eyes;
PLE posterior lateral eyes;
PME posterior median eyes.
MEXICO: Puebla: male holotype (CNAN-T01262) from 1.5 km NE of Panteón de San Pablo Anicano (18.1355, −90.1010, 1223 m), Municipality San Pablo Anicano, 5.VII.2017, A. Valdez, A. Juárez, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi Cols. (night collecting). Paratypes: 2 males (CNAN-T01263), 2 females (CNAN-T01264, CNAN-T01265), same data as holotype.
MEXICO: Puebla: 1 male, 1 female (LATLAX-Ara 0149), 5 males, 6 females, 19 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0148), same data as holotype. 2 males, 1 female, 13 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0125) [10-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, A, Juárez, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi Cols.], same locality as holotype. 4 females, 2 immatures (LATLAX-Ara 0122) from 3 km S of San Juan Rabozo (18.54062, −98.44353; 1298 m), Municipality Izúcar de Matamoros, 10-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 24 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0144) [05-VII-2017, A. Valdez, M. Cortez, A. Juárez, J. Valerdi Cols.], same locality. 8 immatures (LATLAX-Ara 0123), from road to Tepenene (18.49335, −98.39623; 1300 m) Municipality Izúcar de Matamoros, 10-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 1 female, 7 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0146) [05-VII-2017, A. Valdez, M. Cortez, A. Juárez, J. Valerdi Cols.], same locality. 1 male, 3 female, 31 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0145), 1 male (LATLAX-Ara0194) from 2 km S of Agua Escondida (18.54999, −98.45229; 1275 m), Municipality Izucár de Matamoros 05-VII-2017, A. Valdez, M. Cortez, A. Juárez, J. Valerdi Cols.1 male, 1 female, 13 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0124) from Santa Cruz Tejalpa (18.35028, −98.37773; 986 m), Municipality Tehuitzingo, 10-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 7 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0126) from 9 km NE of Garzones Santa Gertrudis (18.31016, −98.02065; 1686 m), Municipality Acatlán de Osorio, 11-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 1 male, 6 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0127), 1 female (LATLAX-Ara0185) from 4 km NE of Totoltepec Guerrero (18.26285, −97.84125; 1427 m), Municipality Totoltepec, 11-III-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 10 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0147) from 1.5 km SE of Guadalupe Alchipin (18.25741, −98.21145; 1256 m), Municipality Ahuehuetitla, 05-VII-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. 2 male, 4 female, 28 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0150) from 2 km al S de Petlatzingo (18.05715, −97.9122; 1439 m) Municipality Petlatzingo, 06-VII-2017, A. Valdez, E. Briones, M. Cortez, J. Valerdi, M. Sánchez Cols. Guerrero: 1 male, 8 females, 14 immatures (LATLAX-Ara0163) from road to Mexcaltepec viejo (18.42838, −99.54851; 1142 m), Municipality Taxco de Alarcón, 20-IX-2017, A. Valdez, I. Navarro, P. Solís, J. Valerdi Cols. 1 male (CNAN-Ar009171) 2 km W of Ahuelican “Cerro de la Coronilla” (18.01628, −99.52875; 855 m), Municipality Tepecoacuilco de Trujano, 09-I-2009, O. Francke, A. Valdez, C. Quijano, T. López Cols. Morelos: 1 male (CNAN-Ar009174), 1 male (CNAN-Ar009176) from Ticumán (18.76111, −99.11917; 960 m), Municipality Tlaltizapán, 24-IX-2011, G. Montiel Col. 1 male (CNAN-Ar009000) from Biological Station El Limón Cuachichinola (18.52641, −98.93343; 1293 m), Municipality Tepalcingo, 21-IX-2012, G. Montiel, D. Barrales, J. Arreguin Cols. 1 male, 2 immatures (CNAN-Ar009001) from Biological Station El Limón Cuachichinola (18.55132, −98.94288; 1434 m), Municipality Tepalcingo, 22-IX-2012, G. Montiel, D. Barrales, J. Arreguin Cols.
The species epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the volcano “La Malinche, Malintzi or Matlalcueye” (meaning “blue skirt” in Nahuatl language), a seismically active volcano (4,420 m) of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, located in the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla. This last state is where the type locality is located.
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. resembles L. huasteca Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 and L. coyote Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 in having a long, slender male palpal tibia and by the embolus (
Male (holotype) (CNAN-T01262): Measurements: Total length 9.30. Carapace 4.40 long, 3.90 wide. Clypeus length 0.62. Diameter of AME 0.22, PME 0.24, PLE 0.22; AME-PME 0.26 Labium: length 0.96, width 0.80. Sternum: length 2.30, width 2.10. Leg lengths: I (total 28.20): femur 7.50 / patella 1.60 / tibia 8.90 / metatarsus 8.40 / tarsus 1.80; II (31.45): 8.40 / 1.60 / 9.80 / 9.75 / 1.90; III (24.10): 7.00 / 1.60 / 6.60 / 7.50 / 1.40; IV (26.90): 7.50 / 1.60 / 7.30 / 8.80 / 1.70. Leg formula: 2-1-4-3.
Prosoma: Carapace pale orange, longer than wide, pyriform, with small, numerous setae, with well-defined dark brown “violin” pattern dorsally (Figs
Legs: Coxae pale yellow, gray towards pro- and retrolateral parts (Fig.
Chelicerae: Fused basally, chelated chelicerae laminae, reddish orange, stridulatory lines laterally (Figs
Opisthosoma: Pale orange, darker posteriorly (Figs
Palps: Trochanters pale orange, femora brown, long and thin, patellae brown, tibiae reddish orange and almost cylindrical, wider distally than ventrally (Figs
Female (Paratype) (CNAN-T01264): Measurements: Total length 9.60. Carapace 4.30 long, 3.60 wide. Clypeus length 0.56. Diameter of AME 0.20, PME 0.23, PLE 0.21; AME-PME 0.25 Labium: length 0.87, width 0.67. Sternum: length 2.12, width 1.90. Leg lengths: I (total 19.65): femur 5.35 / patella 1.40 / tibia 5.90 / metatarsus 5.50 / tarsus 1.50; II (19.00): 5.70 / 1.50 / 6.20 / 4.40 / 1.20; III (18.10): 5.20 / 1.40 / 4.70 / 5.40 / 1.40; IV (20.90): 5.90 / 1.40 / 5.60 / 6.50 / 1.50. Leg formula: 4-1-2-3.
Differs from male as follows: Prosoma: Carapace pale orange, with well-defined dark brown “violin” pattern (Figs
Legs: Coxae yellow, paler gray towards pro- and retrolateral parts (Fig.
Chelicerae: Darker reddish brown, with stridulatory lines laterally.
Opisthosoma: Opisthosoma dark gray (Figs
Palps: Trochanters pale orange, femora pale brown, patellae brown, tibiae and tarsi reddish with several long and wide spread setae around. Tibiae cylindrical, tarsi conical (Fig.
Genital area: Seminal receptacles visible by transparency in ventral view (Fig.
MALES. Puebla: Males from San Pablo Anicano are light brown, with brown spots on carapace well marked, legs darker than the body. Morelos: Males from Biological Station “El Limón” are light brown, with dark irregular brown spots on carapace, legs same color as carapace. Male from Tlaltizapan is light brown, with light brown spots on carapace, legs darker than the body. Guerrero: Male from road to Mexcaltepec Viejo, is light brown, with dark brown spots strongly marked on carapace, pale brown legs. Male from Tepecoacuilco de Trujano, is light brown, with dark brown spots on carapace slightly marked, legs light brown. Puebla: Agua Escondida, Municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros (N= 2): Tibia I 7.3, 7.5; carapace length (CL) 3.6, 4.4, carapace width (CW) 3.0, 3.2. 1.5 km NE of Panteón de San Pablo Anicano (N = 3): Tibia I 5.9–8.9 (x = 8.0), CL 4.1–4.5 (x = 4.0), CW 3.6–4.0 (x = 4.0). San Pablo Anicano (N = 2): Tibia I 7.5–9.0 (x = 8.0), CL 4.0–4.4 (x = 4.0), CW 3.36–3.7 (x = 4.0). Morelos: Biological Station “El Limon” (N = 2) Tibia I 7.5, 11.0, CL 4.0, 4.2, CW 3.2, 3.9. Guerrero: road to Mexcaltepec viejo (N = 1): Tibia I 9.0, CL 3.8, CW 3.3; Tepecoacuilco de Trujano (N = 1): Tibia I 7.0, CL 3.6, CW 3.2. FEMALES. Puebla: females from San Pablo Anicano are light brown on carapace and legs, with a dark brown marginal region on carapace strongly marked. Females from San Juan Rabozo are dark brown, with dark brown marginal region on carapace strongly marked, legs light brown. Guerrero: females from road to Mexcaltepec Viejo are brown dark on carapace, with dark brown marginal region on carapace strongly marked, legs the same color as the body. Puebla: 1.5 km NE of Panteón de San Pablo Anicano (N = 1): Tibia I 6.0, CL 4.2, CW 3.7. San Pablo Anicano (N = 3): Tibia I 4.2–5.5 (x = 4.6), CL 3.7–4.1 (x = 3.9), CW 2.8–3.6 (x = 3.2). San Juan Rabozo, Municipality of Izúcar de Matamoros (N = 4): Tibia I 4.9–6.1 (x = 5.5), CL 3.5–4.3 (x = 3.9), CW 3.0–3.7 (x = 3.4). Guerrero: road to Mexcaltepec viejo (N = 4): Tibia I 5.7–6.2 (x = 6), CL 3.4–4.4 (x = 3.8), CW 3.4–3.7 (x = 3.6).
There is little variation in the shape of the male palps, even those from different populations (Figs
The specimens of Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. were collected in a tropical deciduous forest (Figs
MEXICO: Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero (Figs
Habitat and microhabitat of Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. 11–14, 17 Tropical deciduous forest from of the type locality: 1.5 km NE of Panteón de San Pablo Anicano, Municipality San Pablo Anicano, Puebla, Mexico (arrows indicate the micro habitat where the specimens can be found, under big rocks and inside of a rotten and dry cactus in the ground of the genus Pachycereus) 15, 16 Tropical deciduous forest from 1.5 km SE of Guadalupe Alpichin, Municipality Ahuehuetitla, Puebla, Mexico. Photos by Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón (2017).
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Male 32 Right metatarsus I, retrolateral view, showing different type of setae insertions 33 Right tarsus I, prolateral view, showing the claws 34 Detail of claws and setae 35 Right leg I, ventral view of patella and tibia, showing the lyriform organ (LO) 36 Right femur I, retrolateral view 37 Detail of LO of patella I. Abbreviations: DHP, dorsal hood of podotarsite; LO, lyriform organ; OP, open podotarsite; Sc, scale (seta).
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Male 38 Left palp, prolateral view 39 Detail of tarsus, bulb and embolus 40 Detail of the embolus (arrows indicate the canal along the embolus) 41 Detail of tarsus, bulb and embolus, dorsal view 42, 43 Embolus tip, prolateral and retrolateral views respectively, showing the spermatic outlet (arrows indicate cuticular marks, unknown function). Abbreviations: SO, spermatic outlet
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Male 44 Anterior part of carapace and chelicerae, dorsal view 45 Chelicerae, endites and labium, ventral view 46 Detail of sternum 47 Detail of right chelicera, posterior view 48 Detail of right fang of chelicerae, showing the venom outlet 49 Detail of stridulatory ridges of right chelicerae. Abbreviations: SR, stridulatory ridges; VO, venom outlet.
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Male 50 Spinnerets 51 Detail of PMS and PLS 52 PLS, anterior view 53 Detail of the tracheae 54 Detail of the cuticle of the opisthosoma. Abbreviations: Ac, aciniform gland spigot; ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets; CS, curved spigot; Co, colulus; D, diastema; MAP, major ampullate glands; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS, posterior median spinnerets; S, spigot.
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Variation of the male palps, left palps, prolateral views 55, 56 1.5 km al NE del Panteón de San Pablo Anicano, Municipality San Pablo Anicano, Puebla (type locality) 57 2km al S de Agua Escondida, Municipality Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla 58, 59 Biological Station El Limón Cuachichinola, Municipality Tepalcingo, Morelos 60 Road to Mexcaltepec viejo, Municipality Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero 61 Ticumán, Municipality Tlaltizapán, Morelos 62 2 km al Oeste de Ahuelican “Cerro de la Coronilla”, Municipality Tepecuacuilco de Trujano, Guerrero. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Loxosceles malintzi sp. n. Variation of the seminal receptacles of the females, dorsal views. Puebla 63, 64 Insurgentes Street, cerrada Insurgentes, Section San Juan, San Pablo Anicano, Municipality San Pablo Anicano 65, 66 1.5 km al NE del Panteón de San Pablo Anicano, Municipality San Pablo Anicano. Guerrero 67 Road to Mexcaltepec viejo, Municipality Taxco de Alarcón. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.
Scytodes rufescens Dufour 1820c: 203, pl. 76, fig. 5 (male).
Loxosceles citigrada Heineken and Lowe in Lowe (transferred) 1832: 322, pl. 48, figs 1–14 (male, female).
See
MEXICO: Chihuahua: 1 male, 1 female (LATLAX-Ara0183) from Instituto de Biomédicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (31. 74645, −106.4444; 1130 m), Municipality Ciudad Juárez, no date, P. Flores col.
L. rufescens resembles Loxosceles foutadjalloni Millot, 1941; in having male palpal tibia wide and a long embolus (
See Chomphuphuang et al. (2016).
Loxosceles rufescens (Figs
In Mexico, L. rufescens is only known from two records, from the states of Tamaulipas and Chihuahua (Fig.
A total of 461 records of the 39 species of Loxosceles distributed in Mexico were reviewed. Twenty records were discarded for not having complete localities or having doubtful georeferences. Thus, a total of 441 records were used to make the distribution maps (Figs
Regarding the number of total records per species of Loxosceles, the species with the most records are L. boneti with 59 and L. colima with 57 (Fig.
Loxosceles rufescens Dufour, 1820, from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico68, 69 Male, left palp, prolateral and retrolateral views respectively 70 Female, seminal receptacles, dorsal view 71, 72 Caparace dorsal view, male and female views respectively. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (68, 69), 0.2 mm (70), 1 mm (71, 72).
Updated records of the species of Loxosceles for the states of north of Mexico. Asterisk in L. rufescens represents a new record for Mexico. Abbreviations for the Mexican states: BC, Baja California; BCS, Baja California Sur; CHIH, Chihuahua; COAH, Coahuila; DGO, Durango; NL, Nuevo León; SIN, Sinaloa; SLP, San Luís Potosí; SON, Sonora; TAMS, Tamaulipas; ZAC, Zacatecas.
Updated records of the species of Loxosceles for the states of central region and south of Mexico. Abbreviations for the Mexican states: AGS, Aguascalientes; CAM, Campeche; CDMX, Mexico City; CHIS, Chiapas; COL, Colima; MEX, Estado de México; GTO, Guanajuato; GRO, Guerrero; HGO, Hidalgo; JAL, Jalisco; MICH, Michoacán; MOR, Morelos; NAY, Nayarit; OAX, Oaxaca; PUE, Puebla; QR, Quintana Roo; QRO, Querétaro; TAB; Tabasco; TLAX, Tlaxcala; VER, Veracruz; YUC, Yucatán.
All 32 states of the Mexican Republic, including Mexico City, have records of some native or introduced species of Loxosceles (Figs
Regarding the introduced species in Mexico, the record of L. rufescens from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (Fig.
According to the biogeographical scheme for Mexico by
The first author thanks to the program “Catedras CONACyT”, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico; for the scientific support for the project No. 59: “Laboratorio Regional de Biodiversidad y Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales (LBCTV) del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (
List of the Mexican species of Loxosceles and records per state. *New records for Mexico. ** New records for State.
Species | Author(s), year | Records | States |
---|---|---|---|
L. alamosa | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 4 | Son |
L. apachea | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 20 | Ags, Chih, Dgo |
L. aranea | Gertsch, 1973 | 4 | Qro |
L. arizonica | Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 | 18 | BC, Coah |
L. aurea | Gertsch, 1973 | 5 | Coah, Zac |
L. baja | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 13 | BCS |
L. barbara | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 1 | BCS |
L. belli | Gertsch, 1973 | 7 | Coah |
L. boneti | Gertsch, 1958 | 59 | Gro, Mor, Pue |
L. candela | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 3 | NL, Tams |
L. carmena | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 1 | BCS |
L. chinateca | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 12 | Oax, Ver |
L. colima** | Gertsch, 1958 | 57 | Col, Gro, Jal, Mex, Mich**, Nay, Zac |
L. coyote | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 3 | Son |
L. deserta | Gertsch, 1973 | 10 | BC, Son |
L. devia | Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 | 31 | NL, Tams |
L. francisca | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 1 | BC |
L. huasteca | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 5 | Gto, Qro, SLP |
L. insula | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 1 | Col |
L. jaca | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 8 | Hgo |
L. luteola | Gertsch, 1973 | 1 | NL |
L. malintzi sp. n. | 25 | Gro, Mor, Pue | |
L. manuela | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 2 | BC |
L. misteca** | Gertsch, 1958 | 18 | CDMX, Gro, Mich**, Mor, Tlax** |
L. mulege | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 3 | BCS |
L. nahuana | Gertsch, 1958 | 7 | Hgo |
L. palma | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 2 | BC |
L. reclusa | Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 | 3 | Tams |
L. rothi | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 3 | BCS |
L. rufescens* | Dufour, 1820 | 1 | Chih* |
L. seri | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 6 | Sin, Son |
L. sonora | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 13 | Sin, Son |
L. tehuana | Gertsch, 1958 | 17 | Chis, Oax |
L. tenango | Gertsch, 1973 | 9 | Hgo, SLP |
L. teresa | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 3 | Tams |
L. tlacolula | Gertsch & Ennik, 1983 | 4 | Oax |
L. valdosa | Gertsch, 1973 | 11 | SLP, Tams |
L. yucatana | Chamberlin & Ivie, 1938 | 41 | Chis, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR |
L. zapoteca | Gertsch, 1958 | 9 | Pue, Gro |
TOTAL | 441 |