Research Article
Print
Research Article
Revalidation of the spider genus Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924 (Araneae, Segestriidae)
expand article infoAndré Marsola Giroti‡§, Antonio Domingos Brescovit‡
‡ Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
§ Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Corresponding author: André Marsola Giroti ( giroti.am@usp.br )

Academic editor: Cristina Rheims
© 2015 André Marsola Giroti, Antonio Domingos Brescovit.
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: Giroti AM, Brescovit AD (2015) Revalidation of the spider genus Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924 (Araneae, Segestriidae). ZooKeys 495: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.495.8950
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:073B4B8A-7B4F-4438-9C92-0EE2012F6AD9
Open Access

Abstract

Citharoceps Chamberlin was diagnosed by the presence of a very distinctive stridulatory apparatus composed of two patches of ridges on the sides of the cephalic region, and a stridulatory thorn on the prolateral region of the femur I. Currently, this genus is a junior synonym of Ariadna Audouin, with the assumption that the stridulatory apparatus could constitute an exclusive feature of its unique known species, Citharoceps fidicina Chamberlin, currently senior synonym of Citharoceps californica Chamberlin & Ivie. In the present study, Citharoceps is revalidated and redescribed based on the occurrence of the stridulatory apparatus in C. fidicina and Segestria cruzana Chamberlin & Ivie, and also on the presence of distinguishable characters, such as the length of the labium-sternum junction, ventral median spine on male metatarsi I, and strong sclerotized interpulmonary fold in females, forming a conspicuous median flap. Segestria cruzana is transfered to Citharoceps, with C. californica removed from the synonym of C. fidicina, and proposed as a junior synonym of C. cruzana, due to the similarity between the additional material examined and the original description. Males of C. fidicina and C. cruzana are described for the first time.

Keywords

Taxonomy, Haplogynae, Synspermiata, Dysderoidea, California, stridulatory apparatus

Introduction

Segestriidae currently comprises 120 species distributed in three genera: Segestria Latreille, 1804, Ariadna Audouin, 1826 and Gippsicola Hogg, 1900 (World Spider Catalog 2015). Ariadna is the most diverse genus, with 99 taxonomically valid species and four generic junior synonyms: Pylarus Hentz, 1842, synonymized by Emerton (1890), Macedonia Hogg, 1900, synonymized by Rainbow (1911), and Segestriella Purcell, 1904 and Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924, both synonymized by Beatty (1970).

The genus Citharoceps was described by Chamberlin (1924) to include only Citharoceps fidicina, described based on an immature holotype from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. He distinguished this genus from other segestriids by the presence of a stridulatory apparatus composed of two distinctive patches of grooves on both sides of the cephalic region and a stridulatory thorn located on the prolateral region of femur I. Later, Chamberlin and Ivie (1935) described a new species, Citharoceps californica, based on immatures from Laguna Beach, California, USA, distinguishing it from C. fidicina by the larger size and darker coloration.

Beatty (1970) examined the holotype of C. fidicina and paratypes of C. californica, and synonymized C. californica with C. fidicina, and Citharoceps with Ariadna. After the study was submitted to publication, Beatty (1970: 485) discovered a male specimen of C. fidicina with stridulatory patches like those found on the female. To the author, this characteristic, together with other structural features, confirms his assumptions on the synonymy of Citharoceps with Ariadna. This comment was included in the publication as an addendum.

In the present study, the revalidation of the genus Citharoceps is proposed, based on the presence of the stridulatory apparatus, together with distinctive characters, such as the labium-sternum length equal or smaller than the endite-sternum junction, a ventral median spine in the metatarsi I of males, and the internal female genitalia with a strong sclerotized interpulmonary fold, forming a conspicuous median flap. The genus is redescribed with more detailed information on the morphological characters, mainly with regard to male and female genitalia. The male of C. fidicina is described for the first time. Citharoceps californica is removed from the synonym of C. fidicina and proposed as a junior synonym of Segestria cruzana Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935, together with the transfer of this species to Citharoceps, and the first description of its male.

Materials and methods

The specimens examined are deposited in the American Museum of Natural History, New York (AMNH; L. Prendini), California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (CAS; C. E. Griswold), Collection of the Cabrillo National Monument Park, San Diego (CNMP; K. Lombardo), Darrel Ubick collection, San Francisco (CDU), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo (IBSP; A. D. Brescovit), and Queensland Museum, Brisbane (QM; R. Raven). The morphological examinations and descriptions follow Grismado (2008) and were made under Leica MZ6 and MZ12 stereomicroscope. Spine notation was modified from Grismado (2008) with the absence of the term “apical” (ap), and description of the leg IV spination. Measurements are in millimeters. The male genitalia was divided into bulb and embolus by the narrowing of the spermatic duct, where it has a less sclerotized region (Figs 6A–B, 8A–C; see Lipke et al. 2014, fig. 10). The investigation of the internal female genitalia followed three steps: (I) dissection of the ventral anterior region of the abdomen; (II) digestion of the dissected material with Ultrazime® contact lenses cleaner enzyme in 1 tablet/5 ml distilled water for 24 hours; (III) posterior treatment with heated KOH for 20 minutes, according to Platnick et al. (1999). Spigot nomenclature followed Platnick et al. (1991) and Griswold et al. (2005). Illustrations were made under a Zeiss Axioscop 20, with a camera lucida attached. Photographs were taken with a Leica DFC 500 digital camera attached to a Leica MZ16A stereomicroscope. Extended focal range photos were composed with Leica Application Suite 3.3. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, the body parts were dehydrated through a series of graded ethanol (80% to 100%), dried by critical-point drying method, mounted on metal stubs using adhesive copper tape and nail polish for fixation, and sputter coated with gold. SEM photographs were taken with a FEI Quanta 250 scanning electron microscope from the Laboratório de Biologia Celular of the Instituto Butantan, São Paulo. Abbreviations: AC–aciniform gland spigot; ALS–anterior lateral spinnerets; AR–anterior receptaculum; B–bulb; d–dorsal; DL–dorsal lobe; E–embolus; GD–glandular ducts plate; IF–interpumonary fold; LS–less sclerotized portion of the sperm duct; mAP–minor ampulate gland spigot; MAP–major ampulate gland spigot; p–prolateral; PI–piriform gland spigot; PLS–posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS–posterior median spinnerets; PR–posterior receptaculum; r–retrolateral; T–tracheal trunk; UE–uterus externus; v–ventral; VL–ventral lobe; vp–ventroprolateral; vr–ventroretrolateral. Geographical coordinates were obtained with Google Earth (Lat/Lon-WGS84).

Vouchers for comparative studies: Segestria senoculata (Linnaeus, 1758): DENMARK: Zealand Island: Tisvilde, Tisvildeleje (56°03'08"N; 12°05'05"W) (DMS), 1♂ 1♀ 3imm., 19-20.V.1991, C. Griswold & N. Scharff leg. (CAS 9032847). Ariadna maxima (Nicolet, 1849): CHILE: Concepcion Province: Estación Escuadrón [36°55'59"S; 73°09'00"W] (DMS), 2♂ 5♀ 3imm., 20.IX.1980, N. Cekalovic leg. (AMNH); Santiago Province: Santiago [33°26'16"S; 70°39'01"W] (DMS), 1♀, 20.X.2009, T. H. Kawamoto leg. (IBSP 166664). Gippsicola sp.: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Massey Range, 4km W of Centre Bellender Ker, 1250m (17°16'S; 145°49'E) (DMS), 2♂, 9–11.X.1991, Monteith, Janetzi & Cook leg. (QM S91041); Bellender ker Range, Summit TV Station, 1560m [17°14'S; 145°52'E] (DMS), 1♀, 1–7.XI.1981, Earthwatch/Queensland Museum leg. (QM S30617).

Taxonomy

Segestriidae Simon, 1893

Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924, gen. reval.

Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924: 607.

Type species

Citharoceps fidicina Chamberlin, 1924

Diagnosis

The genus Citharoceps is distinguished from other segestriid genera by the presence in males, females and immatures of a conspicuous stridulatory apparatus composed of two patches of grooves on both sides of cephalic region (Figs 1A–C) and a stridulatory thorn located on the prolateral region of femur I (Figs 2A–B; 5C, H; 7C, H). Citharoceps has a labium with the distal region narrowed (Fig. 1F; 9C), differing from Segestria (Fig. 9D; Giroti and Brescovit 2011: fig. 8) and Gippsicola (Fig. 9B), which have a nearly parallel-sided labium. It is distinguished from Ariadna (Fig. 9A) by the presence of a labium-sternum junction with equal or smaller length than the endite-sternum junction (Fig. 9C); by a ventral spine on the median region of male metatarsi I (Figs 5E; 7E), and by the females with an interpulmonary fold strongly sclerotized, forming a conspicuous median flap (Figs 4D–E; 6C; 8D), which is absent in Ariadna (Fig. 10A).

Figure 1. 

SEM images of Citharoceps fidicina, female from La Jolla, San Diego (CAS 9039517). A cephalothorax, frontal view B cephalothorax, frontal-lateral view, showing the right stridulatory patch, white arrow indicates the lateral proximal depression C stridulatory patch cuticle in detail D cheliceral lateral basal transverse ridge E cheliceral retromarginal tooth F endites and labium, ventral view G distal region of the right chelicerae, ventro-lateral view, showing the fang and the cheliceral teeth.

Figure 2. 

SEM images of Citharoceps fidicina, female from La Jolla, San Diego (CAS 9039517) (A–C, E–F, H) male from Cabrillo N. M., San Diego (CNMP) (D, G). A right femur I, median region, prolateral view, white arrow indicates the stridulatory thorn B stridulatory thorn, detail C right palp, ventro-prolateral view D left tarsus I, retrolateral view, white arrow indicates chemosensory setae E right tarsus II, tarsal organ F right tibia II, trichobothrial base G tarsal ventral chemosensory setae, detail H right metatarsus IV, distal preening comb, detail.

Description

Medium-sized synspermiata spiders (see Michalik and Ramírez 2014). Total length 5.0–11.92, carapace 2.64–4.44 long, 1.76–2.76 wide. Carapace and chelicerae coloration ranging from orange to dark reddish orange. Eyes bounded by dark outlines (Figs 5A, F; 7A, F). Endites orange to reddish orange; labium dark orange to dark reddish orange. Sternum orange to reddish orange, with darker margins (Figs 5B, G; 7B, G). Legs orange to reddish orange with pair I–II darker. Femur, patella and tibia I–II distally marbled with darker pigment (Figs 5C–E, H–I; 7C–E, H–I). Abdomen greyish, with a dorsal pattern composed by dark chevrons, and irregularly distributed dark spots on the ventral region (Figs 5A–B, F–G; 7A–B, F–G). Carapace oblong, with cephalic region narrower than thoracic region, and sparsely distributed setae usually concentrated in the cephalic region. Posterior eyes positioned in a slightly recurved line (Figs 1A–B; 5A, F; 7A, F). Chelicerae: with prominent basal lateral ridge (Fig. 1D), and lateral proximal depression near the carapace (Fig. 1B); cheliceral teeth composed by three promarginal and one retromarginal, all with ridged cuticle (Figs 1E, G). Labium with 2/3 of the length of the endite, separated from the sternum by a partially membranous suture (Figs 1F, 9C; Labarque and Ramírez 2012: 6). Sternum longer than wide, with anterior region truncated and procurved anterior margin (Figs 5B, G; 7B, G). Male palp with a short and distally notched cymbium, piriform bulb and a hook-like embolus, with small tubercles (Fig. 4A–C). Female palps with one articulated claw, followed by scattered prolateral spines (Fig. 2C). Legs robust (Figs 5C–D, H–I; 7C–D, H–I). Tarsal organ exposed (following Labarque and Ramírez 2012) with edges, and usually three rimmed receptors (Fig. 2E; following Platnick et al. 2012). Trichobothria on the dorsal subdistal region of metatarsi I–IV, dorsal subproximal and subdistal region of tibia I–IV, and dorsal region of the male and female palpal tibia; trichobothrial bases with a transverse ridge, curved inwards; trichobothrial shaft filiform (Fig. 2F). Legs with three tarsal claws, paired claws pectinated, and unpaired one with only a small tooth (Fig. 2D); chemosensory setae on the distal ventral region of tarsi I–II in males (Fig. 2D, G; according to Foelix and Chu-Wang 1973: figs 17a–b). Preening comb of metatarsi IV with 5-7 spines (Fig. 2H). Abdomen uniformly hairy, longer than wider (Figs 5A–B, F–G; 7A–B, F–G). Spinnerets: ALS with three segments, the basal segment crossed by a diagonal membranous stripe (Fig. 3A), and one MAP spigot with 8 PI (Fig. 3D); PMS with just one mAP spigot (Fig. 3C); PLS with 4 AC spigots (Fig. 3B). Colulus triangular and pilose (Fig. 3E). Internal female genitalia: anterior receptaculum bilobated with a hyaline external cuticle, a short dorsal lobe, and a small plate of glandular ducts restricted to the ventral and lateral region of the dorsal lobe; posterior receptaculum membranous, with pores (Figs 4D–G; 6C–D; 8C–D).

Figure 3. 

SEM images of Citharoceps fidicina, female from La Jolla, San Diego (CAS 9039517). A Spinnerets, ventro-posterior view, white arrows indicate the ALS basal segment transverse membrane B right PLS, posterior view C left PMS, posterior view D left ALS, posterior view E colulus in ventral view.

Figure 4. 

Male and female genitalia of Citharoceps species. Citharoceps fidicina, male from Cabrillo N. M., San Diego (CNMP) (A–C) female from La Jolla, San Diego (CAS 9039517) (D–E) and from Baja California, Mexico (CAS 9039518) (F) Citharoceps cruzana, female from Arroyo Seco, California (CDU) (G). A right palp, retrolateral view B embolus tip, prolateral view C cymbium, dorsal view, white arrow indicates distal notch, asterisk indicates a chemosensory setae and circle indicates a tactile setae D internal genitalia, apical view, and E lateral view, white asterisks indicates the median flap F–G anterior receptaculum, ventral view, black arrows indicate the hyaline cuticle.

Figure 5. 

Citharoceps fidicina. Male from Cabrillo N. M., San Diego (CNMP) (A–E) female from La Jolla, San Diego (CAS 9039517) (F–I). A, F habitus, dorsal view B, G habitus, ventral view C right leg I, prolateral view D same, retrolateral view E right metatarsus and tarsus I, ventral view, black arrow indicates the ventral median spine H left leg I, prolateral view I same, retrolateral view; white arrows indicate the stridulatory thorn. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 6. 

Citharoceps fidicina. Male from Cabrillo N. M., San Diego (CNMP) (A–B) female from Baja California, Mexico (CAS 9039518) (C–D). A left palp, prolateral view B same, retrolateral view, white dashed line indicates the narrowing of the sperm duct C internal female genitalia, lateral view, and D ventral view. White scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 7. 

Citharoceps cruzana. Male from Santa Cruz Island, California (CAS 9046542) (A–E) female from Coast Ridge Trail, California (CDU) (F–I). A, F habitus, dorsal view B, G habitus, ventral view C right leg I, prolateral view D same, retrolateral view E right metatarsus and tarsus I, ventral view, black arrow indicates the ventral median spine H left leg I, prolateral view I same, retrolateral view; white arrows indicate the stridulatory thorn. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 8. 

Citharoceps cruzana. Male from Santa Cruz Island, California (CAS 9046542) (A–B) male from Indians Road, Arroyo Seco Camping, California (CDU) (C) female from Arroyo Seco Camping, California (CDU) (D–E). A left palp, prolateral view B same, retrolateral view, white dashed line indicates the narrowing of the sperm duct C left palp, postero-retrolateral view, detail indicating the less sclerotized portion of the sperm duct D internal female genitalia, lateral view, and E ventral view. White scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 9. 

Endites and labium, ventral view. Ariadna maxima, male from Escuadrón, Concepción, Chile (AMNH) (A); Gippsicola sp., male from Massey Range, Queensland, Australia (QM S91041) (B); Citharoceps cruzana, male from Santa Cruz Island, California (CAS 9046542) (C); Segestria senoculata, male from Tisvildeleje, Zealand Island, Denmark (CAS 9032847) (D). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Citharoceps fidicina Chamberlin, 1924, comb. rest.

Figs 1, 2, 3, 4A–F, 5, 6

Citharoceps fidicina Chamberlin, 1924: 608 (Immature holotype from Ensenada [31°51'28"N; 116°36'21"W] (DMS), Baja California, Mexico, 4.VII.1921, Soiver leg., deposited in CAS 1392, examined).

Ariadna fidicina – Beatty, 1970: 478 (Syn.). – World Spider Catalog, 2015.

Additional material examined

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. California: San Diego County: San Diego, La Jolla [32°50'24"N; 117°16'37"W] (DMS), Eucalyptus grove, 1♀ 1imm., XII.1965, F. Ennik leg. (CAS 9039517); San Diego, Point Loma Peninsula [32°41'1.64"N; 117°14'52.07"W] (DMS), 2♂, 8-12.IX.2003, D. Chan & T. Duffield leg. (CNMP); MEXICO. Baja California del Norte: 2.5mi S. of the Halfway House on Mex. Highway #1 (RB-3) [30°33'N; 115°10'W] (DMS), 2♀ 1imm., 21.XI.1962, P. R. Craig & D. Dailey leg. (CAS 9039518; 9039526; 9039546).

Diagnosis

Males of Citharoceps fidicina differ from those of C. cruzana by the slightly shorter and thicker embolus (Fig. 6A–B) and by a straight metatarsus I (Fig. 5C–E). Females differ from C. cruzana by the anterior receptaculum with both dorsal and ventral lobes well delimited, the ventral lobe projected and laterally expanded (Figs 4D–F, 6C–D).

Description

Male (CNMP). Total length 5.2; carapace 2.64 long, 1.76 wide. Palps light brownish orange (Fig. 6A–B). Legs: robust, with short setae, and spines with different sizes (Fig. 5C–E). Leg formula: I/II-III-IV. Leg measurements: I, femur 2.36, patella 0.88, tibia 1.96, metatarsus 2.12, tarsus 0.88, total 8.2; II, 2.36, 0.88, 1.96, 2.12, 0.88, 8.2; III, 1.88, 0.68, 1.4, 1.48, 0.68, 6.12; IV, 2.16, 0.88, 1.68, 1.64, 0,68, 7.04. Spination: leg I, femur d0-0-0-1-0-0/1-0, p0-0-0-0-1/0-1-0; tibia p0-0-0-1-0-1-0, vp1-0-1-0-1-0-1, v1-0-1-0-1-0-0, vr2/1-0-1-0-1-0-1, r0-1-1-1-1-1-0; metatarsus p0, vp0-1-0-0-1-1-1, v0-0-1-0-0-0-2, vr0-1-0-0-1-1-1, r0-1-0-0-0-0-0 (Fig. 5C–E); leg II, femur d0-0-1-1-0-0/1-0, p0-0-0-0-0-1-0; tibia p0-1-0-1-0-1-0, vp0-0-0-0/1-0-1-1, v0-0-1-0-1-0-0, vr1-0-1-0-1-0-1, r1-0-0/1-0-1-0-0; metatarsus vp0-1-0-0-1-1-1, v0-0-1-0-0-0-2, vr0-1-1-1-0-0-1; leg IV femur d1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0; tibia v0-0-0/1-0-0-1-0, vr0-0-0-0-0-0-1; metatarsus vp0-0-1-0-0-0-1, vr metatarsal comb with 5 spines.

Female (CAS 9039517). Total length 8.0; carapace 3.72 long, 2.36 wide. Palps orange, gradually darkening distally. Legs: robust, with long setae, and with ventral tibial and metatarsal spines of similar size (Fig. 5H–I). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. Leg measurements: I, femur 2.56, patella 1.08, tibia 1.88, metatarsus 1.72, tarsus 0.76, total 8.0; II, 2.36, 1.08, 1.84, 1.76, 0.76, 7.8; III, 1.92, 1.0, 1.28, 1.24, 0.68, 6.12; IV, 2.4, 1.24, 1.8, 1.52, 0.68, 7.64. Spination: I, femur p0-0-0-0-0-1-0; tibia vp1-0-1-0-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-0-1-0-1; metatarsus vp0-1-0-1-1-1-1-1, v0-0-1-0-0-0-0-2, vr0-1-0-1-1-0-1-1-1 (Fig. 5H–I); II, tibia vr1-0-1-0-1-0-2/1; metatarsus vp0-1-0-1-1-1, v0-0-0/1-0-0-2, vr0-1-0-1-0-1; IV, vr metatarsal comb with 6-7 spines (Fig. 2H).

Variation

Male (n=2): Total length 5.0–5.2; carapace 2.64–2.72 long; femur I 2.36–2.44. Female (n=3): Total length 6.08–8.0; carapace 3.0–3.72 long, 1.84–2.36 wide; femur I 1.92–2.56.

Distribution

South of California, USA and Baja California, Mexico (Fig. 11).

Remarks

We feel that species attribution is unproblematic. The immature specimen collected in Baja California del Norte by Craig and Dailey in 1962, matches perfectly with the type material of C. fidicina. In addition, that immature was collected with two females that match perfectly with the females collected in San Diego.

Citharoceps cruzana (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935), comb. n.

Figs 4G, 7, 8, 9C

Segestria cruzana Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935: 7 (Immature holotype from Santa Cruz Island (34°00'N; 119°45'W) (DMS), Santa Barbara County, California, USA, III–IV.1913, R. V. Chamberlin leg., deposited in AMNH, examined). – World Spider Catalog 2015.

Citharoceps californica Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935: 8, pl. 5, figs 32–33 (Immature holotype and four female paratypes from Laguna Beach (33°31'N; 117°46'W) (DMS), California, USA, following Beatty (1970: 478), should be deposited in AMNH, not located, according to E. Sorkin, in letter). – Beatty 1970: 478 – NEW SYNONYMY.

Additional material examined

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. California: Monterey County: Greenfield, Arroyo Seco Camping, talus area at The Lakes (36°14'N; 121°29'W) (DMS), 1♀, 22.II.2002, D. & S. Ubick leg. (CDU); Greenfield, Arroyo Seco Camping, Indians Road, el. 1126’ (36°13.9'N; 121°29.5'W) (DMS), 1♂ 2imm., 18.VI – 24.X.2004, D. & S. Ubick leg. (CDU); Coast Ridge Trail [36°08'26.32"N; 121°33'10.03"W] (DMS), 0.8 mi SE Nacimiento Rd., el. 3000’, 1♀ 2imm., 1.VI.1991, D. Ubick leg. (CDU); San Luis Obispo County: Cayucos [35°26'18"N; 120°53'37"W] (DMS), 300’, 1♀, 15.XI.1937, O. Bryant leg. (CAS 9039527); Santa Barbara County: gully SW of U. C. Field Station, 80-90m, Santa Cruz Island [33°59'59"N; 119°45'42"W] (DMS), 1♂ 1imm., 22.IV.1994, D. H. Kavanaugh leg. (CAS 9055018; 9046542).

Diagnosis

Males of Citharoceps cruzana differ from those of C. fidicina by the presence of a relatively longer and slender embolus (Fig. 8A–B), and a slightly prolaterally bent metatarsus I (Fig. 7C–E). Females differ from C. fidicina by the darker coloration, and anterior receptaculum with both dorsal and ventral lobes with similar length, the ventral lobe not expanded (Figs 4G, 8C–D).

Description

Male (CAS 9046542). Total length 8.4; carapace 4.0 long, 2.76 wide. Palps light orange (Fig. 8A–B). Legs: robust, with short setae, and spines with different sizes (Fig. 7C–E). Leg formula: II-I-III-IV. Leg measurements: I, femur 3.2, patella 1.28, tibia 2.68, metatarsus 3.04, tarsus 1.04, total 11.24; II, 3.2, 1.24, 2.96, 3.12, 1.04, 11.56; III, 2.72, 1.16, 2.12, 2.36, 0.88, 9.24; IV, 3.16, 1.32, 2.6, 2.6, 0,88, 10.56. Spination: I, femur d0-0-0-0-1-0/1-2-0, p0-0-0-0-0-2-0-0; tibia p0/1-1-0-1-0-1-0, vp1-0-1-0-1-0-1, v1-1-0-1-0-0-0, vr1-1-0-1-0-1-0-1, r2-1-0-1-1-0-1-0; metatarsus vp0-1-1-1-0/1-1-1, v0-0-1-0-0-0-0, vr0-1-0-1-1-0-1-2, r0-1-0-0-0-0-0 (Fig. 7C–E); II, femur d1-0-1-0-1-1-2-0, p0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0; tibia p0/1-1-0-1-0-1-0, vp0-1-0-1-0-1-0-1, v1/0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0, vr1-1-0-1-1-1-1, r1-1-0-1-1/0-1-1; metatarsus vp0-1-1-1-0-1-1, v0-1/0-1-0-0-0-0, vr0-1-1-0-1-0-1/0-2, r0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0; IV, femur d1-1-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0, r0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0; tibia vp0/1-1-0-0-1-0-0, vr0-0-0-0-0-1/0-1; metatarsus vp0-0/1-1-0-0-1-0-1, metatarsal comb with 6 spines.

Female (Coast Ridge Trail, CDU). Total length: 11.92; carapace 4.44 long, 2.6 wide. Palps reddish orange, gradually darkening distally. Legs reddish orange, with pairs I-II darker. Femur, patella and tibia I-II darkly marbled mainly on the ventral, prolateral and retrolateral regions (Fig. 7H–I). Legs: robust, with long setae, and with ventral tibial and metatarsal spines of similar size (Fig. 7H–I). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. Leg measurements: I, femur 2.88, patella 1.28, tibia 2.12, metatarsus 2.12, tarsus 0.88, total 9.28; II, 2.84, 1.28, 2.16, 2.12, 0,84, 9.24; III, 2.32, 1.08, 1.44, 1.6, 0.76, 7.2; IV, 2.84, 1.28, 2.08, 1.8, 0.8, 8.8. Spination: leg I, femur p0-0-0-0-0-2-0; tibia vp1-0-1-0-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-0-1-0-1; metatarsus vp 0-1-1-1-1-1-1, v0-0-0-0-0-0-2, vr0-1-1-1-0-1-1 (Fig. 7H–I); leg II, femur p0-0-0-0-0-1-0; tibia vp0-0-0-0-0-0-1, vr1-0-1-0-1-0-1; metatarsus vp0-1-0-1-0-1-1, v0-0-0-0-0-0-2, vr0-1-0-1-0-1-1; leg IV, tibia vr0-0-0-0-0-0-1; metatarsus vp0-0-1/0-0-0-0-2/1, vr metatarsal comb with 5-6 spines.

Variation

Male (n=2): Total length 8.0–8.4; carapace 3.92–4.0 long, 2.4–2.76 wide; femur I 3.08–3.2. Female (n=3): Total length 9.32–11.92; carapace 4.24–4.44 long, 2.6–2.76 wide; femur I 2.72–2.92.

Distribution

Monterey County to Santa Barbara County, California, USA (Fig. 11).

Remarks

One male of Citharoceps was found from the type locality of S. cruzana. After the examination of the immature holotype of S. cruzana, it was detected that it possessed the stridulatory apparatus exclusive for Citharoceps, not detected by Chamberlin and Ivie (1935), thus we transferred this species to this genus. In addition, in the additional material, females of Citharoceps were found from the middle coast of California that resemble those described by Chamberlin and Ivie (1935) as C. californica, together with a male, from the same region, that is similar to the one from Santa Cruz Island. Thus, C. californica is removed from its synonym with C. fidicina, due to its greater size and darker coloration, and placed as junior synonym of C. cruzana.

Discussion

The distribution of the genus Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924 comprises only coastal regions of the state of California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico (Fig. 11). The Baja California peninsula has a tectonical origin and is well known to harbor a great diversity and endemic species of fauna and flora, mainly because of climate and topography divergences (Murphy 1983, Grismer 1994). Under this scenario, the diagnostic features presented by Citharoceps are rather distinct based on the other two segestriid genera occurring in this region e.g. Ariadna and Segestria. Although those characters are putative synapomorphies, the stridulatory apparatus, once thought by Beatty (1970) to be exclusive of C. fidicina, is also present in C. cruzana, contradicting his assumption. In addition, the labium-sternum junction length, the presence of a ventral median spine on metatarsi I of males, and the morphology of the interpulmonary fold are very distinctive characters from Segestria (Fig. 9D; Giroti and Brescovit 2011, figs 19–20, 23), Ariadna (Figs 9A, 10A; Grismado 2008, figs 1A, 4D, 6H) and Gippsicola (Figs 9B, 10B). Under these circumstances, it seems reasonable that Citharoceps is a different genus and must be treated as a valid taxon.

Figure 10. 

Ariadna maxima, female from Santiago, Chile (IBSP 166664) (A); Gippsicola sp., female from Bellender ker Range, Queensland, Australia (QM S30617) (B); SEM images of internal female genitalia, apical view, showing the absence of the median flap.

Figure 11. 

Locality of the specimens of Citharoceps examined in the present study.

Notes on the stridulatory apparatus of Citharoceps

The occurrence of a stridulatory apparatus in spiders has been reported in at least 25 spider families (Legendre 1963, Rovner 1980, Uetz and Stratton 1982, Starck 1985, Maddison 1987, Wunderlich 1995, Ramírez et al. 2001, Jocqué 2005), and also phylogenetically tested in Haplogynae (Labarque and Ramírez 2012) and Entelegynae (Griswold et al. 2005, Ramírez 2014). Legendre (1963) was the first to classify these apparatus (types a–g), and Starck (1985) provided a complete list of known stridulatory apparatus in spiders, also discussing their structures and evolutionary context. The stridulatory apparatus found in Citharoceps can be classified as belonging to the “type l”, with ridges or grooves (pars stridens) in the carapace; and thorns (plectron) in the femur I. This type was also described by Maddison (1987) for seven salticid genera.

The function of the stridulatory apparatus in Citharoceps is unknown, but considering that it occurs in males, females and immatures, it seems unlikely that it has a courtship function. Maddison (1987) reported a personal comment of M. J. Moody having heard a sub-adult male of C. fidicina making a loud buzzing sound while rubbing the carapace ridges. Considering this information, the function of the stridulatory apparatus in Citharoceps could involve defensive buzzing sounds, as described by Uetz and Stratton (1982) for Micrathena gracilis (Walckenaer, 1805), but future ethological studies are needed to corroborate this hypothesis.

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by FAPESP grant (2013/20008–6) to AMG; CNPq (301776/2004–0) and FAPESP grants (2011/50689–0) to ADB. We would like to thank to the curators of the zoological collections for providing the specimens for this study. Also, to Alexander Sánchez Ruiz, Facundo Labarque, Peter Michalik and Cristian Grismado for valuable suggestions on a previous version of the manuscript. Thanks to Beatriz Mauricio for helping with the SEM images in Instituto Butantan.

References

  • Audouin V (1826) Explication sommaire des planches d’arachnides de l’Egypte et de la Syrie publiées par Jules-César Savigny, Membre de L’Institut; offrant un exposé des caractères naturels des genres, avec la distinction des espèces. In “Description de l’Egypte...”. Histoire Naturelle 1(4): 1–339 (arachnids, 99–186).
  • Beatty JA (1970) The spider genus Ariadna in the Americas (Araneae, Dysderidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 139(8): 433–518.
  • Chamberlin RV (1924) The spider fauna of the shores and islands of the Gulf of California. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 12: 561–694.
  • Chamberlin RV, Ivie W (1935) Miscellaneous new American spiders. Bulletin of the University of Utah 26(4): 1–79.
  • Emerton JH (1890) New England spiders of the families Drassidae, Agalenidae and Dysderidae. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 8: 166–206.
  • Foelix RF, Chu-Wang IW (1973) The morphology of spider sensilla, II. Chemoreceptors. Tissue and Cell 5: 461–478. doi: 10.1016/S0040-8166(73)80038-2
  • Giroti AM, Brescovit AD (2011) The spider genus Segestria Latreille, 1804 in South America (Araneae: Segestriidae). Zootaxa 3046: 59–66.
  • Grismado CJ (2008) A taxonomic revision of the spider genus Ariadna Audouin, 1826 in Argentina and Chile, with the description of five new species (Arachnida, Araneae, Segestriidae). Zoosystema 30(2): 333–360.
  • Grismer LL (1994) The Origin and Evolution of the Peninsular Herpetofauna of Baja California, México. Herpetological Natural History 2(1): 51–106.
  • Griswold CE, Ramírez MJ, Coddington JA, Platnick NI (2005) Atlas of Phylogenetic Data for Entelegynae Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae: Entelegynae) with Comments on their Phylogeny. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 56 (suppl. II): 1–324.
  • Hentz NM (1842) Descriptions and figures of the araneides of the United States. Boston Journal of Natural History 4: 54–57, 223–231.
  • Hogg HR (1900) A contribution to our knowledge of the spiders of Victoria: including some new species and genera. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria (N.S.) 13: 68–123.
  • Jocqué R (2005) Six stridulating organs on one spider (Araneae, Zodariidae): is this the limit?. Journal of Arachnology 33: 597–603. doi: 10.1636/04-107.1
  • Labarque FM, Ramírez MJ (2012) The placement of the spider genus Periegops and the phylogeny of Scytodoidea (Araneae: Araneomorphae). Zootaxa 3312: 1–44.
  • Latreille PA (1804) Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des Crustacés et des Insectes. Paris 7: 144–305.
  • Legendre R (1963) L’Audition et l’émission de sons chez les aranéides. Année Biologique 2: 371–390.
  • Linnaeus C (1758) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species cum characteribus differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae, 821 pp. (Araneae, 619–624).
  • Lipke E, Ramírez MJ, Michalik P (2014) Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea. Journal of Morphology 275: 1238–1257. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20298
  • Maddison W (1987) Marchena and other jumping spiders with an apparent leg-carapace stridulatory mechanism (Araneae: Salticidae: Heliophaninae and Thiodininae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 7: 101–106.
  • Michalik P, Ramírez MJ (2014) Evolutionary morphology of the male reproductive system, spermatozoa and seminal fluid of spiders (Araneae, Arachnida) – Current knowledge and future directions. Arthropod Structure and Development 43: 291–322. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2014.05.005
  • Murphy RW (1983) Paleobiogeography and Genetic Differentiation of the Baja California Herpetofauna. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences 137: 1–48.
  • Nicolet AC (1849) Aracnidos. In: Gay C. Historia física y política de Chile. Zoología 3: 319–543.
  • Platnick NI, Coddington JA, Forster RR, Griswold CE (1991) Spinneret morphology and the phylogeny of Haplogynae spiders. American Museum Novitates 3016: 1–73.
  • Platnick NI, Grismado CJ, Ramírez MJ (1999) On the genera of the spider subfamily Otiothopinae (Araneae, Palpimanidae). American Museum Novitates 3257: 1–25.
  • Platnick et al. (2012) Tarsal organ morphology and the phylogeny of goblin spiders (Araneae, Oonopidae), with notes on basal genera. American Museum Novitates 3736: 1–52. doi: 10.1206/3736.2
  • Purcell WF (1904) Descriptions of new genera and species of South African spiders. Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 15: 115–173. doi: 10.1080/21560382.1904.9626437
  • Ramírez MJ (2014) The morphology and phylogeny of Dionychan spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 390: 1–374. doi: 10.1206/821.1
  • Ramírez MJ, Lopardo L, Bonaldo AB (2001) A review of the Chilean spider genus Olbus, with notes on the relationships of the Corinnidae (Arachnida, Araneae). Insect Systematics and Evolution 31: 441–462. doi: 10.1163/187631200X00480
  • Rovner JS (1980) Vibration in Heteropoda venatoria (Sparassidae) – a 3rd method of sound production in spiders. Journal of Arachnology 8: 193–200.
  • Simon E (1893) Histoire naturelle das araignées. Paris, 1: 257–488.
  • Starck JM (1985) Stridulationsapparate einiger Spinnen – Morphologie und evolutionsbiologische Aspekte. Zeitschrift für zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 23: 115–135. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.1985.tb00575.x
  • Uetz GW, Stratton GE (1982) Acoustic communication and reproductive isolation in spiders. In: Witt PN, Rovner JS (Eds) Spider Communication: Mechanisms and Ecological Significance. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 123–159. doi: 10.1515/9781400857517.123
  • Walckenaer CA (1805) Tableau des aranéides ou caractères essentiels des tribus, genres, familles et races que renferme le genre Aranea de Linné, avec la désignation des espèces comprises dans chacune de ces divisions. Paris, 88 pp.
  • World Spider Catalog (2015) World Spider Catalog, version 16. Natural History Museum Bern. http://wsc.nmbe.ch [accessed on 12.III.2015]
  • Wunderlich J (1995) Beschreibung der neuen Spinnen-Gattung Zygiometella der Tetragnathidae: Metinae und eines bisher unbekannten Typs von Stridulations-Organen (Arachnida: Araneae). Beiträge zur Araneologie 4: 639–642.
login to comment