Sphingomyelinase D Activity in Sicarius tropicus Venom : Toxic Potential and Clues to the Evolution of SMases D in the Sicariidae Family

The spider family Sicariidae includes three genera, Hexophthalma, Sicarius and Loxosceles. The three genera share a common characteristic in their venoms: the presence of Sphingomyelinases D (SMase D). SMases D are considered the toxins that cause the main pathological effects of the Loxosceles venom, that is, those responsible for the development of loxoscelism. Some studies have shown that Sicarius spiders have less or undetectable SMase D activity in their venoms, when compared to Hexophthalma. In contrast, our group has shown that Sicarius ornatus, a Brazilian species, has active SMase D and toxic potential to envenomation. However, few species of Sicarius have been characterized for their toxic potential. In order to contribute to a better understanding about the toxicity of Sicarius venoms, the aim of this study was to characterize the toxic properties of male and female venoms from Sicarius tropicus and compare them with that from Loxosceles laeta, one of the most toxic Loxosceles venoms. We show here that S. tropicus venom presents active SMases D. However, regarding hemolysis development, it seems that these toxins in this species present different molecular mechanisms of action than that described for Loxosceles venoms, whereas it is similar to those present in bacteria containing SMase D. Besides, our results also suggest that, in addition to the interspecific differences, intraspecific variations in the venoms' composition may play a role in the toxic potential of venoms from Sicarius species.Peer reviewe

Loxosceles niedeguidonae (Araneae, Sicariidae) a new species of brown spider from Brazilian semi-arid region

A new species of recluse spider, Loxosceles niedeguidonae sp. n., is described from the Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara, State of Piauí, Brazil. This is the first endemic species described from Brazilian semi-arid environment. The species is included in gaucho group of Gertsch (1967) due to its spermathecal shape and is considered close to Loxosceles chapadensis Bertani, Fukushima & Nagahama, 2010 by the unusual long male palpal tibia, a character not common for species of this group. An updated key for Loxosceles species of gaucho group is presented

MALE PALPAL BULBS AND HOMOLOGOUS FEATURES IN THERAPHOSINAE (ARANEAE, THERAPHOSIDAE)

Volume: 28Start Page: 29End Page: 4

Cosmopelma Simon 1889

<i>Cosmopelma</i> Simon, 1889 <p> <i>Cosmopelma</i> Simon, 1889: 217; 1892: 128; Petrunkevitch, 1911: 54; Mello-Leitão, 1923: 123; Roewer, 1942: 220; Raven, 1985: 41. Goloboff, 1995: 27.</p> <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>Cosmopelma decoratum</i> Simon, 1889, by monotypy.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Males and females of <i>Cosmopelma</i> differ from those of <i>Sason</i> by the wide clypeus (Figs 1, 6, 14, 22, 30), from <i>Neodiplothele</i> by the presence of 4 spinnerets (Figs 8, 15, 24, 31) and from <i>Paracenobiopelma</i> by the absence of cuspules on the labium (Figs 2, 7, 13, 23, 29). Additionally, females of <i>Cosmopelma</i> differ from those of other Sasoninae by the presence of spiky cuspules ventrally on the maxillae and coxae I (Figs 2, 7, 23, 40, 41, 43, 44). Two other possible diagnostic characters for females are the two pale bands around the apical segment of the PLS (Figs 8, 15, 24, 31), and the symmetric set of three pairs of spines on the tibiae of the palps in females (Figs 3, 9, 25, 39, 42).</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Carapace: longer than wide, surface smooth. Thoracic striae faint and shallow. Caput slightly raised. Fovea shallow, short, slightly procurved. Females with eight eyes on reduced and low tubercle; males with eight eyes on raised tubercle. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Chelicerae with very fine setae on pro- and retrolateral sides. Fangs pale at base, darkening distally, reaching light brown hue. Rastellum absent, distal edge with dark very thick setae. Labium wider than long, without cuspules. Labiosternal groove shallow, flat, with pair of sigilla. Females with spiky cuspules ventrally on inner angles of maxillae and coxae I. Males with maxillary and coxal cuspules absent or reduced. Maxillary heel rounded, anterior lobe indistinct. Lyra absent. Booklungs semicircular, with elliptical aperture; booklung combs not evident.</p> <p>Leg formula: IV I II III. Females with symmetric pattern (2-2-2) of ventral long curved spines on palpal tibiae; legs I and II with distinct pattern (2-0-1) of ventral long curved spines on metatarsi and (1-1-1) of retrolateral long curved spines on tibiae. Preening combs absent. Few clavate trichobothria on tarsi of palps and all legs, median positioned. Females with smooth claw on palp. Males and females superior tarsal claws smooth on all legs. Tibial apophysis absent on legs I, replaced or not by a megaspine.</p> <p>Four spinnerets. PMS well developed. Apical segment of PLS with two pale bands around it: one basal and one apical.</p> <p>Two spermathecae with two receptacles each. Male palpal bulbs pyriform with parallel keels.</p> <p>Chelicerae and carapace light brown, legs bicolored, with alternating pale and brown bands, abdomen dorsally bicolored, with a distinctive symmetric pattern of pale and brown areas: 3 anterior pairs of bands separated by brown area in middle and 3 posterior bands undivided; ventrally pale.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>Cosmopelma</i> is endemic to the State of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil (Figs 45–47), and found in woods near the sea shore. They have been found only between the rivers De Contas (to the north) and Pardo (to the south), within an area known as “Cacao region”.</p>Published as part of <i>Mori, Andre & Bertani, Rogerio, 2016, On the genus Cosmopelma Simon, 1889 (Araneae, Barychelidae), pp. 520-534 in Zootaxa 4137 (4)</i> on pages 521-522, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.4, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/267111">http://zenodo.org/record/267111</a&gt

Amazonius giovaninii Cifuentes & Bertani, 2022, n. gen.

Amazonius giovaninii n. gen. n. sp. (Figs 19, 311, 357–359, 364–397) Diagnosis. Females of Amazonius giovaninii n. gen. n. sp. resemble those of A. germani n. gen. n. sp. by the spermathecae having a single subsegmented apical lobe (Fig. 371). They can be distinguished by the femora I and II covered ventrally with short stiff setae (Figs 357–359). Males resemble those of A. burgessi n. comb. by the male palpal bulb embolus roughly straight with a slight curvature distally (Fig. 367). They differ by the embolus thicker narrowing abruptly on its distal portion (Fig. 367). Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Dener Giovanini, a Brazilian environmentalist and founder of the RENCTAS—National Network to Combat Trafficking in Wild Animals. Type material. Holotype female from Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus, Igarapé Jacare, off west side upper Rio Taruma-Açu (02°53’49.92’’S, 60°7’16.08” W), N. Gordon col., Nov 1996, in thatched roof of hut (MNRJ 7715); paratype male from Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus, UFAM [3°05’S, 59°58’W], M. Q. Almeida col. 28 May 2007 (INPA 9105). Other material examined. BRAZIL: Amazonas: no locality (P6 T2 MC), 1 male (INPA 9104); Manaus [3°05’S, 59°58’W], 1 male, A. Coletto, December 2004 (INPA 9103); Manaus [3°05’S, 59°58’W], 1 female, F.J.A. Peralta col., 06 July 1991 (INPA 4880); Manaus, 1 female, without additional data (IBSP 3814); Manaus, Igarapé Jacare (02°53’49.92’’ S, 60°7’16.08’’ W), off west side upper Rio Tarumã-Açu, 1 male, 1 female, J. Calavanti col., 01 November 1996 (MNRJ 7716); ZF2, km 14, Malaise grande, no chão (2°35’21”S, 60°06’55”W), 1 male, J. A. Rafael and F. F. Xavier (INPA 9106); Reserva PDBFF, km 41 [2°20’S, 60°0’W], arm. Suspensa / sub-bosque, 1 male, R. Querino, S. Costa, A. Nazareno, L. Queiroz, M. Feitosa and J. Deus, 21–22 July 2004 (INPA 9107); Reserva Ducke [2°55’S, 59°58’W], Arm. Malaise, Platô Norte / Sul, 1 male, G. Freitas and M. Feitosa, 14 February to 06 March 2007 (INPA 9108); Reserva Ducke (2°55’4.35”S, 59°58’38W), Malaise, turma 2017, 1 female, D. A. Lima and N. T. B. Antunes, 15 October to 09 December 2016 (INPA 9109); Presidente Figueiredo, Balbina UHE [1°54’S, 59°28’W], Uatumã river, 1 female, April 1985, in Inajá tree (INPA 9110). Description. Female holotype (MNRJ 7715). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 35.44. Carapace 13.89 long, 11.78 wide, 7.97 high. Chelicera: 7.68 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 11.88, 7.13, 9.58, 8.81, 5.08, 42.48; II: 11.13, 5.77, 8.46, 8.29, 5.52, 39.17; III: 9.37, 5.25, 7.26, 8.04, 4.75, 34.67; IV: 11.66, 5.86, 10.67, 10.97, 5.10, 44.26; Palp: 7.96, 4.65, 5.38, -, 6.39, 24.38. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.30, 2.50, 2.59, 2.23, palp= 1.83; patellae I–IV= 2.58, 2.44, 2.36, 2.34, palp= 2.13; tibiae I–IV= 2.42, 2.15, 2.08, 2.12, palp= 1.93; metatarsi I–IV= 2.06, 1.77, 1.65, 1.47; tarsi I–IV= 1.96, 1.85, 1.66, 1.56, palp= 1.81. Abdomen: 20.88 long, 13.07 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.97 long, 0.40 wide, 0.67 apart; PLS, 1.2 basal, 0.93 middle, 1.23 distal; midwidths 0.74, 0.77, 0.49, respectively. Carapace: 1.18 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 1.63 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 0.62 high, 1.85 long, 3.26 wide. Clypeus absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.72, ALE 0.78, PME 0.50, PLE 0.67, AME–AME 0.46, AME–ALE 0.30, AME–PME 0.22, ALE–ALE 2.16, ALE–PME 0.42, PME–PME 1.76, PME–PLE 1.18, PLE–PLE 2.52, ALE–PLE 0.27. Maxilla: length to width 1.63. Cuspules: ca. 197 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.05 long, 2.38 wide, with ca. 150 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae, disposed without discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before the teeth row (Fig. 375). Sternum: 6.92 long, 5.90 wide. Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to I: 1.04. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 1/2 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Femora I ventrally and laterally with short scale like setae (Figs 357–359). Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 0/0; II 2/0; III 0/2; IV 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxillae (Fig. 374). Spermathecae (Fig. 371): Two spermathecae completely separated, slightly curved apically with a subdivided apical lobe. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace brown, leg and palpal femora brown, abdomen with a central line connected with 2–3 transverse lateral stripes. Description. Male (INPA 9105). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 29.44. Carapace 11.33 long, 11.13 wide, 2.99 high. Chelicera: 6.00 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 14.80, 7.30, 12.87, 11.93, 6.42, 53.32; II: 13.08, 5.96, 11.09, 10.66, 5.52, 46.31; III: 10.82, 4.77, 8.65, 10.03, 4.57, 38.84; IV: 13.55, 5.60, 11.92, 13.46, 4.92, 49.45; Palp: 8.58, 4.33, 7.60, -, 2.38, 22.89. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.31, 2.21, 2.15, 2.09, palp= 1.74; patellae I–IV= 2.03, 2.11, 1.92, 1.93, palp= 1.65; tibiae I–IV= 1.59, 1.48, 1.52, 1.68, palp= 1.53; metatarsi I–IV= 1.24, 1.13, 1.06, 1.01; tarsi I–IV= 1.06, 1.15, 1.14, 1.10, palp= 1.80. Abdomen: 16.16 long, 9.65 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.50 long, 0.65 wide, 0.37 apart; PLS, 2.32 basal, 1.94 middle, 2.78 distal; midwidths 0.91, 0.94, 0.83, respectively. Carapace: 1.02 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 1.09 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 0.38 high, 2.00 long, 2.84 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.80, ALE 0.69, PME 0.46, PLE 0.61, AME–AME 0.44, AME–ALE 0.14, AME–PME 0.13, ALE–ALE 1.94, ALE–PME 0.17, PME–PME 1.59, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 2.07, ALE–PLE 0.50. Maxilla: length to width 1.52. Cuspules: ca. 155 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.49 long, 2.02 wide, with ca. 117 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae, disposed without discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before and beginning of teeth row (Fig. 373). Sternum: 6.18 long, 4.81 wide. Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.93. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/2 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 1 behind retrolateral process of tibial apophysis; II: 3/0; III 2/2; IV 1/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped like a spot on prolateral face of the maxillae (Fig. 372). Tibial apophysis (Figs 368–370): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral, one at the apical part of retrolateral process and another on its median area. A rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I sinuous, folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis. Palp (figs 364–367): tegulum length 1.04, width 1.2, embolus proximal width 0.64, length 4.11 Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum lengh: 3.95. Embolus roughly straight with a slight curvature distally, narrowing abruptly on its distal portion. Embolus tip roughly straight. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace, chelicerae, legs, labium, sternum and maxillae light brown, abdomen lighter. Distribution. Brazil (Fig. 311).Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on pages 111-114, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/625322

Psalmopoeus maya Witt 1996

Psalmopoeus maya Witt, 1996 nomen nudum Psalmopoeus maya Witt, 1996: 1, figs 1–7. Gabriel 2018: 36; Gabriel and Sherwood 2020: 391. Type material. Holotype male and paratypes male and exuvium of female, should be deposited at Zoologischen Museum Hamburg (ZMH), not found (see Gabriel and Sherwood 2020). Witt (1996) described a male and female from Belize, and distinguished the species by its unique coloration and the northern distribution-range. The figures show the male with copulatory organ having a short embolus similar to P. reduncus and P. victori and the female with elongate spermathecae with apical lobe well sclerotized, thus resembling P. victori. However, the types were never deposited (Gabriel and Sherwood 2020), the figures are not detailed and the description does not allow the identification of the species. Therefore, we consider Psalmopoeus maya Vitt, 1996 a nomem nudum.Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on page 98, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/625322

Psalmopoeus irminia Saager 1994

Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994 (Figs 19, 145, 276–292) Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994: 59, figs 2–15, 6A, 7–11); Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz 2006: 8, figs 11, 13; Mendoza 2014: 734, fig. 17; Bertani et al. 2016: 1, figs 3–5; Cifuentes & Perafán 2020: 109, fig. 4.8C; World Spider Catalog 2021. Diagnosis. Females of P. irminia resemble those of P cambridgei and P. pulcher by the elongate, non-triangular spermathecae, with straight apex having apical lobe and lobes on central area (Fig. 283). They differ by the shorter and rounded apical lobe, and rounded lobes on central area not protruding (Fig. 283). Males resemble those of P. cambridgei by the embolus 3.0–3.5 times tegulum length (Fig. 276). They can be distinguished from those from P. cambridgei by the embolus slender and distal third curving gently to retrolateral side (Fig.279). Additionally, males and females differ from those of all other species, except P. cambridgei, by the color pattern having a yellow orange line from retrolateral side of metatarsi to its center, and orange spot on dorsal tarsi (Figs 288–289, 291). Females with one dark vertical central stripe connecting with at least 4 gray transverse lines (Figs 288, 291). From P. cambridgei they differ by the darker body and more conspicuous pattern on the abdomen and legs (Figs 288, 291). Type material. Holotype male, paratype male, parts of a male, 4 exuvia and a living female that should be deposited after death, from Venezuela, Bolivar, Gran Sabana, Santa Elena de Uairén, San Ignacio [5°00’N, 61°08’W], at Zoologischem Museum Hamburg, not examined. Material examined. VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Cejal, Orinoco river [5°25’N, 67°43’W], silk retreat in low tree cavity, 1 male 1 female, R. West col., February 1992 (MNRJ 7709); 1 male, same collector and data (MZUSP 76541); Bolívar: Santa Elena de Uairén, 1 male, S. Marshall col. 21 January 1979 (MNRJ 7706); BRAZIL: Roraima: Amajari, Tepequém (3°44’13.4”N, 61°43’33.2”W), 1 female, R. Bertani, M. Q. Almeida and F. F. Xavier, 27 June 2018 (MZUSP 76542); Paracaima, near right margin Miang river, (04°29’44”N 61°07’27”W), 1 female, M. A. Freitas, A. S. Santos, A. Abegg & F. Ortíz col., 12 August 2015 (MNRJ 6872). Redescription. Male (MNRJ 7709) Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 30.98. Carapace 14.60 long, 12.58 wide, 7.71 high. Chelicera: 6.85 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.91, 9.44, 16.77, 15.98, 7.28, 67.38; II: 17.15, 8.34, 15.13, 15.30, 7.15, 63.07; III: 12.70, 5.81, 11.09, 12.39, 5.77, 47.76; IV: 15.48, 6.14, 13.94, 14.63, 6.11, 56.30; Palp: 10.08, 5.47, 9.14, -, 3.37, 28.06. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.52, 2.10, 2.03, 1.54, 1.33, palp= 1.92; patellae I–IV= 2.10, 2.37, 2.13, 2.25, palp = 1.96; tibiae I–IV= 2.03, 2.10, 1.66, 1.70, palp = 1.95; metatarsi I–IV= 1.54, 1.55, 1.25, 1.29; tarsi I–IV= 1.33, 1.36, 1.33, 1.24, palp = 1.93. Abdomen: 16.01 long, 8.70 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.47 long, 0.47 wide, 0.50 apart; PLS, 1.48 basal, 1.06 middle, 1.81 distal; midwidths 0.82, 0.69, 0.54, respectively. Carapace: 1.16 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 0.75 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 0.78 high, 2.37 long, 4.11 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.94, ALE 0.91, PME 0.57, PLE 0.77, AME–AME 0.63, AME–ALE 0.31, AME–PME 0.26, ALE– ALE 2.31, ALE–PME 0.27, PME–PME 2.25, PME–PLE 0.23, PLE–PLE 2.96, ALE–PLE 0.34. Maxilla: length to width 1.78. Cuspules: 143 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.47 long, 1.56 wide, with ca. 158 cuspules spaced ca. 1 diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 6 spaced, long filiform setae, disposed on ventralbasal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row (Fig. 285). Sternum: 7.10 long, 5.69 wide. Legs: Formula: I = II = IV III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.84. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 3/4 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0; I: 1 behind tibial apophysis, II: 2/0; III: 2/3, IV: 2/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ composed of 11 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 12–14 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 284). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Tibial apophysis (Figs 280–282): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral, one on apical part of retrolateral process. A small rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis. Palp (Figs 276–279): tegulum length 1.23, width 1.78, embolus proximal width 0.77, embolus length 4.05. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 3.29. Embolus distal third curving gently to ventral and retrolateral sides. Embolus tapers to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace brown, femur of palp and metatarsi with an orange line from the retrolateral side toward the center, tarsi with an orange dorsal spot. Redescription. Female (MNRJ 7709): Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 43.21. Carapace: 16.97 long, 15.05 wide, 9.48 high. Chelicera: 8.88 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 15.57, 9.44, 13.25, 11.91, 6.03, 56.2; II: 14.10, 8.75, 12.37, 11.64, 6.16, 53.02; III: 12.37, 7.01, 9.85, 10.47, 5.82, 45.52; IV: 14.87, 7.22, 13.18, 13.24, 5.9, 54.41; Palp: 10.2, 5.97, 7.64, -, 7.31, 31.12. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 3.50, 3.08, 3.41, 3.01, palp = 2.45; patellae I–IV= 3.07, 3.11, 2.90, 2.86, palp= 2.58; tibiae I–IV= 3.03, 2.77, 2.34, 2.66, palp= 2.44; metatarsi I–IV= 2.61, 2.13, 1.91, 1.75; tarsi I–IV= 2.16, 2.20, 2.29, 2.02, palp= 2.40. Abdomen: 24.46 long, 14.54 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.07 long, 1.00 wide, 0.86 apart; PLS, 2.94 basal, 1.43 middle, 2.61 distal; midwidths 1.30, 1.02, 0.64, respectively. Carapace: 1.13 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 0.59 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.34 high, 2.57 long, 3.80 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.70, ALE 0.83, PME 0.58, PLE 0.67, AME–AME 0.66, AME–ALE 0.43, AME–PME 0.27, ALE–ALE 2.78, ALE–PME 0.52, PME–PME 2.06, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 2.89, ALE–PLE 0.35. Maxilla: length to width 1.53. Cuspules: ca. 191 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.65 long, 2.99 wide, with ca. 190 cuspules spaced ca. 1 diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicera. Strikers: line of 5–9 spaced long filiform setae, disposed on ventralbasal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row (Fig. 287). Sternum: 8.97 long, 7.35 wide. Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.97. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 3/4 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp: 0; I: 0/0; II: 2/0; III: 2/0; IV: 1/0. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 12 thick setae forming a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxillae; longest ones flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 12–14 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 286). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Spermathecae (Fig. 283): Two elongate spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with 2–3 rounded, sclerotized lobes disposed on a central fold on middle area, decreasing in size from apex. Apical lobe of spermathecae rounded and well sclerotized. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace brown and abdomen with dark longitudinal line connected with at least 4 transverse lines forming orange paired macules dorsally, metatarsi with an orange line from the retrolateral side towards the segment, tarsi with an orange dorsal spot. Distribution. Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil (Fig. 145).Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on pages 88-92, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/625322

Amazonius elenae, n. comb.

Amazonius elenae (Schmidt, 1994) n. comb. (Figs 19, 311–343, 353–354) Tapinauchenius elenae Schmidt, 1994a: 258, fig. 1 (nomen nudum); Schmidt, 1994b: 1, figs 1–2; Auer, Huber & Bochtler, 2007: 21, figs 29–31, 47; Samm & Schmidt, 2008: 14, figs 8–10; World Spider Catalog 2021. Pseudoclamoris elenae Hüsser 2018: 73, fig. 13A; Cifuentes & Perafán 2020: 109, fig. 4.8F. Diagnosis. Females of Amazonius elenae n. comb. resemble those of A. burgessi n. comb. by the multilobular spermathecae (Fig. 319). They can be distinguished by the normal long setae on the ventral area of femur I (Figs 353–354). Males resemble those of A. germani n. sp. by the male palpal bulb embolus with an accentuated curvature to retrolateral side distally (Fig. 315). They differ by the embolus narrowing abruptly distally (Figs 312–313, 315). Type material. Holotype male from Ecuador, Hirschi leg., deposited at SMF 37349, examined (see remarks below) (Figs 337–341). Other material examined. ECUADOR: Puyo, Pastaza [1°29’S, 78°00’W], 1 female, Norton Whitten col., 1978, (CASENT-9071252); BRAZIL: Acre: Senador Guiomard [10°09’S, 67°44’W], 1 female, C. Alexandre col. 12–17 July 2013 (MNRJ 7712); Amazonas: Careiro Castanho BR 319 km 181 sitio S. Paulo (04°12’48’’ S, 60°49’04’’ W) 1 male, J. A. Rafael and F. F. Xavier, 12–27 May 2017 (INPA 9101); Guajará, Ipixuna river (7°06’39”S, 73°05’25”W), 1 female, P. Bührheim and N. O. Aguiar, 13–19 June 1995 (INPA 9102); Rondônia: no municipality, 1 female, M. di Bernardi col., 05-VII-1991 (MCP 1518); Porto Velho, Abunã [9°42’S, 65°22’W], Transecto 9, Parcela 2.050m, noturna, 1 female, M.C. Silveira col., 26 August 2011 (MZUSP 39923); same locality, Mutum [8°33’S, 63°42’W], transecto 8, 1 male, Equipe Jirau 3, 31 August 2010 (MZUSP 35369); transecto 6 parcela 400m, 1 female, P. Colas-Rosa, 22 May 2013 (MZUSP 54914); same locality, Abuña, transecto 12, parcela 50 m, at night, 1 male, M.C. Silveira col., 23 January 2012 (MZUSP 46302); same locality, Mutum, transecto 5 parcela 200 m, 1 female, S. Outena-Jorge col., 17 november 2010, collected at night (MZUSP 37479); same locality, Abunã, transecto 12, parcela 50 m [9°41’S, 65°21W], 1 Male, Equipe arachnida 7 col., 25 August 2011, at night (MZUSP 39179); Candeias do Jamari, Samuel (Hydro Electric Damp site) [8°49’S, 63°23’W], 1 female, W. Bokerman col., January 1989, fell into boat from overhead vegetation (MNRJ 7713). Redescription. Female (MNRJ 7712): Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 40.84. Carapace 16.38 long, 14.66 wide, 8.95 high. Chelicera: 9.25 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 11.19, 7.57, 10.44, 8.47, 5.21, 42.88; II: 11.22, 6.89, 9.24, 8.74, 5.82, 41.91; III: 11.21, 6.26, 8.95, 9.41, 5.48, 41.31; IV: 13.37, 6.58, 12.10, 12.31, 5.42, 49.78. Palp: 9.26, 5.31, 6.31, -, 5.81, 26.59. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 2.84, 2.70, 2.81, 2.67, palp= 2.21; patellae I–IV= 3.26, 2.95, 2.82, 2.90, palp= 2.19; tibiae I–IV= 2.74, 2.46, 2.36, 2.79, palp= 2.10; metatarsi I–IV= 2.17, 2.03, 1.76, 1.67; tarsi I–IV= 2.00, 1.91, 1.88, 2.03, palp= 2.04. Abdomen: 23.15 long, 16.52 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.24 long, 1.44 wide, 1.03 apart; PLS, 3.36 basal, 2.64 middle, 3.38 distal; midwidths 2.07, 2.08, 1.51, respectively. Carapace: 1.12 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.19 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.18 high, 2.45 long, 4.26 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.66, ALE 0.89, PME 0.47, PLE 0.63, AME–AME 0.85, AME–ALE 0.48, AME–PME 0.37, ALE–ALE 2.84, ALE–PME 0.52, PME–PME 2.15, PME–PLE 0.27, PLE–PLE 3.06, ALE–PLE 0.38. Maxilla: length to width 1.43. Cuspules: ca. 148 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 2.62 long, 2.58 wide, with ca. 154 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 10 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae disposed without any discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicera before tooth row (Fig. 323). Sternum: 8.60 long, 6.03 wide. Legs: Formula: IV I II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.16. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 1/2 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 0/0; II 0/0; III 1/1; IV 0/1. Maxillary stridulatory organ (Fig. 322): weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxillae. Spermathecae (Fig. 319): Two spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with numerous apical small to median lobes, two striae from base to apex form fold on ventral view. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace and abdomen light brown with golden setae, legs and palpal femora light brown, tibia and metatarsus distal with white-pink ring. Redescription. Male (MZUSP 35369). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 25.16. Carapace 11.04 long, 9.41 wide, 7.15 high. Chelicera: 5.25 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 12.10, 6.30, 10.84, 9.15, 5.16, 43.55; II: 10.56, 5.81, 9.64, 9.12, 4.49, 39.62; III: 10.47, 5.05, 8.56, 8.78, 4.62, 37.48; IV: 11.97, 5.05, 11.48, 12.50, 4.33, 45.33; Palp: 7.71, 4.18, 6.03, -, 1.96, 19.88. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 1.85, 1.90, 1.98, 1.94, palp= 1.35; patellae I–IV= 2.00, 1.91, 1.93, 1.86, palp= 1.40; tibiae I–IV= 1.55, 1.59, 1.51, 1.55, palp= 1.43; metatarsi I–IV= 1.19, 1.14, 1.04, 1.10; tarsi I–IV= 1.18, 1.17, 1.18, 1.17, palp= 1.26. Abdomen: 13.31 long, 7.71 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.25 long, 0.66 wide, 0.66 apart; PLS, 1.48 basal, 1.31 middle, 2.48 distal; midwidths 0.87, 0.84, 0.69, respectively. Carapace: 1.17 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae conspicuous. Fovea: deep, straight, 1.61 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.38 high, 1.74 long, 2.87 wide. Clipeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.68, ALE 0.56, PME 0.42, PLE 0.48, AME–AME 0.57, AME–ALE 0.14, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–ALE 2.07, ALE–PME 0.26, PME–PME 1.65, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 2.06, ALE–PLE 0.11. Maxilla: length to width 1.92. Cuspules: ca. 135 spread over ventral inner heel. Labium: 1.43 long, 1.49 wide, with ca. 135 cuspules spaced by one diameter from each other on anterior third. Chelicera: basal segment with 9 teeth in row. Strikers: Long and short filiform setae, disposed without any discernible pattern on a ventral-basal portion of chelicerae before the teeth row (Fig. 321). Sternum: 5.35 long, 4.45 wide. Legs: Formula: I = IV II III. Length leg IV to leg I: 1.04. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/4 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi): Palp 0; I: 1 behind retrolateral process; II: 2/0; III 0/2; IV 1/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: weakly developed, composed of slightly thick setae with rugose aspect, not disposed on an ordered line, grouped forming an oval patch on the prolateral face of the maxillae (Fig. 320). Tibial apophysis (Figs 316–318): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral, one at apical part of retrolateral process. A rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis. Palp (Figs 312–315): tegulum length 0.88, width 1.22, embolus proximal width 0.57, embolus length 3.20. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length: 3.64. Embolus distal third curves abruptly to retrolateral side. Embolus narrows to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): Carapace and abdomen brown with some golden setae, leg and palpal femora brown with golden setae, tibia and metatarsus apically with white-pink ring. Distribution. Ecuador and Brazil (Fig. 311). Remarks. Schmidt (1994a) published a presumptive description of his new species Tapinauchenius elenae based on an exuvium of a female from Ecuador, Napo, Tena. However, he did not explicitly designate a holotype nor the institution where the specimen was or should be deposited. In the same year (Schmidt 1994b), he described the male from Ecuador, but now explicitly stating it was the holotype and citing the Senckenberg Museum as the institution where it was deposited. Therefore, we consider the first publication of the species a “nomen nudum”. We found important spermathecal variation in the species, some specimens having a wide spermathecae having the same width throughout its length and with several terminal lobes (Figs 330–332). Other specimens (Figs 333–336) have a constriction near the tip and a few lobes.Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on pages 99-105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/625322

Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera

The genus Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 is revised and all species are rediagnosed. The type species, described as Aranea avicularia Linnaeus, 1758, is the oldest mygalomorph species described and its taxonomic history is extensive and confusing. Cladistic analyses using both equal and implied weights were carried out with a matrix of 46 taxa from seven theraphosid subfamilies, and 71 morphological and ecological characters. The optimal cladogram found with Piwe and concavity = 6 suggests Avicularia and Aviculariinae are monophyletic. Subfamily Aviculariinae includes Avicularia Lamarck, 1818, Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850, Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Stromatopelma Karsch, 1881, Ephebopus Simon, 1892, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895, Heteroscodra Pocock, 1899, Iridopelma Pocock, 1901, Pachistopelma Pocock, 1901, Ybyrapora gen. n., Caribena gen. n., and Antillena gen. n. The clade is supported by well-developed scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi, greatly extended laterally. Avicularia synapomorphies are juveniles bearing black tarsi contrasting with other lighter articles; spermathecae with an accentuated outwards curvature medially, and male palpal bulb with embolus medial portion and tegulum’s margin form an acute angle in retrolateral view. Avicularia is composed of twelve species, including three new species: Avicularia avicularia (Linnaeus, 1818), Avicularia glauca Simon, 1891, Avicularia variegata (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) stat. n., A. minatrix Pocock, 1903, Avicularia taunayi (Mello-Leitão, 1920), Avicularia juruensis Mello-Leitão, 1923, Avicularia rufa Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945, Avicularia purpurea Kirk, 1990, A. hirschii Bullmer et al. 2006, Avicularia merianae sp. n., A. lynnae sp. n., and A. caei sp. n.. Avicularia species are distributed throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Three new genera are erected to accommodate former Avicularia species: Caribena gen. n., composed of Caribena laeta (C. L. Koch, 1842), comb. n. and Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837), comb. n.; Antillena gen. n., with a single species, Antillena rickwesti (Bertani & Huff, 2013), comb. n., both from the Caribbean; and Ybyrapora gen. n., composed of Ybyrapora sooretama (Bertani & Fukushima, 2009), comb. n., Ybyrapora gamba (Bertani & Fukushima, 2009), comb. n. and Ybyrapora diversipes (C. L. Koch, 1842), comb. n. from Brazilian rainforest. The subspecies Avicularia avicularia variegata F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 is elevated to species status, resulting in the combination Avicularia variegata (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) stat. n.. The following new synonymies are established: Avicularia velutina Simon 1889, Avicularia exilis Strand, 1907, Avicularia ancylochyra Mello-Leitão, 1923, Avicularia cuminami Mello-Leitão, 1930, and Avicularia nigrotaeniata Mello-Leitão, 1940 are junior synonyms of A. avicularia; Avicularia bicegoi Mello-Leitão, 1923 is a junior synonym of A. variegata stat. n., and Avicularia urticans Schmidt, 1994 is a junior synonym of Avicularia juruensis Mello-Leitão, 1923. Species transferred to other genera: Avicularia affinis (Nicolet, 1849) is transferred to Euathlus Ausserer, 1875, making the new combination Euathlus affinis (Nicolet, 1849), comb. n.; Avicularia subvulpina Strand, 1906 is transferred to Grammostola Simon, 1892, making the new combination Grammostola subvulpina (Strand, 1906), comb. n.; Avicularia aymara (Chamberlin, 1916) is transferred to Thrixopelma Schmidt, 1994, making the new combination Thrixopelma aymara (Chamberlin, 1916), comb. n.; Avicularia leporina (C. L. Koch, 1841) and Avicularia plantaris (C. L. Koch, 1842) are transferred to Iridopelma Pocock, 1901, making the new combinations Iridopelma leporina (C. L. Koch, 1841), comb. n. and Iridopelma plantaris (C. L. Koch, 1842), comb. n.; the two last species are considered nomina dubia. The following species are considered nomina dubia: Avicularia hirsutissima (C. L. Koch, 1842) nomen dubium; Ischnocolus hirsutum Ausserer, 1875 nomen dubium; Ischnocolus gracilis Keyserling, 1891 nomen dubium; Avicularia arabica (Strand, 1908) nomen dubium; Araneus hirtipes (Fabricius, 1787) nomen dubium; Avicularia ochracea (Perty, 1833) nomen dubium; Avicularia walckenaerii (Perty, 1833) nomen dubium; Avicularia testacea (C. L. Koch, 1841) nomen dubium; Avicularia detrita (C. L. Koch, 1842) nomen dubium; Ischnocolus doleschalli Ausserer, 1871 nomen dubium; Avicularia metallica Ausserer, 1875 nomen dubium; Avicularia rapax (Ausserer, 1875) nomen dubium; Avicularia holmbergi Thorell, 1890 nomen dubium; Avicularia aurantiaca Bauer, 1996 nomen dubium; Avicularia azuraklaasi Tesmoingt, 1996 nomen dubium; Avicularia huriana Tesmoingt, 1996 nomen dubium; Avicularia ulrichea Tesmoingt, 1996 nomen dubium; Avicularia braunshauseni Tesmoingt, 1999 nomen dubium; Avicularia geroldi Tesmoingt, 1999 nomen dubium; Avicularia soratae Strand, 1907 nomen dubium; Avicularia fasciculata Strand, 1907 nomen dubium; Avicularia fasciculata clara Strand, 1907 nomen dubium; and Avicularia surinamensis Strand, 1907 nomen dubium. Avicularia vestiaria (De Geer, 1778) is considered nomen nudum. Keys are provided for identification of all aviculariine genera, as well as to Avicularia, Caribena gen. n., Ybyrapora gen. n. and Antillena gen. n. species. Maps with records and information on species habitat are also presented. Lectotypes are newly designed for A. avicularia, A. variegata stat. n., A. juruensis, C. laeta comb. n., E. affinis comb. n. and a neotype is established for C. versicolor comb. n

Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock 1895

Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895 (Figs 19, 145–182) Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895: 178, pl. 10, fig. 3; F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899: 892, 896, pl. 54, figs 2–7; Pocock 1903: 85; Simon 1903: 952, 958, 960; Petrunkevitch 1911: 86; 1928: 82; 1939: 289; Roewer 1942: 256; Bonnet 1958: 3798; Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz 2006: 8, figs 9, 14; Mendoza 2014: 734, figs 16, 24–26; World Spider Catalog 2021. Santaremia longipes F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896: 749 (female holotype from Trinidad, deposited at BMNH, 1896, not examined). First synonymized by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899: 896. Diagnosis. Females resemble those of P. irminia, P. pulcher and P. langenbucheri by the elongate spermathecae having distal apex straight, apical digitiform lobe and central lobes (Fig. 153). They can be distinguished by the spermathecae with long digitiform apical lobe, and central area with 2–3 protruding and well sclerotized, small, rounded lobes (Fig. 153). Males resemble those of P. irminia by the embolus 3.0–3.5 times tegulum length (Fig. 146). They can be distinguished from P. irminia by the embolus thicker and distal third more curved to retrolateral side (Fig. 149). Additionally, males and females differ from those of all other species, except P. irminia, by having an orange line from retrolateral side of metatarsi to its center, and orange spot on dorsal tarsi (Figs 177–178). Females with one dark vertical central stripe connecting with at least 4 gray transverse lines (Fig. 177). From P. irminia they differ by the greyish or brownish body and less conspicuous pattern on the abdomen and legs (Fig. 177). Type material. Holotype female from “ East Indies, Malaysia, possibly from Penan, Malasya ”, but surely mislabeled (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1899) (BMNH unnumbered) (examined by RB, 2003, Figs 174–176). Other material examined. TRINIDAD: 1 female, “ West Indies ”, A. Bordes col. 1972 (AMNH-37); 1 male, no collector, 1970 (AMNH-22); 1 immature, D. Brodi col., Fall 1981 (AMNH-10); 1 immature male, J. A. Cooke col., February 1972 (AMNH-62); 1 male, A. Bordes col., September 1972 (AMNH-11); Arima Valley [10°37’N, 61°16’W], 4 immatures, C. Senderman col., June 1983 (AMNH-12); San Juan-Laventille: Maracas Bay road [10°45’N, 61°26’W], 1 female, John A. L. Cooke, February 1972 (AMNH-32); 2 immature males, same data and collector (AMNH-63); Sangre Grande: N 209, B.W.I, R. G. Donald col., 6 December 1944 (AMNH-40); Tunapuna-Piarco: Arima, Simla Biological Station of Arima [10°43’N, 61°17’W], in silk retreat under tin roof, 1 female, Rick West col, May 1981 (MNRJ 7707); 1 male, same data and collector (MZUSP 76539); 1 female, same data and collector, walking by day in old library room (MZUSP 76540); 6 miles n of Arima, in silk retreat on roadside rock face, 1 male, Rick West col., May 1981 (MNRJ 7708); Simla, 1 female, 1 immature male, Rozen col., 28 February 1963 (AMNH-33); St Augustine [10°38’N, 61°23’W], 1 male, E.K. Waering col., 5 September 1966 (AMNH-16); Tacarigua [10°38’N, 61°21’W], Tacarigua Orphanage, 1 male, THC, WI, AM Cea col., 7 September 1966 (AMNH-20); Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo: Arena Reserve [10°32’N, 61°14’W], 1 female, Mary Nieves col., 15 March 1959 (AMNH-19); Caparo [10°26’N, 61°19’W] 1 female, BWD col. from branch of bananas, 10 March 1910 (AMNH-17); Port of Spain: Port of Spain [10°39’N, 61°30’W] 1 female, E.N, K. J Waering col., 09 November 1967 (AMNH-31); Rio Claro-Mayaro: Nariva Swamp, Ex campus Bush, Bush Forest [10°22’N, 61°02’W], 1 female, T. H.S Aitken col. forest swamp, 26 May 1962 (AMNH-6). Redescription. Female (MZUSP 76540). Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 42.27. Carapace: 18.76 long, 16.66 wide, 10.15 high. Chelicera: 10.32 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 17.84, 10.18, 14.49, 15.37, 7.84, 65.72; II: 16.21, 9.43, 13.12, 13.43, 7.64, 59.87; III: 13.48, 7.7, 10.63, 12.35, 5.81, 49.97; IV: 16.15, 8.56, 13.96, 16.39, 5.9, 60.96. Palp: 11.64, 6.80, 8.26, -, 9.00, 35.7. Midwidths: femora I–IV = 3.73, 3.55, 3.40, 3.16, palp= 3.25; patellae I–IV= 3.66, 3.46, 3.37, 3.39, palp= 3.08; tibiae I–IV= 3.28, 3.03, 2.93, 2.84, palp= 2.77; metatarsi I–IV=2.85, 2.59, 1.94, 2.02; tarsi I–IV= 2.40, 2.42, 2.49, 2.27, palp=2.67. Abdomen: 22.05 long, 15.38 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 2.48 long, 1.07 wide, 0.74 apart; PLS, 3.82 basal, 1.95 middle, 3.31 distal; width 1.87, 1.60, 0.97, respectively. Carapace: 1.13 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae moderately marked. Fovea: deep, straight, 3.13 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.87 high, 2.98 long, 3.79 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.74, ALE 0.84, PME 0.53, PLE 0.69, AME–AME 0.69, AME–ALE 0.31, AME–PME 0.27, ALE– ALE 2.72, ALE–PME 0.57, PME–PME 2.20, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 2.85, ALE–PLE 0.34. Maxilla: length to width: 1.30. Cuspules: ca. 240 spread on anterior inner corner. Labium: 1.83 long, 1.83 wide, with ca. 172 cuspules ca. 1 diameter from each other. Chelicera: basal segment with 13 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on retrolateral side of the chelicerae. Strikers: line of 5–6 spaced, long filiform setae disposed on ventral-basal portion of chelicera before the teeth row (Fig. 157). Sternum: 10.03 long, 6.27 wide. Legs: Formula: I = IV, II, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.93. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a line of few setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/3 distal. IV divided by rows of setae. Spination: Palp and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi) Palp: 0; I: 1/0; II 1/0; III 0/2; IV 0/2. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 14–16 thick setae disposed on a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxilla, longest setae flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 7–8 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 156). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter and proximal part of femur of palp and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Spermathecae: Two elongate spermathecae completely separated, roughly straight, with 2–3 oval, protruding, sclerotized lobes disposed on a central fold on middle area of spermatheca, decreasing in size from apex. Apical lobe of spermathecae digitiform and well sclerotized (Fig. 153). Coloration (preserved in alcohol): Carapace, abdomen and legs brown. Metatarsi with an orange line from retrolateral side through its center, an orange spot on tarsi. Females with one dark vertical central stripe on abdomen connected with 3–5 lighter gray transverse lines. Redescription. Male (MZUSP 76539) Total length, not including chelicerae or spinnerets 27.82. Carapace: 14.71 long, 13.33 wide, 7.22 high. Chelicera: 6.39 long. Legs (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total): I: 18.2, 8.95, 15.71, 15.66, 7.6, 66.12. II: 16.68, 8.1, 14.58, 14.8, 7.00, 61.16. III: 12.65, 5.86, 11.29, 12.4, 5.69, 47.89. IV: 16.41, 6.7, 15.11, 16.25, 6.28, 60.75. Palp 9.98, 5.50, 8.94, -,3.62, 22.54. Midwidths: femora I–IV= 3.05, 2.72, 2.74, 2.71, palp= 2.16; patellae I–IV= 2.72, 2.60, 2.48, 2.62, palp= 2.03; tibiae I–IV= 2.33, 2.04, 2.18, 2.15, palp= 2.17; metatarsi I–IV= 1.83, 1.60, 1.48, 1.35; tarsi I–IV= 1.53, 1.59, 1.45, 1.51, palp= 2.11. Abdomen: 13.48 long, 8.06 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 1.26 long, 8.06 wide, 0.20 apart; PLS, 2.43 basal, 1.61 middle, 2.95 distal; midwidths 0.64, 0.86, 0.69, respectively. Carapace: 1.11 times longer than wide; cephalic region slightly raised, thoracic striae moderately marked. Fovea: deep, straight, 2.22 wide. Eyes: eye tubercle 1.00 high, 2.06 long, 3.29 wide. Clypeus: absent. Anterior eye row straight, posterior slightly recurved. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.80, ALE 0.69, PME 0.39, PLE 0.65, AME–AME 0.35, AME–ALE 0.29, AME–PME 0.22, ALE– ALE 2.20, ALE–PME 0.31, PME–PME 1.88, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 2.36, ALE–PLE 0.3. Maxilla: length to width: 1.58. Cuspules: ca. 161 spread on anterior inner corner. Labium: 1.83 long, 1.83 wide, with ca. 131 cuspules ca. 1 diameter from each other. Chelicera: basal segment with 12 teeth in row. Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the chelicerae. Strikers: line of 4–5 spaced long filiform setae on ventral-basal portion of chelicerae, before the teeth row (Fig. 155). Sternum: 7.68 long, 5.12 wide. Legs: Formula: I = II = IV, III. Length leg IV to leg I: 0.92. Scopula: Tarsi I–IV fully scopulate; IV with a few sparse setae. Metatarsi I–II fully scopulate; III 2/3 distal; IV 1/3 distal. IV divided by a row of setae. Spination: Palps and legs (ventral apical: tibia/metatarsi), palp = 0; I: behind retrolateral apophysis process = 1; II: 2/0; III: 2/0; IV: 2/1. Maxillary stridulatory organ: composed of 13–14 thick setae disposed on a straight crescent line, setae increase in size from the internal to external side of maxilla, longest setae flattened laterally, tips of setae with rugous texture, 7–8 slender setae after thickest ones (Fig. 154). Short and ordered coverage setae densely grouped on the retrolateral side of the maxillae/coxae, trochanter, proximal part of palp femur and prolateral side of the same articles of leg I. Tibial apophysis (Figs 150–152): two processes, retrolateral longer than prolateral, one spine at side of prolateral process, one at the apical part of retrolateral process. A small rounded protuberance behind retrolateral process. Metatarsus I folds on retrolateral side of tibial apophysis. Palp (Figs146–149): tegulum length 1.46, width 1.96, embolus proximal width 0.85, embolus length 4.53. Embolus proximal portion straight. Embolus length to tegulum length 3.10. Embolus distal third curves to retroventral sides. Embolus tapers to its tip ending in a roughly straight tip. Color pattern (preserved in alcohol): carapace, abdomen light brown, legs and palpal femora light brown, metatarsi light brown with an orange line starting at side going through center. Dorsal tarsi with an orange spot. Distribution. Trinidad and Tobago (Fig. 145).Published as part of Cifuentes, Yeimy & Bertani, Rogerio, 2022, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the tarantula genera Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871, Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1985, and Amazonius n. gen. (Theraphosidae, Psalmopoeinae), pp. 1-123 in Zootaxa 5101 (1) on pages 64-70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5101.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/625322