The spider family Symphytognathidae is reported from Argentina for the first time. Anapistula yungas, a new species of this family is described and illustrated. The specimen was collected during an ecological study of biodiversity in different sites from northwestern Argentina. Dichotomous key to Neotropical female species of genus Anapistula is provided.La familia de arañas Symphytognathidae es registrada por primera vez en Argentina. Anapistula yungas, una nueva especie de esta familia, es descripta e ilustrada. Los especímenes fueron colectados durante un estudio ecológico de biodiversidad en diferentes sitios del noroeste de Argentina. Se proporciona una clave dicotòmica para hembras de las especies neotropicales del género Anapistula.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CONICET- Universidad Nacional de La Plata

González, Alda

Rubio, Gonzalo D.

English

SEDICI - Repositorio de la UNLP

REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL
Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83: 243-247, 2010 © Sociedad de Biología de Chile
RESEARCH ARTICLE
The first Symphytognathidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from Argentina, with 
the description of a new species of Anapistula from the Yungas mountain 
rainforest
La primera Symphytognathidae (Arachnida: Araneae) para Argentina, con la descripción 
de una nueva especie de Anapistula para la selva de montaña Yungas
GONZALO D. RUBIO1’ * & ALDA GONZÁLEZ2
1 CONICET Córdoba, Diversidad Animal I, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de 
Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X5000JJC Córdoba, Argentina
2 CONICET La Plata, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), Universidad Nacional de La Plata 
(UNLP), Calle 2 N° 584, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
* Corresponding author: grubio@conicet.gov.ar
ABSTRACT
The spider family Symphytognathidae is reported from Argentina for the first time. Anapistula yungas, a new 
species of this family is described and illustrated. The specimen was collected during an ecological study of 
biodiversity in different sites from northwestern Argentina. Dichotomous key to Neotropical female species of 
genus Anapistula is provided.
Key words: Anapistula yungas, new record, Salta, taxonomy, Yungas eco-region.
RESUMEN
La familia de arañas Symphytognathidae es registrada por primera vez en Argentina. Anapistula yungas, una nueva 
especie de esta familia, es descripta e ilustrada. Los especímenes fueron colectados durante un estudio ecológico 
de biodiversidad en diferentes sitios del noroeste de Argentina. Se proporciona una clave dicotòmica para hembras 
de las especies neotropicales del género Anapistula.
Palabras clave: Anapistula yungas, ecorregión Yungas, nuevo registro, Salta, taxonomía.
INTRODUCTION
The family Symphytognatidae was established 
by Hickman (1931) for the Australian species 
Symphytognatha globosa Hickman, 
extraordinary for its tiny size (Forster & 
Platnick 1977). This spider family is diagnosed 
by the following combination of characters: the 
female pedipalp is either reduced to a 
unisegmented lobe or absent, the chelicerae 
are more or less fused, the labium is much 
wider than long, and the sternum is broadly 
truncate posteriorly (Forster & Platnick 1977). 
At present Symphytognathidae includes seven 
genera {Anapistula Gertsch, Anapogonia 
Simon, Crassignatha Wunderlich, Curimagua 
Forster & Platnick, Globignatha Balogh & 
Loksa, Patu Marples, and Symphytognatha 
Hickman) and 62 species have been described 
worldwide (Cardoso & Scharff 2009, Lin & Li 
2009, Platnick 2009).
The genus Anapistula can be separated 
from all other symphytognathid genera by the 
presence of an only slightly elevated pars 
cephalica and four eyes in two diads (the only 
exception is Anapistula boneti Forster with six 
eyes) (Forster & Platnick 1977, Harvey 1998). 
It currently comprises 20 species (Cardoso & 
Scharff 2009) of which seven are Neotropical, 
and only one of them (Anapistula secreta 
Gertsch) with a wide distribution from 
southern USA to Colombia and Brazil (Rheims 
& Brescovit 2003, Platnick 2009). These 
spiders are rarely collected in large numbers 
owing to their minute size and occurrence in 
leaf litter habitats (Miller et al. 2009), and are 
usually captured only when specifically 
searched for or when Berlese funnels, Winkler 
extractors or pitfail traps are used (Rheims & 
Brescovit 2003).
This is the first record of a spider of the 
family Symphytognathidae from Argentina 
244 RUBIO & GONZÁLEZ
and, according to the morphology of the 
female genitalia, the specimen is here 
postulated to represent a new species of the 
genus Anapistula. For comparative purposes, a 
dichotomous key to Neotropical female species 
of the genus is also given here.
METHODS
The material was collected during an ecological study 
of biodiversity in different sites in northwestern 
Argentina, using a G-Vac method to collect spiders 
from vegetation. This method consist of a vacuum 
cleaner Sthil® with tube of 110 cm of longitude and 12 
cm of diameter (flow 710 m3 h'1), and each sample is 
the suction of the vegetation in an area of a square 
meter during one minute. The vegetation in this place 
is rainforest, and corresponds to the Yungas eco-region 
(Brown et al. 2002).
The description and terminology follow mainly 
Tong & Li (2006). Female genitalia was observed and 
illustrated without dissect the epigynum from the 
specimen and after cleared in clove oil. The photos and 
illustrations were prepared from digital photographs 
captured using a Sony DSC-W290 camera attached to a 
Leica MS5 stereomicroscope. All measurements were 
taken with a micrometer ocular and are in millimeters.
The specimen examined is deposited in the Museo 
de La Plata, Argentina (MLP, curator L. Pereira).
RESULTS
Symphytognathidae Hickman, 1931 
Anapistula Gertsch, 1941
Anapistula yungas sp. nov. (Figs. 1A-D)
Type material
Holotype (MLP 17 927): female from 
ARGENTINA: Salta Province, road to El 
Carmen (Camino de Cornisa) (24°31’ S, 65°21’ 
W), 27 April 2006, G. Rubio coll.
Etymology
The specific name, yungas, is a noun in 
apposition after the eco-region to which the 
type locality belongs.
Diagnosis
The female genitalia closely resembles that of 
A. secreta Gerstch by having the median 
epigynal duct reaching to the anterior tip of 
spermathecae (see Gertsch 1941, figs. 14-17), 
but it differs from that species because their 
length is the same as that of the spermathecae 
diameter, and it lacks the small vesicular 
projections on the spermathecae (Fig. IE and 
IF). Other important characters include the 
proportionally bigger globular spermathecae 
than the rest members of genus Anapistula.
Description female (Holotype)
Total length, not including chelicerae, 0.57. 
Carapace 0.25 long, 0.25 wide, 0.10 high. 
Opisthosoma 0.35 long, 0.35 wide, 0.17 high. 
Body without markings, color entirely pale 
yellow except for a black ring surrounding the 
eyes, and sclerotised internal genitalia. 
Carapace relatively low, with a setae at level of 
eyes, at middle (Figs. 1A and IB). Anterior 
margin of clypeus with a row of setae. Cephalic 
part only slightly lower than thoracic part; part 
cephalic only slightly lower than part thoracic; 
lateral margins evenly rounded. Four eyes 
present in two diads, surrounded by darker 
rings, distance between diads 0.07 wide; 
anterior eyes larger than posteriors (Figs. 1A 
and IB). Clypeus wide. Chelicerae slightly 
fused near their base, each with two sharp teeth 
near the base of the fang (Figs. 1H and II). 
Labium wider than long distinctly. Sternum 
posteriorly truncate, slightly longer than wide 
(Fig. 1C). Palp completely absent. Legs pale 
yellow, clothed with setae and bristles, each 
patella with a long distally-dorsal spine; joint 
inflexible between tarsus and metatarsus (Fig. 
ID). Three tarsal claws, all of which appear 
smooth (Fig. 1G). Femur I 0.25 long, tibia I 0.15 
long, metatarsus + tarsus I 0.32 long; femur II 
0.22 long, tibia II 0.17 long, metatarsus + tarsus 
II 0.25 long; femur III 0.20 long, tibia III 0.13 
long, metatarsus + tarsus III 0.28 long; femur IV 
0.21 long, tibia IV 0.16 long, metatarsus + tarsus 
IV 0.30 long. Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. 
Opisthosoma without scute, covered with long 
smooth setae, globular, as long as wide (Figs. 
1A-D). Book lungs not visible. Anterior 
spinnerets slightly larger than posteriors; 
median spinnerets not visible; colulus absent 
(Fig. 1C). Epigynum not sclerotized, two large 
globular spermathecae sclerotized, of which 
connected by relatively short lateral branches 
to median duct; bases of copulatory duct with a 
small anterior swelling (Fig. IE). Distance 
between spermathecae 0.04 long.
Male. Unknown.
THE FIRST ARGENTINEAN SYMPHYTOGNATHID, NEW SPECIES 245
Fig. 1: Anapistula yungas sp. nov. holotype female (MLP 17927): (A-D), body view (A-B, dorsal; C-D, ventral); 
(E-F), cleared epigynum (ventral view); (G), tarsal claws; (H-I), chelicerae (frontal view). Lbd = lateral branch 
of epigynal duct; Med = median epigynal duct; S = spermathecae. Scale bars = 0.10 mm (A, C); 0.05 mm (E, I).
Anapistula yungas sp. nov. hembra holotipo (MLP 17927): (A-D), vista del cuerpo (A-B, dorsal; C-D, ventral); (E-F), 
epiginio aclarado (vista ventral); (G), unas tarsales; (H-I), quellceros (vista frontal). Lbd = rama lateral del ducto del 
epiginio; Med = ducto medio del epiginio; S = espermateca. Escala de barras = 0.10 mm (A, C); 0.05 mm (E, I).
Remarks Natural history
This species is currently represented only by 
the holotype which was captured with more 
than 3,300 spiders obtained in winter and 
autumn expeditions.
The specimen was collected by a G-Vac 
method from low vegetation less than one 
meter from the forest floor, in rainforest at 
1,700 m altitude.
246 RUBIO & GONZÁLEZ
Distribution
The new species Anapistula yungas is known 
only from Salta Province, Argentina.
Key to Neotropical female species o/Anapistula
1. Ventral atrium in the posterior region of
the epigynum present (Rheims & Brescovit 
2003, figs. 16, 18, 21)................................ [2]
- Ventral atrium in the posterior region of
the epigynum absent (Fig. IE)...............  [4]
2. Large atrium, much larger than the
spermathecae (Rheims & Brescovit 2003, 
figs. 16, 18)................................................ [3]
- Small atrium, same size or smaller than the
spermathecae (Rheims & Brescovit 2003, 
fig. 21) (Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul).........A.
ybyquyra Rheims & Brescovit 2003
3. Lateral branches of epigynal duct larger
than the radius of spermathecae (Rheims & 
Brescovit 2003, fig. 16) (Brazil: Mato 
Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro)..................A.
aquytabuera Rheims & Brescovit 2003
- Lateral branches of epigynal duct shorter 
than the radius of spermathecae (Rheims & 
Brescovit 2003, fig. 18) (Brazil: Sao Paulo) 
A. pocaruguara Rheims & Brescovit 2003
4. Spermathecae with small lateral vesicular
projections (Forster & Platnick 1977, fig. 
19; Rheims & Brescovit 2003, fig. 14).... [5]
- Spermathecae without small lateral
vesicular projections (Fig. IE) (Argentina: 
Salta Province)...............  A. yungas sp. nov.
5. Median epigynal duct longer than the
spermathecae (Forster & Platnick 1977, fig. 
19) (USA to Colombia, Bahamas Is., 
Jamaica, Brazil).....A. seer eta Gertsch 1941
- Median epigynal duct shorter than the 
spermathecae (Rheims & Brescovit 2003, 
fig. 14) (Brazil: Amazonas) ..A. ayri Rheims 
& Brescovit 2003
DISCUSSION
Spider fauna in subtropical rainforests of the 
Neotropical region is not yet well known, 
especially in the Argentinean where systematic 
fieldwork were not undertaken until recently 
(Rubio et al. 2008). However, in Argentinean 
Yungas rainforest, other arthropod fauna has 
only received attention during the last decade 
(Cuezzo et al. 2007), but undoubtedly many 
species remain to be found and new taxa 
discovered. This mountain rainforests are 
usually isolated from similar ecosystems by 
steep terrain and intervening lowlands with 
contrasting climates (Brown et al. 2002), and 
are very important areas since to have high 
species endemism (Cuezzo et al. 2007).
In the main, the Neotropical species of 
Anapistula are from Brazil (see key above and 
Rheims & Brescovit 2003, fig. 23). The new 
species A. yungas is the first symphytognathid 
to be recorded and described from Argentina, 
and their importance is increased by the relict 
size of the rainforests environment from 
Argentina and for the scarce knowledge that 
one has of the genus.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The manuscript was benefitted from comments from 
two anonymous reviewers and the RChHN editor. 
Moreover, we want to thank to Mark S. Harvey 
(Western Australian Museum, Australia), Shu-Qiang Li 
(Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 
China) and Antonio Brescovit (Instiuto Butantan, Sao 
Paulo, Brazil) for make helpful comments and 
corrections on the manuscript; to José A. Corronca 
(IEBI-Universidad Nacional de Salta, Argentina) for his 
assistance and the possibility of carrying out the 
samplings, and Diana Lopez Lezama (CEPAVE, 
Argentina) for assistance in the microscopy 
observations. This work was supported by the 
scholarship research given to G.D.R. by CONICET.
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La primera Symphytognathidae (Arachnida: Araneae) para Argentina, con la descripción de una nueva especie de Anapistula para la selva de montaña Yungas

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La primera Symphytognathidae (Arachnida: Araneae) para Argentina, con la descripción de una nueva especie de Anapistula para la selva de montaña Yungas

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