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| Psalmopoeus chronoarachne Psalmopoeus satanas Peñaherrera-R. & León-E, 2023 |
Abstract
Two novel species of Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895 are described from the north-western and central-western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes mountain range in Ecuador. The new species are easily differentiated from other congeners of Psalmopoeus by spermathecae and male palpal bulb morphology and a comparatively distant distribution to the type localities of the geographically nearest known congeners. The diagnosis of P. ecclesiasticus Pocock, 1093 is revised and updated, considering the novel species and observations on spermatheca of this species. Likewise, an evaluation is provided for the new species in terms of conservation due to the various threats impacting ecosystems and ecosystem services of their type localities. Finally, the importance of theraphosid spiders in Ecuador and South America and their possible conservation requirements are discussed and assessed.
Key words: Andes, Choco, pet trade, Psalmopoeinae, smuggling, taxonomy, western Ecuador
Theraphosidae Thorell, 1869
Psalmopoeinae Samm & Schmidt, 2010
Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895
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| Psalmopoeus chronoarachne sp. nov. female holotype (ZSFQ-i11704), live habitus A dorsolateral view B dorsal view. Psalmopoeus satanas sp. nov. male holotype (ZSFQ-i12150), live habitus A dorsolateral view B dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm. |
Psalmopoeus chronoarachne sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the combination of the Greek words chrono (χρόνο), in reference to time, and arachne (Ἀράχνη), meaning spider. The compound word refers to the adage that these spiders could “have their time counted” or reduced by impactful anthropogenic activities. The name addresses conservation concerns about the survival and prevalence of spider species in natural environments.
Distribution: Psalmopoeus chronoarachne sp. nov. is only known from its type locality, Hacienda La Mariela at 760 m, Province of Cotopaxi, in the central area of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of Ecuador (Figs 11, 12).
Ecology: The holotype of Psalmopoeus chronoarachne sp. nov. (Fig. 3) was found in the foothill evergreen forest of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes in the Western Ecuador biogeographic province (Figs 11, 12). The spider was observed on a tree at approximately 1.5 m up from the forest floor.
Psalmopoeus satanas sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition honouring the nickname of the holotype male Satanas. The members of the Mygalomorphae Research Group in the Laboratory of Terrestrial Zoology at Universidad San Francisco de Quito grew very fond of this individual during its care, in spite of the individual’s bad temperament and sporadic attacks (reason for the nickname).
Distribution: Psalmopoeus satanas sp. nov. is known from the localities La Magdalena and Reserva Otongachi in the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Los Bancos in the province of Pichincha. The new species is distributed across an altitudinal range of 866–937 m, in the north of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of Ecuador (Figs 11, 12).
Pedro Peñaherrera-R. and Roberto J. León-E. 2023. On Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) Species and Tarantula Conservation in Ecuador. ZooKeys. 1186: 185-205. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1186.108991
