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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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Galapagos Islands and one with eye spots from theAzores, T. pico (Merrett and Ashmole).This third species was found in a moist limestonecave, the Southwestern <strong>Cave</strong> at Bisbee, Arizona.Troglophiles in the habitat included a pale psocid,collembolans, and mycetophilid flies. The spiderswere brought to my attention by Ralph Luetckewhose keen interest in the natural history of the areamade the find possible. His assistance in guidingour group and helping with collections is herebygratefully acknowledged. Special thanks go to Dr.Herbert Levi who confirmed the identity of thisspecies and proofed the manuscript and to Dr. ToddRiddell of the U.S. Army <strong>for</strong> the original drawings.The females key out to couplet 6 of Levi's(1964b) key but lack the lateral ducts; the maleskey to couplet 33, however their carapace setae arenot transverse but <strong>for</strong>m three longitudinal rows onthe pars cephalica.DESCRIPTIONThe following description follow those of Levi(1957) to provide a comparison of species.Thymoites minero n. sp.Figs. 1-5Type-data.-Male holotype, female allotype and3 male and 7 female paratypes from Southwest <strong>Cave</strong>in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, Dec. 15, 1983,Vincent and Barbara Roth, Ralph and SuzanneLuetcke, collectors.The holotype and allotype will be deposited inthe Museum of Comparative Zoology, paratypes inthe Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Academy of Sciences, Texas MemorialMuseum, Museum of Natural History,Washington D. C., The American Museum ofNatural History, and the author's collection.Etymology.-The specific name "minero" isSpanish <strong>for</strong> "one who digs <strong>for</strong> metals" and is used tohonor the miners of Bisbee, Arizona who opened theunderground cavities where these spiders occur.Diagnosis.-This is the only troglobitic Thymoites,differing from the epigean species by longerlegs, femora I, 1 1/2 to 2 X as long as the carapace,and the tiny colorless (except AME) eyes. Themales have three rows of long setae on the parscephalica (Fig. 2) and the females can be recognizedby the knob-like epigynum (Fig. 3) with very shortducts on the spermatheca (Fig. 5).The epigynum is similar to that of T. missionen-sis (Levi, 1959b) but the copulatory opening issmaller, round and internally the spermatheca bearsa short blind (?) duct off the ventral wall. Themales do not seem similar to any other Thymoites.The females have relatively longer legs than themales, an unusual feature among spiders but anothercase was noted in the same genus. One pair of T.madera Gertsch and Archer (Levi, 1957) had a FICindex of 95 (male) and 115 (female).Description.-Pale yellow spiders lacking marksexcept <strong>for</strong> irregular dark pigment in the AME.Carapace high (Fig. 2), equal to length ofchelicera exposed below lower edge of c1ypeus. Thec1ypeus about 2/3 as high as width of AER. Eyesreduced in size, about 0.03 mm diameter, pale, exceptAME with scattered pigment. Viewed fromfront, AER slightly procurved to straight; viewedfrom above PER strongly procurved, PLE advancedone diameter anterior to PME; latter separatedslightly more than AME and about half that distancefrom them. Pars cephalica (Fig. 2) encircled by 15long (0.25-0.3 mm) curved setae, 4 on each side, 3on the center line, plus four on the anterior part ofthe pars thoracica. Chelicerae with large promarginaltooth, none on retromargin. Legs with fewlarge dorsal spines, two on patellae and one nearbase of tibiae.Palpus as illustrated (Fig. 1) with median apophysisextending out from edge of bulb. Palpal femurcurved, patella continuing the curve almost180 0 to parallel the femur. Tibia constricted nearbase.Total length of males 1.7-2.0 mm. Measurementsof male holotype: total length 1.8 mm; carapacelength 0.82 mm; width 0.69 mm. Leg I totallength 5.11 mm; first femur 1.64 mrn; patella-tibia1.57 mm; metatarsus 1.31 mm; tarsus 0.59 mm;second patella-tibia 1.29 mrn; third 0.90 mm; fourth1.29 mrn.Female: As in male except setae on carapacemuch shorter (0.18 -0.26 nun) and few on a medianline. Carapace not as high in front, 2/3 the lengthof the exposed part of the chelicerae, c1ypeus heightabout 315 the width of the AER.Epigynum raised posteriorly, knob-like (Figs. 3,4) with an opening at the tip. Vulva simple (Fig.5), two large bulbous spermathecae with short ducts.Total lengths of females, 2.5 mrn. Measurementsof female allotype: total length 2.5 mm; carapacelength 0.85 mm, width 0.72 mm; leg I length 5.47mm; first femur 1.62 mm; patella-tibia 1.80 mm;metatarsus 1.41 mm; tarsus 0.64 mm; secondpatella-tibia 1.41 mrn; third 1.08 mrn; fourth 1.57mrn.124

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