New species of Eupalaestrus from Argentina (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT.A new species of Eupalaestrus Pocock, 1901 from northern Argentina is described and illustrated. Males and females of Eupalaestrus larae sp. nov. differ from those all other species of the genus by the color with distinct two parallel longitudinal stripes on the femora, patellae, tibiae and one longitudinal stripe reaching half of metatarsi; the presence of a thickened femur and tibia IV; a straight embolus of the male palpal bulb and retrolateral keel pronounced. Specimens were captured in Chaco province, inhabiting unflooded flat grasslands open areas inside forest in transitional Chaco eco-region.

Species conservation profiles of a random sample of world spiders IV: Scytodidae to Zoropsidae

“…Basis (narrative): Only three records (Ferretti and Barneche 2012) make it impossible to assess the true distribution of the species.…”

“…Range description: This species is known only from Chaco province, Argentina, found and recorded in 2012 (Ferretti and Barneche 2012).…”

“…Justification for trend: E. larae is capable of inhabiting even modified areas with human disturbance (Ferretti and Barneche 2012) which may suggest the AOO of this species is probably not experiencing any decline. Yet, this is very uncertain.…”

“…Habitat (narrative): Specimens were found in the area between humid and dry Chaco in flat grasslands surrounded by forest. This species was also abundant in golf courses along with other artificial and disturbed habitats (Ferretti and Barneche 2012).…”

“…Burrows can be deep and temperature inside it can be almost 10ºC cooler compared to the outside temperature. The population density can be high with many specimens within a few square metres (Ferretti and Barneche 2012).…”