Arthur M. Chickering.
The Genus Oonops(Araneae, Oonopidae) in Panama and the West Indies. Part 1.
Psyche 77:487-?, 1970.

Full text (searchable PDF, 2028K)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/77/77-487.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

THE GENUS OONOPS (ARANEAE, OONOPIDAE)
IN PANAMA
AND THE WEST INDIES. PART 1
BY ARTHUR M. CHICKERING
Museum of Comparative Zoology
This is the sixth paper in the series planned for publication on the various genera in the Family Oonopidae in Central America and the West Indies. The genus Oonops appears to include many more species than any other genus now believed to Occur in the region under study at the present time. For this reason the treatment of the genus in this region will be divided into two or three separate papers. The present one will include all species at present known to occur in Panama, Trinidad, W. I. and Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Again, I am taking this opportunity to express my appreciation for the continued aid and encouragement extended to me by the staff of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, over a period of many years. Grants GB-1801 and GB-5013 from the National Science Foundation have aided me in carrying on extensive collecting activities in Panama, Costa Rica, Florida and the West Indies during the years 1963-1968 and in continuing my studies in the Museum of Comparative Zoology during this period. All types described in this paper together with my entire collection of specimens treated here will be deposited in the Museum of Com- parative Zoology, Harvard University.
Genus Oonops Templeton, I 835
The type species is Oonops pulcher Templeton, 1835, by mono- typy, based upon both males and females from Belfast, Ireland. Simon was the first to describe species belonging to this genus in the Western Hemisphere. Between 1 89 I and 1907 Simon described several species from St. Vincent, B. W. I., Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina. Since that time several additional species have been described from Bermuda, Florida, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Texas, Mexico, Panama and Brazil. Dr. Petrunkevitch had one species from Panama in 1925 and in 1951 I recognized two addi- tional species from the same region. Since 1951 the specimens assigned to this genus have been increasing with each of my collecting trips in Panama and other nearby regions. As in my treatment of the genus Stenoonops (1969) I must con-



================================================================================

488 Psyche [December
fess that I am well aware that some uncertainties still exist in my treatment of this genus. However, I feel compelled to recognize a total of fifteen species from Panama, Costa Rica, Trinidad, W. I. and Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Eleven of these species are re- garded as new. The list of species recognized in this paper may be given as follows: Oonops amacus sp. nov.; Oonops anoxus sp. nov.; Oonops donaldi Chickering; Oonops itascus sp. nov.; Oonops ornatus so. nov. ; Oonofis jsallidulus (Chickering) ; Oonops persitw sp. nov. ; Oonops reticulatus Petnmkevitch; Oon~bi- safivw sp. nov.; Oom@ sicorius sp. nov.; Oonops teciulus sp. nov.; Oonops tenebus sp. nov.; Oonops trapellus sp. nov.; Oonops vestus sp. nov.; Oono$s zeteki dickering. Several specimens have been left unplaced in any species because of their uncertain status. One species in the above list is from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, six are from Trinidad, W. I. and the remaining eight are from Panama and Costa Rica. In addition to the general family characteristics, the features of the genus Oonops 2s observed in this study may be stated as follows: the size varies from about 1.2 mm to 2.26 mm with females usually somewhat larger than the corresponding males. The carapace is usually of moderate height with both height and general shape vary- ing somewhat among the species; a few species have the carapace considerably more highly raised. There are six eyes in two rows in a fairly compact group; the posterior row is usually quite definitely recurved and somewhat wider than the anterior row and usually occupies most of the width of the carapace at that level, There are only small differences in the size of the three pairs of eyes. The chelicerae probably bear minute teeth on each margin of the fang groove but these are often difficult to observe. The maxillae and lip are usually conservative and without special modifications but there are occasional exceptions to this rule. The legs are moderately long and slender and have spines at least on the third and fourth legs but the spination is quite variable among the recognized species and often difficult to determine. The sternum is convex, only a little longer than wide; usually without special modifications but occasionally shows weakly developed lobes and grooves. The legs are most commonly 4123 in order of length but there is some varia- tion in the order in certain species. The male palp usually has rather distinctive tarsal features but other segments are not highly modified. Abdomen: a dorsal scutum is absent; typically two obscure ventral scuta are discernible in the anterior third of the venter but in some species these are so indistinct that clear representation in drawings



================================================================================

19701 Chickering - Oonops 489
is practically impossible; similar difficulties are encountered in respect to the epigynal areas of females and frequently these cannot be clearly represented in figures; small, subsurface, dark colored struc- tures usually show more or less clearly just anterior to the bases of the spinnerets much as in Stenoonops.
Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch
Figures 1-2
Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch, 1925: 98. The female holotype was from Panama City, Panama, but is now unavailable for study. Roewer, 1942: 278; Bonnet, 1958: 3192.
Oonopoides bryantae, - Chickering, 1951 : 224, figs. 12-13. No figures accompanied the original description and the female holotype was sectioned for the study of internal anatomy and, of course, was unavailable for examination in 1951 when I had but one male in my collection. Figure I shows the carapace of the male in profile and Figure 2 shows the eyes of the female; these specimens are from Corozal and Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, respectively. In both original descriptions cited above it was stated that true spines were lacking on the legs. Repeated examinations have now con- vinced me that there are actually true spines on the appendages although they are difficult to distinguish from numerous spiniform bristles and hairs. The ventral scuta in females are faintly outlined but the epigynal area i:s so indefinite and, apparently, variable in appearance that it seems impossible to provide reliable drawings of this region. The color pattern is highly variable among the specimens now assigned to this species; reticulation is very clear in some speci- mens but obscure in others; in some individuals the purplish color is subdivided into a series of irregular spots separated by yellowish areas.
Records. Two males are now in the collection from Corozal, Panama Canal Zone, January 4, 1958; a third male was collected in the vicinity of Turrialba, Costa Rica, Aug. 10, 1965. More than a dozen females from several localities in the Panama Canal Zone were taken in 1950, 1954, 1958, 1960 (W. J. Brown) and 1964; and also in Turrialba, Costa Rica July-August, 1965. Two females from El Volcan, Panama, August, 1950 belong in this genus but their specific status is uncertain at present. It seems probable, how- ever, that they will eventually be regarded as representing a new species.




================================================================================

Psyche
[December
Figs. 1-2. Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch. Fig. 1. Carapace of male; right lateral side. Fig. 2. Eyes of female from above. Figs. 3-6. Oonops ornatus sp. nov. Fig. 3. Eyes of male from above. Fig. 4. Left palp of male holotype; prolateral view. Fig. 5. Left palpal tarsus of holotype; dorsal view. Fig. 6. Eyes of female from above. Figs. 7-9. Oonops tectulus sp. nov. Fig. 7. Eyes of male holotype from above. Fig. 8. Left palp of male holotype; prolateral view. Fig. 9. Epigynal area of described female paratype from below.




================================================================================

Chickering- Oonops
Oonops ornatus sp. nov.
Figures 3-6
Holotype. The male holotype is from Boquete, Panama, August 4-1 I.
1954. The name of the species is a Latin adjective suggested by unusual palpal tarsal decorations.
Description. Total length about 1.94 mm including extended spin- nerets. Carapace about 0.81 mm long; 0.68 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; about 0.32 mm tall; only slightly arched from PME to beginning of steep posterior declivity; shape of cara- pace in profile very similar to that of 0. reticulatus; surface smooth and shining; with coarse, dark bristles along median and ocular regions ; posterior border slightly overlapped by abdomen ; no median thoracic groove or pit observed. Eyes: six as usual in a moderately compact group ; posterior row occupies about seven-tenths of width of carapace at that level and is definitely recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE: PME : PLE = nearly g : 7 : 8 (some irregularities noted and pigment is somewhat irregularly distributed thus making it difficult to measure with the desired accuracy). ALE separated from one
another by nearly their long diameter (Fig. 3) ; sub- contiguous to PLE and separated from PME by nearly one fourth of their long diameter. PME contiguous to one another and separated from PLE by nearly half their radius. Clypeus very narrow with exact height obscure. Chelicerae: vertical, essentially parallel ; apparently without special modifications. Maxillae distally narrowed and probably obscurely modified but details not deter- mined. Lip: somewhat longer than wide; without special modi- fications. Sternum: very convex; longer than wide in ratio of about 12 : 11 ; obtusely rounded posterior end extended between bases of fourth coxae which are separated by about 1.3 their width; surface smooth and shining; only faintly grooved; with numerous long, stiff, dark, spiniform bristles; widest between second coxae but nearly as wide between first coxae. Legs: 4123 in order of length; it is difficult to distinguish between stiff, spiniform bristles and true spines but, as in 0. reticulatus, after repeated examinations I have decided that we must recognize numerous, transparent spines on the legs; trichibothria are fairly prominent but their exact numbers and place- ment have not been determined. Palp: essential features shown in Figures 4-5 ; the distal end of the tarsus and the unusual, feathery hairs on the prolateral surface of the cymbium are the most distinctive features. Abdomen: regularly ovoid in shape; spinnerets essentially typical of the genus; the region anterior to the genital groove appears



================================================================================

492 Psyche [December
to be slightly suggestive of an epigastric scutum but its outlines are very indistinct. Color in alcohol: carapace and legs above are a defi- nite yellow color; sternum, mouth parts and lower surfaces of the legs are a lighter yellowish; abdomen light purplish brown with a distinct, irregular reticulation dorsally and laterally; the cardiac region is nearly white through the first quarter; the venter is nearly white; some variation in color pattern has been noted on the two paratype males.
Females. Several specimens are, apparently, either immature or dismembered to such an extent that an adequate description is re- garded as impossible. These females are probably correctly matched with the males, however, because of color pattern, general anatomical features, the eyes (Fig. 6) and the decorative feathery hairs on the palps.
Diagnosis. The peculiar color pattern, the eyes and other general anatomical features seem to indicate a rather close relationship with Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch. The distinct features of the male palp definitely establish this as a new species. Records. One paratype male was taken with the holotype and another male was taken in the same locality in August, 1950. Five or six damaged or immature females were also taken in the vicinity of Boquete, Panama, August 4-1 I, 1954.
Oonops tectulus sp. nov.
Figures 7-9
Holotype. The male holotype is from St. Augustine, Trinidad, W. I., April 9, 1964. The name of the species is an arbitrary com- bination of letters.
Description. Total length 1.43 mm, exclusive of the somewhat extended spinnerets. Carapace 0.66 mm long; 0.48 mm wide opposite interval between second and third coxae where it is widest; 0.20 mm tall; gently arched from PME to beginning of only moderately steep posterior declivity; surface smooth and shining except posterior de- clivity where there are very fine transverse corrugations; with a sparse supply of moderately long hairs mostly removed by handling; with no evidence of a median thoracic groove or pit. Eyes: six as usual in a moderately compact group; posterior row occupies nearly entire width of carapace at that level and is rather strongly recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = nearly 6 : 6.5 : 6. ALE
separated from one another by nearly three-fourths of their long axis; subcontiguous to PME and slightly further removed from PLE



================================================================================

(Fig. 7). PME continguous to one another for nearly one-third of their circumference and subcontiguous to PLE. Height of clypeus apparently equal to nearly one-fourth of the long axis of ALE but transparency makes accurate measurement difficult. Chelicerae: parallel; apparently without special modifications. Maxillae and lip: apparently typical of the genus.
Sternum : convex; scutiform ; with
a deep excavation at junction with lip; only slightly longer than wide between second coxae where it is widest but nearly as wide between first coxae; only slightly lobed and not noticeably grooved; with a sparse coating of stiff bristles; ,squarely truncated between fourth coxae which are separated by eight-fifths of their width; second and third coxae nearly globose; first and second coxae some- what more elongated. Legs: 4123 in order of length; slender, transparent spines are present especially on the third and fourth legs but these could easily be regarded as spiniform bristles. Palp: all segments short and broad except the tarsus which terminates in a long, lash-like embolus (Fig. 8). Abdomen: ovoid; with a weakly chihized epigastric scutum and a narrow, transverse scutum just posterior to the genital groove; openings to book lungs and tracheal spiracle obscure. Spinnerets as usual in the genus with posterior pair the longest. Color in alcohol : carapace a medium brownish with three pairs of obscure more or less radiating streaks along lateral sides; with a conspicuous, somewhat diamond-shaped figure on the posterior declivity subdivided in the middle; only a moderate amount of black pigment in the ocular region; legs, mouth parts and sternum yellowish with variations. Abdomen : dorsum and lateral sides purple with cardiac region nearly white and with dentate margins; purple areas obscurely subdivided into angular areas ; venter purplish except for the scutal areas which are yellowish streaked with purple; a light yellowish median stripe extends posteriorly three-fourths of the distance from the genital groove to the spinnerets which are yellowish. Female paratype. Total length 1.61 mm. Carapace 0.66 mm long; 0.5 I mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; 0.17 mm tall; very slightly arched from PME to beginning of posterior declivity; otherwise essentially as in male. Eyes: ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 7.5 : 6.25 : 7. ALE separated from one another by nearly three-fifths of their long axis. Clypeus appears to be practically eliminated because the ALE are set so low on the front of the carapace; otherwise essentially as in male. Chelicerae, maxillae and lip: all essentially as in the male holotype and without special modifications. Sternum: excavation at base of lip much less



================================================================================

494 Psyche
[December
than in male; sternal suture gently procurved; otherwise essentially as in male. Legs: 4123 in order of length as in male ; slender, trans- parent spines seem to be present on legs as in male but it is difficult to distinguish between spiniform bristles and very slender spines. Abdomen: essentially as in male except that the scuta are even less distinct than in that sex; the epigynal area is very obscure but ap- pears to exhibit a few faintly indicated distinctive features (Fig. 9) ; the female paratypes generally show no epigynal features of distinction. Color in alcohol: the conspicuous mark on the posterior declivity of the male is much less distinct here in the female; the purplae areas on the abdomen are lighter in color and the reticulation is much clearer than in the male; otherwise essentially as in the male; con- siderable variation of the color pattern has been noted among the paratypes.
Diagnosis. This species also seems to be closely related to Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch. The features of the eyes, the obscure features of the epigynal area in the female paratype and, especially, the palpal tarsal features of the male establish it definitely as a new species.
Records. The described female paratype was taken on the same day and in the same locality as the male holotype. Several paratypes
of both sexes, some immature, were collected in the same general locality April 5-8, 1964.
Oonops zeteki Chickering
Figures 10-1 I
Oonops zeteki Chickering, 1951: 229, fig. 17. The holotype female from Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone was taken in a Berlese funnel, July 1943-March
1944 by Dr. James Zetek and is now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. The posterior row of eyes is only slightly recurved in this species and the carapace has a somewhat different shape than usual (Figs. 10-1 I ). The pedal spines are conspicuous and the epigynal area is without observed distinctive features.
One additional female taken on Barro Colorado Island by Dr. Zetek in a Berlese funnel in 1946 and another female taken in the same locality August 16, 1954 are definitely placed in this species. Three females taken in Summit Gardens, Panama Canal Zone, July 24, 1954 were for a time placed in this species but now their status is uncertain. The male remains unknown.




================================================================================

19701 Chickering - Oonops 495
Figs. 10-11. Oonops zeteki Chickering. Fig. 10. Carapace from above. Fig. 11. Carapace; left lateral view. Figs. 12-13. Oonops pallidulus (Chickering). Fig. 12. Carapace; left lateral view. Fig. 13. Left fourth tibia; dorso-prolateral view. Figs. 14-19. Oonops fersitus sp. nov. Fig. 14. Carapace of holotype; left lateral view. Fig. 15. Eyes of holotype from above.
Figs. 16-18. First femur, tibia and metarsus, respectively from below. Fig. 19. Epigynal area of holotype from below. Figs. 20-22. Oonops amacus sp. nov. Fig. 20. Carapace of holotype; right lateral view. Fig. 21. Eyes of holotype from above.
Fig. 22. Epigynal area from below.




================================================================================

496 Psyche [December
Oonops pallidulus ( Chickering )
Figures I 2- I 3
Oonopinus pallidulus Chickering, 1951: 222, figs. 10-11. The female holo- type from Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. In 1951 I had only the female holotype. Since that date numerous specimens, believed to belong here, have been added to the collection. Identification is often difficult, however, because of the obscurity of some important features especially of the epigynal area which seems to vary in appearance in different specimens. Repeated examinations have convinced me that spines are present on the legs (Fig. 13) but they are very inconspicuous as compared to those occurring on the legs of Oonops persitus ,sp. nov. for example. It now seems probable that I also have this species recorded from Jamaica, W. I. but the final decision in this matter must await more careful study of the available specimens. The male remains unknown. Records. I now have about nineteen females assigned to this species. All of these have been collected in the Panama Canal Zone on Barro Colorado Island, in Summit Gardens or in the Canal Zone Forest Preserve on the following dates : July-August, I 954 ; January- February, 1958 and in May, 1964.
Oonops persitus sp. nov.
Figures 14-19
Holotype. The female holotype is from Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone, July 1-2, 1939. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters.
Description. Total length, exclusive of the somewhat extended spinnerets 2.13 mm; including the spinnerets total length is 2.24 mm. Carapace nearly 0.77 mm long (somewhat overlapped by abdomen) ; nearly 0.66 mm wide opposite interval between second and third coxae where it is widest; nearly 0.33 mm tall; considerably raised and gently arched from just behind PME to beginning of fairly steep posterior declivity (Fig. 14) ; surface smooth and shining; with a row of five or six long, slender spinules along median region and with few hairs elsewhere. Eyes: six as usual in a moderately com- pact group; seen from above, posterior row recurved and occupies nearly the full width of the carapace at that level (Fig. 15). Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = nearly 8.5 : 8 : 8. ALE separated from one another by slightly less than their long axis; separated from PME by nearly three-eighths of their long axis and from PLE by less than one-eighth of their long axis. PME contiguous for nearly



================================================================================

19701 Checkering - Oonops 497
one-third of their circumference and separated from PLE by a little more than one-eighth of their long axis. Height of clypeus equal to slightly less than one half the the long axis of ALE. Chelicerae: fairly robust ; vertical ; parallel ; with no observed special modifica- tion. Maxillae and lip apparently quite typical of females of the genus ; without observed special modifications. Sternum : moderately convex; nearly as wide as long; surface smooth and shining; without grooves or definite lobes ; posterior end broadly rounded opposite bases of fourth coxae which are separated by nearly their width. Legs: 42 I 3 in order of length ; with conspicuous spines ; first leg with spines as shown in Figures 16-18 (taken from paratype to avoid injury to holotype) ; some irregularities of spination noted among paratypes; second leg essentially as in first; third and fourth legs with several spines on femora, tibiae and metatarsi but much less conspicuous than on first and second legs; palp with several slender, inconspicuous spines. Abdomen: ovoid; widest about one-third from base to posterior end; six spinnerets typical of the genus with posterior pair the longest; with no evidence of a collulus; epigastric and narrow ventral scuta barely discernible; epigynal area obscurely distinctive (Fig. 19). Color in alcohol: carapace, sternum, legs and mouth parts yellowish with some variation; considerable black pigment in ocular area; abdomen light yellowish in general; with dorsal and lateral regions clearly reticulated into irregular polygons; on each side just in front of the anterior spinnerets there is a group of four or five minute more deeply colored yellowish bodies believed to represent the dark subsurface bodies typically seen in the same position.
Diagnosis. This species is believed to be closely related to Oonops pallidulus ( Chickering) . The conspicuous pedal spines, relative posi- tion of the eyes, shape of the carapace and the epigynal area seem to establish it as a new species.
Records. Ten female paratypes are in the collection from the following localities in the Panama Canal Zone: Summit, July, 1950; Barro Colorado Island, July-August, 1954 ; Summit Gardens, Au- gust, 1954; Canal Zone Forest Preserve, July, 1954 and December 1957.
Oonops amacus sp. nov.
Figures 20-22
Holotype. The female holotype is from Simla, Trinidad, W. I., April 18, 1964. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters. -




================================================================================

498 Psyche
[December
Description. Total length 1.91 mm, exclusive of the somewhat extended spinnerets. Carapace 0.74 rnm long; 0.60 mm wide opposite posterior border of second come where it is widest; 0.33 mm tall opposite anterior border of third coxae where it is tallest; rises con- siderably from PME to beginning of steep posterior declivity (Fig. 20) ; surface smooth with a moderately well developed coat of erect, light colored hair; without a definite median thoracic fovea. Eyes:
six in two rows in a fairly compact group; posterior row occupies nearly nine-tenths of width of carapace at that level and is moderately recurved (Fig. 21). Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : FLE = 8 : 8.5 : 7. ALE separated from one another by nearly five-eighths of their diameter, separated from FME by a little less than one-fourth of their diameter and barely separated from PLE. PME contiguous to one another for one-third of their circumference and separated from PLE by a fairly broad line. Height of clypeus probably about equal to the radius of ALE; clypeus with numerous spinifom bristles. Chelicerae: vertical; parallel; without special modifications. Maxil- lae and Iip: apparently typical of the genus; close observation pre- vented by folded, fragile legs. Sternum: scutiform; convex; as wide as long; posterior end bluntly rounded and extended halfway between fourth wxae which are separated by slightly more than their width. Legs: 4213 in order of length; spines quite well developed but they are less conspicuous than in h o p s persitus sp. nov.; first tibia with about five pairs of ventral spines with some irregularities; first meta- tarsus with about four pairs of ventral spines also with some irregu-