Paraphrynus emaciatus

Large size (total length: 25 to 30 mm), reddish brown, slightly darker on the carapace. Legs and pedipalps are extremely long in larger specimens, trochanter has four spines on the inner side face and a well developed tubercle in the center, the first spine of the basitarsus (Bd-1) is longer than the third (Bd-3), the tarsus and postarso are separated by a well development suture.

Originally described from Alta Verapaz Guatemala by Mullinex (1975). Now suggested to range from Chiapas to Central Guatemala (See. Ballestros, 2010). Viquez & Armas (2006) report from Guatemala, from Departamentos de Alta Verapaz, Guatemala y Sacatepéquez. Unpublished observations suggest also ranges into Northern Honduras (S.Longhorn, See photographs on this page)

From Viquez & Armas (2006) [translated above]:

"Large size (total length: 25-30 mm); reddish brown colour, somewhat darker on the carapace. The legs and the pedipalps are extremely long in larger specimens. Pedipalps: The trochanter has four spines on the inner side face and a well-developed setíferous tubercle in the center; the first spine of basitarsus (Bd-1) is longer than the third (BD-3); tarsus and protarsus are separated by a defined suture."

"Tamaño grande (longitud total: 25 a 30 mm); de color castaño rojizo, algo más oscuro sobre el carapacho. Las patas y los pedipalpos son extremadamente largos en los especímenes de mayor tamaño. Pedipalpos: el trocánter tiene cuatro espinas en la cara lateral interna y un tubérculo setífero bien desarrollado en el centro; la primera espina dorsal del basitarso (Bd-1) es más larga que la tercera (Bd-3); el tarso y el postarso están separados por una sutura marcada."

From Mullinex 1975 (page.16-17): "Large species (holotype measures 30 mm. long) with slender appendages; color in alcohol pale red-brown. Bd-I longer than Bd-III (fig. 15e). Difference in length between first and second ventral spines of pedipalp femur conspicuously less than difference in length between second and third spines, so that these first three spines do not diminish evenly in length (fig. 15c). Dorso-inner lateral surface of proximal end of pedipalp tarsus with small tooth. (fig. 15f) . Pedipalp tarsus and post-tarsus not fused, a suture separating these two areas (fig. 15f). This latter character associates this species most closely with P. macrops, P. williamsi, and P. leptus, the only other described species of Paraphrynus with this suture.

No information is know about this species, the information know is from collection specimens and for no more of 20 specimens.

From Viquez & Armas (2006) [translated above]:

"Lanquín Caves (Cave Cemetery) correspond to a rather dry area with rocky soil and scattered pine trees. Possibly also inhabits tropical rain forests, with the highest annual average biotemperature 24 ^oC and average annual rainfall of 2000-4000 mm, according to the inhabited zone."

"Las Cuevas de Lanquín (Cueva del Cementerio) corresponde a una zona algo seca, con suelos rocosos y pinos dispersos. Posiblemente también habite en bosques húmedos tropicales, con biotemperatura media anual mayor de 24 ^oC y con promedio de precipitación anual de 2000 a 4000 mm, según la zona de vida."

At this time their conservation status is unknown.

Not protected.

Viquez & Armas (2006) report for Guatemala:

"Rare. Just over twenty specimens of this species have been collected during the past 40 years ".

"Rara. De esta especie se han recolectado poco más de una veintena de especímenes durante los últimos 40 años,"

Un protected

From Mullinex 1975 (page.17-18):

Description of Holotype (male):

CARAPACE. Color medium to pale reddish brown and darker than abdomen. Anterior edge straight. Distance of median ocular tubercle from anterior edge equal to about half the length of the tubercle. Measurements. Length 10.0 mm., width 14.5 mm., sulcus from anterior edge 6.5 mm. Median ocular tuhercle: length 0.7 mm., width 1.0 mm., from anterior edge 0.3 mm. Lateral eyes: from each other 5.0 mm., from lateral edge 2.0 mm., from anterior edge 1.5 mm.

CHELICERAE. Dorsal surface of basal segment without conspicuous setiferous tubercles on anterior edge. Antero-ventral surface of basal segment with one tooth on outer edge.

PEDIPALPS. Color reddish brown as in carapace. Unique among all other described Paraphrynus in that the pedipalps are extremely long and thin with femur being longer than width of carapace and tibia 10 times longer than wide. Trochanter with four spines on inner lateral surface and a well developed setiferous tubercle in center, its length is about half that of tr-III. Femur with Fd-IV same length or slightly longer than Fd-VI , and greater than half the length of Fd-III and V; ventrally, difference between lengths of Fv-I and II conspicuously less than difference between lengths of Fv-II and III; Fv-III about same length or slightly longer than Fv-V; Fv-IV greater than half the length of Fv-VI. Tibia with Td-V and VII about equal in length and shorter than Td-II; Td-V about half the length of Td-VI; Td-IV almost twice the length of Td-I; ventrally, Tv-I and IV about equal in length; Tv-III about one-third the length of Tv-I. Basitarsus with Bd-I longer than Bd-III and almost the same length as Bd-II, i.e., greater than three-fourths its length; Bd-III a minute spine, smaller than spine IX on dorsal surface of tibia; inner lateral surface rough with coarse and fine granules. Tarsus with proximal end of dorso-inner lateral surface with small inconspicuous spine. Tarsus and post-tarsus not fused being separated by a suture. Measurements: Femur length 18.5 mm., width 2.0 mm. Tibia: length 20.0 mm., width 2.0 mm., length of longest dorsal spine (Td-III) 5.8 mm. Basitarsus: length 7.5 mm., width 1.8 mm. Tarsus: length 7. mm.

LEGS. Yellow-brown in color and lighter than pedipalps. Femur of antenniform leg almost four times longer than width of carapace. Legs extremely long. Second, third, and fourth tibiae longer than their respective femora by 2 mm., 8 mm., and 10 mm. Second tarsomere of all tarsi with a light transverse line on distal end. Measurements: Antenniform leg: (femur) 54.0 mm. Leg II: (femur) 33.0 mm., (tibia) 35.5 mm., (basitarsus) 15.5 mm., (tarsus) first segment 2.3 mm., second segment 1.1 mm., fourth segment 1.8 mm. Leg III: (femur) 34.0 mm., (tibia) 41.0 mm., (basitarsus) 17.3 mm., (tarsus) first segment 2.5 mm., second segment 1.3 mm., fourth segment 1.9 mm. Leg IV: (femur) 31.0 mm., (tibia) first segment 23.0 mm., second segment 5.5 mm., third segment 12.3 mm., (basitarsus) 15.3 mm., (tarsus) first segment 2.8 mm., second segment 1.3 mm., fourth segment 2.0 mm.

ABDOMEN. Dorsal surface pale yellow-brown and lighter than legs with lighter areas around muscular impressions. Measurements: Length 19.8 mm. Genital operculum: length 4. 3 mm. , width 6.8 mm.

REMARKS. The species is named for its extremely thin appearance.."

Guatemala, Departments of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala and Sacatepéquez Lanquín Caves (Cueva del Cementerio) a, rockyand dry soils and scattered pines. May also inhabit tropical rainforests,

See Ballesteros 2010 (Masters thesis) & Mullinex 1975. Note Armas & Viquez 2006 treated specimens of P. leptus (from Guatemala, Chimaltenango) as synonymous, contra to Ávila Calvo & Armas (1997).

GUATEMALA:

Alta Verapaz: Lanquín: Cemetery Cave (15.5666676, -89.966663), HOLOTYPE 1 ♂ AMNH. (See Ballesteros, 2010). [= In Mullinex 1975, Holotype male, cemetary cave, Lanquin, Alta Verapaz, elevation 1022 feet. Brother N. Sullivan. No date given. Depository is the AMNH]. Gruta de Lanquín (15.5666676, -89.9666634) 4♀♀, 1♂, 2 juvs. AMNH. (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Alta Verapaz: Chahal: Seamay Cave (15.7666664, - 89.5666695), 2♀♀ AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010)

Huehuetenango: Santa Ana Huista: Cueva de Agua Escondida (15.7618714, -91.8219716), 2♀, 1♂ AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010)

MEXICO:

Chiapas: La Trinitaria: Gruta del Soldado (16.1061115, -91.707222), 1♂ AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Chiapas: Berriozabal: Cueva de Rausel (16.8000002, -93.2666702), 2♂♂ CNAN (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Chiapas: La Independencia: San Antonio Buenavista (16.1527777, -91.6416702), 1♀, 3♂♂ CNAN (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Environmental conditions with mean annual temperature exceeding 24 ° C and average annual rainfall from 2000 to 4000 mm.

From Ballesteros 2010 (Masters thesis): "It is distinguished from most of his congeners by presence of a dorsolateral spine in the palpal tarsus, and tarsus separated from apothele by a dorsal suture. It differs from P. macrops and P. leptus, which share these primary characters, by presenting a smaller eye tubercle than those others.

De Ballesteros 2010 (Tesis de maestría): "Se distingue de la mayoría de sus congéneres por presentar una espínula dorsolateral en el tarso de los pedipalpos y el tarso separado del apotele por una sutura dorsal. Se distingue de P. macrops y P. leptus, con quienes comparte estos primeros caracteres, por presentar el tubérculo ocular pequeño en comparación a estos últimos."

From Mullinex 1975 (page.16-17): "Can be most easily distinguished from P. macrops and P. williamsi by the following characters: P. macrops and P. williamsi with Bd-III about the same length or longer than spine IX on the dorsal surface of the pedipalp tibia (figs. 10b, e, 12b, e) ; inner lateral surface of pedipalp basitarsus appearing smooth with only a few coarse granules but no fine granules (figs. 10e, 12e). In contrast, P. emaciatus and P. leptus have Bd-III very small, shorter than spine IX on the dorsal surface of the pedipalp tibia (figs. 15b, e, 17b, e), and with inner lateral surface of pedipalp basitarsus appearing rough with coarse granules and many fine granules (figs.15e, 17e). Paraphrynus emaciatus is unique and most easily distinguished from all three species by its larger size and extremely long thin pedipalps and legs (fig. 13). The pedipalp femur is longer than the width of the carapace, and the pedipalp tibia is ten times as long as wide. In contrast, its closest relative, P. leptus, has shorter pedipalps, in which the length of the femur is less than the width of the carapace, and the length of the pedipalp tibia is six times the width. In P. macrops and P. williamsi, these ratios are even less.

Note, in Mullinex 1975 size comparisons can be misleading, as comparing male holotype of P.emaciatus, with female holotype of P. macrops, or females and only subadult males of P. williamsi, but had both male and female of P. leptus.