Paraphynus williamsi

Originally described from Grutas de Zapaluta in Chiapas, Mexico by Mullinex (1975). Now suggested to range from Oaxaca to Central Guatemala (See. Ballestros, 2010). Not mentioned by Viquez & Armas (2006)

From Mullinex 1975 (page.14-15): "Medium sized species (length of holotype 20 mm.); color in alcohol pale brown. Resembles P. macrops, P. leptus and P. emaciatus in the following ways: Bd-I longer than Bd-III (fig. 12e); difference in length between first and second ventral spines of pedipalp femur considerably less than difference in length between second and third spines, so that these first three spines do not appear to diminish evenly in length (fig. 12c); dorso-inner lateral surface of proximal end of pedipalp tarsus with a small inconspicuous spine (fig. 12g); pedipalp tarsus and post-tarsus not fused; i.e. these two areas are separated by a suture (fig. 12g). Can be distinguished from P. leptus and P. emaciatus in the following ways: P. williamsi with Bd-III longer than spine IX on dorsal surface of tibia (fig. 12b, e); inner lateral surface of pedipalp basitarsus smooth with only a few marginal coarse granules (fig. 12e). Paraphrynus leptus and P. emaciatus with Bd-III shorter than spine IX on dorsal surface of tibia (figs. 15b, e, 17b, e), and with inner lateral surface of pedipalp basitarsus appearing rougher because of numerous fine and coarse granules (figs.15e , 17e)."

From Mullinex 1975 (page.15-16):

Description of Holotype (Female):

CARAPACE. Pale yellow-brown in color. Anterior edge straight. Distance of median ocular tubercle from anterior edge equal to slightly less than length of tubercle. Tubercle 0.3 mm. high. Measurements: Length 7.8 mm. , width 11.5 mm. , sulcus from anterior edge 4.8 mm. Median ocular tubercle '. length 0.5 mm., width 0.8 mm., distance from anterior edge 0.4 mm. Lateral eyes'. from each other 3.8 mm., from lateral edge 1.8 mm., from anterior edge 1.3 mm.

CHELICERAE. Anterodorsal surface of fixed segment with a setiferous tubercle on outer edge and a smaller one on inner edge. Anteroventral surface of basal segment with one tooth on outer edge.

PEDIPALPS . Trochanter with four spines and a prominent setiferous tubercle on its inner lateral surface; tr-I longer than tr-IV. Femur with Fd-IV longer than Fd-VI and greater than half the length of Fd-III; ventrally, first three spines not diminishing evenly in length, i.e. differ- ence between lengths of Fv-I and II conspicuously less than difference between lengths of Fv-II and III; Fv-III longer than Fv-V (in paratypes it is slightly shorter than Fv-V) ; Fv-IV slightly shorter than Fv-V and VI which are about equal in length. Tibia with Td-I less than half the length of Td-V; Td-II longer than V and VII which are about equal in length; Td-V noticeably greater than half the length of Td-IV (in paratypes Td-V is only slightly greater than half the length of Td-IV); ventrally, Tv-I slightly shorter than Tv-IV; Tv-III about half the length of Tv-IV and intermediate in length between that of Tv-VI and VII. Basitarsus with Bd-I longer than Bd-III; Bd-III much longer than twice the length of the spinule proximal to it and as long as spine IX on the dorsal surface of the tibia; inner lateral surface of basitarsus smooth with only a few marginal coarse gran- ules. Tarsus with proximal end of dorso-inner lateral surface with small inconspicuous spine; tarsus and post- tarsus not fused, i.e. a suture separating these two areas. Measurements: Femur: 8.5 width 1.8 mm. Tibia: length mm., Trochanter with four spines and a prominent length 9.0 mm., width 1.8 mm., length of longest dorsal spine (Td-III) 3.3 mm. Basitarsus: length 4.5 mm., width 1.5 mm. Tarsus: length 5.0 mm.

LEGS. Uniform yellow-brown and lighter than pedipalps. Femur of antenniform leg same color as second, third, and fourth femora. Tarsi with light transverse line on second tarsomere. Measurements: Antenniform leg: (femur) 29.5 mm. Leg II: (femur) 17.5 mm., (tibia) 18.5 mm., (basitarsus) 9.3 mm., (tarsus) first segment 1.8 mm., second segment 0.8 mm., fourth segment 1.3 mm. Leg III: (femur) 19.3 mm., (tibia) 22.3 mm., (basitarsus) 10.0 mm., (tarsus) first segment 1.9 mm., second segment 0.8 mm., fourth seg- ment 1.3 mm. Leg IV: (femur) 17.0 mm., (tibia) first segment 13.3 mm., second segment 2.0 mm., third segment 5.8 mm., (basitarsus) 9.3 mm., (tarsus) first segment 2.0 mm., second segment 0.8 mm., fourth segment 1.3 mm.

ABDOMEN. Dorsal surface approximately same color as legs with lighter areas around muscular impressions. Measurements: Length 12.0 mm. Genital operculum: length 2.8 mm., width 5.3 mm. Genitalia of female paratype as illustrated (fig. 11b) .

-

REMARKS:The species is named for Dr. Stanley C. Williams.

See Ballesteros (2010, Masters thesis) & Mullinex 1975

MÉXICO:

Chiapas: La Trinitaria: Grutas de Zapaluta (16.0755306, -92.0074469), HOLOTYPE 1♀ AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010). [= In Mullinex 1975, Holotype: female from Grutas de Zapaluta, 4 mi. SE. Zapaluta, Chiapas, Mexico, 20 August 1967, J. Reddell, J. Fish, and T. Evans. Deposited in the AMNH]. In Mullinex 1975, "There are five paratypes, 3 females and 2 males. Both males appear to be immature. Three paratypes (2 females, 1 male) have the same data as holotype while two paratypes" Also "(1 female, 1 male) are from Cave of Zapaluta, Chiapas, Mexico, 19 July 1950, C. and M. Goodnight. One female paratype is deposited in CAS, and the remainder in the AMNH." Note - It is unclear whether the CAS female is from Goodnight & Goodnight or Reddell et al.

Chiapas: Comitán de Domínguez: Cueva Chica del Hunchabien (16.264542, -92.1333351), 1♀ AMNH. (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Chiaps: La Trinitaria: Grutas de Zapaluta (16.0755306, -92.0074469), 3 juv. AMNH. (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Chiapas: Berriozabal: Cueva de Rausel (16.8000002, -93.2666702), 1 juv. CNAN (See Ballesteros, 2010).

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

Oaxaca: Matías Romero: Colonia Cuahutemoc (16.886749, - 95.025212), 1♂ CALFA. (See Ballesteros, 2010).

GUATEMALA:

Alta Verapaz: Lanquín: Grutas de Lanquín (15.5666676, - 89.9666634), 2♀♀, 3♂♂ AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010).

Huehuetenango: Santa Ana Huista: Cueva de Agua Escondida (15.7618714, -91.8219716) 3♀♀, 1 juv. AMNH (See Ballesteros, 2010).

From Ballesteros (2010, Masters thesis): "This species is very similar to P. emaciatus and P. leptus. It is separated from P. leptus because in the latter the front of the palpal trochanter is smooth, while Pa. williamsi exhibits a well developed central tubercle. It is separated from P. emaciatus because fresh specimens [of P. williamsi] have marked carapace and dark bands on the legs, while in P. emaciatus these structures are concolorous and dark. Furthermore, the Td3 (Bd3*) spine it is well developed [in P. williamsi], while in P. emaciatus is only slightly larger than the intermediate spines between Td2 and Td3 (Bd2/3*)."

De Ballesteros (2010, Tesis de maestría): "Esta especie es muy parecida a P. emaciatus y a P. leptus. Se separa de P. leptus porque en que esta última la cara frontal del trocánter del pedipalpo es lisa, mientras que P. williamsi, exhibe un tubérculo central bien desarrollado. Se distingue de P. emaciatus porque los ejemplares frescos de ésta presentan el carapacho manchado y con bandas oscuras en las patas, mientras que en P. emaciatus estas estructuras son concoloras y oscuras. Además la espina Td3 (*=Bd3) se encuentra bien desarrollada, mientras que en P. emaciatus es sólo ligeramente mayor que las espinas intermedias entre Td2 y Td3 (*=Bd2/3)."

*Nota in Ballesteros (2010): Tibia (T) = Basitarsus (Bd). d = dorsal.

From Mullinex 1975 (page.14-15): "Closest relative of P. williamsi is P. maorops. These two can be distinguished in the following ways: P. williamsi is pale brown with smaller secondary spines between the longer spines of the pedipalp femur (fig. 12c) and with distance of median ocular tubercle from anterior edge equal to slightly less than its longitudinal diameter (fig. 11a). Paraphrynus macrops is dark brown, with fewer secondary spines on the pedipalp femur (fig. 10c) and with median ocular tubercle on edge of carapace and more prominent (fig. 9)"