OCR Text |
Show 1896.] SPIDERS FROM T H E LOWER AMAZONS. • 727 each emitting from its summit a single, long, fine bacilliform When first captured these were perfect; they have since, however, become effaced, except at the base of the abdomen. Ocular tumulus tuberculiform, globular. Anterior central eyes slightly smaller than anterior laterals ; a little more than the radius apart, nearly one diameter from anterior laterals. Anterior row straight. Posterior centrals very small, one diameter from anterior centrals, almost in contact with posterior laterals; the latter ellipsoidal, one quarter of its axis from anterior laterals, which is greater than the diameter of either of the anterior central or anterior lateral eyes. Sternum broader than long; sigilla encrusted and scarcely visible. Labium quadrate, apex transversely studded with numerous minute cusps. Coxa of pedipalp produced at anterior apical angle into a long spur-like prominence ; its anterior surface studded with minute cusps, clustered more closely towards basal anterior angle; the joint is stouter, longer, and more thickly fringed with rufous hair than in Paratropis papllllgera, 2 • Legs. Tarsi and protarsi i. and ii. furnished beneath with two series of paired teeth, each pair obliquely situated ; but their position is not absolutely regular. Tarsi and protarsi iii. and iv. with two series of long stout spines beneath. Tarsal claws. Three on tarsi i. and ii., superiors with single denticle towards base ; inferior claw present. Tarsi iii. and iv. with two superior claws, each with a single denticle towards base, inferior claw obliterated. Glandular tubercles on tibiae. Protarsi and tarsi similar in position to those of P. papllllgera, 2 • Spinners, two only ; posterior pair less than one-half the length of abdomen ; basal joints equal in length, apical joint one-fourth longer than basal joint. Anterior pair of spinners obsolete. Mandibles similar to those of P. papilluyera in character, but the two rows of teeth with which the fang-groove is furnished differ somewhat in number and arrangement. Outer row containing 7 stout teeth; inner row containing 14 teeth of smaller size. Tooth no. 7 in outer row stands opposite tooth no. 14 of the inner row, whereas in P. papllllgera it stands opposite no. 12 of the inner row. Comparative measurements In millimetres.- $ . Carap. 6*75 long., 6 lat. Abd. 7*5 long., 5*75 lat. Ceph. area 5-25 long. Stern. 3 long., 3-75 lat. Coxa of pedipalp 3 long., 1*5 lat. Pedes, long. i. 20-ii. 15-iii. 13-iv. 20. Artl. i. long. 3 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 1-75; iv. 2-5-1-75-5-2-4-4-5-2. Postr. mam. 3 long.; artl. 1-1-1-25. Antr. mam. absent. Mandib. 3 long. A single female, agreeing almost entirely in general appearance with the female of Paratropispapilllgera, was taken under a log in the damp fore*t at Breves, on the Lower Amazons, near the Island of Maraio. |