Arthur M. Chickering.
The Genus Oonops (Araneae, Oonopidae) in Panama and the West Indies. Part 3.
Psyche 79(1-2):104-115, 1972.

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THE GENUS OONOPS (ARANEAE, OONOPIDAE)
IN PANAMA AND
THE WEST INDIES. PART 3*
BY ARTHUR M. CHICKERING
Museum of Comparative Zoology
This is the eighth paper in the series on the various genera in the Family Oonopidae as it is now known in Central America and the West Indies. It is the third and final paper on the genus Oonops and deals with this genus as it is now known in the West Indies from the Virgin Islands, both American and British, westward to Trinidad, W. I. and Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. My own col- lections have been supplemented by the loan of specimens from the American Museum Natural History and the British Museum (Nat- ural History) together with specimens deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology from earler collections. Dr. W. J. Gertsch, formerly Curator of Arachnida in the Ameri- can Museum of Natural History, New York City and Dr. J. A. L. Cooke. Associate Curator of Arachnida in the same institution have loaned me specimens of this genus from the West Indies. Dr. J. G. Sheals and Mr. D. J. Clark, Dept. of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) have very kindly made it possible to examine three species of the genus Oonops described by E. Simon from St. Vincent, B. W. I. in 1891.
As I have repeatedly acknowledged in my published papers, I am deeply grateful for help and encouragement extended to me by mem- bers of the staff of the Museum of 'Comparative Zoology over a period of many years. Grants GB-1801 and GB-5013 from the National Science Foundation have given me financial aid for a period of nearly six years.
Numerous difficulties encountered during the study of this genus in the West Indies, mentioned in Part 2 of this series, have con- tinned in this division of the study. This has been further com- plicated by increasing infirmities of advancing age. For these reasons
this paper is somewhat less complete than originally planned. A
small number of specimens have been laid aside because of uncertainty concerning their status and lack of sufficient time to clarify the problem.
In view of what I have written above, the list of species from the region under consideration in this paper and at present recog- *Manuscript received by the editor August 3, 1971.



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nized with reasonable certainty may be given as follows: Oonops
aristelus sp. nov.; 0. balms Chickering; 0. delegenus sp. nov.; 0. ebenecus sp. nov.; 0. figuratm Simon; 0. globinzanus Simon; 0. obZucz~s sp. nov. ; 0. pallidulus Chickering ; 0. pulicarius Simon; 0. reticulatus Petrunkevitch; 0. validus Bryant; 0. viridans Bryant. A total of thirty species in the genus Oonops are now recognized from the region included in this study and reported in Parts 1-3. Genus Oonops Templeton, I 835
Oonops aristelus spa nov.
Figures 1-5
Holotype.
The male holotype is from Antigua, B. W. I., August, 1967; collected by Airs. Elsa Sabath. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters.
Description. Total length 1.21 mm. Carapace nearly 0.57 mrn long; 0.43 mm wide opposite second coxae; considerably narrowed just anterior to first legs; nearly 0.21 mm tall at beginning of pos- terior declivity which is very steep in uppermost third and then moderately so to posterior border (Fig. I) ; with no evidence of a thoracic groove or pit. Eyes: six in two rows in a compact group (Fig. 2). Viewed from above, posterior row definitely recurved and wider than anterior row in ratio of nearly 17 : 15; occupies nearly 0.8 of width of carapace at that level. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = nearly 6 : 5 : 5.25. ALE separated from one another by nearly two-thirds of their diameter and separated from PME and PLE only by lines. PME contiguous for nearly one-third of their circumference and narrowly separated from PLE. Clypeus very nar- row; with height a little less than one-fourth of the diameter of ALE. Chelicerae and lip apparently typical of the genus and un- modified. Maxillae probably with distal modifications but absence of paratypes prevents dissection and careful observation. Sternum : mod- erately convex; nearly as wide as long at interval between first and second coxae; surface smooth and shining; with marginal hairs but without marginal lobes or grooves; bluntly terminated between bases of fourth coxae which are separated by a little more than their width. Legs: apparently 4
123 in order of length (curled and
fragile legs prevent usual exact measurements) ; spines on first and second legs few in number and obscure; those on third and fourth legs fairly clear and more numerous; trichobothria observed but exact number and placement not determined. Palp: essential features shown in Figures 3-4; bulb inflated but cymbium is shorter than usual; tibia and patella short and rounded. Abdomen: typical of males of the genus and without special modifications.



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I 06 Psyche [March- June
Female paratype. Total length 1.43 mm. Carapace 0.65 mm long; nearly 0.46 mm wide opposite second coxae; nearly 0.27 mm tall; general shape as in male. Features of the external anatomy resemble those of the male so closely that a detailed description is regarded as unnecessary. The epigynal area appears to be quite distinctive (Fig. 5 ) .
Diagnosis. This species seems to be closely related to Oonops ronoxus from St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. The male palp, the shape of the carapace and the epigynal area of the female seem to establish it as a new species.
Records. The female paratype was taken in the same locality and within the same time period as the male holotype. There are no other paratypes.
Oonops balanus Chickering
Telchius pladdus,-Bryant, 1942: 323, figs. 3-4. Not Oonops placuhis Ual- mas, 1916.
Oonops balanus Chickering, 1972: 204, figs. 1-11. New name for Telchius placidus Bryant.
In addition to the distribution of this species as reported in Part 2 of this series on the genus Oonops I seem to have numerous speci- mens from St. Kitts, Nevis and Antigua, B. W. I. and Jamaica, W. I. where it appears to be abundant. There are puzzling variations among these numerous specimens at present assigned to this species and further study may show that the collection includes more than one species.
Oonops delegenus sp. nov.
Figures 6-10
Holotype. The female holotype is from Puerto Rico, W. I., Mayaguez, University campus; sifted from hay and weed debris January 11, 1964. The name of the species is an arbitrary com- bination of letters.
Description. Total length 2.26 mm. Carapace 0.75 mm long; 0.66 mm wide; nearly 0.33 mm tall; slightly arched just behind PME to beginning of steep posterior declivity; surface smooth with a moderately well developed coat of dark hair; with no evidence of any definite median fovea or groove.
Eyes: six as usual in the genus
(Fig. 6) ; posterior row occupies about five-fifths of width of cara- pace at that level and only a little wider than anterior row; viewed from above, definitely recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 8.5 : 7.75 : 7.5. ALE separated from one another by nearly three-fourths of their long axis; separated from PME by somewhat less than one fourth of their long axis and from PLE



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19721 Chickering - oonops 107
Figures 1-5.
Oonops aristelus sp. nov.
Fig. 1. Carapace of holotype;
left lateral view.
Fig. 2. Eyes of holotype from above. Fig. 3. Left palp of holotype; prolateral view. Fig. 4. Left palpal tarsus of holotype; ven- tral view. Fig. 5. Epigynal area of described female paratype from below. Figures 6-10. Oonops delegenus sp. nov.
Fig. 6. Eyes of holotype from
above. Fig. 7. First right tibia and metatarsus; prolateral view. Fig. 8. Left palpal femur; retrolateral view. Fig. 9. Left palpal patella; dorsal view. Fig. 10. Epigynal area of holotype; ventral view.



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I 08 Psyche [March-June
only by a line. PME contiguous to one another for fully one-fourth of their circumference and separated from PLE by slightly more than one-fourth of their long axis. Height of clypens a little less than one-fourth of the long axis of ALE. 'Chelicerae, maxillae and lip essentially typical of females of the genus with no observed spe- cial modifications. Sternum: very convex; nearly as wide as long; with a cluster of stiff hairs at bluntly rounded posterior end which is nearly opposite the proximal end of fourth coxae which are sep- arated by nearly their width. Legs: 4213 in order of length; well armed with spines; first legs with ventral and ventrolateral spines as shown in Figure 7 on tibiae and metatarsi; second legs essentially as in first but with ventral spines small and inconspicousus; third and fourth legs with numerous slender spines on femora, tibiae and metatarsi less conspicuous than those on first legs. Palp: with numerous spines on four terminal segments much like those on Heter- oonops spinnimanus (Simon) (Figs. 8-9). Abdomen : ovoid ; robust ; with ventral scuta only weakly chitinized (Fig. 10) ; colulus appears to be represented by a pair of bristles; six spinnerets of moderate size and length. Epigynal area obscurely distinctive (Fig. 10). Color in alcohol: considerable pigment in ocular area with reddish tinge; nearly the whole body and appendages light yellowish with variations; abdomen reticulated with the angular areas of different sizes and shapes; the scuta are slightly more deeply yellowish than surrounding areas; just anterior to spinnerets, where darker bodies are often seen in many species, are a small pair of clusters of minute yellowish bodies.
Diagnosis.
This species seems to belong in the group of species including Oonops anoxus and Oonops vestus as described in Part I of this series.
Records.
Four paratype females are now in the collection from the following localities in Puerto Rico: 5 km. from Mayaguez on Route 106 ; Montanas de Uroj an ; University campus ; University farm east of Nuclear Center; all collected in January 1964. The male of this species is unknown.
Oonops ebenecus sp. nov.
Figures 11-14
'Holotype.
The male holotype is from Puerto Rico, W. I., El Yunque Biological Station, 2 100 ft. elevation, January 25, I 964. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters. Description. Total length 1.7 mm exclusive of the extended spinnerets; including the spinnerets, total length is 1.82 mm. Cara- pace 0.81 mm long; 0.62 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is



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widest; nearly 0.4 mm tall; slightly arched along median region from just behind P3IE to beginning of steep posterior declivity nearly cpposite third coxae; surface smooth with few dark hairs; with no median fovea or groove. Eyes: six as usual in the genus; viewed from above, posterior row recurved and only a little wider than antei-ior row; occupies nearly five-sixths of width of carapace at that level.
Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 10 : 8.5 : 9. ALE separated from one another by nearly three-fifths of their long axis; separated from PBIE by a little less than one-fifth of their long axis and contiguous to PLE at one point. PhIE contiguous to one another for a quarter of their circumference and separated from PLE by nearly one-fourth of their long axis. Height of clypeus nearly equal to one-tenth of the long axis of ALE. With consid- erable black pigment sun-ounding eyes (Fig. I I ) . Chelicerae : well
developed; basal segment about 0.35 mm long; parallel; vertical; with a long, slender fang seen in no other species during this study (Fig. 12) ; when at rest the two fangs are, apparently, crossed. Maxillae: slightly convergent; membranous distal ends slightly turned outward; about twice as long as lip. Lip: about as wide at. base as Iong. Sternum : convex; nearly as wide as long; surface smooth; bluntly terminated between bases of fourth coxae which are sepa- rated by slightly more than their width. Legs: 4213 in order of length; only slight difference in lengths of first and second legs; these legs with only occasional spines; third and fourth Iegs with numerous spines) especially on the tibiae and metatarsi; palp with very slender spines on femur, patella and tibia. Palp: all segments except tarsus of moderate length and with no dilation; tarsus with dilated bulb and distinctive embolus and conductor (Figs. 13-14). Abdomen: ovoid; with no clearly recognizable ventral scuta in holo- type or paratypes; other features as usual in the genus. Color in alcohol : carapace light yellow ; legs yellowish above) lighter below ; sternum light yellowish; abdomen nearly white with a pair of sma11, irregular) subsurface, brownish dots just anterior to base of spin- nerets on the venter. Two paratypes have light greenish abdomens. Diagnosis. This species appears to' be most closely related to Olono$s castellux from St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, and Oonofis validus Bryant from the Dominican Republic, Records.
Four paratype males were collected at the El Yunque Biological Station with the holotype. Two males were taken from leaf litter among coffee trees in the vicinity of Bqayaguez, on Jan- uary 2 I, 1964. The female is unknown.




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Psyche
[March- June
Figures 11-14.
Oonops ebenecus sp. nov. Fig, 11. Eyes of holotype from above. Fig. 12. Left chelicera from below. Fig. 13. Right palp of holotype; prolateral view.
Fig. 14. Right palpal tarsus; nearly ventral view. Fig- ures 15-17. Oonops oblucu~ sp. nov. Fig. 15. Eyes of holotype from above. Fig. 16. Left palp of holotype; retrolateral view. Fig. 17. Left palpal tar- sus of holotype; prolateral view.




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Oonops oblucus sp. nov.
Figures I 5-1 7
Holotype.
The male holotype is from Hope Gardens, St. Andrew Parish, Jamaica, W. I., November 27,
1963. The name of the
species is an arbitrary combination of letters. Desc~iption. Total length nearly I .47 mm. Carapace nearly 0.72 mm long; nearly 0.55-mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; nearly 0.22 mm tall; gently arched from behind PME to -
beginning of posterior declivity nearly opposite interval between second and third coxae; with no definite median thoracic groove or pit observed. Eyes: six as usual in two rows (Fig. 15) ; posterior row only a little wider than anterior row and definitely recurved; occupies nearly eleven-fourteenths of width of carapace at that level. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = nearly 7 : 6.5 : 6.5 (long axes used for measurements). ALE separated from one an- other by nearly five-sevenths of their long axes; separated from PME and PLE only by broad lines. PME contiguous to one another for nearly one-third of their circumference and separated from PLE only by a broad line. Clypeus obscure but height apparently less than the radius of ALE. Chelicerae, maxillae and lip: with poor exposure but apparently typical of the genus and without special modifications observed, Sternum: moderately convex; widest between second coxae where it is nearly four-fifths as wide as long; pos- terior end broadly rounded between bases of fourth coxae which are separated by a little more than their width, Legs: probably
4123 in order of length but first legs are missing; probably with few slender spines but spiniform bristles are numerous and confus- ing. Palp: simple (Figs. 16-17) but unlike any other seen during this study of the genus Oonops; femur, patella and tibia unusually short and broad. Abdomen: quite typical of males of the genus and without special modifications; with no distinguishable ventral or epigastric scutum. Color in alcohol: carapace and sternum a light yellowish-brown; with a moderate amount of black pigment in ocu- lar area; legs and mouth parts yellowish with some variation; ab- domen with an unusual color pattern; dorsal and dorsolateral regions purplish with three pairs of irregular whitish spots in anterior dorsal two-thirds and with three small, whitish, irregularly placed spots in posterior third of the dorsum; the spinnerets and ventrolateral re- gions are nearly white.
Diagnosis.
The genetical relationships of this species are diffi- cult to determine but the species seems to be most closely related to Oonops reticulatus Petrunkevitch as this species is now under-



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I12 Psyche [March-June
stood. The palpal tarsus differs from that of 0. ~eticulatus Pet. but the other palpal segments are very similar and the color pattern of the abdomen is somewhat similar also. Records.
No male paratypes have yet appeared in my collections and the female is lmknown.
Oonops reticuhtas Petrunkevitch
Oonops re~icu~atus Petrunkevitch, 1925 : 98 ; Roewer, 1942 : 278 ; Bonnet, 1958: 3192; Cickering, 1951: 228; 1971: 489, figs. 1-2. Oonopoide$ bryantae,-Chickering, 1951: 224, figs. 12-13. One female) which may be somewhat immature, from Puerto Rico, VV. I.) 5 km. from Mayaguez on Route 106) January 30, 1964 is) with some uncertainty) referred to this species. A male and several females taken on the University campus in St. Augustine, Trinidad, W. I,, April, 1964 are) with reasonable certainty> referred to this species. These specimens should have been reported in Part I oi this series on the genus Oonops but they were misplaced and over- looked at that time.
0 onops figuratus Simon
00nop.s figuratus Simon, 1891: 564, fig. 9. The female holotype from St. Vincent, B, W. I. is in the British Museum (Natural History), ex- amined. Simon, 1893, 44.4-445 ; 1893 : 292, 294; Petrunkevitch, 1911 : 127 ; Roewer, 1942: 278 ; Bonnet, 1958: 3190. 1 failed to collect members of this species during my visit to St. Vincent, B. W. I. in 1966 and, apparently, the species has not been reported since the original description was published. Oonops globimanus Simon
Figures I 8-2 I
Oonops glohinzanus Simon,
1891: 563, fig. 7. Male and female types from the Island of St. Vincent, B. W. I. are in the British Museum (Natural History), examined. Petrunkevitch, 1911, 128 ; Simon, 1893 : 445 ; 1893 : 294; Roeiver,
1942: 278; Bonnet, 1958: 3190.
The male on loan from the British Museum (Natural History) has almost no pigment in the ocular a,rea and the boundaries of the eyes are very difficult to discern (Fig. 18). All legs appear to bear spines, especially the third and fourth. The palpal tarsus of the male appears quite different from Simon's Figure 7. This organ
appears to be obscurely distinctive (Figs. I 9-20). The epigynal area is also obscurely distinctive (Fig. 21). One male from St. Vincent, I3. IV. I., October) 1966 is tentatively referred to this species. Oonops $alZiduZus ( Chickering)
Oonopi?tz~s pallidulus Chickering, 19.51 : 222, figs. 10-11. The female holotype
from 13ar1-o Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. Oonop~ pallidul~~s. - Chickering, 1971 : 496, figs. 12-13.



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18. Eyes of male from
above. Fig. 19. Right palpal tarsus of male; prolateral view. Fig. 20, Dis- tal end of left palpal tarsus; nearly dorsal view. Fig. 21. Epigynal area of female from below. Figures 22-23. Oo?zo$s validus Bryant. Fig. 22. Right first metatarsus; dorsal view. Fig. 23. Left palpal tarsus of holotype from below.
Figures 24-25. Oonops vidans Bryant. Fig. 24. Eyes from above. Fig. 25. Epigynal area and articulation of abdomen and pedicel.



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114 Psyche [March-June
Several females, taken in several different localities in Jamaica, W. I. in 1957, 1963 and 1964 are with some uncertainty placed in this species. Males taken at the same time as these females and in the same localities have proven to be very problematical. In some respects they closely resemble 0 onops balanus Chickering ; in some other respects they come close to the missing males of Oonops pallidu- lus (Chickering). Because of this uncertainty they are left unplaced to species awaiting further study by some student of the genus. Oonops pulicarius Simon
Oonops pulicarius Simon, 1891: 564, fig. 8. Male and female types from the Island of St. Vincent, B. W. I. are in the British Museum (Natural History), examined. Simon, 1893 : 445 ; 1893 : 294; Petrunkevitch, 1911 : 128 ; Roewer, 1942: 278; Bonnet, 1958: 3192. This species, apparently, has not been collected since the types were taken on St. Vincent a few years prior to 1891. I did not collect the species during my visit to this island in 1966. The
distinguishing features are difficult to discern clearly but, apparently, the species is not closely related to any with which I have become familiar during this study.
Oonops validus Bryant
Figures 22-23
Oonops validus Bryant, 1948: 341, fig. 3. The male holotype from the Dominican Republic is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Har- vard University, examined.
In addition to the conspicuous paired ventral spines on the first and second tibiae mentioned in the original description, the first and second metatarsi also have two pairs of ventral spines. The third and fourth legs also have spines but not the conspicuous ones borne by the first and second.
Apparently, Miss Bryant confused the two separate terminations of the palpal tarsus and thought that there was only one curled tube. I believe there are two terminations, the embolus and con- ductor, as I have tried to show in Figure 23. Oonops viridans Bryant
Figures 24-25
Oonops viridans Bryant, 1942: 1, fig. 1. The holotype female from El Yunque, Puerto Rico is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, ex- amined.
The holotype was collected in 1930 by Dr. P. J. Darlington, Jr. I have several females which, until recently, have been regarded as representing a new species. Several important features of the holo- type are difficult to discern but after careful cornparimson I have de-



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19721 Chickering -- oonops 115
cided to regard my specimens as probably belonging to Oonops viri- dans Bryant.
Final decision on this matter must await more careful collecting and further detailed study.
Figure 24 represents the eye
group of the female from above; Figure 25 represents the epigynal a,rea. Both of these figures were drawn from the female which had been selected as the holotype of a new species. Records. Seven females were collected as follows in January, 1964 all in the vicinity of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: University cam- pus from hay and weed debris; leaf and weed debris among coffee trees near the campus; University farm north of the campus also from hay and weed debris. The male is unknown. BONNET, PIERRE
1958. Bibliographia Araneorum. Toulouse. 2 (4). BRYANT, ELIZABETH
1942. Notes on the Spiders of the Virgin Islands. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 89 (7) : 317-363, 40 figs.
1942. Additions to the Spider Fauna of Puerto Rico. The Journ. of Agric. of the University of Puerto Rico, 26 :(I), January, 1942. 1948. The Spiders of (Hispaniola. Bull. Mus. Comp. 2001. 100: 331-447, 12 pis.
CHICKERING, ARTHUR M.
1951. The Oonopidae of Panama. Bul. Mus. Comp. Zool., 106(5): 207-245, 31 figs.
1971. The Genus Oonops (Araneae, Oonopidae) in Panama and the West Indies. Part 1, Psyche, 77: 487-512. 1972. The Genus Oonops (Araneae, Oonopidae) in Panama and the West Indies. Part 2, Psyche, 78: 203-214. PETRUNKEVITCH, ALEXANDER
1911. A synonymic index-catalogue of spiders of North, Central, South America, etc. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 29: 1-809. 1925. Arachnids from Panama. Trans. Connecticut Acad. Arts and Sci. 27: 51-248.
1929. The Spiders of Porto Rico. Pt. 1, Trans. Connecticut Acad. Arts and Sci. 30: 7-158, 150 figs.
ROEWER, C. FR.
1942. Katalog der Araneae. 1: 1-1040. Bremen. SIMON, E.
1891. On the spiders of the island of St. Vincent. Pt. 1. Proc. 2001. Soc. of London, Nov. 17, 1891 : 549-575. 1893. Voyage de M. E. Simon au Venezuela. Ann. Soc. Entom. France, 61 : 423-462, 1 PI.
1892-1893. Histoire naturelle des Araignies. Deuxihme Edition. 2 Vols. Librairie Encyclopedique de Roret, Paris.



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