Drymusa huberi sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on both sexes with specimens collected in a tropical dry forest in Yaracuy State, Venezuela. This new species constitutes the first record of the family Drymusidae for this Neotropical country and fills the distribution gap of the family in the north of South America. Furthermore, we provide the first identification key for all species of Drymusa Simon, 1892.

Araneae, biodiversity, Neotropics, taxonomy, tropical dry forest

Members of the family Drymusidae are popularly known as false violin spiders due to their external resemblance to the brown spiders (Labarque et al. 2018), also known as violin or recluse spiders, which are species of medical importance of the genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 (Sicariidae). Nonetheless, this resemblance is superficial since recent morphological and molecular studies have revealed that Drymusidae is closely related to the Australian family Periegopidae, both belonging to the Scytodoidea superfamily, which includes Sicariidae and other families (Labarque et al. 2018; Magalhaes et al. 2022). Drymusidae comprises two genera: the African Izithunzi Labarque, Pérez-González & Griswold, 2018 with five species and the Neotropical Drymusa Simon, 1892 with 12 species (Labarque et al. 2018; World Spider Catalog 2023). In America, seven species are known from the mainland of South America (Argentina, Brazil and Chile), four species from Caribbean islands (Cuba, Hispaniola and St. Vincent) and one from Central America (Costa Rica) (World Spider Catalog 2023). In this paper, we record the family Drymusidae from Venezuela for the first time, with the description of a new species from Yaracuy State.

The material examined is deposited in the Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola, Maracay, Venezuela (MIZA, curator: Quintín Arias Celis). Images at different focal planes were taken using an Amscope MU500 camera coupled to an Amscope B660B microscope and then assembled with Helicon Focus 6.7.1, a stacking software (RRID:SCR_014462). Measurements were taken with an ocular reticle and are given in millimetres (mm). Leg measurements are noted as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The colour description refers to specimens preserved in ethanol at 85%. The female genitalia were excised with fine forceps, cleaned and cleared with clove oil. The description format mostly follows Rheims et al. (2008) and Labarque et al. (2018). The map was made using ArcGIS 10.1 software by ESRI (RRID:SCR_011081).

The key figures (Figs 21–48) are based on the original illustrations of the species. Figs 21, 22, 39 were modified from Valerio (1971); Figs 23, 30, 32, 42, 46, 47 from Bonaldo et al. (2006); Figs 25, 26 from Alayón (1981); Figs 27, 28 from Labarque and Ramírez (2007a); Figs 29, 43 from Brescovit et al. (2004); Figs 31, 33, 34 from Labarque and Ramírez (2007b); Figs 35, 36 from Goloboff and Ramírez (1992); Figs 37, 38, 44, 45 from Rheims et al. (2008); Figs 40, 41, 48 from Magalhaes et al. (2022).

Abbreviations: ALE—anterior lateral eyes, E—embolus, ep—epigastric plate, F—fundus, Fm—femur, Ho—hood of the post-epigastric plate, PLE—posterior lateral eyes, PME—posterior median eyes, pp—post-epigastric plate, Pt—patella, S—spermathecae, Sd—Sperm duct, Ss—Spermathecae stalk, Ta—tarsus, Ti—tibia.

Despite the relatively simple genitalia of males and females of Drymusa, the new species have remarkable somatic and genitalic characteristics that allow them to be easily distinguished amongst congeners. For example, there are two geographically close species, the Central American D. dinora and Caribbean D. simoni, both having relatively short emboli. However, D. huberi sp. nov. has a significantly shorter embolus. Therefore, the comparative length of the embolus and the copulatory bulb is useful, as is the comparative width and length of male palpal tibia, which has proven useful for differentiating Brazilian species, such as D. canhemabae, D. colligata and D. tobyi.

In addition, the median hood, of unknown function, on the post-epigastric plate differentiates the female of D. huberi sp. nov. amongst geographically close and distant species. Other congeneric species, for example, D. dinora, D. canhemabae and D. colligata, have a secondary chitinised plate (after the epigastric plate), but differ in shape, size and position. The previous character as those other characteristics of male (e.g. the shape of the cymbium) and female (e.g. shape and size of the epigastric plate) must be evaluated in a phylogenetic context.

The known distribution of D. huberi sp. nov. fills the distribution gap of the genus in northern South America. However, vast regions that could harbour new species of this genus, particularly in South America, remain unexplored. Finally, no comprehensive morphological or molecular studies have included all known species of Drymusa. Therefore, further taxonomic studies are needed to improve our understanding of the genus.

G. M. Suárez (ECOSUR) assisted with light microscopy photographs. Q. Arias (MIZA) and B. A. Huber collaborated during the collection of the specimens. B. A. Huber also allowed us to use photographic equipment to obtain figs 49, 50. O. Pietri and the staff of the Hacienda La Guáquira, particularly D. Romero, supported us during the collections and allowed us to use fig. 52. L. Delgado-Santa contributed to the elaboration of the map. P.A. Colmenares helped us transport the studied specimens. A.D. Brescovit, N. Dupérré, F.M. Labarque and D. Harms provided constructive feedback during the peer review. This study was partially funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, projects HU 980/1-1 and HU 980/13-1 to B. A. Huber) and by CONACYT through Estancias Posdoctorales por México 2020–2022, granted to DCV.