Auyantepuia kwata Ythier, Chevalier, Moreau & Murienne, 2026, sp. nov.

Auyantepuia kwata sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C5CFE22C-209E-4EF9-A6F5-601BE9A60C04 Figs 5–14 Diagnosis Species of small to medium size when compared with the average size of the other species of the genus, with a total length ranging from 18–25 mm in males (n = 5) and 22–25 mm in females (n = 8) (see morphometric values in the description). General coloration reddish brown, with carapace, chelicerae, pedipalps and legs marked with darker spots. Tergites brownish with yellowish confluent spots on the sides and the middle of tergites, but not forming a longitudinal median stripe. Ventral side of metasomal segments I and II yellowish, without spots. Body and appendages weakly to moderately granulated; metasomal tegument with lateral sizes covered with medium size granulation on all segments in male, almost smooth in female; medium size granulation on ventral side of segments III to V in both sexes, spinoid on V; chela manus dorsal surface well granulated on entire surface in male, weakly granulated on distal half in female, internal surface weakly granulated on distal half in male, smooth in female, dorso–internal carina weakly marked. Pectinal tooth count ranging from 7– 7 in males (n=7) and 5–7 in females (n =9; mean 6). Trichobothrial pattern of type C neobothriotaxic ‘majorante’. Etymology The specific name is a noun placed in apposition to the generic name and refers to the French Guianese creole name for the red-faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus (Linnaeus, 1758). The specific name also honors the Association Kwata, acting for nature conservation in French Guiana. Material examined Holotype FRENCH GUIANA • ♂; Abounami River, Gros Saut; 4.162734° N, 53.999708° W; under wood log on the ground; 17–28 Nov. 2020; J. Chevalier leg.; MNHN, JCAUGRO22. Paratypes FRENCH GUIANA • 1 ♀; Abounami River, Gros Saut; 4.162734° N, 53.999708° W; under wood log on the ground; 17–28 Nov. 2020; J. Chevalier leg.; MNHN, JCAUGRO22 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; JCPC • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 immature ♀; same data as for preceding; EYCP, EY0401 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Papaïchton; 3.80810° N, 54.15022° W; under wood log on the ground; 19–20 May 2022; J. Chevalier leg.; MNHN • 2 immature ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; JCPC • 1 ♂; 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; EYCP, EY0405. Description (based on male holotype and adult males and females paratypes) COLORATION. General coloration reddish brown. Carapace reddish yellow, marked with brownish variegated spots around the ocular tubercle and on the anterior and posterior edges of the carapace; ocular tubercle darker, almost black. Tergites brownish with confluent yellowish spots on the sides and the middle of tergites, but not forming a longitudinal median stripe. Venter yellowish. Metasomal segments reddish yellow, marked with variegated brownish spots on lateral and dorsal sides of segments I to V and on ventral side of segments III, IV and V; ventral side of segments I and II yellowish, without spots. Vesicle reddish yellow with basis of aculeus blackish and tip of aculeus reddish. Chelicerae yellowish with variegated dark brown spots; fingers yellowish with dark brown spots at their basis, teeth reddish. Pedipalps reddish yellow, with longitudinal dark brown spots. Legs yellowish, intensely marked with brownish spots. MORPHOLOGY. Carapace acarinate, with some fine granulations on central, lateral and posterior parts; furrows shallow; anterior edge emarginated. Tergites acarinate, with some fine granulations over the entire surface in male, smooth with few scattered granules on their posterior edge in female. Sternum pentagonal, wider than long. Pectinal tooth count ranging from 7– 7 in males (n=7) and 5–7 in females (n=9; mean 6), fulcra absent. Sternites smooth and shiny, VII acarinate; spiracles rounded in shape. Only metasomal segments IV and V longer than wide; metasomal tegument with lateral sides covered with medium size granulation on all segments in male, almost smooth in female; medium size granulation on ventral side of segments IV – V in male, only on segment V in female, these granules are spinoid on segment V; carinae on segments I– V vestigial, only lateral supramedian carinae are weakly marked on all segments. Pedipalp femur with dorsal internal, dorsal external and ventral internal carinae moderately marked, internal face weakly granular, other faces smooth; patella smooth, with all carinae vestigial; chela manus dorsal surface well granulated on entire surface in male, weakly granulated on distal half in female, internal surface weakly granulated on distal half in male, smooth in female, ventral surface smooth in both sexes; dorso-internal carina weakly marked; dentate margins on fixed and movable fingers with six rows of granules. Trichobothrial pattern of type C neobothriotaxic ‘majorante’; patella with external trichobothrium et 2 proximal to et 1 and est 5 proximal to et 6. Chelicerae with dentition typical of the family Chactidae (Vachon, 1963), and with dense setation ventrally and internally. MORPHOMETRIC VALUES (in mm) OF THE MALE HOLOTYPE AND ONE FEMALE PARATYPE. Total length including telson, 23.81/23.25. Carapace: length, 3.58/3.58; anterior width, 1.58/1.58; posterior width, 3.53/3.63. Mesosoma length, 6.28/7.30. Metasomal segments: I: length, 1.40/1.26; width, 2.33/2.19; II: length, 1.67/1.58; width, 2.09/1.95; III: length, 1.86/1.77; width, 2.05/1.86; IV: length, 2.23/2.09; width, 1.95/1.72; V: length, 3.53/3.16; width, 1.81/1.58; depth, 1.49/1.35. Telson: length, 3.26/2.51; width, 1.72/1.30; depth, 1.30/0.98. Pedipalp: femur length, 2.14/2.09, width, 1.12/1.07; patella length, 2.56/2.74, width, 1.26/1.26; chela length, 4.98/5.07, width, 1.77/1.81, depth, 2.51/2.56; movable finger length, 2.70/2.33. Comparisons Auyantepuia kwata sp. nov. is morphologically more similar to A. aluku reported from Crevette River (Apatou) and the Natural Reserve La Trinité and with A. manmandinan sp. nov. described from Toussaint River (Sinnamary). These two species can however be distinguished from A. kwata by the following main features: - Auyantepuia aluku: (i) ventral side of metasomal segments I–II yellowish, without spots (segments I to III without spots in A. aluku), (ii) medium size granulation on ventral side of metasomal segments IV-V in male (granulation on segments III to V in A. aluku), (iii) male chela manus dorsal surface well granulated on entire surface (weakly granulated on distal half in A. aluku) and internal surface weakly granulated on distal half (almost smooth, with few scattered granules in A. aluku). - Auyantepuia manmandinan sp. nov.: (i) chela manus dorsal surface well granulated on entire surface in male, weakly granulated on distal half in female, internal surface weakly granulated on distal half in male, smooth in female (dorsal and internal surfaces smooth in both sexes in A. manmandinan), (ii) tergites with confluent yellowish spots on the sides and the middle of tergites, but not forming a yellowish longitudinal median stripe (longitudinal stripe in A. manmandinan), (iii) patella with external trichobothrium et 2 proximal to et 1 (et 2 distal or at same level to et 1 in A. manmandinan) and est 5 proximal to et 6 (est 5 distal to et 6 in A. manmandinan). Moreover, the molecular analysis performed on the mitochondrial genome of the new species shows substantial genetic divergence compared to A. aluku and A. manmandinan sp. nov. Distribution Auyantepuia kwata sp. nov is known only from its type localities in Abounami River (Gros Saut) and Papaïchton, in western French Guiana (Fig. 4).