Eldar Oliveira and Brescovit 2025, new genus

Eldar Oliveira and Brescovit new genus (Figs. 7A–L, 8A–H, 9A–G, 10A–H, and 11). Type species. Eldar galadrielae Oliveira and Brescovit sp. nov. Etymology. The generic epithet is a noun in apposition to honor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who created the fictional character Eldar in literature, called the “Star People.” The name “ Eldar ” is a term from the Elven language, given to all Elves. Diagnosis. Males of Eldar resemble those of Aljassa Brescovit 1997, Hibana Brescovit 1997, Hatitia Brescovit 1997, Pipphuana Brescovit 1997 and Tafana Simon 1903 by having a conical embolic process and an embolic process apophysis in the copulatory bulb (long and transversal in Aljassa Brescovit 1997: Fig. 286; in Pipphuana, a wide conical inserted in the base of the embolic process Brescovit 1997: Fig. 301; in Tafana, conical and laminar, Oliveira and Brescovit 2021: Fig. 9A–F; species of Hibana and Hatitia lack an embolic process apophysis, Brescovit 1997: Figs. 219, 221, 311, and 312). They differ by the embolic process apophysis with short base and conical, transversal (Figs. 8G, 9C, and 10A–B). Additionaly, Eldar males present the retrolateral tibial apophysis in two branches. The anterior branch presents a furrow in the middle, and the posterior branch is pointed and curved. There is also an apical, basal retrolateral tibial apophysis finger-shaped, located below the anterior branch of the retrolateral tibial apophysis (Figs. 9C–E and 10A, E, F). Females of Eldar resemble those of Aljassa Brescovit 1997; Hatitia Brescovit 1997; Ilocomba Brescovit 1997; Macrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge 1893; Tafana Simon 1903; and Wulfilopsis Soares and Camargo 1955 by having globose primary spermathecae in the posterior region of the vulva. The epigynal plate has a triangular hood in the anterior region in Aljassa, and Hatitia (see Brescovit 1997: Figs. 287, 313); triangular and semicircular in Ilocomba and Tafana (see Brescovit 1997 Fig. 208; Oliveira and Brescovit 2021, Figs. 4F and 11F); primary spermathecae are slender and elongated in Macrophyes (see Brescovit 1997: Fig. 145); and secondary spermathecae are oval with long copulatory ducts in Wulfilopsis (see Brescovit 1997: Fig. 40). Females of Eldar differ from others by presenting an epigynum without a hood in the anterior region, short lateral lobes, a large epigynal plate covering the entire posterior region, and irregular secondary spermathecae in the anterior third of the vulva (Figs. 9F–G and 10G–H). Description. Midsize with total length (males and females) 3.7–5.3. Carapace sub-oval, straight in the anterior region and enlarged near coxae II–III, cephalic region moderately high (Figs. 8B–C and 9A–B). Eyes, in frontal view anterior row recurved and posterior row procurve (Fig. 8C–D), and in dorsal view, with anterior row slightly recurved and posterior row straight (Fig. 9A–B). Chelicerae long and projected, with length approximately half the length of the carapace in males, and about a third of the carapace length in females. The basal condyle is conspicuous (Figs. 7A, 8C–D, and 9A–B), with four promarginal teeth and four to six retromarginal denticles (Fig. 7A–B). Endites concave with wide base, short labium up to half endites, slightly excavated in the apex (Fig. 8E). Sternum oval, with a rounded anterior border and a slightly elongated, rounded posterior border, not projecting between the coxae IV (Fig. 8A–B–E). Long legs slightly hairy with robust spines, flat claw tuft setae with ridged sides directed outward (Fig. 7G–H). Leg spination (formula in the e species description): Paired tarsal claws with 5–6 teeth (Fig. 7G–H). Two rows of trichobothria with striated base on dorsum of the metatarsi and tarsi I–IV (Fig. 7K). Tarsal organ teardropshaped, on the distal region of tarsus (Fig. 7J), slit sensilla elongated on the tarsus (Fig. 7I). Male palp: The tibiae have a complex of apophyses, with a bifid retrolateral tibial apophysis. The anterior branch of the apophysis is triangular, furrowed medially, and the posterior branch is pointed and curved. Basally, the anterior branch has a finger-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis (Figs. 9C–E and 10A–E–F). Cymbium oval without projections, petiole basally subtriangular (Fig. 7D–E); subtegulum basally massive with three rings, not prominent, transversely positioned behind of tegulum in the unexpanded palp (Figs. 8F–H and 9C); tegulum oval without ventral tegular projection (Figs. 9A and 10A); median apophysis sclerotized, long, and with a curved apex (Figs. 9C–D and 10A–C); sperm duct presenting three or four loops in expanded palp, internally traversing the embolic process reaching the embolus (Fig. 8F–G); unexpanded palp two loops in ventral view, in U-shaped (Fig. 9C); embolic process conical, with tranversal conical short apophysis apically (Figs. 8G and 10A–B); short embolus, filiform and curved pro-apically (Fig. 10A–D). Abdomen: oval, with dorsal setae and two pairs of dorsal median muscle impressions (Fig. 9A–B); epiandrous spigots absent in males (Fig. 7L); tracheal spiracle closer to epigastric furrow (Fig. 8A–B). Spinnerets (only male of Eldar galadrielae sp. nov. surveyed): anterior spinnerets bisegmented, with basal article large and distal article conical, with several piriform gland spigots (Fig. 7C–D) and one ampullate glands spigot (not visible in Fig. 7D, observed by SEM images); median spinnerets unsegmented, with several aciniform and one minor ampullate gland spigots (Fig. 7C–E); posterior spinnerets bisegmented with basal and distal articles cylindrical, with several aciniform gland spigots (Fig. 7C–F); colulus (not visible in Fig. 7C, observed by SEM images). Epigynum without anterior hood (Figs. 9F and 10G), with short and straight lateral lobes (Figs. 9F and 10G), atrium short (Fig. 10G), wide, triangular epigynal plate, copulatory openings conspicuous (Figs. 9F and 10G). Internally with shortand sinuous copulatory ducts (Figs. 9G and 10H), irregular secondary spermathecae in the anterior third region (Figs. 9G and 10H), globous primary spermathecae projected posteriorly in the vulva (Fig. 10H), fertilization ducts long (Figs. 9G and 10H).