On a new genus of dwarf tarantulas (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) endemic from Peru: evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny, with description of three new species

Recent field campaigns conducted in Peru along with the examination of museum specimens allowed us to identify small tarantulas that do not fit with any known Theraphosidae genera. Morphology and additional molecular evidence from the mitochondrial gene COI led us to propose Kiskalla gen. nov. from southern Peru, at Puno region. Three new species of Kiskalla gen. nov.

(K. ignacioi sp. nov., K. yeisoni sp. nov. and K. zukuapasanka sp. nov.) are herein described, diagnosed and illustrated. Kiskalla gen. nov. differs from the known Theraphosinae genera in the presence of lateral stripes on the abdomen and a small dorsal arrowhead-shaped patch of type III urticating setae, presence of a large number of spines on all legs, short and stout setae on the dorsal metatarsi encircling the filiform trichobothria, an apical crown of long spines on the metatarsi of all legs in both sexes and scopula of tarsi IV slightly developed, restricted to the margins due to the presence of long ventral setae.

Males and females show genitalic features that resemble those of Hapalotremus Simon, 1903, but differ by the development of copulatory bulb keels and the aspect of the spermathecae. We also present data on the natural history and distribution of the species.