[Arachnida • 2024] Gelotia onoi • First Record of Gelotia Thorell, 1890 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Vietnam with Description of A New Species

Gelotia onoi

Hoang, Phan & Vo, 2024

RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 72;

 Abstract

 A novel species of the spartaeine genus Gelotia Thorell, 1890, G. onoi, new species is described from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Additionally, two species, G. liuae Wang & Li, 2020 and G. zhengi Cao & Li, 2016 are also recorded from Vietnam for the first time. Detailed descriptions, illustrations of the copulatory organs, somatic features, and DNA barcodes for the species are provided. 

Key words. DNA barcoding, jumping spiders, Southeast Asia, Spartaeinae

Habitus of Gelotia onoi, new species (female, holotype) in life. A, B, habitus, dorsal view; C, D, habitus, dorso-lateral view.

Gelotia onoi, new species

Diagnosis. The female of Gelotia onoi, new species (Figs. 1–2) resembles those of the type species, G. frenata Thorell, 1890 and G. liuae Wang & Li, 2020 in having the epigyne with a fold and rounded window, but differs from two latter species by the following characteristics: the epigynal window located in the near middle in the new species (Fig. 2C) while anterior in both G. frenata (fig. 5 in Prószyński, 1969) and G. liuae (cf. Fig. 4C and fig. 8A in Wang & Li, 2020), copulatory duct significantly longer than the length of spermathecae (Fig. 2D) (shorter in other species), spermathecae almost rounded, relatively very small (Fig. 2D) in comparision with G. frenata and G. liuae as well as all other members of the genus Gelotia (see comparative illustrations in Metzner, 2024).

 

Etymology. This specific epithet is given to honour Dr. Hirotsugu Ono (Japan), who has made great contributions to improving knowledge of the spider fauna in Vietnam. 

Quang D. Hoang, Quoc T. Phan and Van M. Vo. 2024. First Record of Gelotia Thorell, 1890 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Vietnam with Description of A New Species. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 72; 294–302.

[Arachnida • 2024] Mimetus parvulus & M. spinatus • Two New Species and A New Transfer in the Pirate Spider Genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832 (Araneae: Mimetidae: Mimetinae) from India

 Mimetus parvulus Sankaran, Sudhin & Sen, 
M. spinatus Sudhin, Sankaran & Sen, 

in Sudhin, Sankaran & Sen, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5496.4.5 

 facebook.com/ZoologicalSurveyIndia

 

Abstract

Two new species of Mimetus Hentz, 1832 are described from India: Mimetus parvulus Sankaran, Sudhin & Sen, 2024 n. sp., and M. spinatus Sudhin, Sankaran & Sen, 2024 n. sp.. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of both species are provided, and their current distribution is mapped. Based on familial and generic similarities, we transfer the misplaced M. tikaderi Gajbe, 1992 to the Liocranidae genus Agroeca Westring, 1861.

Araneae, Agroeca, distribution, Kerala, Liocranidae, taxonomy

Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin, Pradeep M. Sankaran, Souvik Sen. 2024. Two New Species and A New Transfer in the Pirate Spider Genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832 (Araneae: Mimetidae: Mimetinae) from India.  Zootaxa. 5496(4); 555-566. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5496.4.5

  facebook.com/ZoologicalSurveyIndia/posts/493143770010832

[Arachnida • 2024] Ligdus garvale • Reviving Ligdus Thorell, 1895 (Araneae: Salticidae: Ballini): Description of A New Species from India, 129 years since the Establishment of the Genus

Ligdus garvale Caleb, 

in Caleb, Shree, Kumar et Abhijith, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.3.8

 Researchgate.net/publication/380531786

The jumping spider genus Ligdus Thorell, 1895 was established as a monotypic genus with Ligdus chelifer Thorell, 1895 as its type species (Thorell 1895). The only known species was described based on a juvenile specimen collected from Tharawaddy, Myanmar (erstwhile Burma), which was later illustrated by Prószyński (1984). During recent field work in Kodagu, Karnataka we collected a peculiar male individual which was later identified as belonging to the genus Ligdus. In this paper, we present the rediscovery of the genus Ligdus 129 years since its establishment, through the description of a new species from Karnataka state, India. The genus is moreover reported for the first time in India.

.

Araneae, Salticidae, Ballini, Ligdus, India

General appearance of Ligdus garvale Caleb, sp. nov.,
 holotype male. 1, 2 dorsal view; 3 left leg I; 4 lateralview; 5 front view; 6 spider in its retreat built on a leaf.

Photo credits: 1–5, A.P.C. Abhijith; 6, Divya Shree.

Ligdus garvale Caleb, sp. nov.

John T.D. Caleb, A. Divya Shree, Lohith Kumar and A.P.C. Abhijith. 2024. Reviving Ligdus Thorell, 1895: Description of A New Species from India, 129 years since the Establishment of the Genus (Araneae: Salticidae: Ballini). Zootaxa. 5448(3):446-450. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.3.8

  Researchgate.net/publication/380531786_Reviving_Ligdus_a_new_species_from_India

[Arachnida • 2024] Habrocestum benjamin & H. swaminathan • On the Genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 (Araneae: Salticidae: Hasariini) from India

  

Habrocestum swaminathan and (G-H) H. benjamin 

 Jose, Caleb & Sudhikumar, 2024

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.2.3 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380464663 

 x.com/sureshbenjamin 

Abstract

Two new species of the ground-dwelling jumping spider genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 from the wet evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats, India are described: H. benjamin sp. nov. (♂♀) and H. swaminathan sp. nov. (♂♀). Furthermore, H. emanasakgrensis Kadam & Tripathi, 2023 is synonymized with Chinattus validus (Xie, Peng & Kim, 1993) syn. nov.. Diagnoses, digital illustrations, morphological descriptions, natural history notes and discussion are provided.

Araneae, ground spiders, Kerala, Meghalaya, new species, new synonym, primary forest, Western Ghats

General habitus of Habrocestum swaminathan sp. nov. (A–F). A. Holotype male, dorsal view; B. Same, lateralview; C. Same, frontal view; D. Paratype female, dorsal view; E. Same lateral view; F. Same, frontal view.
General habitus of Habrocestum benjamin sp. nov. (G–H). G. Holotype male, dorsal view; H. Paratype female, dorsal view. 

 Habrocestum benjamin 

Athira Jose, John T.D. Caleb and Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar. 2024. On Three Species of the Genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 (Araneae: Salticidae: Hasariini) from India. Zootaxa. 5448(2); 212-224. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.2.3

  x.com/sureshbenjamin/status/1788810258237862331 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380464663_On_the_genus_Habrocestum_from_India

[Arachnida • 2024] Ghatippus paschima • A New Species and Genus of plexippine Jumping Spider (Salticidae: Plexippini) from the Western Ghats of India

Ghatippus paschima  Marathe & Maddison,

in Marathe, Maddison & Kunte, 2024. 

  घािटस्  || DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1191.114117

Abstract

We propose a new genus of plexippine jumping spiders from the Western Ghats of India based on the new species Ghatippus paschima gen. et sp. nov. While it bears a superficial resemblance to Pancorius in body form and Hyllus in membrane-bearing embolus, our UCE phylogenomic data—the first to resolve broad relationships within the Plexippina—as well as morphological features justify its status as a new genus. In addition to the molecular data and morphological descriptions, we provide photographs of living specimens of Ghatippus paschima gen. et sp. nov. and information on their natural history.

 

Key words: Araneae, biodiversity research, classification, phylogenomics, systematics, taxonomy

Habitus of Ghatippus paschima sp. nov.
26–31 male (IBC-BP828/ AS19.4384) 32–34 male (IBC-BP833/ AS19.3805)
35–38 female, (IBC-BP834/ AS19.3814) 39, 40 (IBC-BP835/ AS19.3821).

Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

Ghatippus paschima sp. nov. genitalia (top row) and alcohol preserved types habitus (bottom row)
18 male (holotype IBC-BP817) left palp, ventral view 19 ditto, retrolateral view
20 epigyne, ventral view (paratype IBC-BP818) 21 vulva, dorsal view (paratype IBC-BP818)
22 male (holotype IBC-BP817), dorsal view 23 ditto, ventral view
24 female (paratype IBC-BP818), dorsal view 25 ditto, ventral view.

Scale bars: 0.1 mm for genitalia; 1.0 mm for bodies.

Family Salticidae Blackwall, 1841

Tribe Plexippini Simon, 1901

Subtribe Plexippina Simon, 1901

 Ghatippus Marathe & Maddison, gen. nov.

  Kannada: ಪ | Devanagari: घािटस्

 

Ghatippus paschima Marathe & Maddison, sp. nov. 

Etymology: The generic name Ghatippus gen. nov. combines the word ‘Ghat’, representing the collecting locality—the Western Ghats Mountain range—with the distinctive suffix found in several plexippine genera. The generic name is assigned to the masculine gender.

Diagnosis: The UCE phylogeny implies genetic diagnosability of Ghatippus gen. nov., but here we focus on the morphological distinctions. The membranous retrolateral edge of the embolus (Figs 2, 18) and lack of distinct epigynal coupling pockets (Figs 4, 20) differentiate Ghatippus gen. nov. from all members of clade 1 (Fig. 1) and other plexippines except Hyllus, Thyene Simon, 1885, and Vailimia Kammerer, 2006. Also, Ghatippus gen. nov. is the only plexippine reported to have a bifurcated male fang with nearly co-equal branch points (Figs 6, 12).

 Ghatippus paschima Marathe & Maddison, sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet paschima, a noun in apposition, means “west” in both Sanskrit and Kannada.

 Kiran Marathe, Wayne P. Maddison and Krushnamegh Kunte. 2024. Ghatippus paschima, A New Species and Genus of plexippine Jumping Spider from the Western Ghats of India (Salticidae, Plexippini, Plexippina). ZooKeys. 1191: 89-103. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1191.114117

[Arachnida • 2024] Thiratoscirtus iyomii, T. kalisia & T. khonvoum • Three New Species of Thiratoscirtus (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtinae) from Central African Rainforest

  

Thiratoscirtus iyomii

Pett, Iyomi & Mbende, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5399.2.4  

Researchgate.net/publication/377306059 

 twitter.com/BroganConBio/

 

Abstract

Three new species of Thiratoscirtus are described from Salonga National Park, D.R. Congo: Thiratoscirtus iyomii (♂♀), T. kalisia (♀) and T. khonvoum (♀). All species were caught on the forest floor during a rapid biodiversity inventory and represent the second report of spider collections from the largest protected tropical rainforest reserve in Africa.

Araneae, Salonga National Park, D.R. Congo, jumping spiders, leaf litter

Brogan L. Pett, Dieu Merci Mpongo Iyomi and Menard Mbende. 2024. Discovery of Three New Species of Thiratoscirtus (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtinae) from Central African Rainforest.   Zootaxa. 5399(2); 155-162. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5399.2.4

  Researchgate.net/publication/377306059_three_new_species_of_Thiratoscirtus_from_Central_African_rainforest

  twitter.com/BroganConBio/status/1745758693696679956

[Arachnida • 2023] Stenaelurillus megamalai & S. neyyar • Two New Stenaelurillus Species (Araneae: Salticidae: Aelurillina) from Western Ghats, India

Stenaelurillus neyyar

Sudhin, Sen & Caleb, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.97985

Abstract

Two new species – Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov. (♂♀) from the colorful group and Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov. (♂♀) from the black and white group – are described from the southern Western Ghats of India. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, as well as the distribution maps are provided. New distributional data for three other species, Stenaelurillus albus Sebastian, Sankaran, Malamel & Joseph, 2015, S. arambagensis (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) and S. wandae Logunov, 2020 are also provided.

Key Words: Jumping spider, Kerala, species discovery, Tamil Nadu, taxonomy

Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov.
A. Male, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, lateral view; D. Female dorsal view; E. Same, ventral view; F. Same, lateral view; G. Male, frontal view; H. Female, frontal view.

 Scale bars: 1 mm (A–H).

Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin, Souvik Sen and John T. D. Caleb. 2023. Two New Stenaelurillus Species (Araneae, Salticidae, Aelurillina) from Western Ghats, India. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(1): 123-133. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.97985

[Arachnida • 2023] Sparbambus sindhudurg • First Record of Sparbambus Zhang, Woon & Li, 2006 (Araneae: Salticidae) from India, with Description of A New Species

  

Sparbambus sindhudurg Kadam & Tripathi,

in Tripathi, Kadam, Asha et Sudhikumar, 2023. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.3.10 

 Researchgate.net/publication/374418554

Sparbambus was erected by Zhang, Woon & Li in 2006, and its generic name ‘Sparbambus’ reflects that it belongs to the subfamily Spartaeinae and the specimens were collected from a bamboo habitat. The monotypic genus originally reported from Malaysia was recently described from China (Wang et al. 2022). In this paper, we record Sparbambus for the first time and describe a new species from India.

Keywords: Araneae, Sparbambus, Salticidae, India

Living photos of Sparbambus sindhudurg Kadam & Tripathi, sp. nov.
1-3 holotype male (NRC-AA-4151); 4-5 paratype female (NRC-AA-4152).

Photos by G. Kadam.

Sparbambus sindhudurg Kadam & Tripathi, sp. nov.

Rishikesh Tripathi, Gautam Kadam, Theresa Joy Asha and Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar. 2023. First Record of Sparbambus Zhang, Woon & Li, 2006 from India, with Description of A New Species (Araneae: Salticidae).  Zootaxa. 5352(3); 447-450. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.3.10
  Researchgate.net/publication/374418554_First_record_of_Sparbambus_from_India

[Arachnida • 2023] Pancorius guiyang • A New Species of Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Guizhou Province, China

Pancorius guiyang Yang, Gu & Yu, 

in Yang, Zhou, Gu & Yu, 2023.

 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e108159

 

Abstract

Background: 

Pancorius Simon, 1902 is a relatively large genus of jumping spider family Salticidae and currently contains 42 valid species that are mainly distributed in South East Asia, 11 of which are recorded from China.

New information: 

A new spider species of the genus Pancorius from Guiyang City in southwest China, is described under the name of P. guiyang Yang, Gu & Yu, sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and photographs are provided. DNA barcodes (a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, COI) of the species were obtained to confirm matching of the sexes and for future use in molecular studies.

Keywords: new species, morphology, DNA barcoding, diagnosis, taxonomy

Pancorius guiyang sp. nov., live specimens. 
 A–C male holotype; D–F female paratype.

Photographs by Qianle Lu 

Pancorius guiyang Yang, Gu & Yu sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The male of this new species closely resembles that of P. crinitus Logunov & Jäger, 2015 from Vietnam and P. candidus Wang & Wang, 2020 from China. The three species share the similarly distinctly short RTA whose apex points dorsally (vs. RTA relatively longer and apex pointing anteriorly in all other congeners). However, P. guiyang sp. nov. can be differentiated from P. crinitus and P. candidus by the distinctly slender, needle-shaped embolus without subdistal projection (Fig. 3A) (vs. embolus thicker and claw-shaped in P. crinitus as in Logunov and Jäger (2015): fig. 40, with a subdistal projection in P. candidus as in Wang and Wang (2020): figs. 5–7). The female of P. guiyang sp. nov. also resembles that of P. crinitus in having similar shape of the vulva, but can be separated by the paired epigynal pockets distinctly concaved, narrowed (vs. very shallow and wide) (cf. Fig. 4A, C, E and Logunov and Jäger (2015): fig. 44) and by copulatory ducts descending slightly oblique (vs. running distinctly oblique, almost horizontal) (cf. Fig. 4B, D and Logunov and Jäger (2015): fig. 43).

Etymology: The species name is derived from the name of the type locality; noun in apposition.

Weicheng Yang, Yufeng Zhou, Dongxue Gu, Hao Yu. 2023. Pancorius guiyang sp. nov., A New Species of Jumping Spiders (Araneae, Salticidae) from Guizhou Province, China. Biodiversity Data Journal. 11: e108159. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e108159

[Arachnida • 2023] Siler niser • A New Species of the Genus Siler Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Salticidae: Chrysillini) from India

Siler niser 

 Caleb, Parag & Datta-Roy, 2023 

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.99285

Abstract

A new chrysilline jumping spider species belonging to the genus Siler Simon, 1889 is described from Odisha, India. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations of the male palp and female genitalia and phylogenetic relationships of the new Siler species are presented. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the new species is sister to a clade of predominantly Southeast Asian Siler species. Furthermore, the results indicate the presence of multiple cryptic species masquerading as S. semiglaucus sensu lato. We also briefly discuss some unique behavioural observations on the newly-described species.

Key Words: Jumping spider, NISER, Odisha, phylogeny, species description, taxonomy

General habitus of Siler niser sp. nov.
A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Same, front view;
D. Female habitus, dorsal view; E. Same, lateral view; F. Same, front view.

Genus Siler Simon, 1889

Type species: Siler cupreus Simon, 1889.

Siler niser sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Siler niser sp. nov. resembles Siler semiglaucus (Simon, 1901) in general morphology and colour pattern (cf. Fig. 1A, B, D, E with images 1a, b in Kulkarni and Joseph (2015)), but can be easily distinguished by the morphology of the copulatory organs which are rather most similar to S. cupreus Simon, 1889 and S. severus (Simon, 1901): male palp with short beak-like embolus (slender and needle-like in S. cupreus and S. severus); relatively smaller RTA (smallest of all congeners, remaining below the small retrolateral tegular lobe); RTA directed anteriad in ventral view, with pointed tip and broad base in retrolateral view, ventral margin vertical, dorsal margin gradually sloping, gently curved (RTA directed retrolaterally in ventral view, thick, relatively long reaching beyond the retrolateral tegular lobe and curved in S. cupreus and S. severus) (cf. Figs 2E, F, 3A, B with illustrations on pg. 133, 135 in Prószyński (1984), figs 246, 247 in Bohdanowicz and Prószyński (1987) and figs 12, 13 in Prószyński (1985)); females can be recognised by the short and bent copulatory ducts and globular spermathecae separated by more than their radius (copulatory ducts relatively longer, almost straight and copulatory openings closely placed along the median in S. cupreus) (cf. Figs 2K, L, 3C, D with illustrations on pg. 134, 135 in Prószyński (1984) and figs 249, 251 in Bohdanowicz and Prószyński (1987)).

Etymology: The specific epithet is an acronym derived after the type locality, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) campus from where the specimens were collected. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Suggested common name: Glossy jumping spider.

 John T. D. Caleb, Ayush Parag and Aniruddha Datta-Roy. 2023. A New Species of the Genus Siler Simon, 1889 (Araneae, Salticidae, Chrysillini) from India. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(1): 209-216. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.99285

 twitter.com/skinkomaniac/status/1634024752930070530

[Arachnida • 2022] Colopsus arkavathi • A New Species and New Synonym in the Genus Colopsus Simon, 1902 (Araneae: Salticidae) from India

 

Colopsus arkavathi Caleb 

in Caleb, Lohit, Abhijith & Packiam, 2022

 ResearchGate.net/publication/366398129

 instagram.com/lohit.y.t

Abstract

A new jumping spider species, Colopsus arkavathi Caleb sp. n., is described from Karnataka, India. A new combination, C. manu (Caleb, Christudhas, Laltanpuii et Chitra, 2014) comb. n. (ex. Hyllus) is proposed; the latter species name is recognized as a senior synonym of C. cinereus Kanesharatnam et Benjamin, 2021 syn.n. A detailed description, illustrations, and a map showing the records of all theknown Indian Colopsus congeners are provided.

KEY WORDS: Aranei, description, Karnataka, Sri Lanka, taxonomy

General appearance of Colopsus arkavathi sp. n.,
 male (1–3) and female (4–6). 1, 4 — dorsal view; 2, 5 — dorso-lateral view; 3, 6 — front view.

Life history and habitat of Colopsus arkavathi sp. n.
29, 30 — female guarding an egg sac; 31 — egg sac laid in a dried, curled leaf;
32 — egg sac; 33 — first instar spiderlings; 34 — juvenile after consuming a fruit fly;
35 — juvenile exhibiting cannibalism (feeding on its sibling); 36 — subadult specimen;
37, 38 — habitat.

Colopsus arkavathi Caleb sp. n.

DIAGNOSIS. The male of C. arkavathi sp.n. is most similar to that of C. manu (see below), but can be easily distinguished by the v-shaped white marking in the ocular area and three yellowish white clypeal stripes (absent in C. manu); the palpal tibia as long as wide (longer than wide in C. manu); RTA with a broad base, protruding laterally and benting at an obtuse angle with the tip directed apically in ventral view (gently curved, relatively longer, thorn-like in C. manu). The female can be distinguished by the broader, laterally aligned copulatory ducts (cf. Figs 1–3, 15, 16 & 22–24 with Figs 17–21). 

 ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken after the River Arkavathi originating in Nandi Hills. The river has been running dry and polluted due to urbanization and industrialization for almost half a century.

John T.D. Caleb, Y.T. Lohit, A.P.C. Abhijith and Soosaimanickam Maria Packiam. 2022. A New Species and New Synonym in the Genus Colopsus Simon, 1902 (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina) from India. Arthropoda Selecta. 31(4); 470–476. DOI: 10.15298/arthsel.31.4.07

  ResearchGate.net/publication/366398129_A_new_species_in_the_genus_Colopsus_from_India

https://kmkjournals.com/upload/PDF/ArthropodaSelecta/31/31_4_470_476_Caleb_et_al_for_Inet.pdf

 instagram.com/p/CmhHuR8vsSr

[Arachnida • 2022] Afraflacilla miajlarensis & A. kurichiadensis • Description of Two New Species of the Genus Afraflacilla Berland et Millot, 1941 (Araneae: Salticidae) from India

 (1–6) Afraflacilla miajlarensis Tripathi, Jangid, Prajapati et Siliwal,
 (7–9) A. kurichiadensis Sudhin, Nafin et Sudhikumar,:

1–3 — female, 4–9 — male.

 in Sudhin, Nafin, Tripathi, Jangid, Prajapati, Siliwal et Sudhikumar, 2022. 

 DOI: 10.15298/arthsel.31.3.09

Researchgate.net/publication/363917787 

 facebook.com/RishikeshTripathi75

ABSTRACT

Two new species of jumping spiders, Afraflacilla miajlarensis sp.n. and Afraflacilla kurichiadensis sp.n. are described from India. Detailed morphological description, diagnostic features and illustration of the species are given. The current distribution records of the genus in India are mapped as well.

KEY WORDS: Aranei, jumping spiders, taxonomy, distribution, Thar Desert, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

General appearance of Afraflacilla miajlarensis sp. n. (1–6) and Afraflacilla kurichiadensis sp. n. (7–9): 1–3 — female, 4–9 — male.

Afraflacilla miajlarensis Tripathi, Jangid, Prajapati et Siliwal, sp. n.

HABITAT. Found in arid regions of Thar Desert, with Lasiurus scindicus and Cenchrus biflorus dominated vegetation.

ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is a noun derived from the name of the type locality (Miajlar) from where the species was collected.

Afraflacilla kurichiadensis Sudhin, Nafin et Sudhikumar, sp. n.

HABITAT. Occurs in the moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats. 

ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is an adjective derived from the name of the forest range (Kurichiad) from where the species was collected.

 

Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin, Karunnappilli Shamsudheen Nafin, Rishikesh Tripathi, Ashish Kumar Jangid, Dhruv A. Prajapati, Manju Siliwal and Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar. 2022. Description of Two New Species of the Genus Afraflacilla Berland et Millot, 1941 (Araneae: Salticidae) from India. Arthropoda Selecta. 31(3); 326–334. DOI: 10.15298/arthsel.31.3.09

Researchgate.net/publication/363917787_two_new_species_of_Afraflacilla_from_India

  facebook.com/RishikeshTripathi75/posts/5794399560612167

[Arachnida • 2022] Tanzania yellapragadai • First Record of the Spider Genus Tanzania Koçak & Kemal, 2008 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Asia, with the Description of A New Species from India

Tanzania yellapragadai 

Prajapati & Dudhatra, 2022

DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0082

 

Abstract

The jumping spider genus Tanzania Koçak & Kemal, 2008, which was previously only known from Africa, is recorded from Asia for the first time. The detailed morphology-based description and illustrations of a new species, Tanzania yellapragadai sp. nov. (♂♀) from the Gujarat State of India, are provided.

KEYWORDS: taxonomy, jumping spider, Euophryini, Gujarat, India

Photographs of living individuals of Tanzania yellapragadai sp. nov.;
dorsal view (1-2), lateral view (3-4), frontal view (5-6).
(1, 3, 5) Male holotype. (2, 4, 6) Female paratype. Arrows indicate enlarged clypeal setae.

 

TAXONOMY

Genus Tanzania Koçak & Kemal, 2008

Type species: Tanzania mkomaziensis (Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000).

 

Tanzania yellapragadai sp. nov.  

 

Etymology: This species is dedicated to the Indian biochemist Dr Yellapragada Subba Rao (1895-1948). He discovered the function of ATP and also developed Methotrexate, one of the first chemotherapy agents that is still widely used in cancer treatment and various autoimmune diseases.

   

Dhruv A. Prajapati and Ashutosh V. Dudhatra. 2022. First Record of the Spider Genus Tanzania Koçak & Kemal, 2008 from Asia, with the Description of A New Species (Araneae: Salticidae). Revue suisse de Zoologie. 129(2); 369-374. DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0082

 

[Arachnida • 2022] Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi, S. tamravarni & S. vyaghri • Three New and Notes On Two Other Jumping Spider Species of the Genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Salticidae: Aelurillina) from the Deccan Plateau, India

Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi Marathe, Sanap, & Maddison, 

  S. tamravarni Marathe & Maddison

& S. vyaghri Sanap, Joglekar, & Caleb 

 microhabitats of Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi sp. nov. and S. tamravarni sp. nov. (Figs. 116–118); S. marusiki and S. vyaghri sp. nov. (Fig. 119).

in Marathe, Sanap, ... et Maddison, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.1.1 

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Abstract

We describe three new species of Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 from the Deccan Plateau of India, and report on populations of S. sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014 and S. marusiki Logunov, 2001. One of the new species, S. shwetamukhi Marathe, Sanap, & Maddison, sp. nov., has black-and-white markings, characteristic of several other Indian Stenaelurillus species. The other two new species, S. tamravarni Marathe & Maddison, sp. nov., and S. vyaghri Sanap, Joglekar, & Caleb, sp. nov., are colourful and with fringed male abdomens, like several other Indian species including S. sarojinae. The population of S. sarojinae from Mysuru, Karnataka, shows colours distinct from the population at the type locality. The female of S. marusiki is described for the first time.

Key words: Aelurillines, biodiversity research, Deccan peninsula, new species, scrublands, species discovery, taxonomy 

Salticidae Blackwall, 1841

Tribe Aelurillini Simon, 1901

Subtribe Aelurillina Simon, 1901

Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886

Type species: Stenaelurillus nigricaudus Simon, 1886 

Stenaelurillus marusiki Logunov, 2001 

 Stenaelurillus sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014 

 Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi Marathe, Sanap & Maddison, sp. nov.

Etymology. The name is derived from Sanskrit, shweta meaning white, mukhi meaning faced, referring to the male’s white face.

Diagnosis. One of the black and white species. A short, stout, hook-shaped embolus twisted retrolaterally near the pointy tip distinguishes S. shwetamukhi sp. nov. from other species, and most notably the similar S. albus, whose embolus is narrower, more extended, and with a blunt tip (Sebastian et al. 2015; figs. 2E, G).S. shwetamukhi sp. nov. differs from S. albus also in having prominent white spots on the male abdomen (S. albus, dark and spotless). S. shwetamukhi sp. nov.  is also distinctive among the black and white species for the roundness of the TP, and the indentation on the prolateral edge of the salticid radix (at about 10 o’ clock)

Stenaelurillus tamravarni Marathe & Maddison, sp. nov.

Etymology. The name is derived from Sanskrit, tamra meaning copper, varni meaning coloured, referring to the cupreous sheen on some of the body’s scales.

Diagnosis. Of the fringed-abdomen species, Stenaelurillus tamravarni sp. nov. is unique for the muted colour of  the  male’s  abdomen  and  the  prolaterally-leaning  embolus.  The  male  abdomen  appears  as  a  brindled  greyish brown in the anterior half, composed of a mix of cream and copper scales, much less colourful than the orange of S. metallicus and S. vyaghri sp. nov., and with longer fringes. The embolus differs from S. metallicus in being thicker, especially basally,  and from S.  vyaghrisp.  nov.  in leaning prolaterally and lacking a basal retrolateral cusp. The RTA of S. tamravarnisp. nov. is longer than that of S. metallicus, more pointed than that of S. vyaghri sp. nov.. The female of S. tamravarnisp. nov. has markings with less contrast than those of S. metallicus and S. vyaghri sp. nov.with abdominal spots quite indistinct.

Stenaelurillus vyaghri Sanap, Joglekar & Caleb, sp. nov.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Sanskrit root word vyaghra. We call this species vyaghri, meaning “like a tiger”, as the male spider’s orange and black body colouration resembles that of a tiger.

Diagnosis. Stenaelurillus vyaghri sp. nov. males have an orange abdomen, like S. metallicus, but lacks the latter’s pair of black spots and the bright orange-red laterally and medially. S. vyaghrisp. nov. further differs from S. metallicus and S. tamravarni sp. nov. in the short, thick embolus with a broad base having a retrolateral cusp, and in the inconspicuous TP. The females can be distinguished by the globular spermathecae (bean-shaped in S. sarojinae; globular and double-chambered in S. metallicus) and a well-developed, narrow, and deep epigynal pocket

Photographs showing microhabitats of Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi sp. nov. and S. tamravarni sp. nov.(Figs. 116–118); S. marusiki and S. vyaghri sp. nov. (Fig. 119).
These grassland and scrubland habitats offer a variety of microhabitats suitable for aelurillines. We have documented a considerable diversity of Langelurillus, Langona, Phanuelus, Phlegra and other species of Stenaelurillus.

Kiran Marathe, Rajesh Sanap, Anuradha Joglekar, John T. D. Caleb and Wayne P. Maddison. 2022. Three New and Notes On Two Other Jumping Spider Species of the Genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Salticidae: Aelurillina) from the Deccan Plateau, India. Zootaxa. 5125(1); 1-19. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.1.1

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