Philoponella feroka ( Bradoo, 1979 ) Babu & Caleb & Jani & Uma & Prasad, 2022

Babu, Nishi, Caleb, John T. D., Jani, Maitry, Uma, Divya & Prasad, G., 2022, On the taxonomy and distribution of the orb-weaving spider Philoponella feroka (Bradoo, 1979) n. comb. from India (Araneae, Uloboridae), Zootaxa 5087 (3), pp. 497-500 : 497-500

Philoponella feroka ( Bradoo, 1979) new combination

Figs 1–8

Uloborus ferokus Bradoo, 1979: 354 , figs 1–8 (holotype female and paratypes deposited at Department of Zoology , University Centre, Calicut, not traceable and may be lost (personal communication through Dr. Shibu Vardhan, Head of the Department of Zoology, Calicut University), not examined.

Type material. Holotype female from INDIA: Kerala: Calicut, Feroke (11.1735°N, 75.8352°E), 12.xi.1968, B.L. Bradoo . Paratypes: 17 males and 23 females.

Other material examined: INDIA: Kerala: 2 ♂♂ & 2 ♀♀ ( KUDZEN) from Alappuzha, Kuttanad, Edthuva (9.36128°N, 76.45049°E), N. Babu leg., 15.i.2021 ; Andhra Pradesh: 1♂ and 1♀ ( APU) from Chittoor, Madanpalle (13.629749ºN, 78.451408ºE), M. Jani & D. Uma leg., 15.ii.2020 ; 1♂ & 1♀ ( APU) from Chittoor, Kuppam (12.75885ºN, 78.342094ºE), M. Jani leg., 12.ii.2020 ; Gujarat: 4 ♂♂ and 5♀♀ ( APU) from Anand District (22.517676º N, 72.961858º E), M, Jani leg., 14.ix.2020 ; Karnataka: 3♂♂ & 2♀♀ ( APU) from Bangalore (12.729833º N, 77.629219º E), M. Jani & D. Uma leg., 26.i.2020 .

Diagnosis. The species resembles Philoponella nasuta ( Thorell, 1895) , but can be distinguished by the broad region of anterio-basal protrusion of median apophysis spur (slightly tapering in P. nasuta ) and thinner median hematodocha (broader in P. nasuta ); the females can be easily distinguished by the long, thin copulatory ducts (spiral in P. nasuta ) (cf. Figs 3–5, 6–7 with figs 3–11 in Zhou et al., 2020).

Description. For detailed description, see Bradoo (1979).

Supplementary description. Male ( Figs 1, 2–5 ). Total length 3.86. Prosoma 1.73 long, 1.63 wide; opisthosoma 2.13 long, 1.72 wide. Eye size and interdistances: AME 0.06; ALE 0.07; PME 0.06; PLE 0.03; AME-AME 0.07; AME-ALE 0.12; ALE-PLE 0.15; PME-PME 0.06; PME-PLE 0.10. Clypeus height 0.21. Carapace slightly convex. Legs pale orange, with annular distal dark bands. Measurement of palp and legs: palp 1.96 (0.82, 0.22, 0.28, 0.64), leg I 3.33 (1.01, 0.20, 0.80, 0.90, 0.42); II 1.96 (0.65, 0.12, 0.51, 0.37, 0.31), III 1.38 (0.50, 0.14, 0.22, 0.25, 0.27); IV 2.0 (0.80, 0.20, 0.39, 0.33, 0.28). Leg formula 1423. Opisthosoma longer than wide, dorsal surface orange-brown with three pairs of pale white dots; ventrally blackish. Palp with retrolateral femoral apophysis; median apophysis bulb swollen; embolus filiform and coiled around median apophysis bulb; conductor spike beak-like ( Figs 3–5 ).

Female ( Figs 2, 6–7 ). Total length 4.27. Prosoma 1.47 long, 1.2 wide; abdomen 2.80 long, 2.13 wide. Carapace greyish and slightly convex. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05; ALE 0.09; PME 0.06; PLE 0.03; AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.14, ALE-PLE 0.15, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.10. Clypeus 0.08 high. Sternum light brown, and longer than wide. Legs slender, with dark annular bands. Measurement of palp and legs: palp 1.81 (0.71, 0.29, 0.35, 0.46), leg I 3.17 (1.15, 0.16, 1.12, 0.90, 0.38); II 2.49 (0.85, 0.11, 0.80, 0.39, 0.34); III 1.71 (0.72, 0.13, 0.30, 0.29, 0.27); IV 2.63 (1.12, 0.14, 0.71, 0.37, 0.29). Opisthosoma slightly broad in front and arched in the middle region, with three pairs of white spots. Epigynum with large atrium, slightly triangular anteriorly; copulatory openings present along the posterior margin on either sides of atrium; copulatory ducts long, convoluted and meandering; spermathecae small and globular ( Figs 6–7 ).

Natural history. One to several individuals of Philoponella feroka were found on the webs of the social spider Stegodyphus sarasinorum . Sometimes they were also seen on their own webs built in the gaps of S. sarasinorum webs. Individuals were seen capturing and consuming small prey that were trapped on the webs of S. sarasinorum . Adult males, females and juveniles of P. feroka were seen on S. sarasinorum webs in different habitats including paddy fields, fences, and shrubs found next to the highway in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat ( Fig. 8 ).

Distribution. Previously known only from Kerala State, India. The present study reveals its presence in three more Indian States (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka) ( Fig. 8 ) and may perhaps occur throughout the Deccan peninsula.

Justification for transfer. The species has the following characters of the genus Philoponella : males with oval carapace, enlarged cephalic region ( Fig. 1 ), transverse thoracic groove and well-developed conductor spike ( Figs 4–5 ); females with epigynal atrium ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Distributional records of Philoponella feroka (Bradoo, 1979) n. comb. from India. Red star indicates the type locality, yellow circles represent previous records and white triangles indicate new records (present study).

FIGURES 1–7. General morphology and genitalia of Philoponella feroka (Bradoo, 1979) n. comb. 1, Male habitus, dorsal view; 2, female habitus, dorsal view; 3, left male palp, retrolateral view; 4, right male palp (image flipped), expanded, ventrolateral view; 5, same, retrolateral view; 6, epigynum, ventral view; 7 vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1, 1 mm; 2, 2 mm; 4–5, 0.1 mm; 3, 6–7, 0.2 mm.Abbreviations:A, epigynal atrium; CBL, conductor basal lobe; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; CS, conductor spur; CY, cymbium; E, embolus; FA, retrolateral femoral apophysis; FD, fertilization duct; MAB, median apophysis bulb; MAS, median apophysis spur; MH, median hematodocha; S, spermatheca; T, tegulum.