Epeus furcatus, Zhang & Song & Li, 2003

Zhang, J. X., Song, D. X. & Li, Daiqin, 2003, Six New And One Newly Recorded Species Of Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) From Singapore And Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 51 (2), pp. 187-195 : 192-193

Epeus furcatus , new species

( Figs. 5 A-C)

Material examined. – Holotype – male ( ZRC.ARA.116), Bukit Timah Nat. Res., Singapore, 8 Jun.1967.

Paratype – 1 male ( ZRC.ARA.116), same data as holotype, coll. D. H. Murphy.

Diagnosis. – The new species is similar to Epeus tener ( Simon, 1877) ( Evenus tenera Simon, 1877: 59 , T. 3, F. 12; Epeus tener - Zabka, 1985: 216, f. 125-126) in the shape of palp, but differs from the latter in having the tibial apophysis of palp short, and outgrowth of cymbium forked.

Description. – Males. Total length 6.75 (paratype)-7.20. Length of holotype 7.20: cephalothorax 3.15 long, 2.61 wide; abdomen 4.05 long, 1.35 wide. Carapace ( Fig. 5A ) orange yellow, eye area silvery white. Eye sizes: AME 0.82, ALE 0.37, PME 0.07, PLE 0.36. Anterior eye row 2.16 wide, posterior row 2.03 wide, eye area 1.53 long. Chelicera reddish brown, with 2 promarginal teeth and 1 retromarginal tooth. Endites and labium reddish brown, sternum yellow and smooth. Legs I and II yellowish brown, III and IV light in color, yellow. Tibiae I and II each with 4 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsi I and II each with 2 pairs of ventral spines. Tibiae I, II and metatarsi I, II ventrally with dense scopulae. Leg measurements: I 10.14 (2.97+4.19+2.12+0.86); II 9.87 (3.29+3.74+1.98+0.86); III 10.13 (3.15+3.51+2.61+0.86); IV 8.38 (2.43+2.61+2.48+0.86). Leg formula: 1324. Dorsum of abdomen yellow, cardiac spot light yellow; venter yellow. Embolus of palpal organ ( Figs. 5B, C ) slender; outgrowth of cymbium forked; tibial apophysis short and thumb-like.

Etymology. – The specific name refers to the forked outgrowth of cymbium.

Figures

Fig. 5. Epeus furcatus, new species, holotype (ZRC.ARA.116). A. male; B. left palp, ventral view (the black arrow refers to the auricular outgrowth); C. same, lateral view (the black arrow refers to the outgrowth of cymbium). Scales: A = 1.0 mm, B, C = 0.5 mm.