Helpis merriwa, Żabka, Marek & Patoleta, Barbara M., 2014

Żabka, Marek & Patoleta, Barbara M., 2014, New species of Helpis Simon, 1901 from Australia (Araneae: Salticidae), with a new definition of the genus, Zootaxa 3873 (5), pp. 571-589 : 577-580

Helpis merriwa sp. nov.

Figs 34–41 , 86

Type material. AUSTRALIA, New South Wales: ♀ holotype, The Battery Picnic Area, SE of Merriwa , 33°12'46" S, 150°27'31" E, [-33.2128, 150.4586], 6 Nov. 2001, M. Gray, G. Milledge & H. Smith, AMS KS75034.

Etymology. From the type locality. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Median guides wider than in H. wisharti ( Fig. 40 ). Copulatory opening areas very strongly sclerotized, insemination ducts slightly bent, almost parallel ( Fig. 41 ). Accessory glands at the junction between copulatory ducts and spermathecae.

Description. Female holotype. Cephalothorax pear-shaped, pale yellow. Setae scarce, composed of white and light brown adpressed hairs and single brown bristles ( Fig. 34 ). Carapace with median white guanine spots. Eye surroundings black. Thorax with median pale stripe. Abdomen long, with distinct pattern of white guanine spots on light background, sides brownish ( Fig. 34 ). Spinnerets long, whitish. Clypeus pale yellow, narrow (about 21% of AME diameter), covered with white hairs, protruding bristles between AME ( Fig. 38 ). Chelicerae light brown, with rugose frontal surfaces ( Fig. 38 ), promargin and retromargin with 3 and 4 teeth, respectively ( Fig. 39 ). Pedipalps pale yellow, darker distally. Endites and labium light brown with whitish distal halves. Sternum yellowish. Venter pale yellow with white guanine dots ( Fig. 36 ). Legs pale yellow with darker bands on femora and metatarsi. Leg I the longest and more robust than others, ventral spination: tibia 2-2-2, metatarsus 2-2. Legs II more delicate, with similar colouration and ventral spination, but with a prolateral spine on tibiae. All femora with dorsal spines: femora first 1-1-2, the others 1-1-3. Epigyne with visible posterior pouch ( Fig. 40 ), copulatory ducts elongated, spermathecae oval ( Fig. 41 ). Dimensions: CL 2.52, CH 1.27, CW 2.16, AL 3.81, AW 1.67, EFL 1.16, AEW 1.76, PEW 1.53, leg I 6.80 (2.08+1.14+1.63+1.38+0.57), leg II 5.97 (1.89+0.98+1.38+1.19+0.53), leg III 5.92 (1.86+0.74+1.33+1.39+0.60), leg IV 7.43 (2.15+0.86+1.86+1.90+0.66).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 86 , square).

Figures

FIGURE 86. Distribution records of Helpis merriwa (square) and H. wanlessi (triangle).

FIGURES 34 – 41. Helpis merriwa sp. nov. 34 female holotype, dorsal view; 35 same, lateral view; 36 same, ventral view; 37 same, endites, labium, chelicerae and sternum; 38 same, frontal view; 39 same, cheliceral dentition; 40 same, epigyne; 41 same, vulva; (ag: accessory gland, cd: copulatory duct, co: copulatory opening, mg: median guide, p: pouch, s: spermatheca). Scale: 34 – 39 = 1 mm, 40 = as in Fig.