Corythalia electa ( Peckham & Peckham, 1901 )

Bayer, Steffen, Höfer, Hubert & Metzner, Heiko, 2020, Revision of the genus Corythalia C. L. Koch, 1850, part 1: Diagnosis and new species from South America (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae: Euophryini), Zootaxa 4806 (1), pp. 1-144 : 72-74

Corythalia electa ( Peckham & Peckham, 1901)

Figs 35 A–B, 59A, 66A, 69G

Escambia electa Peckham & Peckham 1901: 336 , pl. 26, figs 11, 11a–c (description & illustration of ♂ and ♀), partim, figs 11 and fig. 11a misidentified (= C. spiralis ), (figs 11b–c: description & illustration of ♂). Lectotype ♂ (here designated) from New Grenada, today: Colombia or Panama (less likely); G.W. & E.G. Peckham Coll., No. 655, MCZ 21175: herein designated Paralectotypes: 2 ♀ (misidentified, identified by us as C. spiralis ; individual numbers: F-7: female with 7 legs, F-2: only 2 legs) with the same data as for lectotype, MCZ 21175; all type material examined.

Corythalia electa — Petrunkevitch 1911: 616 (transfer from Escambia to Corythalia ); Prószyński 1976: 153, fig. 191 (illustra- tion of ♂); Zhang & Maddison 2015: 44, figs 27–33, 649 (illustration of ♂ & ♀, misidentified, = most likely an undescribed Corythalia species).

Diagnosis. Males distinguished from those of all other Corythalia species, except C. chalcea , by the following characters in combination: embolus (E) (actual tubular section) moderately long [at most as long as width of tegulum (T)], relatively narrow (width of E at central section only about 1/2 the width of RTA at central section, in ventral view, Figs 35A , 66A ), if at all, minimally S-shaped, without widened section(s) at distal half and distally evenly bifurcated ( Figs 35A , 66A ); distal section of E directed prolatero-distally; embolus base (EB) circle just moderately broad (still narrower than 2/3 the width of T, Figs 35A , 66A ). Distinguished from C. chalcea by: E slightly longer (its length almost the width of T; in C. chalcea E shorter than width of T) and tip of E more clearly bifurcated; ventral tibial bump slightly larger and further prolaterally at distal section of palpal tibia.

Description. Male (lectotype): total length 6.6, carapace length 3.0, maximal carapace width 2.3, width of eye rectangle 1.7, opisthosoma length 3.1, opisthosoma width 2.1, fovea length 0.28. EYES: AME 0.55, ALE 0.34, PME 0.11, PLE 0.32, AME–AME 0.01, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 1.46, PME–PLE 0.29, ALE–PLE 0.69, PLE– PLE 1.19, clypeus height at AME 0.13, clypeus height at ALE 0.68. Cheliceral furrow with 1 promarginal and 1 retromarginal teeth. SPINATION: palp: no spines. Legs: femur I 1500, II–IV 1600; patella I–II 1000, III–IV 1010; tibia I 2005, II 3024, III 3134, IV 3133; metatarsus I 2014 {2024}, II 2024, III 3034, IV 4144. MEASUREMENT OF PALP AND LEGS: palp 2.4 [0.9, 0.4, 0.3, 0.8], I 5.5 [1.8, 1.0, 1.1, 1.0, 0.6], II 5.5 [1.8, 1.0, 1.1, 1.0, 0.6], III 6.8 [2.2, 1.0, 1.4, 1.5, 0.7], IV 6.7 [2.0, 0.9, 1.4, 1.6, 0.8]. LEG FORMULA: 342&1 (legs I & II with exactly the same length). COPULATORY ORGAN: embolus (E) moderately long [at most as long as width of tegulum (T)], relatively narrow (width of E at central section <1/2 the width of RTA in ventral view), if at all, minimally S-shaped and distally clearly and evenly bifurcated ( Figs 35A , 66A ); embolus base (EB) circle broader than 1/2 but less than 2/3 the width of T; T narrower than cymbium ( Figs 35A , 66A ); sperm duct double-stacked S-shaped, occupying about 2/3 of T from retrolateral; proximal tegulum lobe in retrolateral section, clearly distinguished from remaining T-section; cymbium in ventral view distally conically converging and at distalmost section rounded; palpal tibia not distinctly short, slightly longer than broad ( Figs 35 A–B, 66A, 69G) and ventral tibial bump in ventral view quite conspicuous, conical, distally rounded and located prolatero-distally at palpal tibia; RTA narrow, with retrolaterodistal direction and dorsally with (slight) serration ( Figs 35A , 66A ), in retrolateral view serration also just slightly recognisable and RTA distally converging ( Figs 35B , 69G ). COLOURATION (male holotype strongly bleached, especially opisthosoma, thus colouration difficult to infer): see genus description for conservative aspects. Carapace (dark) red-brown ( Fig. 59A ). Legs brown to red-brown, except for some articles being lighter (see genus description) ( Fig. 59A ). Opisthosoma like noted in genus description under general dorsal colouration, however, no statement possible about chevron-like patch in central band ( Fig. 59A ).

Female: unknown.

Remarks. As mentioned above the two female paralectotypes of Escambia electa are not conspecific with the male lectotype. After the examination of C. spiralis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1901) material from a certain locality in Brazil, where males and females were found together, we were able to definitely assign a female form of Corythalia to the male C. spiralis (see also species description of C. spiralis below). The female types of E. electa correspond exactly to this form, meaning these females could be definitely identified as C. spiralis . As the latter species shows a totally different basic structure in male and female copulatory organs, it is obvious that C. electa (the male lectotype can clearly be recognised as representative of the C. waleckii species-group) and C. spiralis belong to completely different species-groups. The female paralectotypes of E. electa clearly show the basic characters that are typical for the C. opima species-group (including also C. spiralis ; characteristics of this species-group, see below under species description of C. opima ). Hence, even though it would not have been possible to definitely identify the female paralectotypes (for example: assumed, they were belonging to an undescribed species slightly different from C. spiralis and C. opima but would, anyway, clearly show the basic characters of the C. opima group), it would have been obvious for reasons of interfering character states of two different species groups in one and the same type series. The following two previous publications already would have given rise to doubts that the type series of E. electa was monotypic: Crane (1948) had examined lots of males and females of C. fulgipedia and C. chalcea , all recorded at the same locality in Venezuela. Both species belonging to the C. waleckii species-group. The males of these species are strikingly similar to C. electa . The females, however, show the basic characters typical for those of the C. waleckii species-group which are strikingly different to those of the C. opima species-group shared by the female paralectotypes of Escambia electa . Chickering (1946) was the first who described and illustrated females of C. spiralis . His illustrations of the female epigyne and vulva ( Chickering 1946, Figs 143–144) clearly show the basic characters of the C. opima species-group. The characters are also shared by the female paralectotypes of E. electa (which are meanwhile definitely identified as C. spiralis , see above). The males of C. spiralis , however, are distinctly different from the male lectotype of C. electa by having a much longer and slimmer RTA, elongated tegulum and a helical embolus with at least 1.3 windings around embolus base, which is typical for the C. opima species-group (see below).

As mentioned in the remark above C. electa is clearly assignable to the C. waleckii species-group. Consequently, it is very likely that the other species of that species-group are close relatives of C. electa . Especially C. chalcea is strikingly similar to C. electa in having a relatively narrow and only moderately long embolus, a moderately broad embolus base and a sperm duct occupying at most the retrolateral 2/3 of the tegulum with its loops. We would not exclude that C. chalcea is actually a junior synonym of C. electa . However, without further material of C. electa available we, for now, consider the very fine differences in palp morphology (see above) (that might as well could be regarded as intraspecific variation by other authors) diagnostic and thus specific. Consequently, for now, we consider C. chalcea a valid species.

Zhang & Maddison (2015: 44, Figs 27–33 , 649) showed illustrations of males and females they had identified as C. electa (material originated from Ecuador). After comparison with the male lectotype of C. electa it becomes obvious that they had misidentified their material. It is highly likely that they actually dealt with a species not yet described and named. For us the male and female copulatory organs shown in their figures are not assignable to any currently described Corythalia species.

Distribution. Known from an unspecified locality in Colombia (or less likely Panama?).

Figures

FIGURE 27. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov., specimens from south-eastern part of Ecuador. A–B Male holotype, left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). C–E Female paratype F-1, epigyne (C ventral view; D vulva, dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 28. Corythalia dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov., female holotype from Departamento del Magdalena, Colombia. A–C epigyne (A ventral view; B vulva, dorsal view; C schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 29. Corythalia sellata, unknown locality. A right palp, digitally mirrored, ventral view; B leg III (left, retrolateral view?). Both illustrations reproduced from Simon (1901).

FIGURE 30. Corythalia waleckii. A–B Male syntype MIZ 225794 from Cayenne, French Guiana, left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). C–E Female (formerly Coll. Roewer RII/9741, now in SMF) from Vargas, Venezuela, epigyne (C ventral view; D vulva, dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 31. Corythalia tropica, male holotype from Falcon, Venezuela. A–B Left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view).

FIGURE 32. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov., specimens from Cayenne, French Guiana. A–B. Male holotype, left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). C–E Female FR-973-00266, epigyne (C ventral view; D vulva, dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 33. Corythalia fulgipedia, specimens from Aragua, Venezuela. A–B Male AMNH-IZC 00327927, left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view). C–E FemaleAMNH-IZC 00326918-F-7, epigyne (C ventral view; D vulva, dorsal view; E schematic course of internal duct system).

FIGURE 35. Corythalia electa, male lectotype from Colombia. A–B left palp (A ventral view; B retrolateral view).

FIGURE 59. Corythalia spp., photographic images of male specimens, dorsal view. Corythalia electa: A Lectotype from Colombia. Corythalia chalcea: B. Male AMNH-IZC 00327853 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia metallica: C Holotype from St. Vincent Island. Corythalia blanda: D Paralectotype M-3 from Trinidad. Corythalia xanthopa: E Male AMNH-IZC 00326886-II from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia latior sp. nov.: F. Holotype from El Beni, Bolivia. Corythalia hadzji: G Lectotype from Upper Demerara-Berbice, Guyana. Corythalia trochophora Bayer, sp. nov.: H Holotype from Tungurahua, Ecuador. Corythalia lineata Bayer, sp. nov.: I Holotype from East Berbice-Corentyne, Guyana.

FIGURE 66. Corythalia spp., photographic images of left palps of male specimens, ventral view. Corythalia electa: A Lectotype from Colombia. Corythalia chalcea: Male AMNH-IZC 00327893 (B) and male AMNH-IZC 00327910-3 (C) from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia metallica: D Holotype from St. Vincent Island. Corythalia blanda: E Paralectotype M-3 from Trinidad. Corythalia xanthopa: F Male M-4, AMNH-IZC 00326903 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia latior sp. nov.: G Holotype from El Beni, Bolivia. Corythalia hadzji: H Lectotype from Upper Demerara-Berbice, Guyana. Corythalia trochophora Bayer, sp. nov.: I Holotype from Tungurahua, Ecuador. Corythalia lineata Bayer, sp. nov.: J Holotype from East Berbice-Corentyne, Guyana. Corythalia hamulifera Bayer, sp. nov.: K Holotype from south-eastern part of Ecuador.

FIGURE 69. Corythalia spp., photographic images of left palps of male specimens, retrolateral view. Corythalia cincta: A Holotype from Presidente Hayes, Paraguay. Corythalia scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov.: B Holotype from south-eastern part of Ecuador. Corythalia waleckii: C Syntype MIZ 225794 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia tropica: D Holotype from Falcon, Venezuela. Corythalia foelixi Bayer, sp. nov.: E Holotype from Cayenne, French Guiana. Corythalia fulgipedia: F Male AMNH-IZC 00327329 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia electa: G Lectotype from Colombia. Corythalia chalcea: H Male AMNH-IZC 00327893 from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia metallica: I Holotype from St. Vincent Island. Corythalia blanda: J Paralectotype M-1 from Trinidad. Corythalia xanthopa: K Male M-2, AMNH-IZC 00326903, from Aragua, Venezuela. Corythalia latior sp. nov.: L Holotype from Beni, Bolivia.