Myrmarachne nitidissima (Thorell, 1877)

Yamasaki, Takeshi & Ahmad, Abdul Hamid, 2013, Taxonomic study of the genus Myrmarachne of Borneo (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 3710 (6), pp. 501-556 : 544-545

Myrmarachne nitidissima (Thorell, 1877)

( Figs 35 A–G)

Synemosyna nitidissima Thorell, 1877: 546 .

Myrmarachne nitidissima: Roewer, 1954: 948 ; Yamasaki, 2012: 169, Figs 42 –48.

Type material examined. Holotype male (MSNG), Kandari [Kendari], Selebes [SULAWESI], 1874, Beccari leg.

Non-type material examined. BORNEO: 1 male, Danum Valley, Sabah, 21 II 2005, T. Endo leg.; 1 male, same loc., 10 IX 2005, T. Tachi leg.; 1male, same loc., 9 I 2008, Y. Hashimoto leg.; 1 male, Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, 17 XI 2009, T. Yamasaki leg.

Diagnosis. Small blackish species with glossy surface. Male chelicera slender, and longer than carapace; in dorsal view lateral margins of chelicera almost parallel-sided; fang sinuous without tooth-like apophysis ( Fig. 35 C).

Measurements (male). Carapace length 1.58–1.97 (1.70), width 1.01–1.30 (1.17). Abdomen length 1.45–1.83 (1.57). Chelicera length 1.68–2.60 (2.13). Sternum length 0.88–1.08 (0.93). Width of eye row I 0.88–1.02 (0.97); II 0.83–0.98 (0.94); III 1.00–1.20 (1.10). ALE–PLE 0.64–0.80 (0.72); ALE–PME 0.31–0.37 (0.35). Eye size: AME 0.28–(0.32), ALE 0.15–(0.16), PME (0.05)–0.06, PLE 0.15–0.18 (0.16).

Male ( Figs 35 A–G). Cephalic part almost flat dorsally. Thoracic part swollen dorsally. Chelicera longer than carapace, with nine to 13 prolateral and four or five retrolateral teeth; prolateral teeth gradually becoming smaller towards base of chelicera; retrolateral teeth very small, and almost confined to anterior part of chelicera. Fang sinuous without tooth-like apophysis. Sternum relatively broad, slightly overlapped by coxa I and strongly by coax II. Abdomen oval with broad dorsal scutum, covering dorsum except for posterior 1/4; the scutum laterally incised in anterior part.

Palp ( Figs 35 E–G). Cymbium without distinct apical spine. Tegulum small, oval with c-shaped seminal reservoir. Embolus forming two oval coils; embolus coils occupying almost half of venter of cymbium. RTA strongly curved with hooked tip. Flange of RTA well developed.

Leg spination. Femur I md 1, pd 1; patella I rv 1; tibia I pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; femur II md 1, pd 1; patella II rv 0–1; tibia II pv 2, rv 2; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2; femur III md 1, pd 1, rd 0–1; femur IV md 1, pd 1, rd 1.

Coloration and pilosity. Carapace dark brown and glossy; cephalic part covered with white hairs; dorsum of cephalic part black; thoracic part almost without hair but sometimes covered with sparse white hairs. Chelicera brown. Maxilla, labium and sternum brown, tinged with black. Coxae brownish cream; coax III slightly darker than other coxae. Abdomen sparsely covered with long hairs; dorsal scutum blackish brown and glossy; integument except for dorsal scutum grey; only in holotype two white markings formed by white hairs present in anterior part of the scutum.

Distribution. Borneo, Sulawesi (Thorell 1877).

Remarks. The female is unknown. The drawings of the holotype are available in Yamasaki (2012).

Figures

FIGURE 42. Colour variation of M. maxillosa. A, Form I, male, Sumatra. B, Form I, female, Borneo. C, Form II, male, Borneo. D, Form II, female, Borneo. E, Form III, male, Sumatra. F, Form III, female, Borneo. (B, C and F were collected from the same sites in Borneo) (Scales. A – F: 1 mm / division)

FIGURE 35. M. nitidissima, male. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, chelicera and fang, ventral view; D, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; E, palp, ventral view; F, palp, lateral view; G, palpal tibia, dorsal view. (Scales. A – D: 1 mm; E – G: 0.25 mm)