Stenaelurillus sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014

Caleb, John T. D., Mungkung, Soriephy & Mathai, Manu Thomas, 2015, Four new species of jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae: Aelurillinae) with the description of a new genus from South India, Peckhamia 124 (1), pp. 1-18 : 12-17

Stenaelurillus sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014

( Figs. 57-81 )

Specimens examined. 2 male paratypes, Kadapa , Andhra Pradesh, India (14°45′10.50″ N, 78°79′38.68″ E, 138 m, 14 JAN 2015, coll. Samuel A. M. and John Caleb T.D., NCBS-AL054, ♂ #1, and AL055, ♂ #2), 4 male paratypes (same locality and date, coll. John Caleb T.D., NCBS-AL056 to AL059) .

Diagnosis. The males differ from other Stenaelurillus species by lacking a colorful clypeal region ( Fig. 57 ), different from the contrasting colored pattern in S. lesserti Reimoser, 1934 , and by having only a single, median, broad white spot on the abdomen ( Figs. 59-61 ), different from the three white spots in S. lesserti . The palpal femur has a well-defined ventral process ( Figs. 67, 68 ) which differs from the small bump in S. uniguttatus Lessert, 1925 .

Description of male. Cephalothorax with whitish and brownish hairs on the anterior region. Anterior eye row with a transverse band of reddish brown hairs between the anterior eyes, clypeus filled with light brownish and grey hairs ( Fig. 57 ). A pair of longitudinal white patches extend from beside the ALEs and end at the rear. Posterior region covered by dark hairs, almost black ( Figs. 63 , 73 ). Carapace rim lined by white hairs. Two more thin white stripes just above the white rim extend backwards from the cheek region ( Fig. 58 ). Chelicerae blackish, unidentate ( Fig. 65 ). Sternum oval with a variably pigmented, dark median region and covered by pale yellow hairs. Legs yellowish brown, covered with numerous hairs and spines. Leg I with dark ventral region ( Figs. 64 , 74 ). Abdomen elongate, almost oval, with a broad transverse anterior white patch and a median broad white (cross shaped) spot just below the white patch. Dark dorsally, covered with short, dark bluish-black, shiny, light reflecting hairs. White hairs marginally surround the posterior edge of the abdomen ( Figs. 59-62 , 75 ). Long shiny scales cover the fringes of the abdomen ( Figs. 60, 61 , 63 ). Ventral region of the abdomen pale yellow ( Fig. 58 , 64 , 74 ). Spinnerets dark dorsally ( Fig. 59, 60 , 63 , 73 ) and yellowish ventrally ( Fig. 64 , 74 ). Palp covered with yellowish-white hairs ( Figs. 57 ). Palp as in Figs. 67-72 & 76-79 ; embolus accompanied by dark slightly thick and bent apophysis. Posterior tegular apophysis large; RTA single, thick and pointed; palpal femur with a ventral process ( Figs. 67, 68 ).

A subadult female from the same locality is shown in Figure 62 .

sarojinae .

view. 65, Chelicerae. 66, Maxillae. Scale bars for Figs. 63-64 , 1 mm.

view. 68, Retrolateral view. 69-72, Ventral views. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

1 mm.

Measurement of paratypes. NCBS-AL054: Total length 4.79; carapace 2.49 long, 1.75 wide; abdomen 2.30 long, 1.44 wide. NCBS-AL055: Total length 4.83; carapace 2.48 long, 1.72 wide; abdomen 2.35 long, 1.75 wide.

Distribution. Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Discussion. An abdomen with lustrous dorsal hairs is also seen in some species of genus Stenaelurillus ( Wesołowska, 2014b) . Light reflecting hairs on the abdomen are also seen in two Israeli species belonging to genus Aelurillus , A. politiventris (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and A. gershomi Prószyński, 2000 , while other known species have normal pattern. Another unusual similarity is the resemblance in the abdominal pattern of the unrelated species Maratus anomalus (Karsch, 1878) from Australia, an analogous adaptation as this species is not related to S. sarojinae Caleb & Mathai.

Figures

Figure 62. Dorsal view of a subadult female Stenaelurillus

Figure 75. Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #2, Paratype NCBS-AL055), dorsal view of abdomen. Scale bar

Figures 57-61. Male Stenaelurillus sarojinae. 57, Front view (♂ #1). 58, Lateral view (♂ #2). 59, Dorsal view (♂ #2). 60-61, Dorsal view (♂ #1).

Figures 63-66. Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #1, paratype NCBS-AL054). 63, Dorsal view. 64, Ventral

Figures 67-72. Left palp of Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #1, Paratype NCBS-AL054). 67, Prolateral

Figures 73-74. Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #2, Paratype NCBS-AL055). 73, Dorsal view. 74. Ventral view. Scale bars 1 mm.

Figures 76-79. Left palp of Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #2, Paratype NCBS-AL055). 76-77, Ventral views. 78-79, Retrolateral views. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

Figures 80-81. Left palp of Stenaelurillus sarojinae (♂ #2, Paratype NCBS- AL055). 80, Ventral view. 81, Retrolateral view. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

Figures 1-5. Male Aelurillus kronestedti Azarkina, 2004. 1, Dorsal view.