Talaus opportunus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873 )

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2020, Distributional and taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Talaus Simon, 1886 with description of a new species (Araneae: Thomisidae), Zootaxa 4858 (3), pp. 405-416 : 411-412

Talaus opportunus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873)

( Figs 2E, F , 6 A–D)

Thomisus opportunus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873: 120 , plate. 13, fig. 5.

Talaus opportunus (O. Pickard-Cambridge) . Simon 1895: 997, fig. 1061; Simon, 1906: 288; Murphy and Murphy 2000: 457, fig 27

Type material. Syntypes: 1♂ and 4♀, SRI LANKA, no more locality data given ( OUMNH b1239, examined). Diagnosis. This species is similar to T. triangulifer , but is distinguished by the shorter, broad-based E and the

VTA and RTA which are equal in length. Females may be distinguished from congeners by the oval S, relatively longer C shaped CD ( Figs 6C, D ).

Description. Male: Prosoma reddish brown, with some long setae, surface with markings. ALE, PLE on tubercles, not connected to each other. ALE>PLE>AME>PME, MOA wider than long, distance between AMEs one diameter of AME. Distance between PME more than 4x AME. Palp: Tibia with VTA large, apically hook-shaped; RTA digitiform and well sclerotised. Bulb kidney-shaped, embolus broad-based, stout, apically pointed ( Figs 6 A–B).

Female: In general, similar to male except for slightly lighter colour, dark spots of the opisthosoma ( Fig 7 ). Epigynum and vulva as in Figs 6 C–D.

Distribution. Sri Lanka.

Remarks. According to Pickard-Cambridge (1873) the original series consisted of 2 males and 4 females. However, only one male and 4 females were found in OUMNH. Series label and first description gives the locality as Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The record of this species from India by Simon (1906) cannot be confirmed. Roewer (1955) and WSC (2020), both list the type locality as India.

Figures

FIGURE 2 A–K. A–B, G, K Talaus nanus (G, K immature female from MCSN); C, H–J T. triangulifer from Indonesia, Kalimantan (RMNH.ARA.17832); D T. oblitus male from Sri Lanka (OUMNH b1242 t.8); E, F T. opportunus syntypes from Sri Lanka (OUMNH b1239). A, C, E, G female, habitus dorsal; B, D, F male, habitus dorsal; H epigynum, ventral; I, J right male palp (I ventral, J retrolateral); K epigynal area of immature female. Scale lines = 0.1 mm (H, K), 0.2 mm (I, J), 0.5 mm (A–C), 1.0 mm (G).

FIGURE 6 A–D. Talaus opportunus syntype from Sri Lanka (OUMNH b1239). A left palp, ventral; B same, retrolateral; C epigynum, ventral; D) vulva, ventral view. Scale lines = 0.2 mm (A, B), 0.1 mm (C, D).

FIGURE 7 A, B. Talaus triangulifer (RMNH.ARA.17832). A right palp (flipped horizontally), ventral; B same, retrolateral. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.