Plexippus similis Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2017, Remarks on the genus Plexippus C. L. Koch, 1846 (Araneae: Salticidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 13, pp. 39-69 : 64-65

Plexippus similis Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994

Figures 3J 1 , 5 D-D1, 7G

Plexippus similis Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994: 72 , f. 147-149 (Df).

Plexippus clemens Prószyński, 2003: 142 (considers Plexippus similis a synonym)

Plexippus clemens Wesolowska & van Harten, 2007: 246 , f. 165-168 (Sm).

Documentation studied. Summary of world's literature provided by "Monograph of Salticidae ( Araneae ) of the World 1995-2016. Part I & 2" by Prószyński (2016 a, b) and current literature.

Remarks. It seemed, at certain time, that similarity of epigyne of this species and P. clemens (compare Figs 5 D-D1 with B-B1) is sufficient to consider them synonyms. However, learning of epigyne of several other species permitted to notice differences: proportions of length of epigynal furrow, breadth of ducts and shape of spermatheca, also palps, seem intermediate between P. clemens and P. bhutani (compare Figs 3J 1 with J, and also B) in length of tibial apophysis, thickness of embolus and space separating it from serrated edge of swelling of embolar base. Since these difference concern mainly proportions of parts, some residual of incertitude remains, pending of more complete comparative research of fresh, or live specimens.

Distribution. Yemen.

SOURCES: A, I -J, P - Prószyński 1973: 120, f. 61, B, C, M, S - Photo Ono, Ikeda & Kono, 2009 The Spiders of Japan, D - Zabka 1985: 436, ff. 481-486, E, K -K1, T - Peng & Li, 2003b: 755, f. 4A-F, F -G, O. W - Wesolowska, 1996: 36, f. 25A-C, 26A-C, H - Andreeva, 1976: 88, f. 118-120, 121-124, L, U - Bohdanowicz & Prószyński. 1987. Annales Zoologici 41, 2: 117-119; f 229-232, N, V - Spassky, 1939: Folia Zoologica et Hydrobiologica, 299, f. 1-2, Q-Q1 - Prószyński 2003 a. Annales Zoologici 2003: 143-145, f 589, R - Zabka 1985: 436, ff. 481-486. All ©copyrights are retained by the original authors and copyright holders, used here by their courtesy.

Figures

Figure 1. Modern standard of taxonomic documentation of a species of Salticidae (on example of Plexippus petersi (Karsch, 1878, male A-F and female A1-F1), as befitting in 2017. It consists of precise diagnostic drawings of palps - E-F, epigyne and internal structure of epigyne E1-F1, repeated also as color photograph (to reduce inadequacies resulting from subjective interpretation by an artist) - D-D1, color photographs of unchanged habitus of specimens of both sexes (dorsal, frontal and ventral views, missing lateral view) A-C1. The size of individual illustrations permits clear perception of diagnostic characters.

Figure 3. Color pattern and body shape of species of Plexippus. A-D - Plexippus clemens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) - Egypt, E-F - Plexippus clemens -Turkey, ventral view of epigyne (uncleared soft tissues embedding spermathecae and ducts hamper perception of details of structures!), G-H - Plexippus clemens - India.