Saitis Simon, 1876

Prószyński, Jerzy, Noordam, Aart, Oger, Pierre & Schäfer, Michael, 2018, Delimitation of Mediterranean genus Iberattus gen. n., with comments on genus Saitis (Araneae: Salticidae) *, Ecologica Montenegrina 18, pp. 82-98 : 87-88

Gen. Saitis Simon, 1876

Figures 3 , 4

Remarks. Since Drobroruka (2004: 39) placed Euophrys imitatu s (Simon, 1868) in Mediterranean genus Saitis , popularly known by one of its species - S. barbipes , that genus requires some attention. There are three other nominal species of Saitis in Mediterranean and two species in Australia. The mutual behavioral features of Saitis - its peculiar courtship dance with lifted III pair of legs, strikingly colored for semaphore signaling, with " bottle-brush " like dense fur of black setae on metatarsus III, contrasting with strikingly white tarsus III, that behavior being enriched by lifting strikingly colorful abdomen in a number of Australian Maratus species, and some other genera (see video at http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7qmpz comparing S. barbipes dance with that of Australian Maratus ). There are suggestions that Saitis in Europe may be immigrant from Australia ( Hill (2009)). However, diversity in internals structure of epigyne of Saitis requires revision.

Type species. Attus barbipes Simon, 1868 = Sanities barbipes (Simon, 1868)

Material. " Saitis barbipes , m,f., France: Fontaine de Vacluse, 14-15 April, 1966, leg. J. Prószyński", coll. MiZ-PAN, Warszawa. Also rich documentation in literature, photos and especially videos).

Diagnosis. In males characterizing behavior of nuptial dance, adaptations of leg III to semaphore signaling, while legs I are devoid of semaphore adaptations. Palps confronting to the general type of EUOPHRYINES, but with various differences, not yet summarized as indicating genus. Epigyne and its internal structures represent various types, not yet summarized as indicating genus .

Description. See diversity of males and females ( Figs 3 , 4 A-I, L-N, Q-S)) and especially documentation of dance gestures by Aart Noordam ( Figs 3 M-M9). Palps and epigyne structures are shown on Figs 4 A-I and 5D-G, comparison of legs III on Figs 4 Q-S.

Distribution. Mediterranean and Australia [?].

Composition. Mediterranean species: Saitis barbipes (Simon, 1868) (type species) ( Figs 3 A-F, 4A-D, G, L, Q), Saitis tauricus ( Figs 3 G-L, 4E-F1, H, M, R), Saitis graecus ( Figs 3 M-M9, 4I, N, S). Epigyne and its internal structures of S. tauricus and S. graecus stand out and matching of their epigyne with general appearances of respective females should be verified.

MISPLACED Mediterranean species: " Saitis" ariadneae ( Figs 4K, P, U ), " Saitis" imitata ( Figs 2 A-N), " Saitis" sengleti ( Figs 4J, O, T ) (see below).

Figures

Figure 2. Diagnostic characters of "Saitis" imitatus, documented by color photographs (A-J) and diagnostic drawings (K-N), the latter compared also with spermathecae and ducts in relevant genera (O-R). A - palp, B-D - epigyne seen on surface of abdomen and in cleared preparation, in ventral and dorsal views, E-G - color pattern in live male, H-J - color pattern in live female. Diagnostic drawings: K - palp and tibial apophysis, L - changed dorsal pattern in preserved male and female, M-N - epigyne and cleared spermathecae. Cleared epigyne in relevant genera: O - Euophrys frontalis, P - Talavera aequipes, Q - Pseudeuophrys erratica, R - comparison of multi-chamber spermatheca in Habrocestum pullatum.

Figure 3. Diversity of color pattern, behavior and sexual dimorphism in the genus Saitis. A-F - S. barbipes, G-L - S. tauricus, M-M9 - S. graecus male, female as well as courtship dance routine, gestures and mating (M, M6-M8 - male, M9- female, M1-M3, M6 - dance gestures, note unusual separate horizontal lifting of left and right leg III, M4-M5- phases of copulation).

Figure 4. Diversity of palps, internal structure of epigyne and male legs III in the genus Saitis. A-D, G, L, Q - S. barbipes, E-F1, H, M, R - S. tauricus, I, N, S - S. graecus [identification of epigyne?], J, O, T -"Saitis" sengleti, K, P, U -"Saitis" ariadneae.