Tabuina varirata, Maddison, Wayne P., 2009

Maddison, Wayne P., 2009, New cocalodine jumping spiders from Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Salticidae: Cocalodinae), Zootaxa 2021, pp. 1-22 : 10

Tabuina varirata new species

( Figs 31–43 )

Type material. Holotype male in UBC – SEM with labels: " PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Central Province: Varirata National Park. S 9.436 E 147.364. elev. 740 m a.s.l. 4 August 2008. W. Maddison, A. Kore & J. Kore. WPM#08–029.", " Tabuina varirata Maddison , Holotype ", and " UBC – SEM AR 00028". Paratypes: 1 female, 5 juveniles, same data as holotype ( UBC – SEM).

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Diagnosis. Male resembles that of Portia fimbriata Doleschall , but can quickly be distinguished by having a prominent conductor and median apophysis on the palpus. Among cocalodines the bands of white descending diagonally from the AME on the face are distinctive ( Figs 32, 34 ), as is the broad band of white on the lower sides of the male carapace ( Fig. 32 ). The conductor and median apophysis are similarly shaped, almost mirror images of one another ( Fig. 37 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace length 2.6; abdomen length 3.3. Chelicerae: large but not elongate or projecting. Three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Palpus ( Figs 37–39 ) with prominent median apophysis and conductor side by side. Conductor is large and sclerotized but not expanded into a broad fan as in Cocalodes . Tibia of first leg with 3 pairs of ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with 3 pairs. Carapace high; posterior eyes on mild tubercles. PME large, angled diagonally forward. Intercheliceral sclerite not enlarged into a visible horn. Colour ( Figs 31, 32, 34 ): carapace covered with brown recumbent hairs above, black along sides of thorax, and with broad white band along lateral margin that continues diagonally upward to touch AME on face. Palp clothed in white; legs black and brown. Abdomen black laterally but medially with broad tan-colored longitudinal band.

Female (paratype, UBC–SEM AR00029). Carapace length 3.5; abdomen length 4.3. Chelicerae: three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Palp with tarsal claw. Tibia of first leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with three pairs. Epigynum ( Figs 42–43 ): two small openings just in front of lobes along the posterior margin. Carapace ( Figs 40–41 ) as in male. Colour ( Figs 33, 35, 36 ): strongly but cryptically marked with brown and cream.

Natural history. All specimens were found on a single conifer tree ( Podocarpaceae or Cupressaceae , possibly Dacrydium or other with similar leaves; Fig. 89 ) in a clearing in a rainforest that borders savannah. They were found amongst the leaves by beating. Their density appeared quite high, but inaccessibility of most branches limited the number of specimens collected.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 36. Tabuina varirata, new species. 31, 32, 34 Holotype male. 33, 35, 36 Paratype female.

FIGURES 37 – 50. Tabuina varirata and T. baiteta, new species. 37 – 43 Tabuina varirata. 37 – 39 Palp of holotype male (37 ventral view, 38 retrolateral view, 39 same view as Fig. 37, diagrammed to show embolus (e), conductor (c) and median apophysis (ma). Star marks position of tip of embolus, cradled within conductor). 40 – 41 Female carapace. 42 Epigynum, ventral view. 43 Cleared epigynum, dorsal view, with arrow showing sclerotized sphere. Scale bars 0.1 mm on genitalia, 1 mm on carapace. 44 – 50 Tabuina baiteta. 44 – 47 Palp of holotype male (44 prolateral view, 45 ventral view, 46 retrolateral view, 47 same view as Fig. 45, diagrammed to show embolus (e), conductor (c) and median apophysis (ma). Star marks position of tip of embolus, cradled within conductor. 48 Male in alcohol. 49 Epigynum, ventral view. 50 Cleared epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars 0.1 mm on genitalia, 1 mm on body of male.

FIGURES 87 – 92. Habitats of cocalodines. Microhabitat indicated by arrows. 87 Habitat of Allococalodes madidus, on mosses on small tree trunks along stream (Umgé, S 5.3054 E 142.5098); approximate width of field 1.5 m. 88 Habitat of Yamangalea frewana, on tree branches and trunks (Mt. Gahavisuka, S 6.015 E 145.412); approximate diameter of branch indicated 5 cm. Most were found on larger, vertical tree trunks. 89 Habitat of Tabuina varirata, on conifer in clearing (Varirata National Park, S 9.436 E 147.364); approximate width of field 0.7 m. 90 Habitat of Cucudeta zabkai, in leaf litter at base of Pandanus (near Tualapa, S 5.291 E 142.500); approximate width of field 1 m. 91 Habitat of Cucudeta uzet, in leaf litter at base of Pandanus (Umgé, S 5.304 E 142.512); approximate width of field 1 m. 92 Habitat of Cucudeta gahavisuka, in leaf litter on terraces on slope in forest (Mt. Gahavisuka, S 6.01451 E 145.41171); approximate width of field 1.5 m.