Cucudeta zabkai, Maddison, Wayne P., 2009

Maddison, Wayne P., 2009, New cocalodine jumping spiders from Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Salticidae: Cocalodinae), Zootaxa 2021, pp. 1-22 : 15-17

Cucudeta zabkai new species

( Figs 62–63 , 68–69 , 72–78 )

Type material. Holotype male in UBC – SEM with labels: " PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Southern Highlands Province: trail from Tualapa to Umgé. S 5.2912 E 142.5006 to S 5.2918 E 142.5001. elev. 1170 m a.s.l. 21 July 2008. W. Maddison & Luc Fimo Tuki. WPM#08–018.", " Cucudeta zabkai Maddison , Holotype ", and " UBC – SEM AR 00024". Paratypes: 3 males, 6 females and 4 juveniles.

Etymology. Named in honour of Marek Zabka, both for his extensive and important work on Australasian salticid spiders, and for his discovery of Eupoa Zabka , perhaps the phylogenetically most distinct jumping spider described over the last century.

Diagnosis. Males have only three prominent white spots forming a triangle on the dorsal surface of the opisthosoma, in addition to the white-tipped spinnerets ( Figs 62 , 68 ). The embolus is coiled as in C. uzet , but only once around ( Fig. 72 ). The epigynal openings are together on a lip protruding over the epigastric furrow, but without the pockets of C. uzet ( Fig. 77 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace length 1.4; abdomen length 1.4. Chelicerae: not projecting. Three promarginal teeth and three or four retromarginal teeth. In addition, there are sharp apophyses at both the promarginal and retromarginal sides of the base of the fang. The promarginal apophysis is not a tooth; the retromarginal might be. Palpus ( Figs 72–73 ): embolus long and thin, spiraling about 360°, first ventrally, then proximally, then behind bulb, to emerge again at tip of median apophysis. Median apophysis prominent ( Fig. 73 ). Conductor apparently absent. Tibia of first leg with no ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with four pairs. Legs in general have few macrosetae, and relatively few setae overall. Carapace ( Figs 75, 76 ) relatively flat. PME small. Colour ( Fig. 62 ): carapace dark brown and black, in alcohol diffusely paler near fovea.

Reflective scales in ocular region. Palpi black, with reflective scales. Legs orange-brown except for first femur, much darker. Abdomen black with reflective scales, and three small but prominent white spots dorsally, one basal and two lateral. A fourth white spot is made by white setae on the tip of the posterior spinnerets.

Female (paratype, UBC–SEM AR00025). Carapace length 1.5; abdomen length 1.7. Chelicerae: two or three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth. Tarsal claw not seen on palp; if present then reduced. Tibia of first leg with no ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with four pairs ( Fig. 74 ). Epigynum ( Figs 77–78 ): openings against posterior margin. Carapace and eyes as in male. Colour ( Fig. 63 ): carapace dark brown to black, in alcohol diffusely paler near fovea, which is not clearly visible. Legs orange-brown except darker first legs, and darker stripes laterally on most segments. Abdomen dark gray with scattered small white patches.

Figures

FIGURES 62 – 67. Cucudeta species. 62 C. zabkai, new species, male paratype. 63 C. zabkai, female paratype. 64 C. uzet, new species, female paratype. 65 C. uzet, male holotype. 66 C. gahavisuka, new species, female paratype. 67 C. gahavisuka, male holotype.

FIGURES 68 – 71. Walking poses of Cucudeta species. 68 – 69 C. zabkai, male. 70 – 71 C. uzet, female.

FIGURES 72 – 86. Cucudeta species. 72 – 78 C. zabkai, new species. 72 – 73 Palp of holotype male (72 ventral view, 73 retrolateral view). 74 Metatarsus and tarsus of first leg, female. 75 – 76 female carapace. 77 Epigynum, ventral view. 78 Cleared epigynum, dorsal view. 79 – 82 C. uzet, new species. 79 – 80 Palp of holotype male (79 ventral view, 80 retrolateral view). 81 Epigynum, ventral view. 82 Cleared epigynum, dorsal view. 83 – 86 C. gahavisuka, new species. 83 – 84 Palp of holotype male (83 ventral view, 84 retrolateral view). Figure 85 Epigynum, ventral view. 86 Cleared epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars 0.1 mm on genitalia and first leg, 1 mm on carapace.