Cucudeta, 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

Genus Cucudeta new genus

Type species: Cucudeta zabkai , new species.

Etymology. The name is based on " kukudet ", the word for spider in the language of the Hewa people, on whose land I first collected these spiders. " Kukudet " represents the pronunciation as interpreted by me on hearing the word spoken; Vollrath (1985) lists the word as having the phonemes /'ku.ku.tε.tε/. The name is to be treated as feminine.

Diagnosis. Small dark brown to black leaf litter salticids, sparsely covered with relatively small setae. No other known salticid has the following combination of features: (1) First metatarsus with four prominent pairs of ventral macrosetae ( Fig. 74 ). This contrasts with the remaining leg segments which have relatively few macrosetae compared to other salticids. (2) Posterior median eyes displaced medially so as to be on the top of the ocular quadrangle, pointing upwards rather than diagonally as in most salticids. The medial displacement brings the PME to touch the line between the medial edges of the PLE and ALE. Other salticids known to me with PME so far medial are lyssomanines and hisponines. (3) Male palpus with median apophysis. (4) Lacking distinctive constriction between PME and PLE present in hisponines. (5) Sternum with raised mound at each of the leg bases, especially the first. Among non-salticoid salticids with a median apophysis, Cucudeta is most similar in habits and body form to Eupoa , from which it differs by features (1) and (2), a more elongate body, and the simpler form of the embolus.

Natural history and behaviour. All three species of this genus were collected in mid to high elevation in association with leaf litter in rainforest. Cucudeta zabkai and C. uzet were collected from leaf litter suspended a few centimetres above the ground in the base of small Pandanus plants ( Figs 90–91 ). Later, C. gahavisuka was found by sifting leaf litter in well-drained terraces on a small hillside ( Fig. 92 ). It is possible that Pandanus is not a requirement for C. zabkai and C. uzet , and that the common habitat requirement of the genus is moist but well-drained leaf litter. No individuals were found walking exposed on the surface of the leaf litter.

Figures

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.

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.