Cucudeta gahavisuka, Maddison, Wayne P., 2009

Maddison, Wayne P., 2009, New cocalodine jumping spiders from Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Salticidae: Cocalodinae), Zootaxa 2021, pp. 1-22 : 17-20

Cucudeta gahavisuka new species

( Figs 66–67 , 83–86 )

Type material. Holotype male in UBC – SEM with labels: " PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Eastern Highlands Province: Mt. Gahavisuka Provincial Park. S 6.01451 E 145.41171. elev. 2318 m a.s.l. Leaf litter in forest.

1–2 August 2008. W. Maddison. WPM#08–028.", " Cucudeta gahavisuka Maddison , Holotype ", and " UBC – SEM AR 00026". Paratypes: 3 males, 9 females and 11 juveniles.

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Diagnosis. Most specimens are larger than those of the other two Cucudeta species, and with pale chevron markings on the dorsum of the opisthosoma ( Figs 66–67 ). The male palp is very different, with a small uncoiled embolus and inconspicuous median apophysis ( Fig. 83 ). Although in all species of Cucudeta the area of the joint between the first patella and tibia is transparent white, in C. gahavisuka this pale area is particularly pronounced.

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace length 1.5; abdomen length 1.5. Chelicerae: at least two promarginal and four retromarginal teeth; one of the retromarginal teeth is long and near the base of the fang, and may be homologous to the apophyses cited under C. zabkai and C. uzet . Palpus ( Figs 83–84 ): embolus short, hidden. The median apophysis is distinct though smaller than in the other two species. There is a flange near the median apophysis that may be the conductor. Tibia of first leg with no ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with 4 pairs. Carapace relatively flat, PME small and medially displaced. Colour ( Fig. 67 ): carapace dark brown to black, paler centrally, with thin golden setae in ocular area. Legs pale to medium brown with first leg darker. Abdomen black with white chevrons dorsally, flanked by a longitudinal white stripe and two spots on each side. The tip of the posterior spinnerets is white.

Female (paratype, UBC–SEM AR00027). Carapace length 1.6; abdomen length 2.1. Chelicerae: at least three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Palp without tarsal claw, or if present then highly reduced. Tibia of first leg with no ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with 4 pairs. Epigynum ( Figs 85–86 ) with much shorter ducts than in the other two species, corresponding to the shorter embolus. Carapace relatively flat, PME small and medially displaced. Colour ( Fig. 66 ): carapace dark brown to black. Legs pale to dark brown; base of first tibia distinctly paler. Abdomen brown with central paler chevrons.

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 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.