Cucudeta uzet, 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

Cucudeta uzet new species

( Figs 64–65 , 70–71 , 79–82 )

Type material. Holotype male in UBC – SEM with labels: " PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Southern Highlands Province: Umgé. S 5.304 E 142.512. elev. 1450 m a.s.l. 15–19 July 2008. W. Maddison & Aislan Tama Wanakipa Indiaf. WPM#08–013.", " Cucudeta uzet Maddison , Holotype ", and " UBC – SEM AR 00022". Paratypes: 1 male, 4 females and 1 juvenile.

Etymology. In the language of the Hewa people, " uzet " is used to refer to the locally higher elevation areas (above 1300 m a.s.l.), which include the type locality of this species. The direct translation of " uzet " is "very cold". " Uzet " represents the pronunciation as interpreted by me on hearing the word spoken; Vollrath (1985) lists the word as having the phonemes /'wisεtε/.

Diagnosis. Males have six paired white spots on the anterior dorsal surface of the opisthosoma, as well as other spots laterally and posteriorly ( Fig. 65 ). The embolus is more coiled than in C. zabkai , twice around ( Fig. 79 ). Epigynum with distinctive pockets just lateral to each opening ( Fig. 81 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace length 1.5; abdomen length 1.4. Chelicerae: as in C. zabkai , there are sharp apophyses at both the promarginal and retromarginal sides of the base of the fang, but the retrolateral apophysis is bifid. Palpus ( Figs 79–80 ) distinctly larger than that of the other Cucudeta species (see Fig. 65 ). Embolus a long and thin 720° spiral, looping twice in front of and behind the bulb, ending near the tip of the median apophysis. Median apophysis prominent. Conductor apparently absent. Tibia of first leg with no ventral macrosetae; first metatarsus with 4 pairs. Carapace relatively flat, PME small and medially displaced. Colour ( Fig. 65 ): carapace dark brown and black, in alcohol diffusely paler near fovea, which is not clearly visible. Reflective scales in ocular region. Palpi black, with reflective scales. Legs pale brown except for first femur which is darker. Abdomen black with reflective scales, and ten small but prominent white spots dorsally ( Fig. 65 ): three pairs in the region of the heart and two pairs more posterior and lateral. An eleventh white spot is made by white setae on the tip of the posterior spinnerets.

Female (paratype, UBC–SEM AR00023). Carapace length 1.7; abdomen length 2.1. Chelicerae: at least two promarginal and at least three 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. Epigynum ( Figs 81–82 ): openings along back margin overhanging epigastric furrow, flanked by pockets. Carapace relatively flat, PME small and medially displaced. Colour ( Fig. 64 ): carapace dark brown to black, paler in foveal area. Legs orange to brown. 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.