Eremitarys, Wang & Yu & Zhang, 2024

Wang, Weihang, Yu, Ying & Zhang, Junxia, 2024, On a new genus and twelve new species of jumping spiders from southwestern China (Araneae, Salticidae, Salticinae, Euophryini), Zootaxa 5538 (3), pp. 201-232 : 202

Genus Eremitarys gen. nov. (ŝsea)

Type species. Eremitarys fulva sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the Latin eremita (meaning hermit) and the suffix - rys of the genus Euophrys , referring to the hidden habitat of the spider, and the similarity in the body form with Euophrys . Feminine in gender.

Diagnosis. Male body shape and palp structures resemble those of Euophrys but can be distinguished by the large LTS and the lack of dense long setae on legs I ( Figs 7–10 ). Body appearances of both sexes are closely similar to the members of Euochin , but they can be easily distinguished by: (1) the completely exposed embolic disc; (2) the prominent LTS; (3) the white setae on male palp not clustering into major tuft; (4) the long and highly coiled copulatory ducts. Female epigyne also resembles that of Maileus G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1907 , but the new genus differs in: (1) the absence of white median marking behind the fovea; (2) the single retromarginal tooth of the chelicerae; (3) the copulatory ducts on both sides tangling together.

Description. Small jumping spiders (total length 3.07–3.25 in males; 3.30–3.52 in females). Body compact, tawny-colored. Chelicera with two promarginal teeth and a single retromarginal tooth. Tarsal claws each with several teeth ventrally. Embolic disc exposed, located prolaterally on the tegulum. Embolic tip simply tubular, rising from the plane of the embolic disc. RTA strong, finger-like. Copulatory ducts asymmetric in tracks on both sides. Spermathecae kidney-shaped.

Natural history. The only known species dwells in leaf litter of western Yunnan above 1900 meters in elevation, usually overlapping with species of Euochin at lower elevations.

Remark. Preliminary unpublished molecular phylogenetic results from ultra-conserved elements also indicate Eremitarys gen. nov. is distinct from other relevant euophryine genera, i.e. Euophrys , Euochin , Featheroides , Logunattus , Spiralembolus and Zabka .

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Figures

FIGURES 7–14. Eremitarys fulva sp. nov., male (7–10) and female (11–14).