Phintelloides alborea, Kanesharatnam, Nilani & P. Benjamin, Suresh, 2019

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & P. Benjamin, Suresh, 2019, Multilocus genetic and morphological phylogenetic analysis reveals a radiation of shiny South Asian jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae), ZooKeys 839, pp. 1-81 : 1

Phintelloides alborea sp. n. Figs 4 A–D, 5 A–E, 6 A–D, 7 A–D

Type material.

Holotype1♂ (IFS_SAL_436), Sri Lanka, Central Province, Matale District, IFS Arboretum, 188 m, 07°51'34"N, 80°40'28"E, 17-VIII-2012, leg. SP Benjamin et al. Paratype. 1♀ (IFS_SAL_369), same locality as holotype, 07-VII-2013, leg. SP Benjamin and N Athukorala. Other material examined. 1♀ (IFS_SAL_654), Sri Lanka, North Central Province, Anuradapura District, Mihintale Sanctuary, 123 m, 08°21'10.60"N, 80°30'14.54"E, hand collection, 22-VI-2013, leg. I Sandunika. 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL_814-815), same locality and collection data, 14-VI-2016, leg. K Nilani.

Etymology.

The species name a noun in apposition, is derived from the Latin alborem for pale white colour and refers to the pale white spots behind PMEs on the prosoma of males.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguishable from other known congeners by oval LP in males (Figs 5D, 7A), small and rounded spermathecae and shape of copulatory ducts (thin, elongated without coils) in females. This species is closely related to P. jesudasi comb. n. and P. flavumi by the shape of bulbus and RTA (Figs 5D, 15D, 17D); however, female members obviously differs by rounded spermathecae, ‘c’ -shaped CD and comparably broader DDC (Figs 6C, D, G, H, 10C, D). Furthermore, it differs from P. brunne and P. versicolor by its comparably longer embolus and broader ALT, and from P. orbisa and P. flavoviri by the absence of a coiled CD.

Description.

Male. Blackish clypeus with white ‘moustache’ covered with tuft of white hairs (Fig. 4B). Prosoma blackish ornamented with pale yellow band behind AME (Fig. 4A) and slightly broader than abdomen. There are two white blotches in front of PLE in life. Conspicuous, constricted, white diamond-shaped mark behind eye field. Lateral sides of prosoma with white belts (Figs 4A, B). Chelicerae brownish black, covered with white hairs at its base. Yellowish brown prosoma with black patches behind ALE and PLE in preserved specimens. Posterior margin of prosoma rather steep and slightly truncated. Sternum yellowish brown and oval in shape, edges bordered with light brown. Leg I robust than others, leg I and II blackish with white hairs around proximal region of patella, tibia and metatarsus, leg III and IV blackish yellow. Medium sized abdomen, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum with broad blackish grey median band, bordered by pale yellow bands extending longitudinally from anterior to posterior end (Fig. 4A). Ventrum blackish grey in life and yellowish brown in preserved specimens (Fig. 5B). Spinnerets yellow.

Palp covered with pale yellow scales, except for reddish brown cymbium. Cymbium longer and narrower at the distal region and broader at the proximal region. Embolus slender, long immovable on rather broad apical portion of bulbus (Figs 5 C–E, 7A, B). Lamellar process semicircular comparably smaller than in P. flavumi (Figs 5D, 7A). Bulbus longer than wide. Sperm duct is clearly visible at the distal portion of tegulum. Small triangular bump at the retrolateral portion of bulbus. Tegulum with small posterior lobe (Figs 5C, D, 7A). RTA robust and long, nearly half-length of the bulbus, broader at the base, narrower and bent at the tip (Figs 5D, E, 7A, B).

Measurements.TL 4.60, PL 2.20, PW at PLE 1.70, AL 2.24, AW 1.26. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.50, PLE 0.32, ALE 0.27, PME 0.15, PME-PME 1.25, PLE-PLE 0.67, ALE-PME 0.30, ALE-PLE 0.71. Leg I: TR 0.34, FM 2.20, PT 0.90, TB 2.10, MT 1.64, TA 0.76; Leg II: TR 0.25, FM 1.68, PT 0.72, TB 1.40, MT 0.83, TA 0.81; Leg III: TR 0.34, FM 1.92, PT 0.76, TB 1.30, MT 1.22, TA 0.53; Leg IV: TR 0.31, FM 1.86, PT 0.66, TB 1.32, MT 1.54, TA 0.66.

Female. White prosoma decorated with three pairs of large, black patches, surrounding PME, behind PLE and posterior slope of prosoma in life (Figs 4D, 6A). Eye field enclosed with pale yellow scales. AME blackish brown covered with white and yellowish scales in the anterior and posterior portions respectively. Clypeus covered with dense white scales (Fig. 4C). Chelicerae unidentate, pale brown. In alcohol-preserved specimen, carapace yellow with faded black patches. Sternum yellow and pentagonal in shape (Fig. 6B).

Abdomen pale yellow and elliptically shaped, longer and narrower than prosoma. Dorsum with two lateral greenish black stripes extending longitudinally along the length of the abdomen (Figs 4D, 6A). Ventrum enclosed with white scales, no markings in live specimens (Fig. 4D). Spinnerets pale yellow. Legs glassy pale yellow.

Epigynum moderately sclerotised. CO projecting laterally outwards (Fig. 6D). Copulatory ducts diverge initially at more than two receptacle diameters and then slightly curved inward to form DDC leading to CO (Figs 6C, D, 7C, D). Spermathecae comparably small, rounded and both receptacles placed closely to each other (Figs 6C, D, 7C, D). FD lanceolate, originating from apical wall of receptacles (Figs 6D, 7D). PEB rather broad with shallow median indentation.

Measurements.TL 4.82, PL 2.52, PW at PLE 1.82, AL 2.35, AW 1.38. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.51, PLE 0.30, ALE 0.27, PME 0.15, PME-PME 1.20, PLE-PLE 0.67, ALE-PME 0.33, ALE-PLE 0.68. Leg I: TR 0.27, FM 2.22, PT 1.00, TB 1.79, MT 1.60, TA 0.71; Leg II: TR 0.28, FM 1.62, PT 0.75, TB 1.40, MT 0.84, TA 0.80; Leg III: TR 0.32, FM 1.80, PT 0.77, TB 1.25, MT 1.22, TA 0.54; Leg IV: TR 0.30, FM 1.78, PT 0.67, TB 1.27, MT 1.51, TA 0.66.

Distribution.

This species is known only from Sri Lanka.