Stenaelurillus feral Tripathi, Kuni & Kadam sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8E1CC80B-0148-40FB-B7A0-8C76479655BA

Figs 1–2, 15A, 16

Common name: Feral jumping spider

Diagnosis

Stenaelurillus feral sp. nov. differs from other species of Stenaelurillus in having a long blade-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis with its tip bent prolaterally and serrated inner margin. Stenaelurillus feral sp. nov. is most similar to S. tettu Logunov, 2020 in having ventral tibial apophysis situated prolaterally, but retrolateral tibial apophysis without serrated inner margin and with blunt tip in latter species (compare Figs 1E–F, 2A, D and Logunov 2020: fig. 23).

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the acronym ‘FERAL’, the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning campus, from where the specimen was collected.

Type material

Holotype INDIA • ♂; Tamil Nadu, Villupuram, Morattandi, Auroville Post, FERAL Campus; 11°58′53.2″ N, 79°46′52.3″ E; 42 m alt.; 7 Jul. 2022; R. Tripathi leg.; from ground, by hand; NRC-AA-6951.

Description

Male (holotype, Figs 1–2)

Measurements: Body length 4.38. Carapace length 2.24, width 1.62. Abdomen length 2.13, width 1.44. Ocular area length 0.78, width 1.42. Eye diameters: AME 0.38, ALE 0.24, PME 0.07, PLE 0.25. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 1.24, ALE–ALE 0.90, PME–PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 1.13, ALE–PME 0.29, ALE–PLE 0.52. Length of chelicera 0.51. Clypeus 0.21. Sternum 0.87 long, 0.51 wide. Endite 0.24 long, 0.27 wide. Labium 0.13 long, 0.23 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.42 [0.48, 0.23, 0.14, 0.57], leg I 3.11 [0.99, 0.44, 0.71, 0.50, 0.47], II 2.92 [0.97, 0.38, 0.63, 0.49, 0.45], III 4.55 [1.42, 0.52, 1.05, 1.06, 0.50], IV 4.41 [1.30, 0.43, 0.97, 1.16, 0.55]. Leg formula: 3412. Setation. Palp: spineless; Legs: femora I and IV pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III pld 2 do 5 rld 1; patella I pld 1, II–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I pl 2 pld 1 plv 1 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 2, II pld 1 pl 2 plv 2 rld 1 rlv 2, III pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 1, IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 1 rld 2 rlv 1; metatarsus I pl 1 pld 1 plv 2 rld 1 rl 2 rlv 2, II pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Carapace blackish-brown with white marginal bands of nearly uniform thickness; thoracic region dorsally with paired white longitudinal bands fairly extending back from the ALE (Fig. 1A). Eye field with recumbent black flattened setae that reflects in alcohol; ALEs encircled by tiny rusty brown setae; anterior margin of eye field with thick setae (Fig. 1C–D). Chelicerae small, yellowish brown, anteriorly with long black setae. Sternum oviform; labium, maxillae and sternum pale brownish. Legs robust, pale brown; III–IV with longitudinal bands of black setae. Abdomen shield-shaped, anterior edge with long intermixed black and white setae; 2 pairs of symmetric white spots (one pair of large spot on the anterior half and other one pair in same lateral axis but small) and one large posteriorly; anterior half of dorsum covered with a transverse inconspicuous wide white band followed by a brownish W-shaped pattern (Fig. 1A). Sides densely covered by pale yellow setae; venter light yellow, with scattered black speckles (Fig. 1B). Palp (Figs 1E–F, 2): segments yellowish brown, darker embolus and RTA (Fig. 2A); femur without ventral process; VTA present, triangular, prolaterally located directed 10 o’clock ventrally (Figs 1E, 2A); RTA long, wide, serrated from inner margin, blade-shaped, directed 1 o’clock retrolaterally in ventral view (Figs 1E–F, 2D); cymbium elongated, 1.6 times longer than wide (Figs 1E, 2A); DP wide and obtuse, as long as embolus (Figs 1E–F, 2A–B); PP well-developed, long, bent prolaterally (Figs 1E–F, 2E); embolus with sharp curve, directed retrolaterally (Figs 1E, 2A, C).

Female

Unknown.

Habitat

Stenaelurillus feral sp. nov. was found within a tropical dry evergreen forest habitat, specifically on dried leaf litter in a grassy patch (Fig. 15A). The habitat is located in close proximity to the sea and experiences a moderate climate with slightly higher humidity.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India.