Tara gratiosa ( Rainbow, 1920 ) Rainbow, 1920

Richardson, Barry J., 2016, New genera, new species and redescriptions of Australian jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 4114 (5), pp. 501-560 : 549-550

Tara gratiosa ( Rainbow, 1920) comb. nov.

Figs 199–214 , 16

Clynotis gratiosus Rainbow, 1920 . 266, pl. XXXI, figs 110–113. Tara gratiosa — Żabka, 1991b: 56 (unpublished thesis).

Type material. Syntypes: 1M, 1F, summit of Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia ( SAMA I.11543, NN 289 & NN 290).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES, Lord Howe Island: 1M, Station 17, 400 m up creek from North Beach, 159.03°W, 31.52°S, 2 Jan. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21135); 1F, Station 32, trail on NW face of North Hummock, 159.07°W, 31.53S, 2 Jun. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21136); 1 imm., Station 4–5, North Bay, 159.08°W, 31.55S, 31 Jan. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS21134); 1F, 159.08°W, 31.55°S, Dec. 1915, A.M. Lea ( SAM NN 290); 1M, Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21140); 1F, Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21141); 1F, Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21142); 1 imm., Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21143); 1F, Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M.

Gray, (AMS KS 21144); 1 imm., Mount Gower the summit, 159.08°W, 31.58°S, (AMS KS 9536); 1F, Station 45, NE area of Mount Gower summit, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21139); 1F, Station 44, overlooking The Saddle to NE, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb. 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21138); 1F, Station 44, overlooking The Saddle to NE, 159.07°W, 31.58°S, 15 Feb, 1971, M. Gray (AMS KS 21137).

Remarks. Żabka (1991b) suggested that this species be transferred to Tara , but without any explanation. Examination of the material showed he was correct. They are very small fissident spiders similar in style and general morphology to other Tara species. As the original description of the species is poor, the types are redescribed here. Because of its very fragile condition, the epigyne of another specimen, not the female syntype was dissected.

Diagnosis. A small species (6mm), very similar to Tara anomala in male form ( Figs 199–202 ; Żabka (1987). Can be separated by the very short length of the tibial apophysis and the longer embolus that curves slightly in a clockwise direction. The embolus projects distally from the anterior edge of the tegulum rather than on the midline seen in T. anomala . The information on T. parvula is so scanty as to make comparison impossible. Final decisions on the specific status of these and other, undescribed, forms within Tara should await a thorough taxonomic revision.

Description. Male: Syntype. A small (6mm) spider ( Figs 199–202 ). Cephalothorax orange/brown, surrounds of ALE, PME and PLE, black. Scattered white hairs along the sides and around the eyes. No evidence of lighter striae on the posterior wall. Cephalothorax ‘triangular’ shaped with enlarged bulbous sides arising immediately behind the anterior eye-line and tapering to the rear, widest opposite the PME. Pars cephalica flat on top. Clypeus orange/brown, narrow, without a fringe of hairs. Chelicerae brown, rounded with the distal face sloping steeply backwards. Two large promarginal teeth and one large ‘unident/fissident’ retromarginal tooth placed close to the distal edge of the chela. This tooth has a serrate edge ( Fig. 213 ); in all other specimens this edge is extended laterally, effectually making the specimens fissident ( Fig. 214 ). Endites and labium brown grading to yellow distally. Sternum brown. Abdomen has a rounded front with parallel sides. Dorsal abdomen dirty brown with darker brown faint patterning ( Fig. 199 , probably very faded). Spinnerets brown. Ventral abdomen dirty brown. L1 orange brown with lighter patella. Remaining legs light brown. Palp ( Figs 207–209 ): Medium brown. Tibia with short, pointed apophysis. Tegulum brown, rounded without lobes. Sperm duct visible along the proximal edge and extends along the lateral and distal edges of the tegulum. Embolus arises from a tapering base with a median shoulder and curves slightly in a clockwise direction. Separate conductor behind the embolus. Dimensions: CL 2.17, EFL 0.93, CW 1.1, AEW 1.30, AMEW 0.77, PEW 1.36, AL 4.12, P1+T1 1.98: L1 4.46 (1.42 + 0.93 + 0.99 + 0.62 + 0.50), L2 3.03 (0.99 + 0.56 + 0.62 + 0.50 + 0.37), L3 2.60 (0.93 + 0.43 + 0.50 + 0.43 + 0.31), L4 3.47 (1.18 + 0.68 + 0.68 + 0.56 + 0.37).

Female: Syntype. Small spider ( Figs 203–206 ). Cephalothorax orange/brown, surrounds of ALE, PME and PLE, black. Scattered white hairs along the sides and around the eyes. No evidence of lighter striae on the posterior wall, though a scattering of white hairs. Cephalothorax ‘rectangular’ shaped without enlarged bulbous sides seen in the male, widest behind PLE. Pars cephalica slightly curved on top. Clypeus orange/brown, narrow, with a fringe of white hairs. Chelicerae brown, rounded with the distal face sloping steeply backwards. Two promarginal teeth ( Fig. 205 ) and one large unident retromarginal tooth with well-developed shoulders on either side, placed close to the distal edge of the chela. Endites and labium brown grading to yellow distally. Sternum brown. Abdomen ovate. Dorsal abdomen dirty brown with darker brown faint patterning ( Fig. 203 , probably very faded). Spinnerets brown. Ventral abdomen dirty brown with a pair of darker longitudinal stripes. Legs light brown. Epigyne ( Figs 210–212 ): The atria consist of only a pair of hook shaped guides with the entrances to the insemination ducts at the distal ends. Insemination ducts moves posteriorly, opening into the anterior edge of the rounded spermatheca. Large diverticula arise on the anterior edge of the spermatheca move horizontally to the midline and them posteriorly, ending towards the rear of the spermatheca. A presumed short fertilization duct arises laterally to the insemination duct. This short duct has a lumen opening at the end while there is no evidence of a duct arising from the diverticulum. A crystalline mass occurs on the midline posterior to the ends of the diverticula. It occurs in all specimens examined. Dimensions: CL 2.04, EFL 0.87, CW 1.49, AEW 1.24, AMEW 0.80, PEW 1.36, AL 3.03, P1+T1 1.73: L1 3.96 (1.24 + 0.74 + 0.93 + 0.62 + 0.43), L2 3.03 (0.99 + 0.62 + 0.62 + 0.43 + 0.37), L3 2.72 (0.93 + 0.37 + 0.50 + 0.56 + 0.37), L4 3.10 (0.99 + 0.56 + 0.68 + 0.43 + 0.43).

Distribution and biology. Widespread in litter across Lord Howe Island ( Fig. 16 ).

Figures

FIGURES 199 – 206. Tara gratiosa comb. nov., syntypes. 199 – 202 male (199 dorsal view, 200 lateral view, 201 ventral view, 202 anterior view); 203 – 206 female (203 dorsal view, 204 lateral view, 205 ventral view, 206 anterior view). Scale: male 2 mm, female 1 mm.

FIGURES 207 – 214. Tara gratiosa comb. nov. 207 – 209 syntype left male palp (207 prolateral view, 208 ventral view, 209 retrolateral view), 210 – 212 female genitalia (210 dorsal view, 211 ventral view, 212 syntype, ventral view); 213 – 214 view of male retromarginal tooth (213, another male 214). Scale: palp 0.5 mm, epigyne 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 16. Ancepitilobus howensis sp. nov. 9 – 11 left male palp, holotype (9 prolateral view, 10 ventral view, 11 retrolateral view); 12 – 15 female genitalia, paratype (12 dorsal view, 13 cleared, dorsal view, 14 ventral view, 15 ventral view); 16 map showing similar distributions of Ancepitilobus howensis, Trite grayi and Tara gratiosa comb. nov. Scale: 0.2 mm.