Mashonarus davidi, Caleb, Mungkung & Mathai, 2015

Caleb, John T. D., Mungkung, Soriephy & Mathai, Manu Thomas, 2015, Four new species of jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae: Aelurillinae) with the description of a new genus from South India, Peckhamia 124 (1), pp. 1-18 : 5-6

Mashonarus davidi sp. nov. Caleb, Mungkung & Mathai

( Figs. 16-25 )

Holotype. Male , scrub jungle regions, Madras Christian College, Tamil Nadu, India (12°91′75.65″ N, 80°12′29.64″ E, 32m, 4 OCT 2014, coll. Soreiphy Mungkung and John Caleb T.D., NCBS-QA483).

Etymology. Specific epithet is a patronym after the first author’s father, Thathapudi David.

Diagnosis. Species differs from other congeners in having comparatively shorter and thicker RTA. Pedipalps dark, devoid of any white hairs on the cymbium ( Figs. 18, 19 , 22, 23 ). Abdominal pattern unique, with two median white spots, one placed on the centre, other placed posteriorly, near the spinnerets. Outer margin of abdomen lined by white patch of hairs, with two emerging spots laterally in line with the median spot ( Figs. 16 , 20 ).

Description of male. Total length 7.8; carapace 4.0 long, 2.9 wide; abdomen 3.8 long, 2.1 wide. Cephalothorax dark with brownish anterior region ( Fig. 16 ). Anterior eyes surrounded by reddish brown hairs, clypeus filled with light brownish hairs ( Figs. 18, 19 ). Short white patch extends from beside the PLE and ends near the slope. Broad white patches line the outer margins of the carapace. Chelicerae blackish, unidentate. Sternum oval, lined by pale hairs ( Fig. 21 ). Legs dark, covered with numerous hairs and spines. Proximal region of femur, patella, tibia, tarsus and mid region of metatarsus on Leg II, III, IV with white hairs dorsally ( Fig. 16 ). Abdomen elongate, almost oval, with a median white spot middorsally and another spot posteriorly near spinnerets. Two white spots emerge from mid-lateral region in line with mid-dorsal spot. White hairs marginally surround abdomen ( Figs. 16, 17 , 20 ). Spinnerets dark ( Fig. 16 ). Palp dark, white hairs cover the tibia, patella and femur ( Figs. 18, 19 ).

Distribution. Chennai, India.

view. Scale bars 1 mm.

Figures

Figures 16-17. Male Mashonarus davidi sp.nov. 16, Dorsal view. 17, Lateral view.

Figures 18-21. Male Mashonarus davidi sp.nov. 18-19, Front view. 20, Dorsal view. 21, Ventral

Figures 22-25. Left male palp, Mashonarus davidi sp.nov. 22, Ventral view. 23, Retrolateral view. 24, Ventral view. 25, Retrolateral view. Scale bars 0.1 mm.