Evarcha latus, Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2021

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2021, Phylogenetic relationships and systematics of the jumping spider genus Colopsus with the description of eight new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), Journal of Natural History 54 (43 - 44), pp. 2763-2814 : 2794-2796

Evarcha latus sp. nov.

( Figures 14 (f–j), Figures 15 (e–h), Figures 17 (a–e))

Type material

Holotype, ♂ (IFS_SAL_497), Sri Lanka, Eastern Province, Ampara District , Nilgala FR, 341 m, 07° 15ʹ 39ʺ N, 81° 22ʹ 05ʺ E, 22 January 2013, leg. NP Athukorala.

Other material examined

1♀ (IFS_SAL_236), Sri Lanka, Central Province, Matale District, Dambulla, IFS Arboretum , 180 m, 07° 51ʹ 34ʺ N, 80° 40ʹ 28ʺ E, beating, 28 May 2015, leg . K Nilani . ♀ (IFS_SAL_243), Sri Lanka, Eastern Province, Ampara District, Samangala , 112 m, 07° 24ʹ 38.27ʺ N, 81° 34ʹ 52.38ʺ E, beating, 19 May 2015, leg . NP Athukorala .

Etymology

The species name refers to broad appearance of embolus accompanying the membranous pars pendulum.

Diagnosis

The species is distinguishable from other congeners by the membranous pars pendulum associated with embolus ( Figures 15 (e), Figures 17 (d)), rounded, smooth bulbus, broad RTA with blunt tip ( Figures 15 (e,f), Figures 17 (d,e), tubular spermathecae ( Figures 14 (j), Figures 15 (h)), comparably large, semicircular membranous ‘window’, narrow median septum, two lateral pockets on the posterior epigynal plate, no median depression on posterior epigynal plate ( Figures 14 (h–i), Figures 15 (g)).

Description

Male: Medium sized. In ethanol preserved specimens, dark brown prosoma covered with pale brown blotch behind fovea ( Figure 17 (a). Eye field rather elevated. ALEs, PMES and PLEs covered with black rings. Fovea distinct. Prosoma high and sloping posteriorly. Chelicerae dark brown with brown fangs. Sternum oval with prominent indentation near coxae IV, pale yellow in middle, edges yellowish brown ( Figure 17 (b). Posterior margin of prosoma steep, slightly truncated. Leg I rather robust and elongated with dense black bristles on patella I, tibia I and metatarsus I, all legs yellowish brown.

Abdomen oval, slightly longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum yellowish grey dispersed with dark grey dots ( Figure 17 (a). Ventrum greyish yellow with greyish brown dots arranged in four rows from epigastric furrow to spinnerets ( Figure 17 (b). Spinnerets greyish brown. Measurements: TL 8.45, AL 3.90, AW 2.88, PL 4.16, PW 3.51.

Brown palp. Moderately long cymbium with gradually narrowing distal region. Embolus stout, short originating from inner anterolateral region of the bulbus and partially encircling it ( Figure 15 (e), Figure 17 (d). Embolus associated with welldeveloped membranous pars pendulum ( Figure 15 (e), Figures 17 (d). Rounded, smooth bulbus without any prominent projection. Sperm duct comparably broader at distal end of tegulum, narrower at the posterior tegulum. Palpal tibia comparably short. Moderately long, broad, straight RTA with a blunt tip ( Figure 15 (e–f), 17(d–e).

Female: In ethanol preserved specimens, oval, pale yellow prosoma. Blackish brown eye field rather raised. Long, black tuft of hairs near PMEs ( Figure 14 (f). Chelicerae pale brownish yellow, brown fangs. Sternum oval ( Figure 14 (g). Front pairs of legs slightly enlarged, less strong than in males, all legs pale yellow.

Abdomen slightly longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Pale yellow anterior dorsum decorated with small, black blotches ( Figure 14 (f). Two large and black markings at the posterior abdomen near spinnerets. Ventrum pale yellowish grey with small black blotches at the posterior abdomen ( Figure 14 (g)). Spinnerets blackish yellow. Measurements: TL 5.85, AL 2.86, AW 1.95, PL 2.73, PW 1.69.

Epigynum moderately sclerotised. Large, semicircular membranous ‘window’ at epigastric furrow ( Figures 14 (h,i)), Figures 15 (g)). Narrow median septum ( Figure 17 (c)). Spermathecae highly sclerotised,long, tubular–like ( Figures 14 (j), Figures 15 (h)). Fertilisation ducts lanceolate, originated from anterolateral wall of receptacles ( Figures 14 (j), Figures 15 (h)).Highly sclerotised posterior wall without median depression, two lateral pockets ( Figures 14 (h,i), Figures 15 (g)).

Figures

Figure 14. Colopsus magnus sp. nov. (a–e); (a, b). Female habitus, (a). dorsal view. (b). ventral view. (c–e). Epigynum, (c, d). ventral view. e. dorsal view and Evarcha latus sp. nov. (f–j); f–g. Female habitus, f. dorsal view. g. ventral view. (h–j). Epigynum, (h, i). ventral view. (j). dorsal view. Scale bars: (a, b, f, g) = 2 mm, (c–e, h–j) = 0.1 mm.

Figure 15. Colopsus magnus sp. nov. (a). palp, ventral view; (b). palp, retrolateral view; (c). epigynum, ventral view; (d). vulva, dorsal view and Evarcha latus sp. nov. (e). palp, ventral view; (f). palp, retrolateral view; (g). epigynum, ventral view; h. vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: cyc = cymbial constriction; dcrta = dorsal curve of RTA; (e) = embolus; fd = fertilisation duct; lp = lateral pocket; mw = membranous window; pep = posterior epigynal plate; pp = pars pendulum; rta = retrolateral tibial apophyses; s = spermathecae. sd = sperm duct; t = tegulum; vcrta = ventral curve of rta. Scale bars: (a–b), (e–f) = 0.2 mm, (c, d, g, h) = 0.1 mm.

Figure 17. Evarcha latus sp. nov. (a,b). Male habitus, (a). dorsal view. (b). ventral view. (c–e). Male palp, c. prolateral view. (d). ventral view. (e). retrolateral view. Scale bars: (a,b) = 1 mm, (c–e) = 0.2 mm.