SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841

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 : 2771-2772

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2020.1869335

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:09916E07-5979-4EFF-86C4-43BDA2FC9EC2

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4E6987FB-7738-FFFC-F3A3-FB9EDCFD6843

treatment provided by

Marcus

scientific name

SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841
status

 

Subfamily SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841

Clade Salticoida Maddison & Hedin, 2003 Clade Saltafresia Bodner & Maddison, 2012 Clade Simonida Maddison, 2015 Tribe Plexippini Simon, 1901 Subtribe Plexippina Simon, 1901

Genus Colopsus Simon, 1902 View in CoL

Colopsus Simon, 1902 View in CoL . Type species: Colopsus cancellatus Simon, 1902: 409–410 View in CoL by original designation. Gender masculine.

Evarcha View in CoL (in part) Prószyński 1984.

Evacin (in part) Prószyński 2018.

Remarks

Colopsus was described as a monotypic genus by Simon (1902) based on material from Sri Lanka. Prószyński (1984) letter synonymised Colopsus with Evarcha : at that time no specific characters unifying species of Colopsus with that of Evarcha or any other scientific argumentation justifying the act were provided. Further, the Sri Lankan species was never studied in any detail except for a few drawings of the original type series. Aggravating the situation Prószyński (2018) placed C. Cancellatus in his new genus Evacin with more than 21 other species not related in any way to each other.

The differential diagnosis of Evacin directs the reader to a series of images leaving room to misinterpretation. The description, based on Evacin kochi , the type species that bear the designated homologies of the genus, does not tally with that of the type species of Colopsus , C. cancellatus . The type and other species of Colopsus , cannot be considered to be part of the most inclusive clade that included the type of Evacin. Also see Blick and Marusik (2018) and WSC ( World Spider Catalog 2020).

Diagnosis

Species of Colopsus are colour dimorphic. Males of this genus are distinguishable by the metallic green colouration of the anterior half of the body, this colour pattern tapers and is surrounded by ferrous red colouration, towards the anterior body. Females are yellowbrown, with a prominent central yellow-brown central band on the opisthosoma ( Figures 3 View Figure 3 (a–d), Figures 10 View Figure 10 (a–b, h–j), Figures 12 View Figure 12 (a–d)). The palpal tibia is longer than the bulbus, and in some cases is even longer than the cymbium; in most other species of Evarcha the palpal tibia is shorter than the bulbus/cymbium. A simple oval or rounded bulb ( Figures 4 View Figure 4 (c,e), Figures 9 View Figure 9 (c,e), Figures 13 View Figure 13 (d), Figures 16 View Figure 16 (c, e) with/without posterior lobe and thread– like or dagger–like embolus ( Figure 8 View Figure 8 (d) are characteristic of males. A large, membranous ‘window’ and epigynal plate with two lateral pockets ( Figures 5 View Figure 5 (c,d,h,i), Figures 14 View Figure 14 (c,d), multi-chambered spermathecae ( Figures 5 View Figure 5 (e, j), Figures 14 View Figure 14 (e) are characteristic in females.

Description

Medium to large spiders, size ranging from 6 to 13 mm in length. Prosoma high, longer than wide, colouration from metallic brownish green to dark brown. Horn like tuft of long, curved black bristles between ALE and PLE. Ocular area darker than carapace and rather elevated. Comparably narrower clypeus often covered with stiff pale white bristles. Chelicerae black covered with stiff white bristles. Sternum oval. Simple male palp with oval or rounded bulbus ( Figures 4 View Figure 4 (c,e), Figures 11 View Figure 11 (c,e), Figures 13 View Figure 13 (d), Figures 16 View Figure 16 (c,e)) with/without posterior lobe. Embolus filiform or dagger–like and size ranging from short to long bent towards the bulbus ( Figures 4 View Figure 4 (c,e), Figures 11 View Figure 11 (c,e), Figures 13 View Figure 13 (d), Figures 16 View Figure 16 (c,e)). Sperm duct not meandering decreasing in size from distal to proximal tegulum. RTA single, arising from broader base and ending in a pointed tip without bifurcation ( Figures 4 View Figure 4 (c,e,f), Figures 8 View Figure 8 (d,e), Figures 11 View Figure 11 (c,e,f), Figures 13 View Figure 13 (d,e), Figures 16 View Figure 16 (c,e,f)). Palpal tibia long. Epigyne with posterior transverse plate with two lateral pockets ( Figures 5 View Figure 5 (c,d,h,i), Figures 14 View Figure 14 (c,d)) at epigastric furrow. A pair of membranous window in front of the posterior epigynal plate. Spermathecae multi– chambered and highly sclerotised ( Figures 5 View Figure 5 (e, j), Figures 14 View Figure 14 (e)).

Composition

Currently five species, Colopsus cancellatus , C. cinereus sp. nov., C. ferruginus sp. nov., C. magnus sp. nov. and C. tenuis sp. nov. All are endemic to Sri Lanka. More species should be expected to occur in India.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Salticidae

Loc

SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P. 2021
2021
Loc

Colopsus

Simon E 1902: 410
1902
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