Soesiladeepakius, MAKHAN, 2007

Ruiz, Gustavo R. S. & Maddison, Wayne P., 2012, DNA sequences corroborate Soesiladeepakius as a non-salticoid genus of jumping spiders: placement with lapsiines, phylogeny, and description of six new species (Araneae, Salticidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165 (2), pp. 274-295 : 278-279

GENUS SOESILADEEPAKIUS MAKHAN, 2007

Soesiladeepakius Makhan, 2007: 1 (type species: Soesiladeepakius aschnae Makhan, 2007 ).

N.B.: In its original description ( Makhan, 2007), the genus is briefly presented and wrongly believed to be related to the genus Thiodina Simon , a true salticoid placed within the Amycoida clade (e.g. Maddison et al., 2008). The description of the type species, S. aschnae Makhan from Suriname, is also poor, especially concerning illustrations, and is in need of redescription. Several attempts towards examining the type specimens have not been successful. Nevertheless, some features visible in the illustrations confirm the relationship of the species described here with S. aschnae , in particular the cheliceral teeth, femoral apophysis on male palp, spikes on the base of embolus, and front eye row much wider than the posterior.

Diagnosis: Species of this genus can be easily recognized as non-salticoids by the presence of palpal claws in females; amongst the Neotropical non-salticoids, they can be recognized by the fringe of white scales on the dorsal surface of male palpal femora ( Fig. 1 ) and copulation openings located anteriorly on the sides of the female abdomen, closer to the pedicel ( Figs 29– 30 ), as well as the elongate ventral spines on front legs in both sexes ( Fig. 9 ). Compared to other lapsiines, they are small, relatively flat, and the only known leaf litter dwellers.

Description: Small, yellowish jumping spiders with slightly flattened carapace living on litter of the Amazonian rain forest ( Fig. 53 ). Carapace widest at posterior eye row ( Fig. 3 , as in Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov. and Soesiladeepakius retroversus sp. nov.) or narrower than anterior eye row ( Fig. 19 , other species). Salticoid eye pattern. Black rings around eyes very conspicuous. Chelicera small and vertical in both sexes, with three promarginal and two retromarginal teeth ( Fig. 5 ). No medial mound on chelicerae. Palpal femur with a ventral depression; retrolaterally smooth or with apophyses. RTA very long ( S. lyra sp. nov. and S. retroversus sp. nov.), medium sized ( Soesiladeepakius arthrostylus sp. nov.), or very reduced (other species). Tegulum globular (as in S. arthrostylus sp. nov., S. lyra sp. nov. and S. retroversus sp. nov.) or flattened (the other species). Embolus varying from short to long, with acute apophyses related to its base. The species lack the articulated median apophysis typical of lapsiines, but in at least some species ( S. lyra , S. retroversus ) there is an apophysis arising from the tegulum that could reasonably be interpreted as the median apophysis, insofar as it is placed at the pre-embolic loop of the sperm duct, which is the location of the median apophysis in other lapsiines. Other Soesiladeepakius species have various tegular apophyses of which one could be the median apophyses, but their topographical placements are not clear. Tuft of sensitive hairs on prolateral cymbium in both sexes. Females with palpal claw ( Fig. 6 ). No projection on male endites. Sternum drop shaped, very wide, narrowest posteriorly ( Fig. 20 ). Strong ventral spines on leg I in both sexes ( Fig. 5 ). Other leg spines mostly absent or very reduced. Tarsi with large, slightly asymmetrical tarsal claws ( Figs 7–8 ). Dorsal abdomen totally covered by a large scutum in males ( Figs 3 , 19 ). Epigynum with anterior lateral openings, longitudinal copulatory ducts extending posteriorly, converging at the posterior border, where small spermathecae are located ( Figs 14–15 ).

Biology: Ground dwellers living in Neotropical rainforests in which humidity nears 100% and litter is high ( Fig. S1 ). Further information is only known for S. lyra , as follows. While moving, males and females alternate between stationary phases, in which they wave front legs up and down, and rapid forward walking phases; jumps are rare. Females take care of eggs laid on the convex side of fallen sheathing leaf bases (and probably on the central nerve of large leaves fallen upside down) ( Fig. S2 ); eggs are not fixed tight to each other by silk for protection, as seen in salticoids; instead, they stay loose in a very thin and translucent egg sac, similar to that seen, for instance, in species of Lyssomanes ; number of eggs varies from 15 to 18 (N = 2).

Figures

Figure 53. Map of the Amazonian region showing species records.

Figure 1–2. Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov. 1, male. 2, female. Photos: G. R. S. Ruiz.

Figure 29–32. Soesiladeepakius gasnieri sp. nov., female. 29, ventral view. 30, lateral view. 31, epigyne, ventral view. 32, dorsal view, clarified.

Figure 5–9. Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov., female. 5, chelicera, retrolateral view. 6, palpal claw. 7, prolateral tarsal claw. 8, retrolateral tarsal claw. 9, long spines on ventral tibia I and metatarsus I.

Figure 3–4. Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov., male. 3, dorsal view. 4, lateral view.

Figure 19–21. Soesiladeepakius gasnieri sp. nov. 19, male, dorsal view. 20, ventral view. 21, lateral view.

Figure 10–15. Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov. 10, left male palp, ventral view. 11, retrolateral view. 12, bulb, clarified, ventral view. 13, prolateral view. 14, female epigyne, ventral view. 15, dorsal view, clarified. ma?, putative median apophysis.