Carrhotus Thorell, 1891

Satkunanathan, Abira & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2022, Phylogenetic placement of Carrhotus Thorell, 1891 with three new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 817 (1), pp. 78-110 : 84-85

Genus Carrhotus Thorell, 1891

Type species

Plexippus viduus C.L. Koch, 1846 .

Diagnosis

Carrhotus can be readily distinguished from other salticid genera by the combination of the following characteristics: RTA stout, tegulum with at least a retrolateral and/or proximal lobe, embolus broadbased, tip mostly stout ( Figs 6E–F , 7A–B , 8C–D , 9A–B , 11E–H , 12A–B , 13E–F , 14A–B , 15E–F , 16A–B ) (C.L. Koch 1846; Simon 1902; Jastrzebski 1999; Caleb et al. 2020: 58, Figs 33–56). Females can be distinguished by the distinctive accessory glands on the external spermathecal walls and well sclerotized FD ( Figs 4A–B , 7C–D , 12C–D, 12C–D , 14C–D , 16C–D ). Spermatheca one chambered, oval to kidney-shaped (C.L. Koch 1846; Simon 1902; Jastrzebski 1999; Caleb et al. 2020: 58, Figs 33–56).

Description

Medium sized spiders. Cephalothorax longer than wide, eye field shorter than 50% of total cephalothorax length. PME mid-way between anterior and posterior laterals. Abdomen egg-shaped, beige to brown with a lighter pattern. Chelicerae unident with 2 promarginal teeth and 1 retromarginal tooth. RTA not prominent; cymbium in some species with apical process; tegulum oval, expands beyond apical border of tibia (PLP); embolus stout, set laterally on top of tegulum, wider base. Female epigyne moderately sclerotized, strongly haired. CD well sclerotized, straight, curved or coiled. Spermatheca one-chambered, oval to kidney-shaped. FD is well sclerotized. Accessory glands on external spermathecal walls. Legs I and II robust with scopulae, III and IV more delicate. Hairs and bristles blackish. Leg formula: 1-2-4-3 ( Jastrzebski 1999).

Distribution

Bhutan, Borneo, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, India, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Turkey, Vietnam, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, South Africa ( World Spider Catalog 2022).

Composition in Sri Lanka

Currently, the genus consists of 33 species worldwide [for a full list see World Spider Catalog (2022)]. The following species are now recorded from Sri Lanka: Carrhotus atratus sp. nov., C. albosetosus sp. nov., C. lobatus sp. nov., C. silanthi Caleb, 2020 , C. taprobanicus Simon, 1902 and C. viduus C.L. Koch, 1846 . Carrhotus silanthi and C. viduus are also known from India.

Figures

Fig 4. Carrhotus albosetosus sp. nov. A. Epigynum, ventral view. B. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AG = accessory gland; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilization duct; S = spermatheca. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig 6. Carrhotus atratus sp. nov. A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Female habitus.C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E–F. Palp. E. Ventral view. F. Retrolateral view. G. Epigynum. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: A–D = 2 mm; E–F = 0.2 mm; G = 0.1 mm.

Fig 7. Carrhotus atratus sp. nov. A–B. Palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. C. Epigynum ventral view. D. Vulva dorsal view. Abbreviations: AG = accessory gland; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermatheca; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 0.2 mm; C–D = 0.1 mm.

Fig 8. Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov. A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Palp, C. Ventral view. D. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 2 mm; C–D = 0.2 mm.

Fig 9. Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov., palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig 12. Carrhotus silanthi Caleb, 2020.A–B. Palp.A. Ventral view.B. Retrolateral view.C–D. Epigynum. C. Ventral view. D. Dorsal view. Abbreviations: AG = accessory gland; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermatheca; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 0.2 mm; C–D = 0.1 mm.

Fig 13. Carrhotus taprobanicus Simon, 1902. A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Female habitus. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E–F. Palp. E. Ventral view. F. Retrolateral view. G. Epigynum, ventral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PEB = posterior epigynal border; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–D = 2 mm; E–F = 0.2 mm; G = 0.1 mm.

Fig 14. Carrhotus taprobanicus Simon, 1902. A–B. Palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. C–D. Epigynum. C. Ventral view. D. Dorsal view. Abbreviations: AG = accessory gland; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; PEB = posterior epigynal border; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermatheca; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 0.2 mm; C–D = 0.1 mm.

Fig 15. Carrhotus viduus (C.L. Koch, 1846). A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Female habitus. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E–F. Palp. E. Ventral view. F. Retrolateral view. G. Epigynum, ventral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PEB = posterior epigynal border; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–D = 2 mm; E–F = 0.2 mm; G = 0.1 mm.

Fig 16. Carrhotus viduus (C.L. Koch, 1846). A–B. Palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. C–D. Epigynum.C. Ventral view.D. Dorsal view.Abbreviations:AG = accessory gland; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; ML = mid line; PEB = posterior epigynal border; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermatheca; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 0.2 mm; C–D = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 11. Carrhotus silanthi Caleb, 2020. A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Female habitus. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E–H. Palp. E–F. Ventral view; the arrows showing the embolus tip directed in clockwise (11E) or directed in apical (11F). G–H. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–D = 2 mm; E–H = 0.2 mm.