Prostheclina Keyserling, 1882

Richardson, Barry J., 2022, Additions to the euophryine jumping spider fauna (Araneae: Salticidae) of Australia, Zootaxa 5141 (3), pp. 249-269 : 263-264

Prostheclina Keyserling, 1882

Prostheclina Keyserling, 1882: 1368 .

Saitis - Simon (part) 1901: 558.

Prostheclina - Davies & Żabka 1989: 238; Richardson & Żabka 2007: 82 .

Type species. Prostheclina pallida Keyserling, 1882 , by monotypy.

Remarks. This genus was revised by Richardson & Żabka (2007). It includes seven described species. For one species, Prostheclina boreoaitha Richardson and Żabka, 2007 , only the male was described. The female is described here and the female key updated to include this species.

Key: Females

1. Insemination duct entrance anterior to spermatheca and insemination duct forms a median loop beside the spermatheca.... 2

– Insemination duct entrance beside spermatheca, and insemination duct with no median loop beside the spermatheca...... 3

2. Copulatory openings sclerotised and separated by less than the width across the spermathecae... P. boreoaitha ( Figs 61–67 )

– Copulatory openings not sclerotised and separated by more than the width across the spermathecae......... P. basilonessa

3. Left insemination duct (in ventral view) makes a full clockwise spiral coil prior to joining spermatheca................. 4

– Left seminal duct joins directly to spermatheca without following a spiral path................................... 5

4. Spermatheca round with the spiral in the seminal duct visible anterior to the spermatheca (in ventral view)...... P. eungella

– Spermatheca pear-shaped with spiral in the seminal duct hidden under the spermatheca (in ventral view)....... P. amplior

5. Cephalothorax length> 2.1mm, seminal duct relatively long and forming ‘S’ bends before joining spermatheca.. P. bulburin

– Cephalothorax length <2.1mm, seminal duct relative short and directly (no ‘S’ bends) joining spermatheca.............. 6

6. Spermatheca narrow, longitudinal extension of the seminal duct, found from southern Queensland to South Australia ................................................................................................... P. pallida

– Copulatory openings well in advance of the spermathecae, strongly sclerotised and separated by less than the width across the pair of spermathecae....................................................................... P. boreoxantha

Key: Males (Taken from Richardson & Zabka (2007); F=femur, T=tibia, M=metatarsus)

1. Chelicera and clupeus mid- to dark brown coloured.......................................................... 2

– Chelicera and clupeus yellow or orange, occasionally with dark markings........................................ 3

2. M1 and T 1 fringed, F1 with brown and yellow patches, occasionally almost entirely brown, legs, F2–4 yellow/orange... P. amplior

– M1 and T1 not fringed, F1-4 dark brown........................................................ P. boreoaitha

3. Clupeus with orange or white fringe...................................................................... 4

– Clupeus without orange or white fringe................................................................... 5

4. F1 orange with strong double fringe on M1, body length> 4.5mm, central Queensland M1 with sparse or no fringe, T1 yellow, from central Queensland ....................................................................... P. eungella

– F1 yellow with single fringe varying from almost absent to strong, body length 3.5–5, southern Queensland to South Australia ........................................................................................... 5

5. T1 with thick double fringe.................................................................. P. boreoxantha

– T1 with sparse or no fringe............................................................................. 6

6. M1 with double fringe, T1 orange, from King Island and SW Victoria .................................. P. basilonessa

– M1 with sparse or no fringe, T1 yellow, from central Queensland ....................................... P. eungella

Figures

FIGURES 61–67. Prostheclina boreoaitha (42 001564), (female; 61 dorsal, 62 ventral, 63 lateral, 64 anterior, 65 external epigyne; semi-diagrammatic, dissected and cleared epigyne, 66 ventral view); 67 distribution map. Scale: 0.2mm.