Asceua cingulata ( Simon, 1905 )

Sankaran, Pradeep M., 2023, Taxonomic notes on the ant-eating spider genera Asceua Thorell, 1887 and Cydrela Thorell, 1873 from India, with comment on Indian species of Euryeidon Dankittipakul & Jocqué, 2004 (Araneae: Zodariidae), Zootaxa 5296 (3), pp. 381-405 : 382-389

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5296.3.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B60263A8-DD7F-4D3C-93B5-8C280D6C55B1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7983977
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E87AC-FFBB-0424-FF26-F99A00E4AD08
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Asceua cingulata ( Simon, 1905 )
status

Treatment

Asceua cingulata ( Simon, 1905) View in CoL

Figs 1–6 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 , 17 View FIGURE 17

Suffucia cingulata Simon, 1905: 174 (♀).— Gravely, 1921: 409, fig. 2d (♁ ♀).

Type material. Lectotype (here designated) ♀ GoogleMaps and paralectotypes 2 ♀♀ from INDIA: Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry), 11°56’N 79°48’E, 5 m a.s.l., date unknown, leg. M.M. Maindron, repository MNHN, Paris (AR9978), examined based on photographs. GoogleMaps

Other material examined. INDIA: Andaman Islands: Ross Island, 11°40’N 92°45’E, 41 m a.s.l., 29 March 1911, leg. Paiva: 2 ♀♀ ( NZC-ZSI 2718 /H2). GoogleMaps West Bengal: Hooghly, Serampore, 22°45’N 88°20’E, 9 m a.s.l., July 1919, leg. Drake: 1 ♀ ( NZC-ZSI 2719 /H2). GoogleMaps Tamil Nadu: Chennai (formerly Madras), 13°04’N 80°16’E, 4 m a.s.l., 12 March, leg. Ramuni Menon: 1 ♀ (only prosoma) ( NZC-ZSI 2720 /H2). GoogleMaps Odisha (formerly Orissa): Ganjam, Chilika Lake (= Chilka Lake ), Barkuda Island (formerly part of Madras Presidency), 19°33’N 85°08’E, 13 m a.s.l., 3-19 August 1919, leg. F.H. Gravely: 2 ♁♁, 4 ♀♀ ( NZC-ZSI 2721 /H2). GoogleMaps Kerala: Malappuram, Nilambur, Canolly’s Plot, 11°16’06.17’’N 76°12’22.21’’E, 20 m a.s.l., 16 May 2013, on the ground, by hand, leg. M.S. Pradeep: 3 ♀♀, 1 subadult ♁, 1 juvenile ( ADSH192 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; Ernakulam, Karimpani, Bhoothathankettu Forest Reserve , 10°08’N 76°40’E, 24 m a.s.l., 8 September 2013, on the ground, by hand, leg. M.S. Pradeep: 1 ♀ ( ADSH193 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; Ernakulam, Illithodu , 10°11’55.94’’N 76°33’00.57’’E, 24 m a.s.l., 25 February 2014, on the ground, by hand, leg. M.S. Pradeep: 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀, 1 juvenile ( ADSH194 View Materials ) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males of A. cingulata are closely related to those of A. thrippalurense sp. nov. by the shape of retrolateral, ventral and prolateral tibial apophyses, cymbium with basomedial conical process extending between ventral and retrolateral apophyses and embolus with similar course of running, but can be distinguished by the smaller cymbial retrolateral fold with less modified basoretrolateral extremity (vs. highly modified in A. thrippalurense sp. nov.), anterolateral margin of cymbial fold less prominent (vs. prominent in A. thrippalurense sp. nov.), retrolateral process of conductor directed at 3-o’ clock ventrally and basally acute (vs. 2-o’ clock and basally rounded in A. thrippalurense sp. nov.), median apophysis with long proximal part (vs. short in A. thrippalurense sp. nov.), and embolus with distal loop (vs. absent in A. thrippalurense sp. nov.) (compare Figs 4A–C View FIGURE 4 , 5A–D View FIGURE 5 with Figs 9A–C View FIGURE 9 , 10A–D View FIGURE 10 ). Females are closely related to the females of Asceua similis Song & Kim, 1997 in the general shape and orientation of copulatory ducts, but can be separated from the latter by epigyne with anterior plate (vs. absent in A. similis ), and spherical spermathecae (vs. irregular in A. similis ) (compare Figs 4D–F View FIGURE 4 , 5E–F View FIGURE 5 with Song & Kim 1997: figs 14–15).

Redescription. Male in alcohol (ADSH194) ( Figs 2A–J View FIGURE 2 ). Body length 1.57. Carapace 0.87 long, 0.70 wide. Opisthosoma 0.74 long, 0.62 wide. Carapace, eye region, clypeus, chilum, chelicerae, endites, labium, sternum yellowish brown; leg segments creamy-white to yellowish brown; palp segments yellowish brown to brown; dorsal scutum brownish, opisthosoma shiny, greyish black with two pairs of large dull yellow patches ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ), lateral and rear end black with creamy-white patches, streaks and dots ( Figs 2C–D View FIGURE 2 ), venter creamy-white with yellow anterior part ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ); spinnerets creamy-white ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ); carapace, clypeus, chelicerae, margins of sternum, leg segments with black mottling. Carapace glossy; cephalic part without long black setae. Fovea short, longitudinal, straight, dark brown. Clypeus high ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Chilum inverted triangular, unipartite ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Cheliceral promargin with two tiny teeth, retromargin without tooth visible ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Sternum glossy, shield-shaped with posterior end truncated, rebordered, provided with scattered black setae, with coxal and intercoxal extensions ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ). Opisthosoma oval in dorsal view, dorsal scutum complete, without long black setae ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ); rear and lateral opisthosoma with corrugations. Colulus and anal tubercle prominent ( Figs 2C, H View FIGURE 2 ). Femur I without retrolateral striae; metatarsi II–III with distal preening brush ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ); all metatarsi and tarsi without scopula ( Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 ); all tarsi with reduced claw tuft ( Figs 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ). Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.06, AME 0.08, PLE 0.07, PME 0.05; AME–ALE 0.03, AME– AME 0.05, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.08, PME–PME 0.07. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.29, at ALEs 0.24. Chelicerae 0.25 long. Sternum 0.45 long, 0.44 wide. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 1.02 [0.35, 0.15, 0.10, 0.42], I 2.54 [0.66, 0.23, 0.61, 0.62, 0.42], II 2.10 [0.59, 0.23, 0.45, 0.50, 0.33], III 2.03 [0.58, 0.20, 0.41, 0.54, 0.30], IV 2.79 [0.72, 0.23, 0.62, 0.83, 0.39]. Leg formula: 4123. Spination of palp: femur do 2, patella spineless, tibia spineless, tarsus/cymbium spineless; legs: femora I–IV do 1; patellae I–IV spineless; tibiae I–IV spineless; metatarsi I–III spineless, IV plv 1 rlv 1; tarsi I–IV spineless. Palp ( Figs 4A–C View FIGURE 4 , 5A–D View FIGURE 5 ). Tibia with short retrolateral, broad ventral and narrow, finger-like prolateral apophyses ( Figs 4A, C View FIGURE 4 , 5A, C–D View FIGURE 5 ); RTA having triangular distal part ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ); RTA and VTA enclose large concavity in which fits basomedial projection of cymbium ( Figs 4C View FIGURE 4 , 5C View FIGURE 5 ). Cymbium modified, with prominent cymbial retrolateral fold having less prominent anterolateral margin and less modified posteroretrolateral extremity ( Figs 4B–C View FIGURE 4 , 5B–D View FIGURE 5 ), with basomedial conical process extending between RTA and VTA ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ). Tegulum broad, with posteromedian extension ( Figs 4B View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Median apophysis with broad proximal and long, slender, prolaterally oriented distal parts ( Figs 4A–C View FIGURE 4 , 5A–C View FIGURE 5 ), lying adjacent to retrolateral process of conductor ( Figs 4B View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Conductor broad, sclerotized, with retrolateral and mediolateral, blunt processes ( Figs 4B View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Embolus long, filiform, basal to tegulum, with short base, at first running anteriad along prolateral side of cymbium, then turning retrolaterad, then to posterolaterad forming distal loop, with blunt tip directed at 1-o’ clock ventrally ( Figs 4A–B View FIGURE 4 , 5A–B View FIGURE 5 ).

Female in alcohol (ADSH194) ( Figs 3A–I View FIGURE 3 ). Body length 2.00. Carapace 0.96 long, 0.68 wide. Opisthosoma 1.04 long, 0.88 wide. Habitus and details as in male except for the following: opisthosoma without scutum and corrugations ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); dorsum with three pairs of large patches, numerous tiny spots, and a single median patch at the rear end in front of anal tubercle, all creamy-white ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); laterals without stripes or dots ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ); venter uniformly creamy-white ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Palp segments yellowish brown to brown. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.06. AME 0.07. PLE 0.04. PME 0.05; AME–ALE 0.04. AME–AME 0.03. AME–PME 0.07. ALE–PLE 0.04. PME–PLE 0.08. PME–PME 0.07. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.25, at ALEs 0.21. Chelicerae 0.33 long. Sternum 0.45 long, 0.43 wide. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 0.85 [0.27, 0.16, 0.16, 0.26], I 2.28 [0.64, 0.21, 0.54, 0.53, 0.36], II 1.94 [0.55, 0.22, 0.40, 0.48, 0.29], III 2.00 [0.54, 0.22, 0.40, 0.53, 0.31], IV 2.70 [0.69, 0.22, 0.61, 0.79, 0.39]. Leg formula: 4132. Spination of palp: tibia pld 1; tarsus pl 2 pld 1 v 2; legs: metatarsi II–IV plv 1 rlv 1. Genitalia ( Figs 4D–F View FIGURE 4 , 5E–F View FIGURE 5 ). Epigyne with convex posterior margin, with an anteromedial, sclerotized, transversely oval plate ( Figs 4D–E View FIGURE 4 , 5E View FIGURE 5 ). Copulatory openings situated anteriorly behind epigynal plate, lying close to each other ( Figs 4E View FIGURE 4 , 5E View FIGURE 5 ). Copulatory ducts long, slender, with multiple windings ( Figs 4F View FIGURE 4 , 5F View FIGURE 5 ). Spermathecae small, globular, lying adjacent to each other, situated posteriorly ( Figs 4F View FIGURE 4 , 5F View FIGURE 5 ). Fertilization ducts long, narrow, diverging ( Figs 4F View FIGURE 4 , 5F View FIGURE 5 ).

Variation. For checking variation in measurements, only the freshly collected specimens were considered. Female (n=6): body length 1.80–2.08. One of the female specimens collected from Malappuram presents a variation in the abdominal pattern as shown in Fig. 3J View FIGURE 3 , and its epigyne also shows variation in the shape of the epigynal plate as shown in Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 .

Remarks. All the specimens deposited in the NZC-ZSI, Kolkata are severely dried off due to bad preservation ( Figs 6A–D View FIGURE 6 ).

Distribution. India (Andaman Islands (Rose Island), Kerala (new record), Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal) ( Gravely 1921; present data) ( Fig. 17 View FIGURE 17 ).