Helpis staregai, Żabka, Marek & Patoleta, Barbara M., 2014

Żabka, Marek & Patoleta, Barbara M., 2014, New species of Helpis Simon, 1901 from Australia (Araneae: Salticidae), with a new definition of the genus, Zootaxa 3873 (5), pp. 571-589 : 584-587

Helpis staregai sp. nov.

Figs 75–83 , 88

Type material. AUSTRALIA, New South Wales: ♀ holotype, Cremorne Park, 33°49' S, 151°13' E, [-33.8, 151.22], 4 Dec. 1982, L. Hopwood, AMS KS10501.

Etymology. In honour of Prof. Wojciech Staręga, distinguished Polish arachnologist, world authority in systematics of Opiliones.

Diagnosis. Median guide missing; copulatory openings very wide, proximal part of the insemination ducts funnel-like, the latter widely V-shaped; accessory glands at the junction of insemination ducts and round spermathecae ( Figs 82–83 ).

Description. Female holotype. Cephalothorax with black eye surroundings, median part of cephalothorax dirty yellow/orange, sides with grey pattern, lower margin yellowish, setae very scanty ( Fig. 75 ). Abdomen with grey pattern on light background, spinnerets pale. Clypeus very narrow, dirty orange, laterally darker, with single hairs and median bristles below AME ( Fig. 79 ). Chelicerae brown with orange tips. Pedipalps pale, distally orange. Endites and labium basally orange brown, distal halves yellow ( Fig. 77 ). Sternum yellowish. Venter pale ( Fig. 76 ). Legs I rather massive, coxae-femora light. Tibiae and metatarsi orange with darker bands with 2-2-2-2, and 2-2 ventral spines, respectively, tarsi orange ( Fig. 81 ). Legs II more delicate, with similar colouration and spination. Legs III–IV lighter, with darker bands, the latter more distinctive on metatarsi. Dimensions: CL 3.70, CW 2.80, CH 1.71, AL 4.42, AW 2.86, EFL 1.61, AEW 2.70, PEW 2.18, leg I 10.28 (2.96+1.82+2.75+1.82+0.93), leg II 8.45 (2.34+1.45+2.34+1.16+0.72), leg III 9.81 (2.60+1.24+2.18+2.70+1.09), leg IV 10.17 (2.75+1.24+2.86+2.60+0.72).

Male. Unknwon.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 88 , triangle).

Figures

FIGURE 88. Distribution records of Helpis foelixi (square) and H. staregai (triangle).

FIGURES 75 – 83. Helpis staregai sp. nov. 75 female holotype, dorsal view; 76 same, ventral view; 77 same, endites, labium and chelicerae; 78 same, thorax, dorso-lateral view; 79 same, frontal view; 80 same, cheliceral dentition; 81 same, leg first, 82 – 83 same, vulva; (ag: accessory gland, cd: copulatory duct, co: copulatory opening, p: pouch, s: spermatheca). Scale: 1 mm.