Synagelides hortonensis, Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2020

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2020, First record of Synagelides Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Sri Lanka description of four endemic species from tropical wet forest of the island, Zootaxa 4790 (1), pp. 43-56 : 45-47

Synagelides hortonensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 A–G, 2A–E, 3A–E

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (IFS_SAL_1044), Sri Lanka, Central Province, Nuwara Eliya District, Horton Plains

National Park, 2141 m, 06°47’54”N, 80°48’51”E, 22 June 2017, leaf litter, leg. N.P. Athukorala et al. Paratype: ♀ (IFS_SAL_1045), same locality and collection data as in holotype .

Other material examined. SRI LANKA: Central Province: 1♀ (IFS_SAL_1046), same locality and collec- tion data as in type material ; 1♂ (IFS_SAL_1103), Nuwara Eliya District, Piduruthalagala , 2400 m, 06°59’36’’N, 80°46’15’’E, 14 February 2018, leaf litter, leg. S.P. Benjamin et al .

Etymology. Epithet, to be treated as a Latin adjective, is given after the type locality.

Diagnosis. The species is similar to S. lakmalii sp. nov. and S. orlandoi sp. nov. due to the short, spiraled embolus. Distinguishable from S. lakmalii by the presence of MA ( Figs 1 D–E, 2B), distal lobe of bulb with sharp tip, well-developed PL ( Figs 1 D–E, 2B), knob-like VTA, bifurcated RTA ( Figs 1G , 2C ), semicircular fossae, relatively broader MS in females ( Figs 2 D–E, 3C–E). Distinguished from S. orlandoi by the unequally bifurcate RTA, larger PL and stouter tip of the distal lobe of bulb.

Description. Male (holotype): prosoma blackish brown and carapace stippled in alcohol preserved specimens ( Fig. 1A ). Ocular quadrangle black, square-shaped. Cervical groove behind PME ( Fig. 1A ). Ocular field black and slightly raised, and eyes surrounded by black rings. Posterior prosoma adorned with black stripes originated from cervical groove. Posterior margin of prosoma rather truncated, sternum oval ( Figs 1 A–B). Front legs elongated with massive femur and long and stout spines on metatarsi and tibiae I. In leg I, Fm brown, other articles pale brownish yellow; other legs pale brown. Abdomen oval, dorsum blackish brown with transverse stripes, venter brownish grey bordered with blackish brown lateral sides. Palp pale brown, short cymbium. Bulb with small, triangular distal lobe, broad, prolateral proximal lobe, partial, narrow cleft in distal bulb at the retrolateral side ( Figs 1 D–E, 2B–C). Embolus with spiral base and small median apophysis accompanied with the base of embolus ( Figs 1 D–E, 2B). RTA, VTA present, VTA short, knob-like, RTA slender with bifurcated tip ( Figs 1 D–E, G, 2B–C). Measurements: TL 2.56, PLe 1.25, PW at PLE 1.00, AL 1.22, AW 0.76. Leg I: Fm 0.72, Pt 0.55, Tb 0.44, Mt 0.27, Ta 0.28; Leg II: Fm 0.41, Pt 0.27, Tb 0.29, Mt 0.25, Ta 0.18; Leg III: Fm 0.52, Pt 0.23, Tb 0.20, Mt 0.37, Ta 0.22; Leg IV: Fm 0.58, Pt 0.31, Tb 0.46, Mt 0.31, Ta 0.28.

Female (paratype): all characters as in male, except as follows: abdomen grey and spotted with light brown prominent four spots, lack of transverse abdominal stripes, all legs pale brownish yellow ( Fig. 3A ). Epigyne with two large semicircular fossae separated by comparably broader median septum ( Figs 2 D–E, 3C–E). CO could be found near lower margin of arcuated rim. CD short, stout with thick wall. Spermathecae two chambered, narrow, small chamber and pear-shaped, large chamber. There is conspicuous space between both spermathecae. FD lanceolate originated from anterior wall of spermathecae ( Figs 2E , 3E ). Measurements: TL 3.26, PLe 1.45, PW at PLE 1.33, AL 1.42, AW 0.82. Leg I: Fm 0.79, Pt 0.61, Tb 0.54, Mt 0.29, Ta 0.31; Leg II: Fm 0.52, Pt 0.28, Tb 0.32, Mt 0.24, Ta 0.23; Leg III: Fm 0.58, Pt 0.27, Tb 0.24, Mt 0.39, Ta 0.28; Leg IV: Fm 0.69, Pt 0.47, Tb 0.48, Mt 0.33, Ta 0.26.

Remarks: The single specimen from Piduruthalagala is provisionally included here, until the availability of more specimens of both sexes. However, we note the following differences: in habitus, paler ( Fig. 1C ) than in Horton plains national park, with pale grey transverse bands on the abdomen. The copulatory organs of both specimens are very similar with a few minor differences, such as the shape of the tegulum and the MA.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Synagelides hortonensis sp. nov. A, B, D, F, G, Male holotype from Horton plains (A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; D, left palp, ventral view; F, prolateral view; G, retrolateral view). C, E, male from Piduruthalagala (C, dorsal view; E, left palp, ventral view). Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–G = 0.1mm.

FIGURE 2. Synagelides hortonensis sp. nov. A–C, left male palp (A, prolateral view; B, ventral view; C, retrolateral view). D–E, epigyne (D, ventral view; E, vulva, dorsal view). Abbreviations: AR, arcuated rim; CD: copulatory ducts; E, embolus; F, fossa; FD, fertilization duct; MA, median apophysis; MS: median septum; PL, proximal lobe of bulb; PT, patella; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; T, tegulum; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: A–C = 0.2 mm; D–E = 0.1mm.

FIGURE 3. Synagelides hortonensis sp. nov. A–B, female (A, dorsal view; B, ventral view); C–E, epigyne (C, ventral view; D, cleared, ventral view; E, vulva, dorsal view). Synagelides lakmalii sp. nov. F–G, female (F, dorsal view; G, ventral view); H–J (H, ventral view; I, cleared, ventral view; J, vulva, dorsal view). Scale bars: A–B, F–G = 1 mm; C–E, H–J = 0.1 mm.