Colaxes, SIMON, 1900

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2004, Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic hypothesis for the jumping spider subfamily Ballinae (Araneae, Salticidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142 (1), pp. 1-82 : 19-22

COLAXES SIMON, 1900

Colaxes Simon, 1900: 402 . Simon, 1901: 492–493.

Type species: Colaxes nitidiventris , from Trichinopoly, India, by original designation ( Simon, 1900).

Monophyly and phylogenetic placement: Apomorphic for this genus are dark markings on the laterals of the opisthosoma (25-1) and loss of the dark band on both lateral sides of legs I–IV (27-0). The presence of only four spines on tibia I unites Ballus and Colaxes .

Remarks: A single member of this genus has received taxonomic attention. Simon (1900, 1901) recognized that C. nitidiventris was not congeneric with Philates or Marengo and discussed how these taxa differ from each other. Despite its relative abundance, nothing further has since been published.

Diagnosis: Colaxes can be distinguished from all other Ballinae by: (1) the presence of dark markings on the laterals of the opisthosoma ( Figs 12A , 16A ) and absence of markings on the lateral sides of legs I–IV; (2) the presence of only four spines on tibia I (except for Ballus ) and absence of lts (except for Cynapes and Ballus ) (33; Fig. 15G, H ).

Description: See description of type species. Composition: Three species: C. horton sp. nov., Colaxes nitidiventris Simon, 1900 , and C. wanlessi sp. nov.

Distribution: Currently, only known from South India and the central highlands of Sri Lanka.

COLAXES NITIDIVENTRIS SIMON, 1900

( FIG. 11A- C )

Colaxes nitidiventris Simon, 1900: 402 . Single ♂ from Trichinopoly , India, MHNH 18919, examined. Designated here as lectotype to define the genus and species. The female is unknown. Many more new species and related new genera can be expected from the region.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from C. wanlessi by the tapering opisthosoma ( Fig. 11A ) and rta with a pointed end ( Fig. 11B, C ). The male of C. horton is unknown.

Male: Lectotype (MNHN 18919), total length 4.4; prosoma length 2.3, width 1.3. Leg I: femur 1.0, patella 0.5, tibia 0.8, metatarsus 0.6, tarsus 0.2. Markings as in Figure 11A . Prosoma oval, dorsoventrally flattened, tapering backwards, light brown, without prominent markings except for two black spots on the anterior end. Opisthosoma long, tapering, with dark markings, within a yellow background. Transverse white line at the centre, laterally darker, dorsally light yellow. Legs laterally without dark markings. Eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicerae light brown, four retromarginal teeth. Labium triangular, light brown. Leg formula 1423. Tibia I with 2/0/0/3 spines, metatarsus I with 2/2 spines. Palp: cymbium corn shaped; apical end broader ( Fig. 11B, C ), rta long and thin, tapering to a pointed end. Tegulum bilobed, embolus coils 1.5 times ( Fig. 11B, C ).

Female: Unknown.

Natural history: Unknown.

Distribution: Trichinopoly, India, where the only known specimen was collected.

Other material examined: None.

COLAXES WANLESSI SP. NOV.

( FIGS 12A- C , 13A- E , 14A- C , 15A- H )

Holotype: ♂ from Sri Lanka. Central Province, Hakgala, Hakgala forest , 1600 m, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin, 27.7.1996, deposited in MHNG.

Paratype: One ♀ from Sri Lanka: Central Province, Hakgala, Hakgala forest , 1600 m, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin, 27.7.1996 ; 1♀, Central Province, Agrapatana, Agra-bopath forest , 1100 m, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin and Sudath V. Nanayakkara, 8.3.2000. All deposited in MHNG .

Etymology: Named after Fred Wanless in recognition of his pioneering contribution to salticid systematics.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from its sister species by the oval prosoma, opisthosoma, and the shorter, broad-based rta ( Fig. 12A–C ). C. nitidiventris has an opisthosoma which tapers backwards and a longer, sharply pointed rta, while C. horton has a central dark band on the opisthosoma ( Fig. 16A ).

Male holotype: Total length 4.0; prosoma length 2.0, width 1.5. Leg I: femur 1.2, patella 0.4, tibia 0.8, metatarsus 0.5, tarsus 0.3. Markings as in Figure 12A . Prosoma oval, almost as wide as long, dark brown, laterals darker, thin black median line. Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide, lighter in colour, four dark markings (red in living specimens), black lateral patches. Leg I dark brown, legs II–IV light yellow; all legs laterally without dark markings. Eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicera dark brown, with three retromarginal, small teeth, labium triangular, dark brown. Leg formula 1423. Tibia I with 2/0/0/3 spines, metatarsus I with 2/2 spines. Palp: cymbium oval. Retrolateral tibial apophysis stout, tapering blunt end ( Fig. 12B, C ). Tegulum bilobed, projecting outwards, path of sperm duct as in Figure 12B , embolus stout, coils 1.5 times ( Figs 12B , 15A, B ).

Female paratype: Total length 3.8; prosoma length 1.7, width 1.1. Leg I: femur 0.7, patella 0.3, tibia 0.5, metatarsus 0.3, tarsus 0.2. Markings of specimens in alcohol as in Figure 13A, E . Prosoma oval, almost as long as wide, dark brown, with a central dark band. Opisthosoma long as wide, lighter in colour, two parallel dark bands set in a yellow background, dorsally uniformly yellow. Leg I dark brown, legs II–IV light yellow, all legs laterally without dark markings. Eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicera dark brown, with three small, retromarginal teeth, labium triangular,

Figures

Figure 11. Colaxes nitidiventris (MNHN 18919). A, habitus, dorsal view. B, right male palp, retrolateral view. C, same, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B, C); 2.0 mm (A).

Figure 12. Colaxes wanlessi sp. nov. (MHNG). Male from Hakgala, Sri Lanka. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, male palp, ventral view. C, same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B, C); 2.0 mm (A).

Figure 13. Colaxes wanlessi sp. nov. (MHNG). Females from Agrapatana (A-D) and Hakgala (E), Sri Lanka. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, epigynum, ventral view. C, vulva, ventral view. D, same, dorsal view. E, habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B–D); 2.0 mm (A, E).

Figure 14. Colaxes wanlessi sp. nov. (MHNG). Female from Hakgala, Sri Lanka. A, epigynum, ventral view. B, vulva, ventral view. C, same, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 15. SEM, Colaxes wanlessi sp. nov. (MHNG). A–C, male palp. A, retrolateral view. B, st, ec and embolus. C, tip of embolus. D-F, prosoma, dorsal view. G, H, right leg. I, lateral view. Scale bars = 3 Mm (C, H); 10 Mm (E, F, G); 30 Mm (B); 100 Mm (A, D).

Figure 16. Colaxes horton sp. nov. (MHNG). Female from Horton Plains, Sri Lanka. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, epigynum, ventral view. C, vulva, ventral view. D, same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B–D); 2.0 mm (A).