Thorelliola crebra, Zhang & Maddison, 2012

Zhang, Jun-Xia & Maddison, Wayne P., 2012, New euophryine jumping spiders from Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae) 3491, Zootaxa 3491, pp. 1-74 : 46-47

Thorelliola crebra sp. nov.

Figs 217–229

Type material. Holotype: male, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Enga Province: Suyan Camp, Porgera , 5.4833° S, 143.1337° E, elev. 2300 m a.s.l., 28–29 July 2008, coll. W. Maddison, WPM#08-022 ( UBC-SEM AR00099 ) . Paratypes: 1 female, same data as holotype ( UBC-SEM AR00100 ) ; 1 male and 2 females, same data as holotype .

Etymology. Latin crebra (thick), referring to the thick patella and tibia of the male palp.

Diagnosis. Can be easily distinguished from Thorelliola aliena and previously reported species by the rough mottled apprearance of bark ( Figs 217–220), the presence of guanine deposits in the eye area of the carapace ( Figs 221–222), and the femoral protuberance of the male palp ( Fig. 225). Similar in male palp to T. zabkai , but differs in the male chelicera with a triangular process near the fang base on the front surface ( Fig. 226); the male endite with two lateral bulges ( Fig. 226); the shorter embolus, the much wider retrolateral sperm duct loop and the oval embolic disc of the male palp ( Figs 223–225). The new species has similar color pattern and epigynal shape as T. squamosa , but can be distinguished by the large dark patches at the posterior part of the dorsal abdomen ( Figs 221–222) and the spherical secondary spermathecae which are further behind the posterior end of the window ( Figs 228–229).

Description. Male (holotype, UBC-SEM AR00099). Carapace length 1.9 (variation 1.9–2.2, n=2); abdomen length 2.2. Clypeus with only ordinary fine setae. Chelicera ( Fig. 226): dark brown; with two promarginal teeth and one bicuspid retromarginal tooth; with a triangular process near the base of the fang on front surface. Endite ( Fig. 226): grey brown; with two lateral bulges, one at distal end and the other near middle. Palp ( Figs 223–225): yellow brown. Embolic disc oval; embolus long with a tiny cusp near the end; loop of sperm duct wide almost occupying the whole width of bulb. Tibia, patella and femur of palp with multiple macrosetae; femur with a big distal protuberance prolaterally; patella with a retrolateral lump and a thick macroseta at its top. Retrolateral tibial apophysis finger-like reaching the proximal edge of embolic disc. Tibia of first leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae; metatarsus with two pairs. Measurements of legs: I 5.1, II 4.1, III 4.5, IV 4.6. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 221): carapace yellow brown, eye area with white guanine deposit, with white stripes laterally behind eye area composed of white scales; abdomen light yellow with a few symmetrical dark gray markings, heart mark also dark gray, almost rhomboid; legs light yellow to yellowish brown, with dark gray markings.

Female (paratype, UBC-SEM AR00100). Carapace length 1.8 (variation 1.8–1.9, n=3); abdomen length 2.5. Chelicera ( Fig. 227): with two promarginal teeth and one bicuspid retromarginal tooth. Tibia of first leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae; metatarsus with two pairs. Measurements of legs: I 3.4, II 3.3, III 3.5, IV 4.0. Epigynum ( Figs 228–229): window almost semicircular with opening to copulatory duct at its posterior end. Copulatory duct short, without accessory gland; secondary and primary spermatheca oval. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 222): similar to that of male.

Natural history. Specimens were found on bark of Casuarina tree trunks.