Marengo rattotensis, Benjamin, Suresh P., 2006

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2006, The male of Marengo nitida with the description of M. rattotensis new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 1326, pp. 25-36 : 29-34

Marengo rattotensis , new species

Figs 1 C, D, F, 5 A –E, 6 A –F, 7 A –F

Type material. Holotype: ♂, SRI LANKA, Central province, Rattota, Knuckles Range, along Rattota­Illukkumbura road, 3–4 June 2003, leg. SP Benjamin. Deposited in MHNG.

Paratypes: 2 ♂ 2 &, label data as above. Deposited in MHNG. Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Diagnosis. The males of Marengo rattotensis can be distinguished from all other Marengo spp. by the RTA, which is rather backward tilted ( Figs 5 A, B, 7 C, E). Further, they can be separated by the very characteristic opisthosomal markings. Females are separated by marking of the opisthosoma ( Fig 1 D).

Description. Male. Total length: 3.5; prosoma length: 1.7, width: 1.2. Legs I: femur 1.0, patella 0.4, tibia 0.8, metatarsus 0.6, tarsus 0.3. Markings as in Fig 1 C. The male specimens examined were darker than M. crassipes and M. nitida . Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE ( Fig 1 C). Opisthosoma oval, elongated, dark red/brown, dorsally with conspicuous white markings as in Fig 1 C, laterally lighter as in Fig 1 F. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings ( Fig 1 C). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula 1432. Tibia I with 2 / 2 /0/ 2 spines, metatarsus I with 2 / 1 spines. Palp: tibia short, RTA short, stout ( Figs 3 A, B). Cymbium oval, tip excavated, bulb bilobed, embolus short, coils 1.5 times ( Figs 5 A –F).

Female.Total length: 3.2; prosoma length: 1.5, width: 0.9. Legs I: femur 0.6, patella 0.3, tibia 0.5, metatarsus 0.3, tarsus 0.2. Markings as in Fig 1 A. Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE ( Fig 1 D). Opisthosoma round, light brown, dorsally with very characteristic markings. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings ( Fig 1 D). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula 1432. Tibia I with 2 / 2 /0/ 2 spines, metatarsus I with 2 / 1 spines. Epigynum and vulva as in Figs 5 C –E.

Distribution. Known only from the Knuckles Range in Sri Lanka.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of Marengo nitida (A, B, E) and M. rattotensis sp. n. (C, D, F). A, D, female and B, C, male dorsal view. E, F, male lateral view. Note shape of prosoma; compare Figs E and F.

FIGURE 3. SEM, Marengo nitida (USNM). A, B, male palp, ventral view. C, embolus, ventral view. D, male palp, retrolatera view. E, tibia, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 10 µm (E, C); 20 µm (B, D); 30 µm (A). e = embolus, ec = embolic coil.

FIGURE 5. Marengo rattotensis sp. n. A, ventral view and B, retrolateral view of male palp. C, D, epigynum ventral view and E, Epigynum dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (C, D); 0.2 mm (A, B).