Pungalina Richardson, 2013

Richardson, Barry J., 2016, New genera, new species and redescriptions of Australian jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 4114 (5), pp. 501-560 : 530

Pungalina Richardson, 2013

Type species: Pungalina weiri Richardson, 2013 , by original designation.

Remarks. This genus was originally described for a group of small litter living spiders. The extension of the genus to include many new and somewhat different species means the diagnosis of the genus needs to be revised. The genus can be most easily considered as containing three groups of species (here established) differing consistently in the morphology of the genitalia. These groups are: the weiri group (P. w e i r i), the semiferruginea group ( P. semiferruginea comb. nov., P. waldockae sp. nov.), and the albobarbata group ( P. albobarbata comb. nov., P. plurilineata sp. nov., P. semiatra comb. nov.). Sporadic specimens of a number of undescribed species referable to one or other of these groups are now known.

Revised Diagnosis. The genus can be differentiated from Apricia and Clynotis on the following grounds. Pungalina includes a group of small to medium-sized, stoutly built, unident spiders usually found in litter, unlike the larger Apricia and Clynotis species. The legs are relatively short and there are no tibial fringes. Pungalina commonly has a series of white striae on the rear face of the cephalothorax, not found in the other genera. Apricia has patterns of bright yellow or gold lines on the abdomen, while Pungalina and Clynotis usually have drab patterns. A well-developed dorsal scutum is found in the males of Pungalina and Clynotis , but not Apricia . The female genital duct in Pungalina is simple in form, unlike the other genera. A pair of atria is present, unlike Clynotis . The size and morphology of the atria and the position of the copulatory openings are stable within, but differ between, the species groups. The spermathecae are spherical and closely abutting the epigastric fold. The insemination ducts join the spermathecae on the anterior edges, unlike Clynotis . There are no blind diverticula or glands arising from either the spermatheca or insemination duct, as are found in the other genera. The diverticulum leading to the fertilization duct is either very short or absent and the fertilization duct opens towards the midline close to the epigastric fold, unlike the situations in the other genera. Palp morphology is generally similar across Apricia , Clynotis and Pungalina , though a very large ventral tegular bulge (e.g. Figs 127 , 160 ) is found in Pungalina , unlike the other genera. The tegulum is also approximately as wide as long in Pungalina unlike the longer shape seen in the other genera.

Figures

FIGURES 125 – 133. Pungalina semiferruginea comb. nov. 125 – 127 left male palp (125 prolateral view, 126 ventral view, 127 retrolateral view); 128 – 129 left male palp, syntype (M. Żabka, pers. com.) (128 ventral view, 129 retrolateral view); 130 – 132 female genitalia (130 dorsal view, 131 ventral view, 132 ventral view); 133 map showing known (red) and predicted (gray) distributions. Scale: palp 0.5 mm, epigyne 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 158 – 166. Pungalina albobarbata comb. nov. 158 – 160 left male palp (158 prolateral view, 159 ventral view, 160 retrolateral view); 161 – 162 left male palp, syntypes (M. Żabka, pers. com.) (161 ventral view, 162 retrolateral view); 163 – 165 female genitalia, syntypes (M. Żabka, pers. com.) (163 ventral view, 164 dorsal view); 165 female genitalia, ventral view); 166 map showing known (red) and predicted (gray) distributions. Scale: palp 0.5 mm, epigyne 0.1 mm.