Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang, 2022

Yu, Kun, Wang, Weihang, Maddison, Wayne P. & Zhang, Junxia, 2022, Revision of the genus Charippus Thorell, 1895, with descriptions of eight new species (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini), Zootaxa 5129 (2), pp. 151-198 : 166-167

Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang , sp. nov.

Figs 77–94

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (MHBU-ARA-00023580), CHINA: Hainan, Wuzhishan City, Wuzhishan National Nature Reserve , 18.8788°N, 109.656°E, 614 m elev., 16 May 2011, leg. C. Zhang. Paratype: 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-00023581), CHINA: Hainan, Qiongzhong Li & Miao Autonomous County, Mt. Limu, Main Peak , 4 April 2016, 19°10.627’N, 109°45.014’E, 694 m elev., leg. C. Jin & J. He.

Other material examined. 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-00023582), same data as holotype but collected on 9 March 2021, leg. Y. Mu, S. Zhang & K. Yu ; 2♂ (MHBU-ARA-00023583), CHINA: Hainan, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Main Peak , 30 May 2009, leg. G. Han ; 1♂ (MHBU-ARA-00023584), CHINA: Hainan, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Tianchi , 26 May 2009, leg. G. Han ; 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-00023585), CHINA: Hainan, Qiongzhong Li & Miao Autonomous County , Mt. Limu , Sanxingjian , 22 January 2015, leg. C. Jin & L. Fu ; 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-00023586), CHINA: Hainan, Qiongzhong Li & Miao Autonomous County , Mt. Limu , Quling’gulin , 18 August 2007, leg. F. Zhang.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from “Denji”, the main protagonist of Chainsaw Man (a manga series written and illustrated by Fujimoto Tatsuki), who has chainsaws on arms after transformation, referring to the small sawtooth-like denticles on the embolus of the new species.

Diagnosis. Males can be easily distinguished from all congeners by the presence of small sawtooth-like denticles on embolus ( Figs 84–88 ). Markings and body form of the new species are similar to C. heishiding sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the distally bifurcated RTA and the copulatory ducts swerving for six times ( Figs 91, 93–94 ; vs. the RTA is not bifurcated distally and the copulatory ducts swerving for 10 times in C. heishiding sp. nov.). It also differs from C. heishiding sp. nov. by the presence of a slightly sclerotized area on the ventral abdomen in males ( Fig. 79 ).

Description. Male. Habitus as shown in Figs 77, 79 . Carapace length 1.96 (variation: 1.96–2.05, n=4); abdomen length 2.06. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.35, ALE 0.29, PME 0.06, PLE 0.24. Measurements of legs: I 3.13 (0.96, 0.51, 0.78, 0.50, 0.38), II 2.83 (0.90, 0.43, 0.64, 0.48, 0.38), III 2.96 (0.89, 0.36, 0.64, 0.61, 0.46), IV 3.36 (1.00, 0.40, 0.79, 0.72, 0.45). Chelicerae dark brown, distally with small triangular projection, promargin with two teeth, retromargin with one bicuspid tooth. Palp ( Figs 84–89 ): yellowish brown; bulb bulging; embolus coiled for more than a circle, with a row of sawtooth-like denticles; embolic disc large and sclerotized, centrally concave, with many small grooves; LED wide and outer-extended, serrulate-edged; tegulum slightly sclerotized, without prominent tegular lobe; salticid radix slightly sclerotized; retrolateral sperm duct loop indistinct in ventral view; retrolateral tibial apophysis thick and wide, slightly curved, distally bifurcated. Sternum without setal tuft. Color in alcohol ( Figs 77, 79 ): carapace dark brown, CPSB present, frontally white; dorsal abdomen pale with dark brown markings; abdomen with obviously sclerotized areas dorsally and ventrally. Legs I–II slightly darker than legs III–IV.

Female. Habitus as shown in Fig. 78 . Carapace length 2.16 (variation: 1.86–2.16, n=4); abdomen length 2.64. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.37, ALE 0.22, PME 0.06, PLE 0.23. Measurements of legs: I 3.15 (0.99, 0.55, 0.73, 0.50, 0.38), II 2.86 (0.94, 0.51, 0.64, 0.44, 0.33), III 3.28 (1.07, 0.45, 0.68, 0.68, 0.40), IV 3.90 (1.16, 0.53, 0.85, 0.88, 0.48). Chelicerae ( Fig. 83 ) as in male but without small triangular projection distally. Abdomen without sclerotized areas. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 78 ) as in male. Sternum without setal tuft centrally. Epigynum ( Figs. 90, 92 ): window large, rims sclerotized and wide, median septum present; lateral depressions shallow and not obvious. Vulva ( Figs. 91, 93 ): CD long and coiled, swerving for six times; AG chilli-like, pointing to axis; spermathecae slightly bulging.

Natural history. One female specimen collected in March from Wuzhishan City was observed guarding an egg-sac under the moss of a vertical rock, and the egg-sac only had two eggs inside.

Distribution. China (Hainan).

Figures

FIGURES 77–83. Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov., male (77, 79–80, 82) and female (78, 81, 83). 77–79. Habitus, in dorsal (77–78) and ventral (79) view; 80–81. Front view of carapace; 82–83. Details of chelicera, apical (82) and back view (83), arrows pointing to triangular projections.

FIGURES 84–86. Palp of Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov., holotype, in prolateral (84), ventral (85) and retrolateral (86) view.

FIGURES 87–89. Palp of Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov., holotype, in ventral (87), retrolateral (88) and dorsal (89) view.

FIGURES 90–94. Female genitalia of Charippus denjii Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov.. 90, 92. Ventral view; 91, 93. Dorsal view; 94. CD path.