Phintelloides jesudasi (Caleb & Mathai, 2014) Caleb & Mathai, 2014

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & P. Benjamin, Suresh, 2019, Multilocus genetic and morphological phylogenetic analysis reveals a radiation of shiny South Asian jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae), ZooKeys 839, pp. 1-81 : 1

Phintelloides jesudasi (Caleb & Mathai, 2014) comb. n. Figs 4 E–H, 6 E–H, 17 A–E, 18 A–D

Chrysilla jesudasi Caleb & Mathai, 2014b: 63, figs 1-14.

Material examined.

1♂ (IFS_SAL_668), Sri Lanka, North Western Province, Kurunagala District, Ethagala FR, hand collection, 1-28-VII-2007, leg. Z Jaleel. 1♀ (IFS_SAL_137), same locality, 07°29'11.23"N, 80°22'21.64"E, 190 m, hand collection, 1-28-II-2008, leg. Z Jaleel. 1♂ (IFS_SAL_293), same locality, Polgahawala, hand collection, 14-VI-2015, leg. HMSM Nadeeshani. 1♂ (IFS_SAL_324), Uva Province, Badulla District, Diyaluma falls, 660 m, 06°43'57"N, 81°01'58"E, 04-VII-2012, leg. SP Benjamin. 4♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL_920-924), Western Province, Gampaha District, Pilikuttuwa FR, 69 m, 07°03'52.4"N, 80°03'04"E, beating, 28-IX-2016, leg. K Nilani and I Sandunika.

Diagnosis.

This species is easily distinguishable from other known congeners by the irregular LP, stouter RTA and by the broad anterolateral portion of bulbus (Figs 17D, E, 18A, B) in males and shape of copulatory ducts, comparably thinner CD with space between DDC in females (Figs 6G, H, 18C, D). It is closely related to P. alborea and P. flavumi in palpal structure; however, it differs from them by irregular LP, broad ALT in males and comparably thinner DDC.

Description.

Male. In life, clypeus blackish with white stripe covered with tuft of white scales, cephalothorax blackish, with pale yellow band behind AME. White, prominent, diamond-shaped mark behind eye field (Fig. 4E, F). Lateral sides of prosoma with white belts (Fig. 4E, F; Caleb and Mathai 2014: figs 1, 3). Chelicerae reddish black, covered with white hairs at its base ( Caleb and Mathai 2014: fig. 2). Prosoma fawn in colour, black patches behind ALE and around PLE in preserved specimens (Fig. 17A). Posterior margin of prosoma rather steep and slightly truncated. Yellowish brown sternum oval in shape, edges bordered with light brown (Fig. 17B). Leg I robust than others, legs I and II blackish with white hairs around proximal region of patella, tibia and metatarsus ( Caleb and Mathai 2014), legs III and IV blackish yellow.

Abdomen moderately long, slightly narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum with broad blackish grey median band, surrounded by pale yellow bands, extending longitudinally from anterior to posterior end (Fig. 4E, F; Caleb and Mathai 2014: figs 1, 3). Ventrum blackish grey in life and yellowish brown in preserved specimens (Fig. 17B). Spinnerets yellow.

Pale yellow palp. Cymbium longer and narrower at the distal region. Embolus slender and long immovable on rather broad apical portion of bulbus (Figs 17 C–E, 18A, B). Lamellar process is comparably smaller than in P. alborea (Figs 17D, 18A). Bulbus longer than wide. Spermatophore loop is clearly visible at the antero-lateral portion of bulbus. Retrolateral portion of bulbus with small bump. Tegulum with small posterior lobe. RTA long nearly half-length of the bulbus, broader at the base, narrower and curved at the tip (Figs 17 D–E, 18A, B).

Measurements.TL 4.50, PL 2.10, PW at PLE 1.60, AL 2.30, AW 1.15. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.52, PLE 0.33, ALE 0.27, PME 0.12, PME-PME 1.22, PLE-PLE 0.67, ALE-PME 0.32, ALE-PLE 0.68. Leg I: TR 0.32, FM 2.15, PT 0.93, TB 1.90, MT 1.66, TA 0.74; Leg II: TR 0.26, FM 1.68, PT 0.71, TB 1.41, MT 0.81, TA 0.81; Leg III: TR 0.30, FM 1.80, PT 0.73, TB 1.25, MT 1.21, TA 0.51; Leg IV: TR 0.30, FM 1.83, PT 0.64, TB 1.29, MT 1.53, TA 0.63.

Female. Prosoma white decorated with three pairs of large, black patches, surrounding PME, behind PLE and posterior slope of prosoma in life (Fig. 4G, H; Caleb and Mathai 2014: figs 4, 6). Ocular region covered with white scales. Dark brown AME covered with white and yellowish hairs in the anterior and posterior portions respectively ( Caleb and Mathai 2014: fig. 5). Clypeus enclosed with dense white scales. Chelicerae unidentate, orangish brown. Sternum yellow covered with pale yellow hairs (Fig. 6F). In alcohol-preserved specimen, carapace yellow with faded black patches (Fig. 6E).

Abdomen yellow, oval-shaped, longer, and narrower than prosoma. Dorsum with two lateral blackish stripes extending longitudinally along the length of the abdomen (Fig. 4G, H; Caleb and Mathai 2014: figs 4, 6). Ventrum enclosed with white scales with devoid of any markings in life. Spinnerets pale yellow. Legs glassy greenish yellow.

Epigynum moderately sclerotised. Copulatory openings placed laterally outwards ( Caleb and Mathai 2014). CD diverge initially and then bend inward to form a duck-neck-shaped diverging curve leading to CO (Figs 6G, H, 18C, D, Caleb and Mathai 2014: figs 9, 10, 13, 14). Oval spermathecae with head-like structure at the anterior wall and placed closely to each other. FD lanceolate, originating from anterolateral wall of receptacles (Figs 6H, 18D). Posterior epigynal border rather broad.

Measurements.TL 4.22, PL 1.91, PW at PLE 1.84, AL 2.30, AW 1.32. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.51, PLE 0.33, ALE 0.26, PME 0.11, PME-PME 1.22, PLE-PLE 0.66, ALE-PME 0.33, ALE-PLE 0.68. Leg I: TR 0.28, FM 2.12, PT 0.92, TB 1.85, MT 1.65, TA 0.73; Leg II: TR 0.27, FM 1.66, PT 0.70, TB 1.42, MT 0.82, TA 0.81; Leg III: TR 0.30, FM 1.81, PT 0.72, TB 1.26, MT 1.20, TA 0.53; Leg IV: TR 0.31, FM 1.80, PT 0.67, TB 1.28, MT 1.53, TA 0.65.

Distribution.

India and Sri Lanka (new record).