Pancorius altus, Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2021

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2021, Phylogenetic relationships and systematics of the jumping spider genus Colopsus with the description of eight new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), Journal of Natural History 54 (43 - 44), pp. 2763-2814 : 2801-2805

Pancorius altus sp. nov.

( Figures 19 (b,d,f,h), Figures 20 (f–j), Figures 21 (a–f), Figures 22 (a–f))

Type material

Holotype, ♂ (IFS_SAL_829), Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Deltota, Loolecondera estate, 1480 m, 07° 08ʹ 45ʺ N, 80° 41ʹ 53ʺ E, beating, 22 June 2016, leg. NP Athukorala et al.

Paratype, ♀ (IFS_SAL_830), same locality and collection data as in holotype .

Other material examined

1♀ (IFS_SAL_831), same locality and collection data as in type material . 1♂ (IFS_SAL_344), same locality and collection data as in type material, 13 July 2010, leg . SP Benjamin and S Batuwita . 2♂ (IFS_SAL 1050-1051), same locality and collection data, 15 November 2017, leg . K . Nilani and B. Dilini . Nuwara Eliya District: 2♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 400- 402), Peak wilderness sanctuary, 06° 58ʹ 36ʺ N, 80° 21ʹ 46ʺ, hand collection, 22 February 2007, leg. SP Benjamin and Z Jaleel. 2♂ (IFS_SAL 1109-1110), Mandaram Nuwara, 1821 m, 07° 01ʹ 42ʺ N, 80° 46ʹ 3.2ʺ E, beating, 8 February 2018, leg. NP Athukorala et al. 2♂, 3♀ (IFS_SAL 124-128), Sabaragamuwa Province, Rathnapura District, Eastern Sinharaja, Morningside section, 06° 23ʹ 23ʺ N, 80° 30ʹ 05ʺ, hand collection, 23 February 2007, leg . SP Benjamin and Z Jaleel .

Etymology

The species name refers to the deep notch at the middle of posterior epigynal plate in females.

Diagnosis

This species is distinguishable from other congeners by white central prosomal band in females ( Figures 21 (e,f)), rounded bulbus, comparably shorter embolus ( Figures 19 (b), Figures 22 (c,e)), spermathecae with reniform, larger chamber and oval smaller chamber, comparably broader median septum, posterior epigynal plate with deep notch and a central pocket ( Figures 19d , Figures 20h–i )). It differs from closely related Pancorius alboclypeus sp. nov. by the presence of black clypeus of males, deep and narrow central pocket in females and from P. dabanis (Hogg 1922) by the shape of the RTA: the ventrally curved distal tip.

Description

Male: Medium-sized spider. In life, habitus brown with dark brown patches, prosoma decorated with white bands on the lateral sides of the prosoma. Clypeus black, sparsely covered with long, grey hairs. Eyes are surrounded by pale orange rings. Anterior half of AMEs covered with pale orange rings and posterior half surrounded by pale white rings. Chelicerae black with dark brown fangs. In ethanol-preserved specimens, brown prosoma with pale yellowish brown median band behind fovea ( Figure 22 (a)). Eye field rather elevated with black blotches. Fovea distinct. Prosoma high, broader than abdomen and sloping posteriorly. Sternum oval, pale yellow in middle, edges greyish brown ( Figure 22 (b)). Posterior margin of prosoma steep, slightly truncated. Leg I dark brown, elongated with dense black bristles on patella I, tibia I, metatarsus I, others yellowish brown.

Abdomen as long as prosoma, slightly narrower tapering posteriorly. Dorsum blackish grey dispersed with pale brown dots and medially pale yellow longitudinal band with serrated margins ( Figure 22 (a)). Ventrum blackish grey with pale yellowish–brown dots arranged into four rows from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Spinnerets blackish grey. Measurements: TL 7.80, AL 4.03, AW 2.08, PL 3.77, PW 2.86.

Yellowish brown palp. Cymbium with slightly narrower distal region. Embolus thin, short originating from antero–lateral portion of bulbus ( Figures 19 (b), Figures 22 (c, e)). Bulbus oval without any projection ( Figures 19 (b), Figures 22 (c,e)). Sperm duct comparably broader at the distal end of tegulum, narrower at the posterior bulbus. Palpal tibia long ( Figure 22 (c)). RTA with broad base and curved ventrally with pointed tip ( Figures 19 (b,f), Figures 22 (c,e,f)).

Female: Almost all characters are similar to male except comparably narrower prosoma and yellowish brown, less stronger greenish brown front legs. In life, prosoma brown with a pale white central and lateral bands ( Figure 19 (e,f)). White diamond-shaped mark behind short fovea ( Figure 20 (f)). Abdomen brown with serrated longitudinal median band intermingled with brown patches. Measurements: TL 9.62, AL 4.94, AW 3.12, PL 4.03, PW 2.34.

Epigynum moderately sclerotised. Large, membranous ‘window’ near to epigastric furrow ( Figures 19 (c), Figures 20 (h,i)). Broad median septum. Copulatory opening could open inside of membranous ‘window’. Copulatory ducts not visible. Spermathecae highly sclerotised with two chambers; reniform large chamber and oval–shaped small chamber ( Figures 19 (g), Figures 20 (j)). Fertilisation ducts originated from anterior wall of the receptacles ( Figures 19 (g), Figures 20 (j)). Strongly sclerotised thin posterior wall with deep median indentation and one central pocket ( Figures 19 (c), Figures 20 (h,i)).

Remarks

Due to the thick sclerotisation of the epigynum, it was digested for two days and then cleared with methyl salicyclate. However, the positions of copulatory opening and copulatory ducts were still difficult to recognise.

Figures

Figure 19. Pancorius alboclypeus sp. nov. (a, c, e, g) and Pancorius altus sp. nov. (b, d, f, h); (a, b). ventral view of palp, (c, d). ventral view of epigynum, (e, f). retrolateral view of palp, (g, h). dorsal view of vulva.

Figure 20. Pancorius alboclypeus sp. nov. (a–e); (a, b). Female habitus, a. dorsal view, b. ventral view, (c–e). Epigynum; (c, d). ventral view, (e). dorsal view and Pancorius altus sp. nov. (f–j); (f, g). Female habitus, f. dorsal view. (g). ventral view. (h–j). Epigynum; (h, i). ventral view. (j). dorsal view. Scale bars: (a, b), (f, g) = 2 mm, (c–e), (h–j) = 0.1 mm.

Figure 21. Photographs of live Pancorius altus sp. nov. (a–f); (a–d). male in life, (g–f). female from Loolecondera estate.

Figure 22. Pancorius altus sp. nov. (a, b). Male habitus, (a). dorsal view. (b). ventral view. (c–f). Male palp, c. ventral view. (d). prolateral view. (e). ventral view. (f). retrolateral view. Scale bars: (a, b) = 2 mm, (c–f) = 0.2 mm.