SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841

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 : 2771-2772

Subfamily SALTICINAE Blackwall, 1841

Clade Salticoida Maddison & Hedin, 2003 Clade Saltafresia Bodner & Maddison, 2012 Clade Simonida Maddison, 2015 Tribe Plexippini Simon, 1901 Subtribe Plexippina Simon, 1901

Genus Colopsus Simon, 1902

Colopsus Simon, 1902 . Type species: Colopsus cancellatus Simon, 1902: 409–410 by original designation. Gender masculine.

Evarcha (in part) Prószyński 1984.

Evacin (in part) Prószyński 2018.

Remarks

Colopsus was described as a monotypic genus by Simon (1902) based on material from Sri Lanka. Prószyński (1984) letter synonymised Colopsus with Evarcha : at that time no specific characters unifying species of Colopsus with that of Evarcha or any other scientific argumentation justifying the act were provided. Further, the Sri Lankan species was never studied in any detail except for a few drawings of the original type series. Aggravating the situation Prószyński (2018) placed C. Cancellatus in his new genus Evacin with more than 21 other species not related in any way to each other.

The differential diagnosis of Evacin directs the reader to a series of images leaving room to misinterpretation. The description, based on Evacin kochi , the type species that bear the designated homologies of the genus, does not tally with that of the type species of Colopsus , C. cancellatus . The type and other species of Colopsus , cannot be considered to be part of the most inclusive clade that included the type of Evacin. Also see Blick and Marusik (2018) and WSC ( World Spider Catalog 2020).

Diagnosis

Species of Colopsus are colour dimorphic. Males of this genus are distinguishable by the metallic green colouration of the anterior half of the body, this colour pattern tapers and is surrounded by ferrous red colouration, towards the anterior body. Females are yellowbrown, with a prominent central yellow-brown central band on the opisthosoma ( Figures 3 (a–d), Figures 10 (a–b, h–j), Figures 12 (a–d)). The palpal tibia is longer than the bulbus, and in some cases is even longer than the cymbium; in most other species of Evarcha the palpal tibia is shorter than the bulbus/cymbium. A simple oval or rounded bulb ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 9 (c,e), Figures 13 (d), Figures 16 (c, e) with/without posterior lobe and thread– like or dagger–like embolus ( Figure 8 (d) are characteristic of males. A large, membranous ‘window’ and epigynal plate with two lateral pockets ( Figures 5 (c,d,h,i), Figures 14 (c,d), multi-chambered spermathecae ( Figures 5 (e, j), Figures 14 (e) are characteristic in females.

Description

Medium to large spiders, size ranging from 6 to 13 mm in length. Prosoma high, longer than wide, colouration from metallic brownish green to dark brown. Horn like tuft of long, curved black bristles between ALE and PLE. Ocular area darker than carapace and rather elevated. Comparably narrower clypeus often covered with stiff pale white bristles. Chelicerae black covered with stiff white bristles. Sternum oval. Simple male palp with oval or rounded bulbus ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 11 (c,e), Figures 13 (d), Figures 16 (c,e)) with/without posterior lobe. Embolus filiform or dagger–like and size ranging from short to long bent towards the bulbus ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 11 (c,e), Figures 13 (d), Figures 16 (c,e)). Sperm duct not meandering decreasing in size from distal to proximal tegulum. RTA single, arising from broader base and ending in a pointed tip without bifurcation ( Figures 4 (c,e,f), Figures 8 (d,e), Figures 11 (c,e,f), Figures 13 (d,e), Figures 16 (c,e,f)). Palpal tibia long. Epigyne with posterior transverse plate with two lateral pockets ( Figures 5 (c,d,h,i), Figures 14 (c,d)) at epigastric furrow. A pair of membranous window in front of the posterior epigynal plate. Spermathecae multi– chambered and highly sclerotised ( Figures 5 (e, j), Figures 14 (e)).

Composition

Currently five species, Colopsus cancellatus , C. cinereus sp. nov., C. ferruginus sp. nov., C. magnus sp. nov. and C. tenuis sp. nov. All are endemic to Sri Lanka. More species should be expected to occur in India.

Figures

Figure 3. Photographs of live Colopsus cancellatus from Ethagala; (a–d). Male, (e–h). Female.

Figure 4. Colopsus cancellatus (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) = 0.5 mm, (d–f) = 0.2 mm.

Figure 5. Colopsus cancellatus (a–e); a–b. Female habitus, a. dorsal view. b. ventral view. c–e. Epigynum, c–d. ventral view. e. dorsal view and Colopsus ferruginus 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, h = 0.2 mm, d–e, i–j = 0.1 mm.

Figure 8. Colopsus cinerea sp. nov. (a, b). Male habitus,(a). dorsal view.(b). ventral view.(c–e). Male palp, (c). prolateral view. (d). ventral view. (e). retrolateral view. Scale bars: (a, b) = 1 mm, (c–e) = 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Colopsus cinerea sp. nov. (a, b), a. Palp, ventral view. (b). retrolateral view. Abbreviations: e = embolus; dcrta = dorsal curve of rta; sd = sperm duct; plt = posterior lobe of tegulum; t = tegulum; vcrta = ventral curve of rta. Scale bars: (a–d) = 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Photographs of live Colopsus ferruginus sp. nov. (a, b, d, e, h–j). males. (c, f–g, k–l). females; (a–c). from Ethagala, (d–g). Mihintale sanctuary, (h–i). Gannoruwa forest. (j–l). Dambulla arboretum.

Figure 11. Colopsus ferruginus 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) = 0.5 mm, (d–f) = 0.2 mm.

Figure 12. Photographs of live males of Colopsus magnus sp. nov. from Upcot, Nuwara Eliya (a–d) and Pancorius alboclypeus sp. nov. from Dothalugala (e–h).

Figure 13. Colopsus magnus sp. nov. (a, b). Male habitus; a. dorsal view, (b). ventral view. (c–e). Male palp; (c). prolateral view, (d). ventral view, (e). retrolateral view.Scale bars:(a, b) = 2 mm, (c–e) = 0.5 mm.

Figure 14. Colopsus magnus 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 Evarcha latus 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 16. Colopsus tenuis 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) = 0.5 mm, (d–f) = 0.2 mm.