Colopsus cancellatus Simon, 1902

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 : 2776-2779

Colopsus cancellatus Simon, 1902

( Figures 3 (a–h), Figures 4 (a–f), Figures 5 (a–e), Figures 6 (a,b), Figures 7 (a,d))

Evarcha cancellata ( Simon, 1902) : Prószyński, 1984, p. 51.

Evacin cancellata ( Simon, 1902) : Prószyński, 2018, p. 143.

Material examined

Sri Lanka: Sabaragamuwa Province: Rathnapura District: 2♂ (IFS_SAL 115–116), Eastern Sinharaja, Morningside section, 06° 23ʹ 23ʺ N, 80° 30ʹ 05ʺ, hand collection, 23 February 2007, leg. SP Benjamin and Z Jaleel; 1♀ (IFS_SAL 123), same locality and collection data; 2♂, 3♀ (IFS_SAL 124–128), Gilimale FR, 110 m, 06° 45ʹ 55.8ʺ N, 80° 25ʹ 45.5ʺ E, hand collection, 11 February 2007, leg. SP Benjamin and Z Jaleel; 2♀ (IFS_SAL 432–433), Palabaddala, 1115 m, 06° 48ʹ 27ʺ N, 80° 32528ʹ 12ʺ E, 22 August 2012, leg . SP Benjamin et al.; 2♂, 2♀ (IFS_SAL 982–985), Sinharaja FR, Kudawa , 521 m, 06° 24ʹ 58.26ʺ N, 80° 25ʹ 25ʺ E, beating, 11–13 October 2016, leg . K Nilani and I Sandunika . Central Province: Kandy District: 1♀ (IFS_SAL 161), Udawattakelle , 580 m, 07° 17ʹ 54ʺ N, 80° 38ʹ 29ʺ E, beating, 11 May 2015, leg . NP Athukorala et al. Matale District : 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 681–682), IFS Arboretum, 180 m, 07° 51ʹ 34ʺ N, 80° 40ʹ 28ʺ E, beating, 24 August 2010, leg . SP Benjamin and S Batuwita ; 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 468–469), same locality and collection data, 19 January 2010, leg . SP Benjamin, S Batuwita and PMH Sandamali ; 1♂ (IFS_SAL 523), same locality and collection data, 2 February 2010, leg . S Batuwita and PMH Sandamali. Nuwara Eliya District: 2♀ (IFS_SAL 360–361), Agarapatana , Bopattalawa FR, 1665 m, 06° 50ʹ 36ʺ N, 80° 40ʹ 40ʺ E, hand collection, 18–21 February 2007,leg . SP Benjamin and Z Jaleel . Uva Province: Badulla District: 1♀ (IFS_SAL 422), Ohiya , 1280 m, 06° 50ʹ 32ʺ N, 80° 53ʹ 05ʺ E, beating, 7 December 2011, leg . SP Benjamin ; 1♂ (IFS_SAL 425), same locality and collection data, 26 May 2012, leg . NP Athukorala; 1♂ (IFS_SAL 481), Namunukula, along Passara, Elle Road (B113), 2000 m, 06° 52ʹ N, 81° 07ʹ E, beating, 27 February 2015, leg . SP Benjamin and NP Athukorala; 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL_325–326), Diyaluma falls , 660 m, 06° 43ʹ 57ʺ N, 81° 01ʹ 58ʺ E, beating, 4 July 2012, leg . SP Benjamin . North Western Province: Kurunagala District: 1♀ (IFS_SAL 291), Ethagala , hand collection, 190 m, 07° 29ʹ 11.23ʺ N, 80° 22ʹ 21.64ʺ E, beating, 19 December 2007, leg . Z Jaleel ; 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 411–412), same locality and collection data, 15 August 2007; 1♂ (IFS_SAL 513), same locality and collection data, 20–VIII–2010, leg . S Batuwita ; 1♂, 4♀ (IFS_SAL 797–799), same locality and collection data, 7 June 2016, leg . NP Athukorala et al.; 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 372–373), Nikaravatiya, 53 m, 07° 44ʹ 46ʺ N, 80° 07ʹ 54ʺ E, 1–3 February 2007, leg . Z Jaleel; 1♂, 1♀ (IFS_SAL 393–394), same locality and collection data; 1♀ (IFS_SAL 381), Kankaniyamulla FR, 47 m, 07° 21ʹ 32ʺ N, 80° 02ʹ 07ʺ E, hand collection, 30 August 2012, leg . Z Jaleel . Western Province: 1♀ (IFS_SAL 465), Gampaha District, Alawala, 50 m, 07° 06ʹ 44ʺ N, 80° 09ʹ 42ʺ E, 29 March 2012; 2♂ (IFS_SAL 695–696), Kalutara District , Panadura, Mahabellana along Bolgoda south lake, 9 m, 06° 42ʹ 48ʺ N, 79° 54ʹ 09ʺ E, beating, 8 July 2010, leg . SP Benjamin and SK Dayananda .

Diagnosis

The species is distinguishable from other congeners by the dark golden green blotches on the anterior abdomen in males ( Figure 3 (a–c)), smooth rounded bulbus, embolus with membranous covering ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 7 (a,d)), long palpal tibia ( Figure 2 (c); Prószyński 1984), strongly curved RTA ( Figures 4 (c,e,f), Figures 7 (a, d)), orange blotches behind AMEs and ALEs in females ( Figure 3 (e,f)), broad median septum, spermathecae with oval–shaped large chamber and reniform small chamber ( Figures 5e , Figures 6 (b)), Posterior epigynal plate with median indentation and two lateral pockets ( Figures 5 (c,d), Figures 6 (a)).

Description

Male: Large spiders. In life, brown prosoma covered with metallic yellowish green scales ( Figure 3 (a–c)). Clypeus covered with long, greyish white hairs ( Figure 3 (b)). Eye field rather elevated. ALEs, PMES and PLEs covered with golden yellow rings ( Figure 3 (b,d)). Prosoma high, broader than abdomen and sloping posteriorly. Chelicerae dark brown, covered with greyish white, tough hairs brown fangs ( Figure 3 (b). Sternum oval, prominent indentation near coxae IV, yellowish brown in middle and edges pale brown colour in ethanol-preserved specimens ( Figure 4 (b)). Posterior margin of prosoma steep, slightly truncated. Leg I rather robust, elongated, dense black bristles on patella, tibia, metatarsus I ( Figure 3 (a–d)). All legs blackish brown dispersed with metallic yellowish green blotches except pale brown tarsi ( Figure 3 (a–d)).

Abdomen longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum covered with metallic yellowish green blotches on blackish brown anterior abdomen ( Figure 3 (a–c)). Posterior dorsum decorated with reddish brown scales. Ventrum pale yellowish brown with greyish brown dots arranged in four rows as a single band from epigastric furrow to spinnerets ( Figure 4 (b)). Spinnerets greyish brown. Measurements: TL 12.09, AL 7.15, AW 3.51, PL 4.68, PW 4.55.

Brown palp. Cymbium long with gradually narrowing distal region. Embolus thin, long, associated with membranous structure originating from antero–lateral portion of the bulbus ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 7 (a,d)). Rounded smooth bulbus without any projection ( Figures 4 (c,e), Figures 5 (a)). Sperm duct comparably broader at the distal end of the tegulum, narrower at the posterior tegulum. Palpal tibia much longer ( Figure 4 (c)); Prószyński 1984). Medium-sized RTA with a lower dorsal curve and an upper ventral curve ending in a pointed tip ( Figures 4 (c,e,f), Figures 7 (a,d)); Prószyński 1984).

Female: In life, prosoma with pale yellow and brownish black diagonal stripes radiating from fovea extending towards posterior prosoma ( Figure 3 (e,f)). Eye field metallic blackish white and rather raised. PLEs covered with pale yellow rings, orange blotches behind AMEs, ALEs, around PMEs ( Figure 3 (e–h)). Clypeus covered with tuft of long, white hairs ( Figure 3 (f,h)). Chelicerae pale brown with brown fangs. Shape of sternum as in males. Front pair of legs slightly enlarged than in males. Other pairs greenish white in colour.

Abdomen longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Anterior dorsum decorated with brownish black blotches ( Figure 3 (e,g)). Large, black markings at the posterior half of abdomen, small brown patch near spinnerets. Ventrum as in males. Spinnerets greyish yellow. Measurements: TL 10.79, AL 5.20, AW 2.61, PL 4.81, PW 3.90.

Epigynum highly sclerotised. Large, membranous ‘window’ at epigastric furrow ( Figure 5 (c,d)), 6(a–b). Broad median septum ( Prószyński 1984). Copulatory opening obvious and open inside of rounded portion of membranous ‘window’. Copulatory ducts indistinct. Spermathecae highly sclerotised, two chambers; oval–shaped large chamber and reniform small chamber ( Figure 5 (e), Figures 6 (b)). Fertilisation ducts originated from mid – anterior wall of large chamber ( Figure 5 (e), Figures 6 (b). Highly sclerotised Posterior epigynal plate with median indentation, two lateral pockets ( Figure 5 (c,d), Figures 6 (a, b); Prószyński 1984).

Remarks

Males of C. cancellatus are much larger than females and differ in body colouration, markings, and size of first pair of legs from females ( Figure 3 (a–h)). In localities where C. cancellata was found, it was sympatric with C. ferruginus sp. nov. Prószyński (2009) identified a specimen from Java as Evarcha cf. cancellata . However, he mentioned that his identification is provisional and an unambiguous identification of these specimens might require detailed illustrations of the internal epigynum of C. cancellata . Here, we compare his drawing to our specimens/illustrations of C. cancellatus and note that it differs considerably from our material. Thus, the occurrence of C. cancellatus in Java is doubtful.

Figures

Figure 2. The single most parsimonious tree obtained by analysis of the combined molecular data in TNT. The numbers above nodes represent group resampling values and below nodes denotes Bremer supports and relative Bremer supports. Collection country is given if available.

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 6. Epigynum, ventral view (a, c), dorsal view (b, d). Colopsus cancellatus (a–b) and Colopsus ferruginus sp. nov. (c–d). Abbreviations: cp = central pocket; fd = fertilisation duct; lp = lateral pocket; mw = membranous window; pep = posterior epigynal plate; s = spermathecae. Scale bars: (a– d) = 0.1 mm.

Figure 7. Colopsus cancellatus (a, d), Colopsus ferruginus sp. nov. (b, e) and Colopsus tenuis sp. nov. (c, f). (a–c). palp, ventral view. (d–f). palp, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: e = embolus; dcrta = dorsal curve of rta; sd = sperm duct; t = tegulum; vcrta = ventral curve of rta. Scale bars: a–f = 0.2 mm.