Carrhotus lobatus, Satkunanathan & Benjamin, 2022

Satkunanathan, Abira & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2022, Phylogenetic placement of Carrhotus Thorell, 1891 with three new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 817 (1), pp. 78-110 : 92-94

Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B1F383E0-259C-4888-8227-FEB0F27014D3

Figs 8A–D , 9A–B , 17

Diagnosis

This species is distinguishable by the distinctive double-lobed PLP and short and hook-shaped embolus tip directed in a clockwise path ( Figs 8C–D , 9A–B ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word ‘ lobatus ’ meaning ‘lobed’, loosely referring to its distinctive proximal lobe of the tegulum.

Material examined

Holotype SRI LANKA • ♂; Central Province, Matale District, Gammaduwa, Knuckles Range ; 07°27′57″ N, 80°46′24″ E; 900 m a.s.l.; 18 Nov. 2009; S.P. Benjamin and S. Batuwita leg.; hand collection; NIFS_ SAL_282 .

Other material

SRI LANKA – Central Province • 1 ♂; Matale District, Knuckles range, Pitawala Pathana ; 07°27′57″ N, 80°46′24″ E; 17 Mar. 2015; N.P. Athukorala leg.; hand collection; NIFS_SAL_403 • 1 ♂; Kandy District, Peradeniya ; 07°14′58″ N, 80°36′43″ E; 674 m a.s.l; 22 Dec. 2017; N.P. Athukorala et al. leg.; beating; NIFS_SAL_1114 . – Southern Province • 1 ♂; Galle District, Hiyare, Kombala-Kottawa FR ; 06°03′53″ N, 80°18′56″ E; 110 m a.s.l.; 24–26 May 2016; N.P. Athukorala et al. leg.; beating; NIFS_ SAL_1285 .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. TL 5.15, PL 2.13, PW at PLEs 1.71, AL 2.19, AW 1.71. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.46; ALE 0.28; PME 0.08; PLE 0.26; PME–PME 1.46; PLE–PLE 1.34; ALE–PME 0.24; ALE–PLE 0.6. Leg I: Tr 0.82, Fm 1.08, Pt 1.36, Tb 0.86, Mt 0.5; Leg II: Tr 0.7, Fm 0.82, Pt 0.8, Tb 0.6, Mt 0.4; Leg III: Tr 1, Fm 0.9, Pt 0.74, Tb 0.8, Mt 0.44; Leg IV: Tr 0.92, Fm 0.5, Pt 1.08, Tb 0.74, Mt 0.46.

COLOR AND BODY. In ethanol, carapace brown, posterior region blackish-brown. Clypeal region brown; ALEs and PLEs surrounded by blackish orbital setae. Lateral margins of carapace slightly truncated and steep. Chelicerae brownish with curved outer margins and excavated inner margins: two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Sternum pentagonal, blackish brown; labium and maxillae brown. Leg I robust; femora I–IV dark brown dorsally; patellae and tibiae dark brown; tarsi and metatarsi of all legs dark brown. Abdomen oblong, sparsely covered with black hairs; anterior margin covered with long black scales with sparse white hairs making an arc; no prominent pattern present on posterior region, beige pairs of transverse lines and pair of beige spots covered with white hairs on mid dorsum; venter blackish brown with a blackish brown median region. Spinnerets blackish brown, covered with a patch of white hairs dorsally ( Fig. 8A–B ).

PALP. Dark brown; embolus short and hook-shaped and embolus tip directed in the clockwise path; its base separated from the tegulum. The double-lobed PLP is very distinctive compared to that of the other species considered here. RTA long and angle between the RTA and tibia is about 45º ( Fig. 9A–B ).

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs in the montane and submontane forests of the central highlands of Sri Lanka with limited distribution ( Fig. 17 ). Specimens were collected by beating vegetation up to a height of 1– 2 m.

Figures

Fig 8. Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov. A–B. Male habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C–D. Palp, C. Ventral view. D. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars: A–B = 2 mm; C–D = 0.2 mm.

Fig 9. Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov., palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: E = embolus; PLP = posterior lateral protrusion; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; TE = tegulum. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig 17. Distribution of Carrhotus spp. of Sri Lanka.