Habronattus chamela Maddison

Maddison, Wayne P., 2017, New species of Habronattus and Pellenes jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Harmochirina), ZooKeys 646, pp. 45-72 : 46-49

Habronattus chamela Maddison sp. n. Figs 13-25

Holotype.

Male specimen JAL14-9837 in CNAN- IBUNAM, with data: México: Jalisco: Estación de Biología Chamela, 400-650 m on Calandria Trail, 19.5038 - 19.5045°N 105.0334 - 105.0344°W, 19 Feb. 2014, W. Maddison & H. Proctor WPM#14-034.

Paratypes

(5♂♂ 7♀♀). Same data as holotype (1♀ specimen JAL14-9844 in CNAN- IBUNAM. 1♀ specimen JAL14-9840 in UBC-SEM, 1♀ in AMNH). México: Jalisco: Estación de Biología Chamela, 19.498° N 105.045° W, 1-2 June 1998, W. Maddison et al, WPM#98-071 (1♂ in AMNH, 1♂ in MCZ, 2♂♂ 2♀♀ in UBC-SEM). México: Jalisco: Estación de Biología Chamela 400-850 m on Calandria Trail, 19.5023-19.5045°N 105.0328-105.0344°W, 19 Feb. 2014, W. Maddison & H. Proctor, WPM#14-033 (1♀ specimen JAL14-9847 in UBC-SEM). México: Jalisco: Estación de Biología Chamela, Calandria Trail, 19.501 - 19.505°N 105.035°W, 130 m elev., 23 Feb. 2014, W. Maddison & R. Sosa, WPM#14-038 (1♂ specimen JAL14-0138 Fig. 19 in UBC-SEM, 1♀ in MCZ).

Etymology.

The name of the type locality is placed as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This little-ornamented species appears to be close to Habronattus nahuatlanus Griswold 1987. The male’s white clypeus is divided by one or two central dark bands beneath and between the AME (Figs 18, 19, 21), separating it from most other Habronattus except Habronattus nahuatlanus and Habronattus banksi (Peckham & Peckham, 1901), from which it differs in having a much less rotated bulb of the palp. In some specimens of Habronattus chamela , the dividing bands are absent (Fig. 20). The bulb of the palp is unusually little rotated (Fig. 13), with the base of the TmA pointing prolaterally (to 90°) as in Habronattus paratus , Habronattus moratus , and the americanus group, from which Habronattus chamela differs in many aspects of markings and form.

Description.

Male (focal specimen: holotype). Carapace length 2.0; abdomen length 1.8. Palp with bulb little rotated, with embolus arising at 150° and the base of TmA directed prolaterally (Fig. 13). RTA long with fingerlike projection (Fig. 14). Colour (Figs 16-21): Chelicerae dark with a patch of white scales (Figs 18-21). Palp femur and patella pale yellow, contrasting against dark tibia and cymbium. Femora of legs pale centrally, with black annulae proximally and distally. Other segments medium brown (with cream scales) with black annulae distally. Prolateral side of first tibia and metatarsus black. Clypeus covered with white scales except for two vertical black lines near the midline. Extending from clypeus is a broad marginal band of white scales, reaching to the back of the carapace where it contacts the narrow longitudinal bands descending from just inside the PME. Carapace otherwise mostly black or dark brown, except for faint inverted “V” between PME and two small spots in the middle of the ocular area (Fig. 17). Abdomen dark above with a cream sword-shaped longitudinal band along the midline, and with lateral cream lines. The dark areas are black in the anterior third, but reddish in the posterior two-thirds.

Female (focal specimen: paratype, specimen JAL14-9844, Fig. 23). Carapace length 2.1; abdomen length 2.7. Epigynum with central pocket long (Fig. 15); atria separate, not joined anteriorly. Colour: Chelicerae dark with a few white scales on basal half. Legs medium brown but with distinctly paler area centrally on femora. Clypeus dark except for white scales along the margin, extending upward at the midline. Carapace and abdomen as in the male but with lower contrast. The central longitudinal band of the abdominal dorsum is usually broken into two cream-coloured spots.

Geographical variation.

Males from the area of El Tuito, north of the type locality, have a continuous red patch in the centre of the clypeus (Fig. 21), instead of two vertical lines.

Additional material examined.

12♂♂ 1♀ in UBC-SEM: México: Jalisco: El Tuito, Rancho Primavera, 20.3447°N 105.3537°W, 700 m elev., 3 March 2014, W. Maddison, WPM#14-047 (4♂♂); México: Jalisco: Sierra Manantlan, 19.7013°N 104.3918°W, 1550 m elev., 1 June 1998, W. Maddison et al., WPM#98-067 (7♂♂ 1♀). México: Jalisco: Estación de Biología Chamela, 19.498°N 105.045°W, 1-2 June 1998, W. Maddison et al., WPM#98-071 (1♂).

Natural history.

Known from the tropical deciduous forests along the southern coast of Jalisco, México (Fig. 101), typically found on leaf litter or sticks on the ground that receives sun but is somewhat shaded (Fig. 99) - in contrast to the more open sunny ground on which Habronattus roberti lives nearby. The courtship involves the male standing at a distance from the female with first legs spread; he walks in bursts toward the female, sidling somewhat. On each burst forward, the front legs are flicked upward and the palps lowered to expose the face. A video of male courtship is available at https://youtu.be/mgXhB61u0mA.