Trydarssus nobilitatus ( Nicolet, 1849 )

Barry J. Richardson, 2010, A Review of the Jumping Spider Fauna (Araneae: Salticidae) of Chile, Zootaxa 2418, pp. 1-49 : 42-45

Trydarssus nobilitatus ( Nicolet, 1849)

Figs 119–124

Attus similis Nicolet, 1849: 372 ; Ramirez, 1989, 8.

Attus nobilitatus Nicolet, 1849: 396 ; Ramirez, 1989: 8.

Trydarssus nobilitatus: Galiano, 1995: 66 , 106–7, figs 2, 7–10, 13–14, 18–19.

Remarks: A second species, T. pantherinus ( Mello-Leito, 1946) , is found in Argentina and Paraguay close to the Chilean border. It is likely that, ultimately, it will be found in northern central Chile. It is easily distinguished by the morphology of the female genitalia and the male palp ( Figs 125–126).

Material examined. CHILE: 13, Farellones , 70.30°W, 33.351°S, 27 November 2001, F. G. Andrews ( BJR988 , CAS) .

Diagnosis. The species can be separated from T. pantherinus , the only other species in the genus, on the basis of the square rather than pointed shape of the tibial apophysis in the male ( Fig. 121 vs. 126). The form of the female genitalia also differs (see Figs 122 , 125). The two pockets near the posterior edge of the epigynum in T. pantherinus are missing in T. nobilitatus , and the fossae guides are C shaped in T. nobilitatus and only slightly curved in T. pantherinus . The colour pattern of the abdomen (lighter median stripe rather than a series of inverted V’s) also differ.

Description: Male: Cephalothorax pale, orange-brown, with median patches of white lanceolate hairs in front of the fovea and down the posterior half of pars thoracica ( Fig. 119 ). Surrounds of ALE, PME and PLE, black. Pars cephalica covered with fine golden reflective hairs. Clypeus light brown with grey fringe. Chelicerae vertical, tending to geniculate, orange, with two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium yellow-orange grading to yellow distally. Sternum yellow-orange. Abdomen slender, covered with fine orange-brown hairs, white narrow median stripe the length of the abdomen. Spinnerets brown with dorsal black spots. Ventral abdomen pale grey brown. Body markings vary in size and intensity from specimen to specimen (Galliano 1995). Legs brown, L3 and L4 lighter and shorter than L1 and L2. L1 femur with three dorsal and two distal dorsolateral spines. L2, L3 and L4 femurs with three dorsal and three dorsolateral spines. L1–4, tibia and metatarsus with three and two pairs of ventrolateral spines, respectively. Palp: Tegulum with basal lobe, embolus forming the apex of an extension of the tegulum and only separated from it by a faint crease. Dimensions (after Galiano 1995): CL 2.73, EFL 1.17, CW 2.27, AEW 1.70, PEW 1.85,

Female: General appearance similar to male. Again there is some variation between individuals in colour patterns (Galliano 1995). Epigynum: poorly sclerotised, with two anterior C-shaped fossae oriented posteriolaterally, with well separated copulatory openings ( Figs 122–123 ). Insemination ducts long with distinct glands near entrance to the spermathecae, spermathecae rounded. Posterior edge of the epigynum with a median notch but no pockets near the posterior edge of the epigynum. Dimensions (after Galiano 1995): CL 2.37, EFL 0.98, CW 1.87, AEW 1.47, PEW 1.57.

Distribution. Known from Andean foothills in Chile ( Fig. 124 ).

Figures

FIGURES 119 – 124. Trydarssus nobilitatus. 119 male, dorsal view; 120 – 121 male palp (120 ventral view, 121 lateral view); 122 – 123 female genitalia (122 ventral view of external characteristics [redrawn after Galiano 1995], 123 dorsal view of cleared specimen [redrawn after Galiano 1995]); 124 known distribution. Scales: total body 1 mm; remainder 0.2 mm