Sittipub Prószyński, 2016,

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2016, Delimitation and description of 19 new genera, a subgenus and a species of Salticidae (Araneae) of the world, Ecologica Montenegrina 7, pp. 4-32 : 27-29

Gen. Sittipub Prószyński, 2016 gen. n.

Figures 8K – M

Selected synonyms: Aranea pubescens Fabricius, 1775: 438 .

Sitticus pubescens Simon, 1901a: 578 , Figs 699-700.

Sitticus pubescens Prószyński, 1987: 96 .

Sitticus pubescens Zabka, 1997: 92 , Figs 346-351.

Combination Sitticus pubescens was used at least 28 times.

Type species. Aranea pubescens Fabricius, 1775: 438 .

Documentation studied. Numerous specimens from Poland, comparative diagnostic drawings of 2 species by Prószyński (1987: 96) and other rich literature.

Diagnosis. Type species recognizable by Sitticus –like habitus appearance and habitat preference. It resembles other SITTICINES by single, comb like cheliceral tooth on the anterior inner edge of chelicerae. It resembles several Sitticus species by body shape and coloration, which is dark grey with darker but irregular abdominal pattern, devoid of any striking white spots or stripes.

Males differ by very short and bent embolus, arising anterolaterally from broad basis. Spermophor relatively thin, in a form of somewhat distorted loop, located semilaterally. Tibial apophysis huge, and broad ( Fig. 8M ).

Females have unique epigyne, in a form of slightly concave, sclerotized plate, with two dark translucent spots of internal structures in the middle ( Fig. 8L ). Spermathecae irregular, oval, heavily sclerotized chamber, almost directly connected with copulatory openings, usually blocked by secretion ( Fig. 8K ).

Distribution. European species, common on sun exposed tree trunks (especially on pines), stones and rocks, timber and stone constructions. Recent migrant to Northern America, locally common.

Remarks. Geographical origin of the genus is unknown yet. With exception for a single species in Caucasus area, there is no known relative with similar structure of epigyne. Palpal organ reminiscent of some S American genera ( Hypaeus Simon, 1900 ) and Amycoida (Admesturius Galiano, 1988, Semiopyla Simon, 1901 ) with the central loop of spermophor irregular, embolus short and thin, arising from thick basis set anterolaterally.

Composition. The genus consists of two species transferred from Sitticus : European and North American Sittipub pubescens (Fabricius, 1775) and Caucasus Area S. relictarius (Logunov, 1998) .

Informal group of genera YLLENINES

Figures 6D–F , 8N , 9A–D

Representative species of the group. Yllenus arenarius Simon * 1, 1868.

Documentation studied. Comparative diagnostic drawings of 75 species in Prószyński (2016a) and the literature (especially Proszyński (1968) and Logunov & Marusik (2003)).

Diagnosis. Species of the group have relatively uniform habitus and natural history, previously classified as a single genus Yllenus , containing together 77 species and split now into three genera, two of which are new. The main diagnostic character of the group is scopula – brush of setae stretching from claws onto ventral surface of tarsus I ( Fig. 8N ), also large conductor in male palp, splitting off from the basis of embolus ( Figs. 9A, C ), the latter is hair like. The internal structure of epigyne ( Figs. 9B, D ) differs in three genera, but is similar within each genus. Chelicerae are slender, without developed posterior median edge, there are no cheliceral teeth, except a minute tip of sclerotized anterior median edge, protruding near the fang in some species. The size of carapace and abdomen are comparable, color pattern camouflaging in sandy environment ( Figs. 1D–F ). Carapace highest at eyes III, from where thorax is gently sloping, there is no flattened thoracal part. Palpal femur broad, crescent shaped, often with protuberance. Epigyne with prominent median pocket, spermathecae and copulatory ducts either heavily sclerotized or, if walls of ducts thinner, then form complicated coils, in some species even double spiral ( Fig. 9B ). That combinations of characters is unknown in other groups of genera, including ground dwelling AELURILLINES.

Remarks. All species of YLLENINES dwell on sands, in Asia, Africa and Europe (South and Central), protected by camouflage coloration, hiding under surface of sand, where they make nests, retreats and produce cocoons. Their natural history was studied in details by Bartos (2005) on Yllenus arenarius Simon, 1868 , and was confirmed by sundry observations on many other species. The structure of this taxon fit definition of subfamily, with several mutual characters, including appearance and biology. Male palps, epigyne and internal structure of epigyne delimit three groups of species, here described as three genera, closely related to each other but constituting separate lines.

Remarks. Splitting off embolus from conductor in Yllenus , both arising from the mutual base, is striking in comparison with Pellenes lapponicus , as demonstrated in SEM of that species (Fig, 5G). I hypothesize that it represents ancestral state.

Figures

Figure 1. Body color pattern and the internal structure in the informal group of MYRMARACHNINES: A – Myrmarachne formicaria, female and male; C – D Myrmarachne smaragdina, female and male; E – F Myrmaplata plataleoides, female and male. The internal structure of epigyne in: G – Myrmage gedongensis, H – Myrmatheca alticephalon, I – Toxeus maxillosus, K – Myrmavola yamasaki. The sources of photos: A – B – ©Photo J. Lissner; C –

Figure 6. Color photos of diagnostic characters and habitus of new genera: A – C – Psenuc sp. [from Australia]: row of subocular stridulatory bristles on tubercles, flattened body and palp; D – Logunyllus univittatus; E – F - Logunyllus vittatus, male and female; G – H – Orienticius vulpes, female and male; I – J – Nandicius: sp from Nanad Devi National Park – key photos by Miss Shazia Quasin, matching habitus appearance with the internal structure of epigyne (compare also Fig. 9E). Photos by: A – C – ©R. Whyte; D – E – ©J. Lissner; G – H – ©Kyoto Ogata; I – J – ©Shazia Quasin. By courtesy.

Figure 8. Diagnostic characters of new genera: A – B – Psenuc vesporum, the internal structure of epigyne, palp and modified tibia I with reduced spines; C – E – Okinawicius [?] vankeeri: spermatheca and duct, palp and habitus, note flattened body and a row of subocular stridulatory bristles on tubercles; F – I – Rudakius cinctus: the internal structure of epigyne and single spermatheca, magnified, abdominal pattern of female and male, male palp; J – R. maureri: the row of subocular stridulatory bristles on tubercles; K – M – Sittipub pubescens: the internal structure of epigyne, epigyne and male palp. N - Yllenus coreanus, scopula brush on tarsus I. Sources: drawn by J. Prószyński in Annales zoologici: A – B, K –1992: 44, 8: 112-113, f 88-90, 92-93; C – E – 2003: 53, 151-152, Figs 594, 605-609; F – I – 1984. 37: 351-352, f. 20, 23, 27, 39, 41; J –1992: 44: 105-106, Fig. 79; K – Proszynski 1987: 97 (Fig. unnumbered); N – 1968: 26: 426, Fig. 76; drawn by M. Żabka: L – M – Fauna Polski 19: 92, Figs 347-348, 350. By courtesy.

Figure 9. Diagnostic characters of new genera: A – B – Marusyllus hamifer: male palp, internal structure of epigyne, spermatheca (enlarged) dorsal and ventral views; C – D – Logunyllus albocinctus; E – Nandicius: sp from Nepal, internal structure of epigyne (compare also Fig. 9E); F – H – N. mussooriensis: male palp, leg I of female and male (note row of stridulatory microsetae on femur I, but tibia I not modified) epigyne and its internal structure; I – J – N. pseudicioides: male palp and internal structure of epigyne; K – M – Orienticius vulpes: male palp, epigyne and its internal structure. Drawn by J. Prószyński in Annales zoologici:A – D 1968 26: 430-435, Figs 78-84; C – D –1968 26: 463-466, Figs 136-137, 143; E –unpublished (shown in Prószyński 2016a, b); F– H–1992a: 44: 101-102, f 54-55, 57- 59; I – J –1984: 37: 374, Figs 63-68; K – M 1971: 28: 220-223, Figs 30-36. By courtesy.