Myrmarachne paludosa ( Simon, 1900 ) Benjamin, 2015

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2015, Model mimics: antlike jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne from Sri Lanka, Journal of Natural History 49 (43), pp. 2609-2666 : 2629-2634

Myrmarachne paludosa ( Simon, 1900) comb. nov.

( Figures 13A, B , 14A–G , 15A–H , 16A–D )

Panachraesta paludosa Simon, 1900: 405

Type material

Syntypes of Panachraesta paludosa : 6 females and 4 juveniles, Sri Lanka, Colombo , no more data given ( MNHN 20511/2306). Examined.

Diagnosis

Myrmarachne paludosa ( Simon, 1900) comb. nov. could be separated from other Sri Lankan Myrmarachne species by the shape of the chelicerae: proximal half of chelicerae not constricted, outer sides more or less parallel, curved dorsum. Further, the black coloured body covered with fine white hairs ( Figures 14A–G , 15A, B ) and the upward pointing, tapering RTA is diagnostic. Females may be separated by the elongated S that partly surrounds CO, connecting to it at the bottom margins ( Figure 15E–H ).

Description

Male from Thawalamtenne: total length: 8.0; prosoma length: 5.6, width: 1.6. Leg I: femur 1.6, patella 0.7, tibia 1.6, metatarsus 0.8, tarsus 0.5. Prosoma oval, somewhat longer than wide. Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide. Uniformly black coloured, preserved specimens dark reddish brown. Legs a light reddish brown with black rings. All eyes surrounded by dark rings. Leg formula 4132. Leg spination not examined. Palps as in Figure 16A–D . Female: total length: 5.6; prosoma length: 1.6, width: 1.4. Leg 1: femur 1.6, patella 0.8, tibia 1.6, metatarsus 0.8 tarsus 0.4. Morphology as above, except for the lighter coloured prosoma and opisthosoma. Leg formula 4132. Leg spination not examined. Epigynum and vulva as in Figures 13B , 15E–H. S elongated and partly surrounds CO, connecting to it at the bottom margins ( Figure 15E–H ).

Distribution

Known only from Sri Lanka. Probably endemic as it occurs only in primary forest of the wet zone and is absent in the surrounding dry forest and coastal regions.

Natural history

The specimen from Gilimale was collected together with ants of the genus Camponotus . However they are different to the Camponotus species associated with M. prava .

Other material examined

Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa Province, 4 females, Kegalla District, Kitulgala, Makanda Mukalara , 3–4 February 1997, K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, T. Wijesinghe, S. Siriwardene, T. Gunawardana, USNM . 1 female, Ratnapura District, Gilimale Forest Reserve , 11 February 2007, SP. Benjamin and Z. Jaleel, MHNG . Central Province, Kandy District , 1 male, Kandy, Udwattakele , 9 May 1975, P.B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne, USNM . 1 male, Kandy District, Thawalamtenne , 740–760 m, 16–18 September 1977, K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, T. Wijesinhe, M. Jayaweere, collected in a Moericke type yellow pan trap, USNM . 2 males 1 female, Kandy District, Dunumadalawa , c. 600 m, 07°17 ʹ 00 ″ N, 80°37 ʹ 49 ″ E, 7 October 2009, SP. Benjamin et al., MHNG . 1 female, Kandy District, Knuckles range , Corbett’ s Gap , 07°23 ʹ 39 ″ N, 80°50 ʹ 09 ″ E, c. 630 m, 12 August 2010, hand collecting, S.P. Benjamin and S. Batuwita, NMSL . 1 female, Matale District, Knuckles range, Riverstone , 07°31 ʹ 42 ″ N, 80°44 ʹ 17 ″ E, c. 1100 m, 2 December 2009, hand collecting, S.P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita, PMH Sandamali, NMSL .

Figures

Figure 13. Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. Female syntype (MNHN 20511/ 2306). (A) dorsal view; (B) epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B); 2.0 mm (A).

Figure 14. Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. In life. (A,D,E) male; (B,C,F,G) female.

Figure 15. Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. (A,B) male from Kandy. (C,D) (E–G) female from Kitulgala. (H) female from Corbetts Gap. (A,C) dorsal view; (B,D) lateral view; (E,H) epigynum, ventral view; (F) vulva, dorsal view; (G) vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (F,G); 0.2 mm (E,H).

Figure 16. Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. (A,B) male from Kandy. (C,D) male from Gilimale. (A) ventral view; (B,C) retrolateral view; (D) dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.